2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the messages "Pre-Collision", "Braking Power Low", and "AWD System Malfunction" were displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on the previous two model years of the same vehicle, but no cause for the failure was found when the vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 52,700.

NHTSA ID

11680176

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

Mileage

52,700 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while receiving an oil change by a certified mechanic, the contact was informed that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The mechanic confirmed that the radiator, hoses, and thermostat had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. While the contact was checking the coolant levels, the coolant level was always lower than expected. The contact was continually adding coolant. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,500.

NHTSA ID

11667638

Incident

Jun 18, 2022

Mileage

115,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The contact recharged the vehicle and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to Toyo Cars, where it was diagnosed with an auxiliary battery failure. The dealer was contacted to order the part, but the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the part was not available due to the global pandemic. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ID

11642781

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON LONG TRIP GOING SOUTH ON HWY 101, VEHICLE STARTED BUCKING AND JERKING GOING 70ISH MPH. EV LIGHT WOULD COME ON LIKE IT WANTED TO SWITCH TO EV MODE. IT HAPPENED GOING DOWN A STEEP GRADE NEAR SAN LUIS OBISPO. IT STOPPED WHEN WE GOT TO FLAT GROUND. ABOUT 25 MILES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO RECORD A QUICK VIDEO OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TOOK IT TO ONE TOYOTA IN OAKLAND CA AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON ANOTHER LONG TRIP A FEW MONTHS LATER AND IT HAPPENED TO HER FOR ABOUT 1 1/5 HOURS. SEEMS LIKE SYSTEM RESETS AFTER CYCLING IGNITION AND SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ID

11210210

Incident

Dec 23, 2018

Mileage

15,000 mi

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. IT WAS SLOPED BACKWARD. THE CAR WAS STOPPED COMPLETELY, AND SILENT. I WAS DISTRACTED BY A MINOR TASK, AND THEN EXITED THE CAR, INADVERTENTLY WITH THE POWER ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, NOT PARK. WHEN I NOTICED THAT I COULD NOT LOCK THE CAR, AND REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS STILL ENERGIZED, I REACHED OVER AND PRESSED THE ON BUTTON TO TURN-OFF THE CAR-- WHICH IT DID. AT WHICH POINT THE CARD IMMEDIATELY HEADED BACKWARDS, DOWNHILL, CROSSED A STREET WHILE I WAS TRYING TO SLOW THE CAR FROM OUTSIDE THE DRIVERS DOOR, AND FINALLY HIT A LAMP POST AND STOPPED WITH DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. I TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, WITH THE SAME RESULT: THE CAR CAN APPEAR TO BE OFF AND IN PARK, WHEN ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, BUT WITH THE CAR ACTUALLY ENERGIZED AND IN DRIVE. AND THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT ONE FROM TURNING OFF THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARD. AS A COMPARISON, A COLLEAGUE HAD A CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID, WE TRIED THE SAME AND THE CAR WILL DEMAND TO BE PUT INTO PARK BEFORE RE-ENERGIZING. THUS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A TOYOTA-SPECIFIC HAZARD. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. I TWISTED MY KNEE TRYING DESPERATELY TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING-AWAY, BUT THE STRAIN WAS NOT NOTICEABLE BY THE NEXT DAY.

NHTSA ID

11204012

Incident

Apr 25, 2019

Mileage

6,300 mi

WHILE ACTIVELY BRAKING AT LOW SPEED TO LINE UP TO A TICKET DISPENSER IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED. I SLAMMED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED AT ABOUT 10 FEET. THE PARKING ARM WENT OVER THE HOOD ABOUT HALFWAY. WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE I SAW THE GEAR SHIFT HAD MOVED AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF.

NHTSA ID

11194412

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

26,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ON. OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, I SAW A VERTICAL RED LINE FLASH ONCE ON THE DASH DISPLAY. SUDDENLY THE CAR BRAKED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS ALSO A LOSS OF POWER AS I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME. THANKFULLY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AND AVOID HITTING MY CAR. AFTER STOPPING, I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN BACK, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11187252

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

Mileage

18,900 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON I 80 APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE WEST OF DIXON AT ABOUT 65MPH. THE DAY WAS SUNNY AND TEMPERATURE APPROXIMATELY 60F. THERE WAS NO OVERPASS NEARBY. WE THEN HEARD AN EXPLOSION LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST AND GLASS CAME INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE PARTIALLY OPEN SUNSHADE ON THE ROOF. NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND DISCOVERED THE MOON ROOF HAD EXPLODED. THE MAJORITY OF GLASS WAS GONE, INDICATING IT HAD GONE UP INTO THE AIR. THE CAR IS 7 MONTHS OLD. IT'S EXTREMELY UNLIKELY ANY OBJECT HIT THE MOON ROOF FROM ABOVE SO IT'S OUR OPINION THE GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY UNDER ITS WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11172373

Incident

Jan 12, 2019

Mileage

11,000 mi

THE BUZZER VOLUME ALERTING THE DRIVER OF CROSSING A LINE IN THE LANE DEPARTURE FEATURE IS SO LOW IT CANNOT ALWAYS BE HEARD. TOYOTA STATES THE VOLUME CANNOT BE INCREASED.

NHTSA ID

11133067

Incident

Aug 14, 2018

Mileage

100 mi

TOYOTA LOST TRACK OF WHERE VIN IS AT, THEN WHO HAS KEYS ECT, HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATE

NHTSA ID

11128454

Incident

Sep 9, 2018

ON 7/30/2018 I PICKED UP MY NEW 2018 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID FROM THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE AND FOUND THAT I DID NOT HAVE A DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. A DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER IN MY BELIEF IS NOT JUST A MERE CONVENIENCE IN MOST VEHICLE BUT SHOULD BE A SAFETY STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN ALL VEHICLES IN THE 21ST CENTURY. LOOKING DOWN TO AN ANALOG SPEEDOMETER TO TRY AND GUESS WHAT SPEED I MAYBE TRAVELING AT IS WASTING PRECIOUS SECONDS THAT COULD BE USED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD AHEAD OF ME. IT IS MUCH MORE SAFE TO SEE A LARGE DIGITAL DISPLAY OF THE SPEED AT WHICH MY TRAVELING AT RATHER THAN TRYING TO GUESS MY SPEED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M TRAVELING AT A SPEED SAFE FOR THE ROAD I"M ON. I BROUGHT MY CONCERNS TO TOYOTA ON 7/31/18 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY REPLY. I WANTED TO BRING MY CONCERN TO THE NHSTA AND REGISTER A SAFETY COMPLAINT AND BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT AND HAVE SOMEONE LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11118651

Incident

Jul 31, 2018

Mileage

50 mi

THE LANE DEPARTURE ALARM ON THE 2018 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID IS VIRTUALLY INAUDIBLE AND REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11112754

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 84 IN CALIFORNIA AND A CRACK DEVELOPED IN MY WINDSHIELD. I DID NOT FIND A CHIP WHERE THE CRACK DEVELOPED. SO NO ROCK HIT MY WINDOW. THE CRACK STARTED ON THE VERY TOP OF THE GLASS UNDER THE RUBBER SEAL. I HAVE LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THE SUV.

NHTSA ID

11110621

Incident

Jun 24, 2018

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (THOMPSONS TOYOTA, 140 FORNI RD, PLACERVILLE, CA 95667), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO WAIT FOR THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11088495

Incident

Mar 30, 2018

Mileage

2,000 mi

DURING THE BITTER COLD (14 F) AND SNOW, THE VIPER OF THE VEHICLE DIDN'T CLEAR THE ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD TO STOP 3 TIMES IN 10 MILES FROM LOVELAND CLINIC TO FORT COLLINS, CO ON HIWAY 287 TO CLEAR THE ICE ON VIPER BLADES WHLIE OTHER CARS FROM DIFFERENT MAKERS KEEP RUNNING. THE ICE BUILT UP ON THE TOP WINDSHIELD RIGHT ON THE BIG CENSOR BOX, AND AT THE BOTTOM PART OF THE WINDSHIELD THERE THE VIPER BLADES RESIDE. IN THE LAST 100 FEET, THE VISIBILITY CAME TO NONE. THERE WERE SOME OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL COMING TO THE DEALERS TO FILE THEIR COMPLANTS, BUT THE PERSONELS DIDN'T GIVE THE RIGHT ADVICES. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE TO TOYOTA BEFORE IT TOO LATE LIKE THE CAMRY SPEEDING COUPLE YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

11074413

Incident

Feb 19, 2018