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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2012–2014

Toyota RAV4 EV recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 21 owner complaints for the Toyota RAV4 EV, covering model years 2012 to 2014. The 2014 model year drew the most complaints (10), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Toyota RAV4 EV VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 3 recall campaigns on file
  • 21 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (2012–2014)
  • most complaints: 2014 (10 for that model year)
  • top component: Power Train (9 complaints)
  • latest recall 16V096000 (reported Feb 19, 2016)
  • 3 complaints reporting a crash (14.3%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (4.8%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Toyota RAV4 EV complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2014 model year has the most complaints: 10 of 21, or 47.6%. Next come 2012 (6) and 2013 (5).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Toyota RAV4 EV owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2012–2014Column chart of 21 complaints across 3 model years. The highest is 2014 with 10. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2012: 6 complaints620122013: 5 complaints520132014: 10 complaints102014
Toyota RAV4 EV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Toyota RAV4 EV complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
201263010
201350000
2014100000
All model years213010

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Toyota RAV4 EV components

top 11 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 9 complaints (42.9% of all 21), followed by Fuel/Propulsion System (7) and Electrical System (4).

Components named most often in Toyota RAV4 EV complaints (top 11)
Components named most often in Toyota RAV4 EV complaints (top 11)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Power Train942.9%
Fuel/Propulsion System733.3%
Electrical System419.0%
Unknown or Other314.3%
Engine29.5%
Seat Belts29.5%
Vehicle Speed Control29.5%
Visibility/Wiper29.5%
Engine and Engine Cooling14.8%
Steering14.8%
Structure14.8%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Toyota RAV4 EV recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name RAV4 EV, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 2012 to 2014. The 2012, 2013 and 2014 model years appear in the most campaigns (3 each).

  • 3 recall campaigns
Toyota RAV4 EV recall campaigns covering each model year
2012: 3 campaigns2013: 3 campaigns2014: 3 campaigns

  1. NHTSA campaign 16V096000

    Reported

    Seat Belts › Rear/Other

    Model years 2012–2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.

    Consequence:
    A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.

    Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation

  2. NHTSA campaign 15V577000

    Reported

    Visibility/Wiper

    Model years 2012–2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

    Consequence:
    Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.

    Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation

  3. NHTSA campaign 15V143000

    Reported

    Hybrid Propulsion System

    Model years 2012–2014

    Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible loss of drive power.

    Consequence:
    A loss of drive power may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly software, free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

    Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Toyota RAV4 EV questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Toyota RAV4 EV have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the Toyota RAV4 EV, covering model years 2012 to 2014. The most recent, 16V096000, was reported on February 19, 2016 and is filed under “Seat belts”. The 2012, 2013 and 2014 model years are covered by the most campaigns (3 each).

Which Toyota RAV4 EV model year has the most complaints?

The 2014 model year, with 10 of the 21 complaints in NHTSA’s file (47.6%). The next are 2012 (6) and 2013 (5). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Toyota RAV4 EV complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 9 complaints, or 42.9% of all 21. Fuel/Propulsion System (7) and Electrical System (4) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Toyota RAV4 EV?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Toyota dealer.

How many Toyota RAV4 EV complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 21 complaints, 3 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Toyota models

8 models · most complaints first

The Toyota models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Toyota VIN decoder with every Toyota model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Toyota models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.