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Before you buy a used Toyota RAV4 (V).

2019–2026 · Petrol / Hybrid / Plug-in hybrid · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Toyota RAV4 (V), real photo of this generation
Alistair Fernandez · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.

2.0 VVT-i

Petrol

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

2.5 Hybrid

Hybrid

2.5 Plug-in Hybrid

Plug-in hybrid

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Toyota RAV4 (V)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
2.0 VVT-iPetrolFewest documented62 with conditions5
2.5 HybridHybrid92 with conditions5
2.5 Plug-in HybridPlug-in hybrid72 with conditions6

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.0 VVT-i (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Toyota dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Toyota brake recalls (2000–2025)Brakes

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Toyota wheel, axle and suspension recalls (2004–2026)Suspension and steering

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Toyota engine, transmission and software recalls (2002–2026)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Toyota electrical, lighting and electronics recalls (2004–2025)Electrical and electronic systems

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Toyota other recalls (2019–2022)Bodywork

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Toyota electric and hybrid drive recalls (2012–2026)Electric powertrain

Engines: 2.5 Plug-in Hybrid (Plug-in hybrid)

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 10 checked

Gearbox

  • Look out for: Three clicks when decelerating, 4x4 versions (up to 28/05/2020); Abnormal noises at low speed when switching between 2WD and 4WD (up to 20/08/2019); "4WD system malfunction" light on (up to 15/08/2021)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Suspension and steering

  • Look out for: [parking brake] Parking brake light on (up to 29/09/2021); [tank] Low fuel light comes on too early on the PHEV (up to 30/01/2024)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

  • Look out for: Fatigue cracks in the front arms of some cars, a failing brake-servo pump (longer braking distance, warning on the dash) and an eCall left inactive.

    Ask them to check: Check every campaign by VIN.

Electrical and electronic systems

  • Look out for: [multimedia] Multimedia bugs (slow start-up, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto problems, iPhone or Bluetooth connection issues, flat 12 V battery…); [pedals] Accelerator pedal noise from spring vibration; [climate control] Air conditioning compressor noise on the PHEV (up to 05/10/2021)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Bodywork

  • Look out for: [doors and openings] Panoramic roof creaks when open while driving (up to 17/08/2020); [doors and openings] Boot lid will not open (up to 22/06/2022); [doors and openings] Doors cannot be locked with keyless entry (up to 25/11/2024)

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

High-voltage battery

  • Look out for: Hybrid battery cooling maintenance message, warning light with codes P0A80 or P0A7F, a noisy fan and less electric assistance; if ignored, the battery ages faster.

    Ask them to check: Clean or replace the filter and clean the fan before condemning the battery; keep the intake grille clear. At the garage, read the codes and, if needed, install the software Toyota specifies.

Fuel system

  • Look out for: The pump nozzle cuts off early: noticeably fewer litres go in than the advertised 55 l or so (14.5 gallons), and the real range is shorter than shown.

    Ask them to check: Fill up to the first click-off and compare the litres with the capacity; ask Toyota by VIN whether there is an update or a revised part.

Engine

  • Look out for: Engine malfunction light on (up to 05/11/2019); Will not start and hybrid system lights come on, 4x4 version; Low engine oil level message

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

  • Look out for: 12 V battery drains and the car will not start

    Ask them to check: Compare your symptom and your car's build date with this list. If they match, tell the workshop and ask them to check that part first before replacing others. The brand or a warranty extension covers some repairs: ask the dealer with the car's details.

Brakes

  • Look out for: A high-pitched squeal from the front wheels under light or moderate braking; under hard braking it barely sounds and the car brakes well.

    Ask them to check: If the car brakes well and only squeals under gentle braking, tell the garage exactly that and ask them to check the front pads' anti-squeal shims before replacing discs. If it also brakes worse, go to the garage now.

OBD codes worth looking for

If they let you read the fault memory with an OBD reader, these are the codes mentioned in this model's sheets:

P0A80P0A7F

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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