2023 Toyota RAV4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2023 Toyota RAV4 has 155 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 50, and 3 recalls, ranking 11th of 21 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System problems lead at 27% of complaints, with unexpected acceleration and camera detection reports also common.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #11 of 21 RAV4 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 155
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 18
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 14
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29.5
- 27 city / 33.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 0
Top 2023 Toyota RAV4 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other43 (28%)
- Electrical System42 (27%)
- Engine32 (21%)
- Steering26 (17%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras22 (14%)
- Brakes17 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (8%)
- Structure & Body11 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers11 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe rearview or surround-view cameras that briefly stop displaying or fail to detect stationary objects while backing up, sometimes leading to low-speed collisions.
- Several owners report sudden, unintended acceleration while parking or pulling into a space, with the vehicle lurching forward despite braking.
- One owner reported a steering-related loss of control at high speed that led to a crash and a fire that totaled the vehicle.
- Owners describe airbags failing to deploy in head-on or side-impact crashes even when the other vehicle's airbags deployed.
- One owner reported brake failure while parking that resulted in a collision with a wall, though Toyota's investigation found no brake issue.
- A fuel odor inside the cabin and under the hood was reported by one owner, linked by a dealer to an over-torqued and leaking fuel fitting.
2023 Toyota RAV4 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V744000Oct 30, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,024,407 vehicles
Back over prevention:display function
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
- NHTSA 25V595000Sep 11, 2025Electrical System591,377 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.
- NHTSA 23V485000Jul 11, 2023Suspension, Wheels & Tires195 vehicles
Tires:valve
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota RAV4 vehicles equipped with 17" black alloy accessory wheels. During installation of the alloy wheels, the tire valve stem may have been improperly installed or damaged. In addition, the load carrying capacity label may state the incorrect weight. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: A damaged or improperly installed valve stem may allow air to leak and/or the tires to be underinflated, increasing the risk of tire failure and a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheel valve stems and replace the load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 18, 2023. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 23R1.
2023 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 29.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2023 compared with other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 155 complaints and a complaint index of 50 for the 2023 RAV4, ranking 11th out of 21 RAV4 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other RAV4 years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2023 RAV4?
- Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 42 complaints, or 27% of all complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 21,000 miles.
- Does the 2023 RAV4 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 RAV4, covering the Collision Avoidance & Cameras panoramic view monitor software, an instrument panel software issue shared with several other Toyota models, and improperly installed valve stems on 17-inch alloy accessory wheels. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2023 RAV4 compare to other RAV4 years?
- The 2023 RAV4's complaint index of 50 is lower than the worst year, 2021, at 100, but higher than top years like 2014 at 5 and 2022 at 20, placing it in the middle of the pack at 11th of 21 years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2023 RAV4?
- EPA rates the 2023 RAV4 at 29.5 mpg combined (27 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,200.