2020 Toyota RAV4 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle felt like it was going to flip over. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the dealer was made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (Steering). The contact associated the failure with the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11744881

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

Mileage

74,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an electronic power steering module failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was not inspected. The contact was provided a diagnostic test fee, and the contact declined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 133,255.

NHTSA ID

11722079

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

Mileage

133,255 mi

When trying to start my vehicle this morning, the car was having a noticeable issue the minute I turned on the vehicle. It was making some weird noises under the hood, and it was starting to lose power. Then the engine would cut out and a warning would appear on my dash that read, "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" Thank God this happened while I was at home. What if this had happened while I was driving down the road, at a red light. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of the road and would not want to put my kids or I in jeopardy of being hit.

NHTSA ID

11713174

Incident

Jan 25, 2026

unknown power steering issues

NHTSA ID

11698828

Incident

Nov 11, 2025

For the last 2 months, a code comes up it says loss of electric power steering assist. It came up 15 times in two months. What happens is a steering wheel ceases up for a second or two and then the code goes away. This is something that could happen anytime especially if I have my grandchildren with me and ex steering wheel could freeze up and I wouldn’t be able to steer around an accident at an intersection or something. This is very hazardous to me and my family. There was a recall on some of the 2020 Toyota RAV4’s in the past. I’m telling you I’m not a liar. I do get this coming up this way too many times.

NHTSA ID

11691251

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

i cant use my cruise control its not going straight and everytime im turning i can hear a grinding noise its coming from power steering

NHTSA ID

11673563

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

I was driving the car with no issues on [XXX]- made two 30-minute trips with no issues the same day. During a 15-minute drive, the car was fine until I was at an intersection 12 minutes into the drive [XXX] and [XXX] ). I was stopped at the intersection for maybe a minute, and when the traffic light turned green, I released my brake and went to accelerate when I got the following display message: "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low." The engine turned off, and I couldn't get the car to budge in drive or reverse. When I tried pressing on the gas pedal, it wouldn't budge and felt very stiff. I'm thankful this happened at a smaller intersection on a Sunday evening because my car wouldn't start back up and was stuck in the dead center of this intersection. Cars going East and South all had to drive around me. This put my safety at risk because I had to hop out of my car and redirect people around it until a kind passerby pulled over to help push my car to the right-side turning lane. I was standing in the middle of an intersection on a road with a 35-40 mph speed limit. After pushing the car to the curb and calling a few towing places (maybe 20 minutes later), I tried starting the car again, and it started with no issues whatsoever. I drove it the rest of the way back (for 3 minutes) with no problems, and I made another three 20-25 minute drives on it today. Nothing sounds wrong with the car; it's running with no issues. I would take my car to the dealership for a diagnostic, but I can't afford to right now. I will put my battery on a tender and use a multimeter to check the voltage within the next few days. Regular maintenance has been kept, and the car has never had this happen prior. I've never received the "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low" message prior to this incident. The car is available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11673543

Incident

Jul 13, 2025

After 4 to 5 years vehicle has begun to sporadically upon the first 10 minutes of driving to show a low power steering error message. The error message turns on and turns off within one second many people have been reporting the same issue with even their newer model RAV4’s. This is not acceptable.

NHTSA ID

11653243

Incident

Apr 7, 2025

Since I've owned the vehicle it has made loud squeaking, scraping, popping, and clicking noises in the suspension and steering. When I first turn the vehicle on and use the brakes they are very loud as if they are worn. I've had the brakes checked and the dealer said the brakes are fine. When I turn the steering wheel it makes a loud crunching rubbing noise that I can feel in the floor board. My vehicle is less than 5 years old and less than 60,000 miles. I've never had a vehicle made so many noises and it's terrifying to wonder if something is just going to break off or stop working.

NHTSA ID

11618398

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

While I was driving the power steering light came on and lost power. A message came on the vehicle history alert. After driving slowly for 2 miles it when away and got power back on the steering

NHTSA ID

11604847

Incident

Jul 24, 2024

Electronic power steering failure. Upon starting the car, the steering wheel has no power steering. The steering wheel can still be turned but requires a lot of force. There were no warning lights or messages on the dashboard or infotainment system before or after the issue. Toyota has issued recalls for this issue but informed me that my car is not covered under the recall, despite having the exact same issue on the exact same model described in the recall. (NTSHA ID: 20V373000, Toyota ID: 20TB11 / 20TA11) This is dangerous as it could have failed while driving, leading to an accident.

NHTSA ID

11579053

Incident

Mar 22, 2024

Power steering light is on and possibly due to water penetration from recent heavy rainfall.

NHTSA ID

11542414

Incident

Sep 3, 2023

High Voltage Warning and Low Power to Steering reading on the dashboard. Service engine warning!

NHTSA ID

11541981

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power while accelerating. The contact heard a ding and became aware of an irregular voltage spike, steering power, and other unknown messages were displayed before quickly disappearing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,600.

NHTSA ID

11539295

Incident

Aug 8, 2023

Mileage

172,600 mi

Power steering would not work. Warning lights on dash came on which was a steering wheel with an exclamation point.

NHTSA ID

11496861

Incident

Dec 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11482590

Incident

Sep 2, 2022

Mileage

43,000 mi

I drove my car to work on 8/6/2022 at 1pm. Everythings were ok. At 10:30pm I started the engine. Put in gear and started to go I felt there is no power steering at all. It was so hard to turn. I left engine running and walk out make sure all the tires inflated. I went back to the car still no power steering. I tried to drive home without power steering assist. There was no warning lights. It took 20 min on freeway to drive home and still no power steering. If I turn on LTA then I will show LTA malfunction

NHTSA ID

11477985

Incident

Aug 6, 2022

In the screen of my car I saw this note : Voltage abnormality steering power low

NHTSA ID

11461409

Incident

Apr 19, 2022

the car simply a LEMON big time was bought on 08/2020 thru the Santa Monica city Toyota Dealers...they are awful too. let my dad, 80, buy all extra insurances when its brand new car and has 3 years bumper to bumper warranty. he and me his daughter that is dedicated driver sometimes keep complain that its get bazuka after 35--39 and move up miles per hours, power steering wheel Out of control basically. can be turn 65 to 90 degree angle without even sorry to say spitting on it..., the UGLY safety feature that will help you to change the lane on freeway, we wouldn't even will be mentioning that. I think its million dollars case here as a LEMON LAW against Toyota Corporation

NHTSA ID

11435490

Incident

Oct 2, 2021

Ongoing problem with an intermittent steering issue. The problem is that this is an intermittent issue and hard to get to dealer during time of concern, and while they could troubleshoot the issue before the issue fixes itself. The concern ALWAYS happens upon starting vehicle. Never happens when you are already going and issue is not present. Steering wheel will pull right, or left, upon start up, and then at some point it fixes itself and problem is no longer an issue. Could happen at any time upon start up, cold or hot weather, fresh start, or going back out after having been on road already, just no rhyme or reason for it. The safety issue is that when turning, when it is pulling, is that it pulls you towards the curb/shoulder, or towards oncoming traffic. Additionally, it will also not return the wheel after a turn, so if it was pulling left, and you are turning left for example, you have to manually get that wheel back or it'll just keep going left. I've experimented with turning off lane keep assist, lane centering (cruise control), put it in different modes like trail, sport, etc. and even stopped on the shoulder, and tried to re-start the vehicle. Nothing can stop it consistently. And it fixes itself within a 10 minute period. I have checked the AWD monitor screen to see if a wheel is pulling harder than the others based on the display of power going to wheels, no luck. It has been doing this since day one. Not every trip. Not even every week. Sometimes it could happen 5x in a week, and sometimes it could be 2 weeks before it happens again and then again in another couple of weeks. Not the road either. Must be paying attention when starting out because it could happen on any trip, during a trip if stopping and re-starting vehicle while on a trip, etc. because it can/will pull you. I have a video, albeit hard to really see much but shows car pulling. Also note this is NOT a torque steer because it could happen on acceleration OR not.

NHTSA ID

11421778

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

NEW VEHICLE BROUGHT IN FOR IT'S 5K MAINTENANCE, TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. I POINTED OUT SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE GAS TANK RANGE, BSM, CAMERA SHUTTING OFF, AND THAT I HAVE TO KEEP THE STEARING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO GO STRAIGHT. 5K MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED, THEY NOTICED THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED. DRIVING HOME, NO DIFFERENCE FROM WHEN FIRST BROUGHT IN. BRING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY, THE DAY AFTER, I'AM NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR IS READY FOR PICK UP, I ASK WERE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND WHAT CAUSED THE AGLINMENT TO GO OUT A SECOND TIME. THERE RESPONSE IS THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF WHAT CAUSED IT. INFORM THEM THAT 1. I'AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND 2. THE LONG TERM DAMAGE THIS IS CAUSING. THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO THE PROCESS, AND HAVE MANAGEMENT INVOLVED. NEXT DAY, MANAGER INFORMS ME THAT THE AGLINMENT MACHINE WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION, HE HAD TO STOP A TECHNICIAN FROM WORKING ON THE CAR, HAD THE MACHINE CALIBRATED, AND THAT HE PERSONALLY PERFORMED THE ALGINMENT. I PICK UP THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE TURNED TO THE LEFT TO GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT 35-45MPH, SLOWING DOWN/STOPPING & ACCLERATING. BRING IT IN NEXT DAY, MANGER HAS 3 ALGINMENTS PERFORMED TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY VARIATIONS, TELLS ME EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. IT IS SO PERFECT THEY DIDNT EVEN HAVE TO TAKE A WRENCH TO IT. REASSURES ME NUMEROUS TIMES THAT IT IS SAFE AND IN SPEC, HANDS ME A PAPER "PROVING" SO. DRIVE HOME, STEERING WHEEL IS STILL TO THE LEFT. I LOOK AT THE PAPER AND IT CLEARLY LISTS 3 VALUES THAT ARE MARKED AS NOT WITHIN SPEC, AND THAT IT MAY CAUSE WEAR, HANDLING AND SAFETY ISSUES. CAR IS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. DURING THERE TEST DRIVE THE TECH NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS JERKING TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEARING WHEEL NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE & THE ALGIMENT IS OUT OF SPEC.

NHTSA ID

11397651

Incident

Feb 15, 2021

Mileage

5,000 mi

1.OCCASIONALLY STEERING ISSUES, CAR WANTING TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING MAINLY NOTICE ON HIGHWAY. 2. SECOND INCIDENT WHERE BATTERY DEAD AFTER NOT DRIVING CAR FOR THREE DAYS.

NHTSA ID

11389647

Incident

Jan 24, 2021

Mileage

10,000 mi

STEERING IS TOO LOOSE TO CONTROL. I BROUGHT TO DEALER 3 TIMES THEY SAID IT OK EVERY TIMES. I FEEL ARE NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON HIGH WAYS. LAST WEEK ALMOST SLICED FROM THE ROAD. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

NHTSA ID

11383940

Incident

Nov 26, 2020

THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR TWO HOURS (FROM NYC TO PHILADELPHIA) THEN PARALLEL PARKED ON A CITY STREET AND TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED LESS THAN ONE MINUTE AFTER BEING TURNED OFF (TO IMPROVE THE PARKING JOB); THE CAR STARTED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, BUT THE WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN A PARTIALLY DRAINED BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

11343554

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

1,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH AND WITHOUT THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE ACTIVATED. WITHIN ANOTHER 2-4 MILES THE FAILURE WAS INDEPENDENTLY REMEDIED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DELUCA TOYOTA (1719 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471, (352) 732-0770) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *LN*JB *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

11340719

Incident

Jun 16, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi