RoadVitals

2020 Toyota RAV4 Interior & seats Problems

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

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
12
Latest Jul 22, 2026
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.
2%
of 627 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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 interior

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

Interior & seats
Filed Jul 22, 2026

Front driver side door is not locking remotely or with manual door lock button. Door lock is open when driving. And need to be locked with finger.

NHTSA ID
11752052
Incident
Jun 1, 2026
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 23, 2026

In March 2025 the driver door lock stopped working electronically and would only work manually. In August 2025 the passenger door lock stopped working noisy of the time. In Dec 2025 the rear passenger side does lock stopped working most of the time.

NHTSA ID
11745836
Incident
Mar 1, 2025
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 23, 2025

Failure of the Drivers Side Power Seat.

NHTSA ID
11662875
Incident
May 12, 2025
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 7, 2024

The contact's son owns a 2020 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that when it rained, rainwater entered the vehicle onto the passenger’s side front door panel. The contact stated that the sound of the water slushing around in the front passenger's door panel was very distracting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed door trim. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side door trim needed to be cut and drained. The contact stated that there was more than a gallon of water released from the front passenger's side door panel drain. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID
11607124
Incident
Aug 5, 2024
Mileage
111,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 3, 2024

on 5/28/24 the vehicle air bag lights and front passenger seat light was flashing and an alarm continuously went off with a message to visit a dealer for service. On 5/29/24 the vehicle was brought in for inspection to a Toyota dealer. I was told an electrical wiring needed to be replaced. Dealership did that but it did not correct the issue. Codes were not resetting. They are now saying it is a wiring/electrical issue under passenger seat and saying they have been communicating with Toyota. We do not have a Toyota extended warranty but vehicle has 32K miles and are told by dealership Toyota should be covering. I am submitting this to have this on record as we have warning lights, messages, etc. occurring which is a safety issue under NHTSA. Dealership keeps increasing charges for parts and labor and states our 3rd party warranty may or may not cover charges. They are trying to determine the issue and if Toyota will cover and resolve.

NHTSA ID
11592133
Incident
May 28, 2024
Interior & seats
Filed May 23, 2024

The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, her pregnant daughter attempted to move the driver's seat back, and the seat failed to respond as intended. The contact stated the vehicle could not be driven because the seat distance could not be adjusted to drive properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ID
11590482
Incident
May 7, 2024
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 24, 2024

The rear hatch liftgate hinges are not adequately structured to withhold pressure under normal use. Over varied short durations of time from the vehicle being new, the rear liftgate hinge's structure fails. The hinges split and crack. This damage occurs despite factory liftgate struts being in plate to assist in the opening of the liftgate. In my case this issue first appeared during and after a snowstorm. A multitude of similar complaints on forums. This has caused my liftgate to misalign and not close. I have had to turn off the auto liftgate and slowly close it despite it is now rubbing the right rear fender/quarter area. As of now I have to repair the issue with new hinges that have not been redesigned, that will again likely prematurely fail. You can view the complaints within Toyota Forums, all see February 2024 class action lawsuit, Hughes vs Toyota attached with the below photos

NHTSA ID
11573768
Incident
Jan 17, 2024
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 19, 2024

My 2020 Rav4 back trunk hinge is coming loose, there for the truck won't close evenly. I took it to dealership to get it fixed, but instead they blamed me but its clearly a manufacturing problem they don't want to take responsibility for it.

NHTSA ID
11572802
Incident
Feb 8, 2024
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 16, 2024

Power liftgate does not close evenly on both sides. Upon checking, I found that the right side hinge is on the verge of breaking.

NHTSA ID
11572353
Incident
Jun 1, 2023
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 9, 2021

I am reporting a PROBLEM - the headrests on the front driver and passenger seats will NOT stay down on my 2020 Toyota Rav4- they always slowly keep moving upwards- I guess from the natural vibrations of the road. I complained at the Toyota service department (at Wilde Toyota in Milwaukee Wisconsin) and they said that is how their headrests work in the Toyota Rav4 - they don't stay down. While this may not be an issue for a tall person, an average person of 5 ft 5 inch tall or shorter would have a serious problem with their head being smacked around when the headrest won't stay down - I have never experienced a headrest that won't lock in place and stay there- I think this could be terrible if I got into an accident and my headrest was in the wrong position. I am shocked that Toyota does not care. I think you should check into this. A manager there did acknowledge he has heard of this problem before and has had a few people complain about it but they don't think it is a big deal. - they were tall men so they didn't care - they like the headrest all the way up as far as it goes.

NHTSA ID
11432370
Incident
Sep 9, 2021
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 6, 2021

UNLESS ALL BACK PASSENGER SEATBELTS ARE FASTENED, THE 'FASTEN SEATBELT SEAT' LIGHT AND BEEPING CONTINUOUSLY GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN NOTHING IS ON THE SEATS AND NO ONE IS SEATED IN THESE SEATS. THIS HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY ONGOING, WHILE DRIVING, SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALER LOT IN MAY 2020.

NHTSA ID
11406644
Incident
May 26, 2020
Mileage
5 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 21, 2020

TETHER ANCHORS ARE MISSING OR NOT VISIBLE. THE LABELS ARE MISSING AS WELL. I'M TRYING TO USE A CARSEAT FORWARD FACING AND NEED TO USE THE TETHER ANCHORS. COULDN'T UPLOAD THE PICTURES.

NHTSA ID
11384422
Incident
Dec 21, 2020

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .