Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Toyota RAV4
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Toyota RAV4 has 15 NHTSA recall campaigns and 327 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V596000 Rear Suspension Arm (Tie Rod) Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V396000 Seat Heater Electrical Wiring NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V096000 Seat Belt Webbing may be Cut by Seat Frame NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V689000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V577000 Windshield Wipers may become Inoperative NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V743000 Seat Heater Electrical Wiring NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V383000 Rear Suspension Arm (Tie Rod) Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V014000 Occupant Sensing System Calibration NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V491000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V373000 Rear Suspension Arm (Tie Rod) Corrosion NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V113000 PEDAL ENTRAPMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V036000 LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V035000 LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V017000 STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V223000 INCORRECT GVWR LABELS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 99 complaints
- Suspension 55 complaints
- Power Train 28 complaints
- Engine 27 complaints
- Steering 26 complaints
- Unknown or Other 21 complaints
Of the 327 complaints on file, 52 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 327 complaints, owners report 16 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$5,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Toyota RAV4 has an average reliability profile with notable concerns in vehicle speed control and suspension, reflected by recalls and complaints. Other systems such as brakes and power trains also showed moderate complaint levels, but no unprecedented failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 50,000–100,000 miles | $150–$1,000 | common |
| Rear suspension | 60,000–120,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Service brakes | 70,000–120,000 miles | $250–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Air filter replacement
- Tire rotation and alignment
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loose or noisy suspension
- Unresponsive brake pedal
- Stuck accelerator
- Rough gear shifts
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Toyota RAV4 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.