KnownCarProblems2015 Toyota RAV4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota RAV4, most often about the electrical (28% of complaints, typically around 47,000 miles). It is 14th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2015 Toyota RAV4 problems
Electrical
85 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v734000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start and was jumpstarted several times. The contact called aaa who…
Four incidents of damage to wiring by rodents. Mechanic believes the rodent to be a rat. One rat has been caught in a live trap. Yet two more incidents of eaten wiring.the rat eats the insulation on the wiring and bites through the wiring. The rat drags tissues into the h/a vents. Even tried to eat a package of foil…
Other or unspecified
60 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles.
Sunroof exploded. Driving down paved highway. 51 degrees outside. Glass shattered. No rock or other object found inside the car. Washington state patrol on scene.
Sunroof exploded while driving 45 MPH on a one lane country road - no car was in front of me at the time. Occurred at 11:00 am and outside temps were 43 degrees.
Steering
47 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles.
Driving normal, made a right turn and car suddenly restarts, steering wheel locks up during turn for a couple seconds. Electric restart engine and turns off the car and cannot gas it, only brake. Car comes back on without me turning it on and does not happen again rest of the drive. Driving normal for a few days…
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. While driving low speeds, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Engine
37 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. When the contact started the vehicle and attempted to drive forward, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the front passenger tire of a parked and unoccupied vehicle. Afterwards, the engine rpms increased and the vehicle continued…
The contact's father owned a 2015 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, the vehicle dashboard spontaneously caught fire. There were no reported injuries or property damage. It was unknown who extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed…
Body and structure
31 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Vehicle was making a left turn, when another vehicle went through a 'red' light and hit it on the right fender. Fender came off. Other vehicle had front smashed in and airbags deployed. The air bags did not deploy in the Toyota. Driver was wearing seatbelt, but lack of airbag caused drivers arm and chest to hit…
Front end collision- direct hit-2015 toyoto rave 4 -air bags did not deploy.car a hit car b, car a going 50, hit car b going 15 MPH. Car b totaled
Brakes
31 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. While merging into the right lane, the vehicle independently veered left and accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The driver drove off the road and the vehicle rolled twice down a short incline. Both the driver and passenger air bags failed to deploy. A police report was…
Vehicle did not respond to braking (possible stalling, loss of control of vehicle), resulting in a severe crash involving two parked cars and property, injury to driver, and total loss. The vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed going down hill due to having no control over the vehicle. Because driver was unable…
Transmission
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The power stick shift moves to easily out of gear. It requires only a light depressing of the break to disengage it. On may 17 2019, I had been parked with the car on. I had dropped something on the floor and went to pick it up. My foot was lightly touching the break as I bent down. The break was depressed just enough…
Hesitates between first and second gear like going into nuetral for about 3 / 5 seconds before shifting back to first. The car can be at a stop upon starting it hesitates, or when in motion and going to pass it hesitates, on city streets, highways and turning. We have returned to the Toyota dealer 4 times and they…
Speed control
21 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. While merging into the right lane, the vehicle independently veered left and accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The driver drove off the road and the vehicle rolled twice down a short incline. Both the driver and passenger air bags failed to deploy. A police report was…
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated while pulling into to a testing facility. The contact depressed the brake pedal and steered away from the tent and the vehicle came to a complete stop. The contact was unaware if there were any warning…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 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 2015 Toyota RAV4
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Toyota RAV4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (85 complaints, typically around 47,000 miles); other or unspecified (60 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles); steering (47 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 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 2015 a bad year for the Toyota RAV4?
- It is 14th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints, with 305 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.