2020 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
799 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 57/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 32,339 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1996–2000, 2004–2005, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2020 sits among all RAV4 years
What owners report
“At about 51,000 miles the engine maintenance required light came on. After taking it to the dealership I found out it was the coolant bypass valve.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
“Bypass coolant valve needed to be replaced after engine maintenance required warning came on”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
“My 2020 RAV4 (48,000 miles), when I start the engine and turn on the A/C, the warning light comes on:Engine maintenance required.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
“Our 2020 toyota rav4 hybrid xse has a faulty fuel tank. Toyota advertised that the tank is 14.5 gallons. We are only able to fill about 10 gallons.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
“The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the mirror housings of the vehicle were melting. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 8,500.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
“Recall has been available with no fix since 2023 They are not providing a repair time I feel unsafe driving the car”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 RAV4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 187 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 6,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 1,839 and 15,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020…
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…
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…
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 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.
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…
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…
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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 drew 799 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 57/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2020 Toyota RAV4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 are engine (194 complaints), other (122), and electrical (121).
At what mileage do 2020 Toyota RAV4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2020 Toyota RAV4 problems around 6,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 1,839 and 15,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2020 Toyota RAV4. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.