2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (4) · Engine (2) · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices:exterior (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Rav4 Hybrid model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2023-12-20 · campaign 23V865000 · 999,901 vehicles
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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Steering:column 2020-11-25 · campaign 20V734000 · 161 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Oc
Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2020-06-24 · campaign 20V373000 · 46 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2020-05-20 · campaign 20V286000 · 9,502 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.
Risk: If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-02-06 · campaign 20V064000 · 44,191 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
Risk: A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
Service bulletins (172)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-08-20 · T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice august 20, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0051-26.
Engine 2026-08-20 · T-SB-0051-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (hv) ni-mh and li-ion batteries.
Engine 2026-08-11 · 24TE04 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the flow shut-off valve is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to flow shut-off valve coolant leak.
Electrical System 2026-05-14 · 22TE09 · Warranty Program/Extension
although the hv floor under wire harness and rear traction motor cable is covered by toyota’s new vehicle limited warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. toyota is providing extended coverage under this customer suppo
Engine 2026-02-27 · T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice february 27, 2026: this bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
Electrical System 2026-01-30 · T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
obsolete notice january 30, 2026: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see t-sb-0001-26.
Showing the 6 most recent of 172 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-11-07 · Suspension · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated while driving 50 mph, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the suspension. the traction control warning light was illuminated. the contact stated that the sound was intermittent. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was determined that the front lower suspens…”
2025-08-07 · Engine · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to maintain automotive power. the messages "pksb malfunction - visit your dealer" and "pre-collision system malfunction - visit your dealer" were displayed on the instrument panel. the contact stated that the vehicle was repair…”
2025-06-18 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was m…”
2025-06-09 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed t…”
2025-04-04 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number 23v86500 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer and northridge toyota (9550 nordhoff st., northridge, ca 91324) were contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the contact stated th…”
2025-02-10 · Electrical System · 33,846 mi“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. the vehicle was jumpstarted; however, two days later the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to a dealer twice where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. …”
2024-12-06 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v865000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was n…”
2024-08-20 · Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate:hinge And Attachments“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off on several occasions, the liftgate button was depressed and the liftgate was partially raised before freezing. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side liftgate hinge had cracked and snapped, causing the liftga…”
2024-05-21 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices:exterior · 53,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the driver's side sideview mirror was vibrating excessively, distorting the image seen. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. the vehicle was not repaired. …”
2023-06-21 · Engine · 23,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid. the contact stated while using the a/c, there was an abnormally foul odor coming from the vents. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where a mechanic discovered mice had entered the vehicle through an opening in the engine and that droppings were found in the air filter housing. the air filter was replaced,…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.