2018 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

32Engine complaints

9.8%Of all 328 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM126 · 38.4%

Unspecified / other69 · 21%

ENGINE32 · 9.8%

SERVICE BRAKES28 · 8.5%

POWER TRAIN26 · 7.9%

Share of the 328 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Toyota RAV4 overview page.

What owners report

“CAR IS FAILING TO SPEED UP PAST 60 UNLESS USING CRUISE CONTROL THEN THE CAR USED A LOT MORE GAS THEN NORMAL. I ALSO TRIED…”NHTSA complaint 11353870 — filed 09/08/2020

“PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND HAD FOOT ON BREAK. GOING VERY SLOW TO PARK . WENT TO PUT CAR INTO PARK AND CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND…”NHTSA complaint 11328730 — filed 06/14/2020

“WHEN I'M DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT STALLED OR DOWNSHIFTED AND THE DISPLAY GETS DARK BUT CAR IS STILL 'ON', HOWEVER…”NHTSA complaint 11282038 — filed 11/24/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Toyota RAV4: 32 of 328 complaints on file (9.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Toyota RAV4 have in total?

328 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 31 involved a crash, 32 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.