TOYOTA RAV4 EV · model year

2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV

9 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013TOYOTARAV4 EV carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 RAV4 EV is fuel/propulsion system with 3 filings, followed by power train (1) and seat belts (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2013 RAV4 EV, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

9 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: Not Rated/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN1
SEAT BELTS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (3)

16V09600019/02/2016

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the

15V57700018/09/2015

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that c

15V14300013/03/2015

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutra

Recent Complaints

20180920ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ELECTRIC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DECELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO ANDREW TOYOTA (1620 W SILVER SPRING DRIVE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53209, (877) 308-0883), BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A TOYOTA ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,564.

Mileage: 28,564

20180920VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ELECTRIC WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DECELERATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO ANDREW TOYOTA (1620 W SILVER SPRING DRIVE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53209, (877) 308-0883), BUT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A TOYOTA ENGINEER WOULD BE SENT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,564.

Mileage: 28,564

20161228VISIBILITY/WIPER

TOYOTA OF LAKE CITY (SEATTLE, WA) REFUSED TO DO, OR EVEN HELP WITH, THE NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-577 FOR MY TOYOTA VEHICLE. BOTH THE SERVICE ADVISER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T AND WON'T DO THE WORK FOR THIS NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL THEY DID NOT CALL TOYOTA CORPORATE, THEY DID NOT LIFT A FINGER TO HELP GET THIS RECALL DONE FOR MY VEHICLE.

20150707FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH, MY CAR LOST DRIVE WHILE I WAS CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR JUST POPPED INTO NETURAL WITH WARNING MESSAGES COMING ON THE DASH. IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM THE RECALL ADDRESSED YET AFTER 3 MONTHS, THERE IS STILL NO KNOWN FIXES FOR IT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP TOYOTA INTO PUSHING A FIX FOR IT ASAP AS THE CAR ISN'T REALLY SAFE. 3 MONTHS WAIT TO MAKE A SOFTWARE PATCH IS PATHETIC.

Mileage: 34,500

20150519SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT RETRIEVAL SPRING (WEAK). I HAVE BOTH MODELS 2013 AND 2014. NEITHER MODEL HAS A STRONG RETRIEVAL SPRING, LEAVES THE MEDAL BUCKLE LOOSE AND HANGING IN DOOR JAM, IT GETS SLAMMED IN THE DOOR. WILL DEFORM AT SOME FURTHER POINT AND NOT ENGAGE. DOOR LOCKS. NOT SURE IF MANDATORY BY REGULATION, DOOR LOCKS DON'T AUTO LOCK AFTER CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. BACKUP SCREEN, JUST AS YOU START TO BACK UP AND, ON THE ROLL. THE SCREEN BLOCKS OUT THE TOP 1/3. IT CONNECTS AND TELLS YOU, YOUR BLUE TOOTH ITEMS ARE CONNECTED OR NOT. THAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER BEING IN REVERSE. THE TOP 1/3 OF THE SCREEN IS PRETTY IMPORTANT. ENGINE NOISE, A WINDING NOISE, ON ACCELERATION. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE, (TELSA MOTOR). THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, FRIEND HAD A DRIVE UNIT REPLACED BY TOYOTA ALREADY IN NORTH NJ

Mileage: 15,000

20150519UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SEAT BELT RETRIEVAL SPRING (WEAK). I HAVE BOTH MODELS 2013 AND 2014. NEITHER MODEL HAS A STRONG RETRIEVAL SPRING, LEAVES THE MEDAL BUCKLE LOOSE AND HANGING IN DOOR JAM, IT GETS SLAMMED IN THE DOOR. WILL DEFORM AT SOME FURTHER POINT AND NOT ENGAGE. DOOR LOCKS. NOT SURE IF MANDATORY BY REGULATION, DOOR LOCKS DON'T AUTO LOCK AFTER CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. BACKUP SCREEN, JUST AS YOU START TO BACK UP AND, ON THE ROLL. THE SCREEN BLOCKS OUT THE TOP 1/3. IT CONNECTS AND TELLS YOU, YOUR BLUE TOOTH ITEMS ARE CONNECTED OR NOT. THAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER BEING IN REVERSE. THE TOP 1/3 OF THE SCREEN IS PRETTY IMPORTANT. ENGINE NOISE, A WINDING NOISE, ON ACCELERATION. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE, (TELSA MOTOR). THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, FRIEND HAD A DRIVE UNIT REPLACED BY TOYOTA ALREADY IN NORTH NJ

Mileage: 15,000

20150519FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SEAT BELT RETRIEVAL SPRING (WEAK). I HAVE BOTH MODELS 2013 AND 2014. NEITHER MODEL HAS A STRONG RETRIEVAL SPRING, LEAVES THE MEDAL BUCKLE LOOSE AND HANGING IN DOOR JAM, IT GETS SLAMMED IN THE DOOR. WILL DEFORM AT SOME FURTHER POINT AND NOT ENGAGE. DOOR LOCKS. NOT SURE IF MANDATORY BY REGULATION, DOOR LOCKS DON'T AUTO LOCK AFTER CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. BACKUP SCREEN, JUST AS YOU START TO BACK UP AND, ON THE ROLL. THE SCREEN BLOCKS OUT THE TOP 1/3. IT CONNECTS AND TELLS YOU, YOUR BLUE TOOTH ITEMS ARE CONNECTED OR NOT. THAT MESSAGE SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER BEING IN REVERSE. THE TOP 1/3 OF THE SCREEN IS PRETTY IMPORTANT. ENGINE NOISE, A WINDING NOISE, ON ACCELERATION. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE, (TELSA MOTOR). THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, FRIEND HAD A DRIVE UNIT REPLACED BY TOYOTA ALREADY IN NORTH NJ

Mileage: 15,000

20140305POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE HOV LANE OF THE 405 FWY, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED STATING THAT THE CAR WAS IN "NEUTRAL". I TRIED TO SHIFT IT INTO "DRIVE" BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. SINCE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE CENTER DIVIDER TO PULL OVER, I COASTED AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE RIGHT THROUGH 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN FINE AFTER THAT. THERE WAS A MESSAGE INDICATING AN EV SYSTEM ERROR AND INDICATED I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHICH I DID. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *TR

Mileage: 5,490

20140305FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN THE HOV LANE OF THE 405 FWY, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED STATING THAT THE CAR WAS IN "NEUTRAL". I TRIED TO SHIFT IT INTO "DRIVE" BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. SINCE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE CENTER DIVIDER TO PULL OVER, I COASTED AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE RIGHT THROUGH 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPED ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN FINE AFTER THAT. THERE WAS A MESSAGE INDICATING AN EV SYSTEM ERROR AND INDICATED I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHICH I DID. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *TR

Mileage: 5,490

Compare 2013TOYOTARAV4 EV to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV have?
The 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV?
The 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of Not Rated/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV?
Yes, the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV?
The most-complained component for the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 EV has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.