2012 Toyota Rav4: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 355 complaints
355
Total Complaints
27,000mi
Median Mileage
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Top Issue
56
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

8,400 25th Percentile
27,000 Median Mileage
60,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
53
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
49
SERVICE BRAKES
34
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
30
SEAT BELTS
30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26
AIR BAGS
22
ENGINE
22
POWER TRAIN
19
STRUCTURE:BODY
12

Severity Assessment

56
Crashes
8
Fires
26
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OPENED THE D..."
"THE ANGLE OF THE FORWARD-LEANING HEADRESTS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THEY PUSH THE DRIVER'S HEAD FORWARD, CAUSING NECK AND BACK PAIN. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DANGEROUS SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE TURNING THE HEADRESTS AROUND IN ORDER TO DRIVE COMFORTABLY. THANK YOU. *TR"
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER LEG. THE VEHICL..."

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