2011 TOYOTA RAV4 Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota Rav4. This model year has 286 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Unintended Acceleration.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2011 Toyota Rav4 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Unintended Acceleration
Visibility/Wiper
Brake System
Considering a 2011 Toyota Rav4?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Toyota Rav4. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 69 | 21 | 2 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 48 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 48 | 15 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 36 | 6 | 3 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 30 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 25 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 19 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 19 | 11 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 16 | 4 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 15 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 14 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Toyota Rav4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 286 most recent complaints
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 89,000. It was later discovered upon checking the Carfax report that …
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle felt as if the rear suspension had failed. The vehicle was taken to a c…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal and shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle re…
I bought a pre-own car for my daughter in November 2022 from CARMAX in the City of Colma, California. The car is white color 2011 Toyota Rav4. In March 2025, my daughter started noticing the paint peeling off from the roof and driver side front panel. I found out that the paint i…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 146,000. It was later discovered, upon checking with the loca…
Electric power steering problem, steering wheel is very stiff and wont return to center ,car is very difficult to drive, I have read that nhtsa issued some safety recalls on 2011 toyota rav4 related to this mfg. defect in the circut board -ecu -electronic control unit in the el…
The contact's sister owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the dealer performed the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V096000(Seat Belts); however, after the recall repair, the seat belts became inoperab…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while reversing to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle and entering the residence, the…
235/55R 18 I took my car for a tire rotation at a tire shop. I was told that the right front tire was not good so I asked to be replace with another new tire I had, which was exactly the same Yokohama tire my car had on. When I drove off the shop the tire started making a weird …
A lot oil consumption from oil change to 1000 miles 4 quarts of oil consumption no warning light until car stops I’m been charging oil every 4 k miles now I have to check oil every day is been almost 4years with this problem
I understand there is a recall on Rav4 starting fire from 2013. Our vehicle is a 2011 and started on fire in our driveway and is a total loss. May need to include other years.
After pressing the accelerator pedal, I released the pressure on the pedal because of traffic and the accelerator continued to accelerate. had to hold the brake pedal down and then shifted to Park and shutoff engine. When restarted the car operate normally. This has happened in …
Everything working
I bought my RAV4 in May 2018, and it currently has just under 100,000 miles. My local mechanic says he "was kneeling on the driver's seat while reinstalling the center console after replacing the e-brake cable, when the side curtain air bags deployed!" He is frantic as this has …
Unknown
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while stopped at a red light with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated and rolled forward. The contact quickly put the vehicle in park and was able to pull over down the road. The contact stated that while pull…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, there was a loud banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the subframe was severely rusted and the rear differential fluid was leaking from the …
Side curtain airbag failed to deploy in side-impact crash. Passenger suffered significant concussion and broken ribs.
To begin with, the 2011 Toyota Rav4 in question was a loaner provided to me by Fiore VW AUDI (1000 S. Logan Blvd in Hollidaysburg, PA 16648) at @ 10:45 AM on 9/16/23. My 2018 Toyota Sienna was being serviced at this location on 9/18/23 and they provided me the 2011 Rav4 in the me…
Sudden acceleration when braking caused crash of 2011 Toyota RAV4 and driver injury. Making a right turn into a parking space that faces a concrete wall, I had my foot on the brake to slow the car down to park, going about five miles an hour. Still riding the brake, never having…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2011 Toyota Rav4.
Recalls for 2011 Toyota Rav4
11 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2011 Toyota Rav4. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2011 Toyota Rav4 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2011 Toyota Rav4 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2011 Toyota Rav4 has 286 NHTSA owner complaints, 44 crash-related, and 11 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Unintended Acceleration (69 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Rav4?▾
#1: Unintended Acceleration (69 complaints). #2: Visibility/Wiper (48 complaints). #3: Brake System (48 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Toyota Rav4?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2011 Toyota Rav4?▾
The 2011 Toyota Rav4 has 44 crash-related complaints and 8 fire reports out of 286 total NHTSA complaints. 20 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2011 Toyota Rav4 have any recalls?▾
Yes — 11 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2011 Toyota Rav4. The largest issue: SUSPENSION:REAR. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2011 Toyota Rav4?▾
The 2011 Toyota Rav4 has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Unintended Acceleration issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Rav4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2011 Toyota Rav4
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.