KnownCarProblems2018 Toyota RAV4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 333 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota RAV4, most often about the electrical (39% of complaints, typically around 16,500 miles). It is 9th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2018 Toyota RAV4 problems
Electrical
130 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 16,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. While attempting to drive the vehicle, all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to checkered flag Toyota (located at 5301 virginia beach blvd, virginia beach, va 23462, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that the soy wires attracted rodents who were eating the…
The lane departure warning system works intermittently at night on a wet roadway. The vehicle was on a four lane road with two lanes in each direction. Speed was around 45mph. Lane departure warning works above approximately 32mph. The system would not recognize the white shoulder line on the right hand side of the…
Other or unspecified
69 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles.
This car started a fire on the road while it was in motion, and after I drove it over a mile on a city street on april 22nd, 2019. I stopped the car and turned off the car after I saw smoke came out of the hood in front of driver side windshield. I left the car immediately to call for help. Less than a minute, after I…
We were returning from daytona beach, fl on 09/26/2018 and approx. 20 miles from warner robbins, ga when we heard what sounded like a gunshot. We were on the interstate in mild traffic with temperature in 80's and overcast. We saw nothing hit our car and no bullet holes, but knew their was a lot of noise and something…
Engine
35 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
The contact owned a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated after parking and returning to the vehicle in their garage, smoke was seen coming from the vehicle. The contact quickly entered the vehicle and reversed the vehicle out of the garage. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police report was…
Pulled into driveway and had foot on break. Going very slow to park . Went to put car into park and car lunged forward and hit garage. Backed up and car went very fast so had to move forward again out of road. Put car into drive and cat surged forward and out of control. Able to avoid garage but car went beside…
Brakes
30 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 13,000 miles.
Since I got my rav 4 2018 I've had issues with the brakes. Both my brother and mother drive the car and express the same issue. I've brought it to Toyota numerous times only to be told they cannot replicate the issue and that the brakes are working fine. When I'm pushing the brakes down they feel like they're going to…
While in reverse with foot on brake (stopped) the vehicle was rear ended. While foot still on brake the vehicle had uncommanded forward acceleration (engine revved up like foot floored the gas pedal). Vehicle accelerated forward ~25 ft and hit the front of another vehicle (foot on brake pedal entire time). Upon…
Transmission
26 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles.
I purchased my RAV4 brand new mid/late year 2018. In december at app. 10000 miles I started having issues with the gears. Shifting from park to any gear I would hear a loud banging type noise and the entire car would jerk. Along with that issues I have noticed a delayed acceleration at green lights sometimes to the…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. While driving 20 MPH or less, the vehicle has stalled when the accelerator pedal was released in moving traffic 5 times. The failure occurred four times in april, 3 times while driving to work. The contact took the vehicle to Toyota escondido (231 e lincoln pkwy, escondido, ca…
Lights
23 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact complained about a design flaw with the vehicle. While driving in the fog, the low beam headlights reflected light back, which blinded the driver and made it impossible to see at night. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of poway ([phone], located at 13631 poway rd, poway…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. While driving at night or after dusk, the headlamps provided insufficient illumination to operate the vehicle safely. The contact was concerned that the failure was due to a feature on the vehicle where the headlights dim when approaching oncoming traffic. The vehicle was taken to…
Visibility and wipers
21 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, rearview mirrors/devices.
Our 2018 RAV4 windshield spontaneously cracked starting at the point where the windshield camera is mounted on the front with rear view mirror attached. We do not recall that anything hit the windshield, and the crack appeared on the car overnight while parked in our driveway. The crack starts at the top of the…
Sunroof exploded while driving at 65mph & no other vehicles around.the dealer where the vehicle was bought claims a rock caused the issue and will not pay for the repair.
Speed control
20 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
On 7/3/20 at about 3 pm edt I was preparing to turn left and exit my neighborhood. I was stopped. I pressed on the accelerator and the vehicle suddenly accelerated straight ahead at a high rate of speed. I was unable to stop the vehicle. I travelled about 100 to 150 feet, climbed an enbankment and landed in a small…
While in reverse with foot on brake (stopped) the vehicle was rear ended. While foot still on brake the vehicle had uncommanded forward acceleration (engine revved up like foot floored the gas pedal). Vehicle accelerated forward ~25 ft and hit the front of another vehicle (foot on brake pedal entire time). Upon…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 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: labels
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Set will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began august 23, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Set's number for this recall is set19a.
Full defect summary
Southeast toyota distributors, llc (set) is recalling certain 2017-2019 toyota camry, corolla, rav4, sienna, and yaris ia vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Equipment: labels
Risk: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on january 23, 2018. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are h0z for toyota vehicles, and hlf for lexus vehicles.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 toyota 4runner and tundra, 2018 toyota highlander, rav4 and lexus gx460 and 2017 toyota sienna and tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."
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 2018 Toyota RAV4
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota RAV4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (130 complaints, typically around 16,500 miles); other or unspecified (69 complaints, typically around 5,500 miles); engine (35 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota RAV4 have?
- 3 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 2018 a bad year for the Toyota RAV4?
- It is 9th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints, with 333 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.