2023 Toyota RAV4 Fuel system Problems

On August 6 2026, my RAV4 just cut off at the traffic light. The car was completely dead. I was unable to unlock the trunk but the doors did open. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership. The tow truck man hooked up his portable car charger and the car started. On August 8, 2026 the car cut off after parking in a parking space and would not start so I had to get a jump off. After driving for approximately 50 miles to home, I got a low voltage warning and a statement the battery is charging. The local Toyota dealership did a diagnostic test on August 11, 2026 and stated the battery, starter, and alternator were okay. The same thing happened again on August 12, 2026. The car just cut off after stopping in the parking lot. After getting a jump off, I received a message that the battery is charging. Also, the car shifts speed while driving.

NHTSA ID

11756623

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

The vehicle exhibits a consistent and reproducible malfunction in the powertrain system, specifically related to acceleration response and drivetrain engagement. While driving at a steady speed, when the accelerator is pressed gradually (approximately 50–60%), the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate accordingly. There is a delay in power delivery. When the accelerator is released, the engine may continue revving briefly, followed by a sudden and jerky engagement of the drivetrain. This issue occurs consistently under the same driving conditions and can be reproduced every time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction creates a safety risk when merging into traffic, entering intersections, or making turns. The vehicle does not respond when acceleration is required, which can lead to dangerous situations where other vehicles may approach at higher speeds. After the delay, the vehicle may surge forward unexpectedly, increasing the risk of collision. The issue has been reported to multiple authorized Toyota dealerships on several occasions within the first 15 months of ownership. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership technicians, but the concern has not been diagnosed or repaired. Dealerships have stated that the behavior is normal, despite the repeatable nature of the issue. No warning lights, error messages, or diagnostic indicators have appeared at any time. No diagnostic trouble codes have been reported. The vehicle is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the behavior appears consistent with a possible transmission, torque converter, or drivetrain control malfunction affecting acceleration response. The condition is not related to driver input and occurs under controlled, repeatable conditions.

NHTSA ID

11726160

Incident

Jun 20, 2023

Was sitting in my car in the rain and all of a sudden the engine cut off. The check engine light came on and the error message on the dashboard said " Engine Power Reduced". If I try to put it in anything but Park, it won't let me. I have never had this issue, or any issue with this car. If I had been driving, this would have run me off the road.

NHTSA ID

11659158

Incident

May 6, 2025

Sudden surge and acceleration upon parking. I had brakes depressed pulling into a parking space when the vehicle felt like it jumped and quickly accelerated. It veered left missing the parked van in front of me but crashing into the parked Honda Accord two spots over and one in front. It crashed into the back tire and fender area of the passenger side of the Honda pushing it completely out of its spot and sideways. My vehicle kept going even though pushing the brakes to stop. I had to force it into park to stop. The car’s air bags deployed but my Toyota’s airbags nor crash warning system worked.

NHTSA ID

11654811

Incident

Apr 13, 2025

My Gas tank does not fill up properly. It seems to trigger the automatic shut off at gas stations when it is only 3/4 full. I then have to keep putting gas it with about 6 more shut offs to get the tank full.

NHTSA ID

11646909

Incident

Mar 6, 2025

2023 Toyota Rav4 hybrid (XSE) is said to have fuel tank capacity of 14.5 Gal with range in miles (city/hwy) 594.5/551.0 mi. When I first got my car, I can fuel it up to 520 mile driving distance. After a while, I can only fuel up to 430 mile, with no other accident. The tank cannot be fully fueled. This incidence has been widely observed in owners with the same year model. The actual reason is unknown. Some went to the dealership and replaced the sensor, some just got diagnosed with no issue. None of these has actually fixed the issue. The real answer could be the issue of the sensor or tank, or something else. This malfunction with unknown reason is risky for the use of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11642739

Incident

Oct 20, 2024

A strong fuel odor was evident in the cabin, and also under the hood after operation. Vehicle use was low, approx. 6K miles from new. My wife reported this to the dealer service department. They said nothing was wrong with the vehicle. Approx. 2K miles later, I reported the same problem to the dealer. Service rep said vehicle was unsafe to drive due to over torqued and leaking fuel line. They repaired it for no charge. No fuel vapors now, but if this is a production quality issue that others have reported, only to be told nothing was wrong, I think a major fuel-combustion safety issue may be overlooked. I am submitting documentation. Also, I am concerned about health effects of sustained fuel vapor exposure over months of driving. My wife rear-ended a stopped vehicle, possibly due to cognitive impairment from fuel vapor exposure. No warning indicators were ever triggered. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11576220

Incident

Jan 26, 2024

My 2023 Rav4 is having same or similar issues previously described on tsb 010920 for models 2019 to 2021. Toyota of Iowa city is saying issue is under investigation for the last 5 months.

NHTSA ID

11568821

Incident

Oct 18, 2023

I bought a 2023 Rav4 Hybrid XLE brand new. On my first refill of the gas tank, I noticed that the gas needle would only go a smidge over the 3/4 mark. The RAV4 hybrid is supposed to have 14.5 gallons and around 540 miles per tank but I estimate it to fill around 10.5 gallons and the car shows around 413 miles per tank. I've attached two images I took when I filled up the tank, the car showed around 36 miles left to empty and it only pumped 8.8 gals.

NHTSA ID

11549454

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

In short: My car only fills up to less than 10.5 gallons on an empty tank of gas when the fuel capacity of the tank is 14.5. Toyota is aware of this issue on their RAV4 hybrids and they're not doing anything to fix this consumer issue. This is dangerous for many reasons.

NHTSA ID

11538017

Incident

Jul 13, 2023