2021 TOYOTA RAV4 Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Rav4. This model year has 357 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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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 2021 Toyota Rav4 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Uncategorized Issues
Electrical Faults
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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 2021 Toyota Rav4. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 122 | 27 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 67 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 43 | 4 | 5 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 33 | — | 3 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 20 | 3 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 20 | 2 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 20 | 7 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 18 | 1 | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 17 | 7 | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 16 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 9 | 3 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 8 | 3 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 6 | — | 3 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 3 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Tether | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lower Anchor (On Car Seat Or Vehicle) | 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 2021 Toyota Rav4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 357 most recent complaints
I have a 2021 TYTA RAV4 HYBRID XLE PREMIUM AWD, the driver seat is very slow moving forward and backwards twisting and preventing to fully go forward and backwards. I need to get out and in of my vehicle. So I have to move in back and forth to get out and move it forward to see…
Srs error appeared on the dash. Now the dealership is opening steering column to fix the electrical issue. The car has less than 29,000miles on it.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door failed to lock securely. The contact stated that the door could not be locked while using the key fob, the keypad, or locked manually. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The lo…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amo…
The steering light comes on , and "engine stopped, steering power low" comes on. The car just stops, usually when I've braked and come to a compete stop, and just completely shuts down. It's done it in the middle of traffic, I don't know why it's an issue.
I was in a car accident that ended up being a total loss for my vehicle. I was hit head on to the front drivers side and none of my airbags went off. I am aware there was a recall for the passenger airbags, and was actually scheduled to get the repair the following week, but the …
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a swishing sound coming from the front passenger’s side door. There was water inside the door's body cavity. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer w…
My 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid exhibits significant vibration in both exterior rear-view mirrors beginning at approximately 30 MPH, worsening at highway speeds of 50–70 MPH. Toyota has acknowledged this as a known manufacturing defect via TSB T-SB-0079-20, which identifies the origin…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving on the freeway at approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction attempted to make a left turn and collided with the contact's vehicle. The point of impact was the front driv…
My Toyota hybrid AWD vehicle experienced corrosion of the rear traction motor cable, which Toyota has acknowledged in Service Campaign 25TD01. This corrosion affects the electrical connection to the rear drive motor and can result in loss of AWD propulsion capability. Loss of rea…
The entire transmission failed according to the Toyota Service Center in Hyannis, MA. My vehicle is only 5 years old, only has 42,245 miles, no history of any accidents, I am the only owner, and had regular and consistent service. My vehicle is available for inspection. I am now …
The sunroof shattered without any thing hitting the glass
On 2/24/2026, while driving down I-5 Freeway, the panoramic sun roof spontaneously shattered while I was driving. It sounded like a gunshot. Nobody was injured. There was no accident. I pulled off the freeway and the WASDOT incident response truck pulled off with me to inspect. …
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while fueling the vehicle, the fuel tank failed to register the correct fuel level. The contact stated that the fuel warning light illuminated intermittently while driving and while the vehicle was parked. Additionally,…
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 23 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle sideswiped another parked vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The steering wheel…
Power seat adjuster failed making it impossible for drivers to adjust the seat for safe driving.
This complaint is being filed as a follow-up to a previously submitted NHTSA complaint regarding door lock failures on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Since the original complaint, a second door has now failed. In addition to the front passenger door, the rear passenger-side door wi…
Driver door lock actuator. When using the vehicles remote key, the driver door does not lock and unlock with the rest of the vehicles locks. This failure can cause theft of personal property in the vehicle or theft of the vehicle itself. The problem has been confirmed by other to…
I am reporting a safety defect involving the front passenger door lock actuator on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid. The front passenger door will not lock or unlock using the key fob or the interior power door lock button. The door must now be locked manually. This defeats the ve…
‘Voltage abnormality, power steering low’ error message has appeared three separate times. All while vehicle is idle at stop light or parked, last incident car was unable to restart immediately. All dashboard lights came on, including message saying parking hold unavailable. Me…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2021 Toyota Rav4.
Recalls for 2021 Toyota Rav4
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2021 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.
2021 Toyota Rav4 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2021 Toyota Rav4 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has 357 NHTSA owner complaints, 45 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (122 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Toyota Rav4?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (122 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (67 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (43 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Toyota Rav4?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota Rav4?▾
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has 45 crash-related complaints and 7 fire reports out of 357 total NHTSA complaints. 48 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2021 Toyota Rav4 have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2021 Toyota Rav4. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Rav4?▾
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions 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 2021 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.