The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 143 of 411 complaints (35%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 653 in 2020 to 411 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 411
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,550–$2,200
- Combined MPG
- 28–40
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Advertisement
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,550–2,200 | 1,550–2,300 | 1,550–2,200 | 1,550–2,200 | 1,550–2,200 | |
| Combined MPG | 28–40 | 27–40 | 28–40 | 28–40 | 28–40 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 25–41 / 33–38 | 25–41 / 32–38 | 25–41 / 32–38 | 25–41 / 32–38 | 25–41 / 32–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 223–317 | 223–321 | 223–323 | 223–323 | 223–323 | |
| Complaints filed | 909 | 653 | 411 | 155 | 173 | |
| Recalls issued | 8 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 28 | 17 | 48 | 14 | 19 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 24 | 14 | 49 | 12 | 15 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
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 2021 Toyota RAV4 have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign 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 2021 Toyota RAV4?
Airbags & Restraints: 143 of 411 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates it 28–40 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Toyota RAV4?
EPA estimates $1,550–$2,200 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 296 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 28 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 290 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 301 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (low) | 33 mpg | 28 mpg (low) | $2,200 (high) | 316 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 25 mpg (low) | 32 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | $2,200 (high) | 323 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 27 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 296 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 41 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 40 mpg (high) | $1,550 (low) | 223 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 49 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Brakes | 24 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 143 | 29 | 1 | 34 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 32 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 47 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 38 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Other | 76 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
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 (1)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
- Consequence
- An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.