RoadVitals

2020 Toyota RAV4 Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
9
Latest Feb 6, 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.
1%
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 9 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 suspension

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

SuspensionVisibility
Filed Feb 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, there was water leaking from the sunroof. While driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that front alignment was needed, and that the roof rails needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,782.

NHTSA ID
11716210
Incident
Feb 6, 2026
Mileage
149,782 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 7, 2024

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
Suspension
Filed Sep 5, 2024

I took my car to the dealer this week and was told I need to replace both front lower control arms. I noticed other cars for that year have a recall for this specific problem so I called Toyota but I was told that I had 0 recalls on my vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11612737
Incident
Sep 3, 2024
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Sep 6, 2023

SRS AIR BAG MLFUNCTION

NHTSA ID
11542939
Incident
Sep 3, 2023
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Apr 19, 2023

The front suspension has problem I noticed recently the sway bar and front studs of the car is not reliable and also the fuel tank also has issue even if the tank is not fuel it refuses to take more fuel

NHTSA ID
11517936
Incident
Apr 17, 2023
Suspension
Filed Nov 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right onto a main road, there was a loud clicking noise coming from under the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the noise was intermittent. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V286000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

NHTSA ID
11492823
Incident
Nov 7, 2022
Mileage
22,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Mar 6, 2022

Dash lights went out and windows stopped working (incident date is for dash lights). Clocks are often blank. Clearly there is an electrical/wiring issue. I have complained about it to the dealer at the 5k check, 10k check and the 15k check. At the 15k check they reset the radio! Also when turning right it feels like the front wheel is curling under the vehicle and makes a terrible sound (but not always). I made dealer aware of this at the 5k check, 10k check and 15k check. My warranty will be up soon so they just keep riding the clock out.

NHTSA ID
11455396
Incident
Feb 26, 2022
Suspension
Filed Aug 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V286000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER STAPP TOYOTA LOCATED AT 8019 RASPBERRY WAY, FREDERICK, CO 80504, WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11351775
Incident
Jul 1, 2020
Suspension
Filed May 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WAS LOOSE AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOM WOOD TOYOTA (6408 CRANE DR, WHITESTOWN, IN 46075) ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE THE ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANDY MOHR TOYOTA (8941 E US HWY 36, AVON, IN 46123) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MISSING FRONT TOE LINK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO ANDY MOHR TOYOTA FOR THE SECOND TIME WHERE THE MECHANIC MANUALLY ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V286000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.

NHTSA ID
11326333
Incident
Jan 27, 2020
Mileage
60 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.

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 .