2020 Toyota RAV4 Problems And Complaints

Mechanical Problems 

• Engine – It was reported that the users could hear a loud noise from the engine bay when starting the vehicle. The nose was said to not exist otherwise and when the dealers took a look, it was found that the drive belt had worn out. Replacing the belt resolved this issue.
• Engine cooling – The users reported a high engine temperature though there were no drastic weather switches. This made it almost impossible for them to drive the car and had to tow the vehicle to the dealers. The vehicle was said to have a coolant leak and the users were informed about the recall for the same issue. However, the dealer was not able to perform the repair as the necessary parts were unavailable.
• Fuel tank – Users were complaining that the RAV4 would display a low fuel warning after using 10 gallons of fuel while the car was promised to hold 14.5 gallons. This was a very common issue but the dealers did not have a fix as the issue was under investigation by Toyota. The manufacturer later issues a recall to fix the faulty fuel pump which stops the users from filling the tank completely.
• Transmission – It was said that the vehicle would have rough shifts initially and the car would jerk during this period. Users found this to repeat very often but a diagnosis revealed that the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) required a software update.

Electrical Problems 

• Battery – Users found the battery on their RAV4 to drain out completely after parking the vehicle for a couple of days. The vehicle had to be jump-started for the user to drive the vehicle to the mechanic. It was reported that there were no electronics turned on while the vehicle was parked and the dealers stated that there were no faults with the battery. The issue was said to be common for this model year and the users were recommended to pug the battery off when parking the vehicle for an extended period.

Structural Problems 

• Exterior mirrors – It was reported that the side-view mirror would vibrate when accelerating over 50 mph and this was said to disturb the view of the driver. Some even reported this issue to cause nausea and the dealers stated it to be a manufacturing/ structural defect that does not have a fix.

Safety Problems 

• Airbags – Multiple incidents were reported where the vehicle was involved in an accident and the airbags failed to deploy. This increases the chances of severe injury and the dealers found out that the airbag control module needed to be reset.

2020 Toyota RAV4 recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1.	25th November 2020	20V734000	Steering Column Damage Affects Air Bag Performance	Breakaway pins in the steering column, which are intended to absorb energy and lessen injuries during a crash, may have been improperly manufactured, which could have had an impact on how well the driver's airbag would function in the case of a collision. As a result, these vehicles don't meet the FMVSS occupant crash protection criteria.	Owners will be informed by Toyota, and technicians will change the steering column at no cost.
2.	4th November 2020	20V682000	Fuel Pump May Fail	The internal low-pressure fuel pump in the gas tank could stop functioning. As a result, there is a greater chance of an accident if the engine stalls while the vehicle is in motion.	Owners will be notified by Toyota, and dealers will upgrade the fuel pump assembly at no additional cost. Due to the shortage of necessary parts, the affected vehicles will be called for repair in batches.
3.	24th June 2020	20V373000	Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist	Through the steering gearbox cover, water may get inside and disrupt the electric power steering assist. At slow vehicle speeds, this can increase steering effort and raise the possibility of a collision.	Owners will be notified by Toyota, and dealers will replace the power steering gearbox for no additional cost.
4.	20th May 2020	20V286000	Front Lower Suspension Arms May Separate	There could be cracks in the lower front suspension arms, which could lead to the suspension arm disconnecting from the front wheel assembly. This may lead to a loss of vehicle control, raising the possibility of an accident.	Owners will be informed by Toyota, and dealers will replace the front lower suspension arms at no cost.
5.	6th February 2020	20V064000	Engine may Leak Coolant	The engine castings' porosity may lead to cracks that could let coolant leak internally or externally. In traditional gasoline automobiles, a coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and stall, increasing the risk of an accident. Additionally, the mechanical integrity of the engines of all involved vehicles could be harmed, raising the possibility of an engine oil leak and a subsequent fire.	Owners will be notified by Toyota, and dealers will check and repair the engine for free, including the engine block replacement, if necessary.

Should you buy the 2020 Toyota RAV4?

It's rather hard to not suggest the 2020 Toyota RAV4 than to suggest the vehicle for someone looking to buy a long-lasting SUV. Wearing the Toyota badge in itself is a validating factor for the vehicle to be reliable and despite having over 200 complaints registered, those numbers are a very minute part when taking into consideration the number of RAV4s sold in the respective year. Toyota has also been able to address and fix the majority of issues reported, making the RAV4 a suitable vehicle to buy in the used market but we would recommend getting the vehicle inspected for any fuel pump issues. It is also ideal to get the battery health checked on the RAV4 before proceeding with the deal as weak batteries were the most issue reported on this particular model. Though the Kia and Hyundai offer better tech and feature lists, we see them eating up more money in the long run.