KnownCarProblems2014 Toyota RAV4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota RAV4, most often about the electrical (35% of complaints, typically around 58,500 miles). It is 19th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2014 Toyota RAV4 problems
Electrical
69 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
I was driving on the highway when the car shut off completely and turned on and off repeatedly, and instantaneous for a few seconds (like it was blinking) super fast. Everything was going on and off. As I was pulling onto the shoulder from the middle lane on the highway, it shut off completely!!! I couldn't even put…
2014 Toyota rav 4. Over the past year--the electric locks on all four doors stopped working--took to local mechanic and Toyota dealership who said it was the actuators in the doors and would cost over $2000 to fix them. I wouldn't have a problem, but this car is only 6 years old and has 60,000 miles on it. I find it…
Other or unspecified
45 complaints · 23%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
When I had my car in park my stereo stopped working. No radio, no satellite, no nothing other than back up camera. When I start the car I get a blue picture of the stereo and a status bar loading like on computers when a program is loading. I took the car to the Toyota dealer and he explained that the replacement…
I was sitting in heavy stop & go traffic on the highway. All three lanes were stopped. And alternately inching forward due to accidents further down the road. I was stopped with my foot on the brake. My vehicle - the rave 4 suddenlysurged forward and hit the vehicle in front of me. I stood on the brakes as hard as…
Engine
31 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles.
I was sitting in heavy stop & go traffic on the highway. All three lanes were stopped. And alternately inching forward due to accidents further down the road. I was stopped with my foot on the brake. My vehicle - the rave 4 suddenlysurged forward and hit the vehicle in front of me. I stood on the brakes as hard as…
I bought this RAV4 in february 2017, after driving few I realized my car is burning too much oil. I had purchased extended warranty but by the time I went for my issue my warranty had expired. I called Toyota company and explained my oil burning issue, they gave me a case number and told me they would call me later. I…
Steering
21 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 88,500 miles.
The contact owned a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while making a right turn at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. During the failure, the instrument panel flashed approximately 4-5 times before going black. The contact stepped out to look under the hood and noticed a small fire. The…
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the power steering assist message displayed, and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The next day the vehicle was towed to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The cause of the failure…
Transmission
20 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles.
The incident occurred on 11/13/2019 @ 8:30am. I had started my 2014 Toyota RAV4, pulled out from under the carport apprx. 25ft and put the vehicle in park and fully engaged the parking brake I always do this if I need to leave the vehicle running for any reason. In this case I was heating the interior as it was…
Purchased a used 2014 Toyota RAV4 on 01-2018 for the purchase price of $12,000. It had 36,198 miles at the time of purchase. Approximately one year after purchase, noticed a shuttering while at certain speeds. Looked into recalls and found that there was a service bulletin regarding these symptoms. Called Toyota and…
Body and structure
18 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The hatch will not close fully unless I push on it. It's a self closing door. Now it stops 3/4 of the way down and stays open. The vehicle is being loaded and then closed. It is stationary.. I've had it in the dealership 3 times. I've queried on-line and others have had this problem
Car 1 cut in front of car 2, car 3 (ours) stopped 1 car length away, when started to drive past the crash suddenly car 4 slammed into car 3 (ours) and pushed my wife's car into car 2 and car 2 into car 1 again. Airbag failed to deploy, seat belt locked and ems had to get my wife out. When this happened my wife was…
Brakes
16 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while slow moving in a crowded parking lot. Wheels continued to spin and accelerate even after car had collided with other (parked) cars, and continued to accelerate with no response from the brakes. It collided in quick succession with four cars until it finally stopped (car…
The brakes always made harsh sounds at low speeds. And the breaks wore out by 30000. The dealership also advised me that my rotors had to be replaced.
Air bags
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles.
Car 1 cut in front of car 2, car 3 (ours) stopped 1 car length away, when started to drive past the crash suddenly car 4 slammed into car 3 (ours) and pushed my wife's car into car 2 and car 2 into car 1 again. Airbag failed to deploy, seat belt locked and ems had to get my wife out. When this happened my wife was…
I was driving on an overpass and was about to turn onto an on ramp to enter interstate 70 in limon colorado and I struck a vehicle on the front drivers side of both our cars. And my airbag didn't deploy. I hit the steering column with my right arm and left side of my chest and stomach.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2014 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.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the eps ecu or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the eps ecu will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on may 7, 2015. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 camry, camry hybrid, highlander, and highlander hybrid, and 2014-2015 rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (eps) electronic control unit (ecu) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
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.
Equipment
Risk: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began february 23, 2015. Owners may contact set customer service at 1-866-405-4226. Set's number for this recall is set-14b.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 toyota 4runner, tacoma, fj cruiser, land cruiser, rav4, scion frs, and xb vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by set, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
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 2014 Toyota RAV4
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Toyota RAV4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (69 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles); other or unspecified (45 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); engine (31 complaints, typically around 47,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2014 Toyota RAV4 have?
- 4 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 2014 a bad year for the Toyota RAV4?
- It is 19th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints, with 197 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.