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2021 Toyota RAV4

HybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
A
Safety Signal
92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns1
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA405
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA40 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RAV4 Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 405 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
RAV4 Hybrid AWDHybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 245V Li-Ion and NiMH413840$1,550
RAV4GasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273530$2,100
RAV4GasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283530$2,100
RAV4 AWD LEGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl273430$2,100
RAV4 AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl273329$2,150
RAV4 AWDGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl253328$2,250
RAV4 AWD TRD OFFROADGasAWD2.5L 4-cyl253228$2,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42972, 42959, 42960, 42971, 42968, 42969, 42970.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

23TA15, 23LA03
999,901 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.RiskAn air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.FixDealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
NHTSA campaign 23V865000reported Dec 20, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
405complaints filed

47 involved a crash · 7 a fire · 49 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 5 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 43 · 2024: 95 · 2025: 120 · 2026: 53

Most-cited components

Air Bags142
Unspecified73
Electrical System49
Engine40
Fuel/Propulsion System21
Power Train21

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); 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 dealer was made awar…”Mar 17, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 dealer was made awar…”Mar 13, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 …”Feb 4, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 RAV4 with

2021 Tesla Model Y →2021 Honda CR-V →2021 Chevrolet Equinox →2021 Nissan Rogue →2021 Hyundai Tucson →

Other RAV4 model years

A

2026 Toyota RAV4

0 recalls · 28 complaints

C

2025 Toyota RAV4

4 recalls · 100 complaints

C

2024 Toyota RAV4

4 recalls · 173 complaints

B

2023 Toyota RAV4

3 recalls · 159 complaints

B

2022 Toyota RAV4

2 recalls · 149 complaints

F

2020 Toyota RAV4

6 recalls · 646 complaints

F

2019 Toyota RAV4

8 recalls · 897 complaints

C

2018 Toyota RAV4

3 recalls · 345 complaints

C

2017 Toyota RAV4

3 recalls · 319 complaints

D

2016 Toyota RAV4

3 recalls · 255 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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