The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 111 of 322 complaints (34%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 257 in 2016 to 322 in 2017.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 322
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,950–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–32
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | 1,550–2,200 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–26 | 24–32 | 24–32 | 24–32 | 28–40 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–23 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | 25–41 / 33–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 338–362 | 274–362 | 275–363 | 275–363 | 223–317 | |
| Complaints filed | 305 | 257 | 322 | 348 | 909 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 37 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 28 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 41 | 12 | 24 | 33 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 30 | 27 | 30 | 19 | 24 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Toyota RAV4 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Toyota RAV4?
Electrical: 111 of 322 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates it 24–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Toyota RAV4?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 349 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 30 mpg (high) | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 338 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 357 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 363 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 34 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 275 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 34 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electrical | 111 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| Brakes | 42 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 23 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 23 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 26 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 45 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 65 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
- Defect
- Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
- Consequence
- A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.