1997 Toyota Rav4: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 61 complaints
61
Total Complaints
110,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Top Issue
10
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

100,000 25th Percentile
110,000 Median Mileage
119,002 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
7
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
3
ENGINE
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2

Severity Assessment

10
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN DISCONNECTING PASSENGER AIRBAG DUE TO SMALL CHILD RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT."
"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 80 MPH HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OR DIED OUT FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC; EVERYTHING WENT OUT. *AK"
"CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE OCCUPANT, FORCING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT, ALSO THE BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP, AND THE BELTS BECAME VERY LOOSE, THE SEAT BELT WERE FULLY EXTENDED, CAUSING ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28