Short answer
Among Toyota RAV4 model years through 2024, 2001, 2002 and 2003 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2009 has the most (15). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Toyota RAV4: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 57
- Fewest recalls
- 2001, 2002 and 2003 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2009 (15)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (30)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2016, 2017, 2018 and 7 more years
Toyota RAV4 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2024 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2023 | 3 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Tires |
| 2022 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 8 | 5 stars | Equipment, Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Equipment, Electrical system |
| 2017 | 3 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Tires |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Equipment |
| 2015 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Steering |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 stars | Electrical system, Hybrid propulsion system, Seat belts |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 stars | Electronic stability control (esc), Equipment, Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2011 | 11 | 3 stars | Seats, Suspension, Air bags |
| 2010 | 14 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Suspension |
| 2009 | 15 | Not rated | Equipment, Seats, Suspension |
| 2008 | 14 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension, Air bags |
| 2007 | 14 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension, Air bags |
| 2006 | 11 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension, Air bags |
| 2005 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2001 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Power train, Service brakes, air |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20254 recalls
- 20244 recalls
- 20233 recalls
- 20223 recalls
- 20215 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 20198 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20147 recalls
- 20135 recalls
- 20126 recalls
- 201111 recalls
- 201014 recalls
- 200915 recalls
- 200814 recalls
- 200714 recalls
- 200611 recalls
- 20055 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
- 20010 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Toyota RAV4: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Toyota RAV4 recalls are equipment (30), suspension (20), air bags (16), seats (16) and electrical system (12). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years, and 2016, 2017, 2018 and 7 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Toyota RAV4 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Toyota RAV4?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2001, 2002 and 2003 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Toyota RAV4 model years have the most recalls?
2009 has the most, with 15 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RAV4", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy