2020 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

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

179Engine complaints

28.7%Of all 624 complaints

#1Most-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

ENGINE179 · 28.7%

Unspecified / other118 · 18.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM117 · 18.8%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM89 · 14.3%

AIR BAGS54 · 8.7%

Share of the 624 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Toyota RAV4 overview page.

What owners report

“NEW 2020 RAV4 HYBRID MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE AND EV MODE IS ENGAGED. APPEARS TO BE FAILURE OF SPRAG-TYPE DEVICE…”NHTSA complaint 11367034 — filed 10/29/2020

“SERIOUS D-CELL BATTERY DISCHARGE ISSUE. TWICE OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED AND TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DEAD BATTERY. DEALER FOUND…”NHTSA complaint 11343488 — filed 08/05/2020

“PURCHASED 5/22/20. UNIT PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WENT OUT TO USE THE AUTO AND ALL SYSTEMS FAILING IN AUTO. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BRAKE ALERT, ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 11327007 — filed 06/02/2020

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Toyota RAV4: 179 of 624 complaints on file (28.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have in total?

624 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 13 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.