NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 654 owner complaints for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: air bags, fuel system, steering, suspension, and 1 more. Most-described problem: a dead battery or battery drain (46 complaints, 7%). Most-reported area: engine (182 complaints, 28%; median mileage when it happened: 7,600).
More complaints than most RAV4 years
The 2020 drew 248 owner complaints in its first three years, against 130 for a typical RAV4 year: 1.9 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.
Years to avoid: 2019; best year: 2022. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listings: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID. Toyota campaign 23TA15, 23LA03.
Air bags
Nov 25, 2020
frontal
Fails federal standard 208 (occupant crash protection)
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, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listings: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID. Components: Air bags: frontal; Steering: column. Toyota campaign 20TB17/20TA17.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
NHTSA listing: RAV4. Toyota campaign 20TA02, 20LA01.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listings: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID. Toyota campaign 20TB11 / 20TA11.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listings: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID. Toyota campaign 20TB08 / 20TA08.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listings: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID. Toyota campaign See report.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Toyota RAV4.
What owners report
Owners have filed 654 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 RAV4. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Dead battery or battery drain46 · 7%
Median 3,100 miles at failure, from 34 reports with mileage
Won't start25 · 4%
Median 5,700 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Median 7,600 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Electrical system122 · 19%
Median 2,900 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system91 · 14%
Median 500 miles at failure, from 57 reports with mileage
Body structure63 · 10%
Most named: body (41); body, hatchback/liftgate, hinge and attachments (13) · Median 8,300 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Air bags59 · 9%
Powertrain39 · 6%
Steering29 · 4%
Unknown or other122 · 19%
Median 5,300 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Toyota RAV4 recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 RAV4 drew the most (437) and the 2020 drew 248.
Owner complaints
2020: 654 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Toyota RAV4
Model year
Complaints
2010
400
2011
287
2012
266
2013
262
2014
208
2015
305
2016
257
2017
322
2018
348
2019
909
2020
654
2021
511
2022
177
2023
241
2024
208
2025
113
2026
52
Safety recalls
2020: 6 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Toyota RAV4
Model year
Recalls
2010
14
2011
11
2012
6
2013
5
2014
7
2015
4
2016
3
2017
3
2018
3
2019
8
2020
6
2021
5
2022
3
2023
3
2024
4
2025
4
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 654 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, the problems described most are a dead battery or battery drain (46), the engine not starting (25), and liftgate or tailgate problems (21). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 Toyota RAV4.
How do I check if my RAV4 has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Toyota dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.