NHTSA has 197 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Toyota RAV4, received from 2014 to 2026. The most-reported system is electrical system (69 complaints, 35%), followed by unknown or other (45) and engine (31). Owners reported 20 crashes, 25 fires, 22 injuries and 0 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 48,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018, with 25 received that year. 4 safety recalls cover this model year.
197NHTSA complaints
4safety recalls
20crashes reported
25fires reported
22injuries
0deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Toyota RAV4?
Owners report electrical system problems most often: 69 of 197 NHTSA complaints (35%), followed by engine (31) and steering (21).
How many recalls does the 2014 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2014 Toyota RAV4. The most recent is 23V734000 (electrical system, 2023-11-01).
At what mileage do 2014 Toyota RAV4 problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 48,000 miles, across 107 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2014 Toyota RAV4?
Yes. Owners reported 20 crashes, 25 fires, 22 injuries and 0 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Electrical system
69
35%
3
17
2
60,000
Unknown or other
45
23%
1
4
0
45,000
Engine
31
16%
2
14
0
47,145
Steering
21
11%
0
3
0
88,400
Power train
20
10%
1
1
1
58,661
Structure
18
9%
5
0
9
30,000
Service brakes
16
8%
4
1
2
8,117
Air bags
12
6%
12
0
12
20,000
Exterior lighting
8
4%
0
1
0
45,000
Visibility and wipers
8
4%
0
0
1
43,000
Fuel system
7
4%
0
1
0
9,690
Speed control
7
4%
4
0
0
6,117
Equipment
3
2%
0
0
1
66,597
Seats
3
2%
2
0
6
17,000
Electronic stability control
2
1%
0
1
0
68,500
Seat belts
2
1%
1
0
1
20,000
Tires
2
1%
0
0
0
10,485
Wheels
2
1%
0
0
0
74
Backover prevention
1
1%
0
0
0
2,000
Latches, locks and linkages
1
1%
0
0
1
–
Suspension
1
1%
0
0
0
–
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
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.
Risk: 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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Defect: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Defect: 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.
Risk: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Remedy: 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.
Battery died mid-drive now the radio head unit is in a boot loop rendering all functions unavailable.
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11711594, received 2026-01-17
Year: 2014 Make: Toyota Model: RAV4 Approx. mileage: 60K 2. Incident Details Date of most recent incident: [redacted] Problem: Vehicle stalls and loses power steering while turning. Engine shuts off suddenly, causing complete loss of steering control. Consequence: On [redacted], my son lost…
Electrical system · NHTSA complaint 11688355, received 2025-09-19
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact’s son stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start and became inoperable, and lost power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11699219, received 2025-11-13
1) Vehicle had a recall for something concerning the transmission. Service was done and just after the warranty expired on that issue the transmission went out while driving and I had to put a new one in the vehicle, Toyota did help with $1500 of the cost but it cost me out of pocket over $4000.…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11699167, received 2025-11-13
We purchased a used 2014 RAV4 (VIN [redacted]) a few months ago. During a trip to the store my wife all of a sudden found it extremely hard to steer and almost went into a ditch! (thank God she didn't). It was a blessing that she didn't hit anything or anybody when this happened. It was close to…
Steering · NHTSA complaint 11756948, received 2026-08-14
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The failure was intermittent. The failure lasted for several seconds before the power steering feature returned, and the vehicle…
Steering · NHTSA complaint 11754570, received 2026-08-03
Other Toyota RAV4 model years
1994 · 4 complaints
1995 · 1 complaint
1996 · 47 complaints
1997 · 54 complaints
1998 · 77 complaints
1999 · 62 complaints
2000 · 30 complaints
2001 · 309 complaints
2002 · 527 complaints
2003 · 315 complaints
2004 · 154 complaints
2005 · 141 complaints
2006 · 705 complaints
2007 · 1,004 complaints
2008 · 575 complaints
2009 · 327 complaints
2010 · 400 complaints
2011 · 287 complaints
2012 · 260 complaints
2013 · 257 complaints
2015 · 305 complaints
2016 · 240 complaints
2017 · 307 complaints
2018 · 333 complaints
2019 · 882 complaints
2020 · 635 complaints
2021 · 387 complaints
2022 · 149 complaints
2023 · 161 complaints
2024 · 176 complaints
2025 · 90 complaints
Source
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.