Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Toyota RAV4
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 389 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #23V865000 OCS Sensors May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 125 complaints
- Unknown or Other 75 complaints
- Electrical System 47 complaints
- Engine 41 complaints
- Power Train 23 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 21 complaints
Of the 389 complaints on file, 47 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 389 complaints, owners report 49 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 shows an average overall rating due to moderate complaint levels and a single recall. The airbag and electrical systems are the most common issues, lacking severe widespread failures. This reflects typical expectations for reliability, but some caution is advised.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | occasional |
| engine | Unknown | $1,000–$5,000 | 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 inspections and service
- Tire rotations and alignments
- Battery checks
- Coolant system flushes
- Transmission fluid service
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Electrical system glitches
- Engine misfires
- Unusual brake noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.