RoadVitals

2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest May 4, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
64%
of 22 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed May 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, the pump handle would click off inadvertently, preventing the refueling the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100.

NHTSA ID
11520465
Incident
Aug 31, 2019
Mileage
100 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle, there was fuel leaking onto the floor under the fuel filler neck. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank and fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to Toyota Chula Vista (650 Main St, Chula Vista, CA 91911), South Coast Toyota (1966 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627) and Culver City Toyota (9077 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232), where the mechanics diagnosed and determined that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact sought legal advice. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11513091
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2020

MY TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID WILL ONLY ACCEPT 9-10 GALLONS OF GAS WHEN FILLING FROM EMPTY. THE TANK IS SUPPOSED TO HOLD 14.5 GALLONS. I FIRST BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2019 AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE ISSUE BEFORE. I BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AGAIN ON MY LAST VISIT IN JUNE 2020 KNOWING THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AT THIS TIME- A GAS TANK MALFORMATION. I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE A FIX IN AUGUST 2020. THERE IS STILL NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT CAUSES ME TO FILL UP WAY TOO FREQUENTLY CONSIDERING I PURCHASE A HYBRID TO GET BETTER MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
11375813
Incident
May 18, 2019
Mileage
4 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 14, 2020

VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK IS LISTED BY TOYOTA COMPANY AS 14.5 GALLON CAPACITY AND, IN REALITY, THIS TANK'S SHAPE ONLY ALLOWS IT TO FILL TO APPROXIMATELY 9 GALLONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL GAUGES "MILES TO EMPTY" DOES NOT APPEAR TO READ THE AMOUNT CORRECTLY. I HAVE ALMOST RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE'S IMPROPER READING. THE ACTUAL GAS IN THE TANK WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THE VEHICLE ITSELF TOLD ME. THE RANGE IS ADVERTISED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES WHEN IN REALITY IT APPEARS TO BE UNDER 300 MILES DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS HAS PLACED ME AND MY FAMILY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WE CANNOT ACCURATELY ESTIMATE HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT IS COMPLETELY EMPTY. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY WIDESPREAD AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. TOYOTA IS ALSO STILL SELLING THE VEHICLE'S 2020 MODEL WHICH APPARENTLY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IS NOT WARNING POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11321108
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
4,400 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 26, 2020

I'VE ONLY FILLED THE TANK 4 TIMES SO FAR BUT I CAN NEVER GET IT FULL. THE MOST IT WILL TAKE IS ABOUT 10 GALLONS AND THAT IS ONLY IF I STAND THERE AND FORCE FEED IT MORE GAS VERY SLOWLY WHILE PULLING THE NOZZLE OUT A LITTLE AT A TIME. I HAVE TO FILL IT WAY TOO FREQUENTLY, AND IN THE WINTER IT IS ESPECIALLY INCONVENIENT.

NHTSA ID
11301909
Incident
Dec 30, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Dec 23, 2019

MY TANK WON'T FILL BEYOND 9-10 GALLONS - EVEN WHEN IT SAYS EMPTY - THOUGH THE FUEL TANK SIZE SHOULD BE 14.5. HOWEVER, THE TANK WAS AT MAX CAPACITY WHEN PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID
11290880
Incident
Nov 4, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Jul 19, 2019

FUEL TANK CAPACITY 14.5 GALLONS CAN ONLY BE FILLED TO 9.5 GALLONS WITHOUT AGGRESSIVE "TOPPING OFF". IN ORDER TO AVOID POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM AND VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL DAMAGE, TOPPING OFF NOT USED. HOWEVER, THIS LEAVES THE VEHICLE 5 GALLONS SHORT OF A FULL TANK (ABOUT 200 MILE RANGE LOSS)

NHTSA ID
11233443
Incident
Jul 1, 2019
Mileage
500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 9, 2019

THERE IS AN INABILITY TO COMPLETELY FILL UP THE GAS TANK. EVEN WHEN REACHING THE EMPTY READING ON THE GAS GAUGE, THE CAR ONLY SEEMS TO FILL 9.5-10 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE ARE IS ADVERTISED AS A 14.5-GALLON TANK, BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THAT MUCH FUEL INTO THE TANK.

NHTSA ID
11230375
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
Mileage
4,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 6, 2019

THE FUEL SAYS EMPTY BUT ONLY TAKES 9 GALLONS ON A 14 GALLON TANK. THE DEALER SAID THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THIS IS HAPPENING TO AND TOYOTA IS WORKING ON IT. MY SISTER-IN-LAW BOUGHT ONE A WEEK BEFORE US AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11229761
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Jul 3, 2019

MY 14 GALLON CAPACITY FUEL TANK WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN 9.9 GALLONS. EVEN WHEN I'VE RUN IT TO LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHTS, NEVER DOUBLE DIGIT FILLS. I'VE USED AT LEAST A DOZEN DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS AND SUPPLIERS INCLUDING ONE IN OREGON AND ALWAYS THE SAME LIMITATION. OWNERS MANUAL CAUTIONS AGAINST CONTINUING TO FILL AFTER AUTO SHUT OFF. WE HAVE TRIED FAST FILLS, SLOW FILLS, MANUALLY HOLDING THE NOZZLE AND HOLDING THE TRIGGER, MANY ANGLES ARE FAILING TO GET OVER 9.9! ROTTEN TO GET FAR LESS MILEAGE PER TANK THAN TOYOTA COMMERCIALS SHOW. I AM TEMPTED TO TRY FILLING AFTER THE CLICK OFF. WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE? IS THIS DANGEROUS SYMPTOM OR MANUFACTURING ERROR? CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2504 AND PROBLEM PERSISTS SINCE FORST BOUGHT NEW THROUGH THIS DATE. THANKS!

NHTSA ID
11229116
Incident
Jun 10, 2019
Mileage
1,809 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2019

FUEL TANK DOES NOT FILL UP TO FULL. RANGE ADVERTISED AS WELL OVER 500 MILES BUT USUAL RANGE AFTER FILL UP IN 400S.

NHTSA ID
11222043
Incident
Jun 24, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2019

WHEN FILLING UP, THE GAS CUTS OFF VERY EARLY; THE GAS GAUGE WILL ONLY READ 3/4 TO 7/8 FULL. THIS LEADS TO "TOPPING OFF" WHICH IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11221991
Incident
Jun 23, 2019
Mileage
300 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2019

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK THE SAME WAY ALL CARS ARE FILLED, THE FUEL PUMP HANDLE/NOZZLE CLICKS OFF LONG BEFORE THE TANK SHOWS AS FULL. THE TANK IS NOT GETTING FILLED COMPLETELY, AS I CAN [VIOLATE OREGON STATE LAW] AND CONTINUE FILLING IT ABOUT 1.5 MORE GALLONS. 1ST ATTEMPT AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY DISMISSED THE CONCERN. 2ND ATTEMPT WAS AFTER I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THE DEALER CALLED ME BACK IN AND WITNESSED THE "UNFULL" TANK UPON FILLING IT USING THEIR IN-HOUSE STATION. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 27, 2019 BUT I'M READING ONLINE THAT EVERYONE IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND AND WE NEED GOVERNMENT HELP TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

NHTSA ID
11221951
Incident
May 11, 2019
Mileage
400 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILSON TOYOTA OF AMES (LOCATED AT 2212 S DUFF AVE, AMES, IA 50010, (888) 485-5650), BUT NO MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ID
11221485
Incident
May 20, 2019
Mileage
200 mi

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

Data on this page last refreshed .