2014 Toyota RAV4 EV Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)541.7%
- Fuel system325.0%
- Electrical216.7%
- Engine216.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTING AROUND 24,500 MILES, TOYOTA RAV4 EV 2014 STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE WITH ACCELERATION. THIS NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER AS AN ISSUE WITH THE DRIVE MOTOR MADE BY TESLA, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT AT THAT TIME THE NOISE IS "NOT LOUD ENOUGH" TO GET ANYTHING DONE BY TOYOTA/TESLA. SINCE THEN, ANOTHER 2000 MILES HAVE PASSED AND THE NOISE IS ONLY LOUDER. THE DEALER HAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS THE DRIVE MOTOR, SUBMITTED RECORDING OF NOISE TO TOYOTA/TESLA BUT STATES THAT TOYOTA/TESLA NOT READY TO REPLACE DRIVE MOTOR. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH A VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVER NOTICED MY OVERALL RANGE IS BEING AFFECTED AND DOWN BY 10%. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MALFUNCTION WHILE I AM DRIVING AROUND, POSSIBLY ENDING IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
WAS DRIVING IN CITY AT ABOUT 30 MPH , CAR STOPPED HAVING PROPULSION, STOPPED WITH A SHUDDER AND WARNINGS LIGHTS POP UP. "CHECK EV SYSTEM" WAS ABLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY POWERING OFF/ON FOR 3 CYCLES TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE CURB. CALLED TOW TO TRANSPORT TO THE DEALER. SEND ME AWAY AFTER RESETTING THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE COMPUTER. WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. NOW TOYOTA IS BLAMING MY ADD ONS LIKE CHARGE INDICATOR (SHOWING VOLTS/AMPS OF THE J1772 INPUT) AND THE FACT I FITTED A TRAILER HITCH (FOR A BIKE RACK). WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
SOMETIMES WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS IT DOES NOT RESPOND AND I HAVE TO LIFT MY FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.
WAS DRIVING IN CITY AT ABOUT 30 MPH , CAR STOPPED HAVING PROPULSION, STOPPED WITH A SHUDDER AND WARNINGS LIGHTS POP UP. "CHECK EV SYSTEM" WAS ABLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY POWERING OFF/ON FOR 3 CYCLES TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE CURB. CALLED TOW TO TRANSPORT TO THE DEALER. SEND ME AWAY AFTER RESETTING THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE COMPUTER. WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. NOW TOYOTA IS BLAMING MY ADD ONS LIKE CHARGE INDICATOR (SHOWING VOLTS/AMPS OF THE J1772 INPUT) AND THE FACT I FITTED A TRAILER HITCH (FOR A BIKE RACK). WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS DRIVING IN CITY AT ABOUT 30 MPH , CAR STOPPED HAVING PROPULSION, STOPPED WITH A SHUDDER AND WARNINGS LIGHTS POP UP. "CHECK EV SYSTEM" WAS ABLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY POWERING OFF/ON FOR 3 CYCLES TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE CURB. CALLED TOW TO TRANSPORT TO THE DEALER. SEND ME AWAY AFTER RESETTING THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE COMPUTER. WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. NOW TOYOTA IS BLAMING MY ADD ONS LIKE CHARGE INDICATOR (SHOWING VOLTS/AMPS OF THE J1772 INPUT) AND THE FACT I FITTED A TRAILER HITCH (FOR A BIKE RACK). WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROPULSION SYSTEM.
WHILE CHARGING THE CAR AT A SCHNEIDER PUBLIC CHARGING STATION, EXTREME HEAT AND ELECTRICAL ARCING RESULTED IN HEAT/BURNING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO THE CHARGING STATION. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, WHILE CHARGING AT THE SAME PUBLIC SCHNEIDER CHARGING STATION, ON MANY OCCASIONS, I NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND HEAT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILST DRIVING AT 70MPH ON THE HOV LANE OF THE FREEWAY, THE CAR SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A STOP. BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT, AND ON A LANE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A STOPPING LANE, IT WAS GROSSLY UNSAFE AS CARS WHIZZED BY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA CARLSBAD, HAS INFORMED ME THAT A NEW DRIVE MOTOR WILL BE INSTALLED. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ISSUE WITH THE PROPULSION SYSTEM FAILING IS COMMON IN THE TOYOTA RAV4 EV (IT USES A TESLA MOTOR). THERE ARE SO MANY DRIVE MOTORS BEING REPLACED RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST TWO WEEKS FOR A NEW ONE. OTHERS HAVE RECENTLY WAITING UP TO A MONTH. *TR
WHILE BACKING TO MY DRIVEWAY, CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND BACK ON, POWER RESTORED. THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD: "CHECK EV SYSTEM HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY" WHICH LATER (AFTER FEW OFF/ON CYCLES) DISAPPEARED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .