KnownCarProblems2013 Toyota RAV4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota RAV4, most often about the electrical (29% of complaints, typically around 7,500 miles). It is 17th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2013 Toyota RAV4 problems
Electrical
75 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 7,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument panel.
When making a legal u-turn on a busy road I rapidly braked the car (from 45mph to 2-3mph) to a partial stop rolling through the intersection while turning the wheels to a hard left. I pressed on the accelerator expecting to accelerate out of the u-turn and instead the car hesitated and slowed feeling like there was a…
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that the instrument cluster failed several times and all the gauges and warning lamps flickered. The dealer was notified of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v143000 (air bags) and stated…
Other or unspecified
40 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 32,500 miles.
Sun roof exploded into many pieces flew off and damaged paint job of car directly behind pieces were found in my car car traveling at 55 mpg just passed burlington vermont on july 3, 2014 at around 11:30 am no one injured if someone sitting behind driver seat not sure what would have happened stopped at Toyota dealer…
The sunroof spontaneously shattered. It sounded like a loud thud of something hitting the roof of our car, but we were driving in an open park area with nothing overhead and no other cars within close distance. We opened the sunroof cover and saw that it had completely cracked. By the time we got home, much of the…
Engine
31 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles.
Our Toyota 2013 RAV4 had a sudden acceleration. While driving on the highway, the gas peddle suddenly dropped to the floor, and the RPM's went from 3-8 instantly. Upon braking, the accelerator went back to normal, but as soon as the brake was released, the problem immediately happened again. At this point, the brakes…
The engine started on fire under normal driving conditions. The car was not involved in any accident. The RAV4 limited was totaled. It was less than 3 years old and had 17,500 miles on it. The car was serviced regularly by Toyota. The last service was about 4 months prior to the fire. Toyota has not honored their…
Transmission
29 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
At first it happened only when turning corners or starting from a stop light. The car would just seem to stall for 3-4 seconds, then resume normal acceleration. This has happened several times over past year. Yesterday it happened while on main highway at 65 MPH. "scary!" I started losing speed, then it resumed normal…
Driving my 2013 Toyota rav4ev when the vehicle shifted into neutral and would not shift back to drive and lost power while driving on the freeway at 70 MPH. Lucky to be able to pull over to the side of the freeway. There was a message in the display of "check EV system. Have your vehicle checked by dealership…
Body and structure
28 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The throttle stuck on the car. I could not stop the car and it went over a 10 foot fall and crashed to the ground. It was a very scary ride. I tried every way to stop the car but could not . I had my foot on the brake the entire time of the unintended event. I am still very sore three weeks later and have some spinal…
La pintura de la guagua se esta saliendo. Las puertas delanteras tienen problemas cuando quieres abrir o cerrar las mismas con el llavero. Se le dao a ambas puertas delanteras el motor o lo que le llaman "actuator" a una semana de diferencia y cuando intento abrir la puerta desde adentro para bajarme se queda cerrada…
Brakes
23 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles.
The "power brake actuator" went out on my 2013 Toyota rav-4 three times while I was driving the vehicle. Every time this happened, all of the warning lights on the dash board would come on. At the same time all of the gauges including the speedometer, the vehicle stability control, anti lock brakes, traction control…
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota RAV4. While attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot, the brakes failed. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle, which then crashed into a third vehicle. There was no warning indicator. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicles…
Speed control
17 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles.
I leased 2013 Toyota RAV4, around 2900 miles the warning and indicating lights on the instrument panel lit up while I was driving. Took the car to the dealer who determined the cause was "some one hit ABS sensor and cut harness ..." since the sensors were not under warranty, it will cost me $600 in repairs. The failed…
On rare occasions when driving, I will suddenly lose power. It's as if someone has suddenly turned off the ignition switch. Depressing the gas pedal will not solve the problem. The only way to regain power is to take your foot off the gas pedal and then push down again to regain speed. It can occur at any time on flat…
Equipment
13 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 0 miles. Parts named most often: electrical.
At any speed in any weather it is impossible to see the navigation system in this vehicle...this needs addressed by the manufacture as is a paid for upgrade and due to people working to see the system accidents are going to happen.
There is huge sun reflection on navigation system & you have very poor vision on navigation. Time to time you have to change your head position to find right angle to read navigation display. This will danger the life of driver tremendously.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Toyota RAV4 recalls
Electrical: 12v/24v/48v battery
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed december 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 rav4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on may 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late july 2025. Owners may contact toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23tb13 and 23ta13.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 rav4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Equipment: trailer hitches
Risk: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on march 17, 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set's number for this recall is set-15a.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 toyota rav4 vehicles manufactured june 1, 2013, to december 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Battery hold down bracket thermal events
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in model year (my) 2013-2018 toyota rav4 vehicles on 25 february 2021. At the time of opening, odi attributed eleven allegations and additional ewr events to this pe. Pe21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in pe21005 involved the originally supplied 12v battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery.
Questions about the 2013 Toyota RAV4
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Toyota RAV4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (75 complaints, typically around 7,500 miles); other or unspecified (40 complaints, typically around 32,500 miles); engine (31 complaints, typically around 17,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 1, 2023 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Toyota RAV4?
- It is 17th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints, with 257 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.