YearToAvoid

2023 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 17 brake complaints for the 2023 Toyota RAV4, about 11% of all 155 complaints filed for the year. Six crashes and four injuries were reported in this area, but no related recalls exist for brakes on this model year.

Brakes complaints
17
11% of 155
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
—
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden unexpected acceleration while braking to park, resulting in collisions with walls, poles, or garage structures.
  • Some report the vehicle briefly losing braking power for one to three seconds after hitting a bump, accompanied by a grinding noise and a flashing VSC light.
  • Persistent brake squealing and grinding noise was reported by an owner soon after leasing the vehicle, with the problem not resolved after multiple service visits.
  • One owner described the brakes failing without warning while parking, causing a collision and injury.
  • Another owner reported the vehicle spinning out of control at highway speed with a grinding noise, followed by brake and parking brake warning lights.
  • A separate complaint describes the Automatic Emergency Braking system activating without cause during a turn, forcing a hard stop with no obstacle present.

When 2023 Toyota RAV4 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 28, 2023, latest Jul 31, 2026.

2023 Toyota RAV4 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2023Feb 2024Sep 2024Apr 2025Oct 2025Mar 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2023 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2025 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2023 Toyota RAV4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (10%)
  2. 201154 (19%)
  3. 201244 (17%)
  4. 201325 (10%)
  5. 201418 (9%)
  6. 201533 (11%)
  7. 201647 (20%)
  8. 201739 (13%)
  9. 201831 (9%)
  10. 201938 (4%)
  11. 202020 (3%)
  12. 202121 (5%)
  13. 20228 (6%)
  14. 202317 (11%)
  15. 202416 (9%)
  16. 20257 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2023 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 17 brake complaints for the 2023 RAV4, which is about 11% of the 155 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2023 Toyota RAV4?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the brake complaints for the 2023 RAV4.
Have the brake issues caused crashes or injuries?
Yes. Owners reported 6 crashes and 4 injuries within the brake complaint category for the 2023 RAV4.
What kind of brake problems do owners describe?
Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while braking to park, temporary loss of braking with grinding noise, persistent brake squealing, and unexpected activation of the automatic emergency braking system.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.