81 complaints reported

2018 Toyota RAV4 Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
81
Crashes
0
Fires
11
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2026

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list because she no longer owns the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2026
Dec 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the front driver's side door and the liftgate had failed to open intermittently while using the key fob. The contact stated that the front driver's side door opened upon pulling the interior door handle, and the liftgate would manually open with the key. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to smoothly shift into gear. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2025
Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while changing the oil, he became aware that the battery was covered in corrosion and there was acid leaking from the battery tray. The vehicle was not diagnosed, but the contact was advised that the tray needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but refused to replace the battery. The failure mileage was approximately 66,327.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2025
Oct 2025 Fire

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving into a parking lot at a very low speed when the vehicles engine shut off, the contact proceeded to attempt to restart the vehicle however the engine would not start, and upon inspecting underneath the hood of the vehicle the contact noticed that a flame had began to arise from the battery. The contact immediately proceeded to extinguish the fire with a towel. The vehicle was unoccupied as soon as the fire was noticed. A fire department report was not filed. A police department report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed however, the contact was advised that further diagnosis was required in order to determine the cause for failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as pthe robable cause for the failure experienced. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2025
Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about parts availability. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start due to a severed wiring harness. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2025
Sep 2025

After receiving a recall notice from Toyota for the battery mount I scheduled my appointment on June 24, 2025. After spending $916.31 on maintenance products all of a sudden the dealership did not have the battery mount for my vehicle. Is this legal? Why would a dealership schedule a repair and not have the product to complete the recall? I was informed that I would be called when they had the part available and I still have not heard from the Toyota dealership. Are three months later considered a timely matter to correct the problem?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2025
Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair. The contact was informed that the correct size battery needed to be purchased to replace the current battery before the recall repair could be performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that battery was not the correct size, and a new battery was needed. The manufacturer declined to assist with the cost of replacing the battery. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2025
Sep 2025

See attached document for complaint.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2025
Aug 2025

I received a recall notice from Toyota in 2023 for battery defect that could case short circuit and risk of fire. as of today aug. 13, 2025 they have been unable to repair/replace.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2023
Aug 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2024
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while parked at the residence, the contact turned off the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle lost power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2025
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000(Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2025
Jul 2025

My vehicle has a recall for the battery. I took my car into Toyota in San Juan Capistrano. Car was purchased and owner’s manual states this vehicle uses a size 35 battery. When I returned to pick up my vehicle the service technician told me that “Toyota will only honor the recall on vehicles with a size 36 battery, and in order for them to rectify the recall was for me to purchase a size 36 battery. There is no mention of that on our recall notice nor is there anything stating that on the NTSA website. What can i do to get this fix this issue. I believe this problem is also the reason we have had to replace our battery 3 times since 2021and also the cause of other malfunctions in our vehicle

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2025
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2025
Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2025
Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2025
Jun 2025

Toyota hasn’t remedied this battery tray and tiedown fire risk recall in a timely manner. It’s been over a year.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2024
May 2025 Fire

The vehicle's battery area caught fire. I was able to get out of the vehicle on time and call the fire department. Over 50% of the vehicle was consumed by the fire. Vehicle was my spouse's and she usually drives it alone with my [XXX] and she is [XXX]. Thankfully, I was driving it alone. NHTSA recall 23V734 came out on 11/2023 and they expected to have the fix by the end of 2024 but it never happened. The last vehicle maintenance by the dealer was in 02/15/2025. The vehicle has not been inspected yet but the insurance will make an appointment soon to do so. The preliminary findings of the fire department pinpointed the problem in the battery area. Prior to the fire, the vehicle shut down and the steering wheel locked. I turned it on and drove it out of the road and it did it again and when I came out of the vehicle, I saw smoke coming out of the hood and that's when I saw the fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2025
May 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was concerned about the risk of a fire stated in the recall. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2023
May 2025

I’ve been waiting for more than a year for this recall, there is still no remedy for me. This is unacceptable and Toyota has offered me nothing to compensate for my inability to use my vehicle for such a long time. Hoping this complaint can do something before I go to a court.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2025
Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2025
Apr 2025

I took a video: for at least the 6th time since owning this vehicle a multi alert shows up on dash. “Brake Power Low, Visit your dealer”, “Antilock Brake System Malfunction, visit your dealer”, “Lame departure alert, visit your dealer”, “Pre-collision system malfunction, visit your dealer”, “AWD system malfunction, 2WD mode engaged, visit your dealer”, I have 2 other Rav 4s both of which have also shown this issue. A 2016 & a 2017. The 2017 this happened twice I believe. The 2016 at least twice. It’s currently on now in my 2018. Been on 2 days, but was off previous 2 days, but on 1 day before that.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2025
Mar 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2023
Mar 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2023
Mar 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2018 TOYOTA RAV4, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2024

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Toyota RAV4 has 81 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.