Toyota RAV4 2018 recalls, problems, complaints and safety
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Toyota RAV4 2018 and 332 complaints filed by owners. It has 1% fewer complaints than the average Toyota RAV4 from 2016–2025 (335 per year).
These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.
Own or buying a Toyota RAV4 2018? Enter its VIN to see its exact trim and engine, and confirm on NHTSA whether its recalls were repaired.
Recalls issued for the Toyota RAV4 2018
Electrical system
NHTSA campaign 23V734000 · 2023-11-01
What happens
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Consequence
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Equipment and labels
NHTSA campaign 19V503000 · 2019-06-28
What happens
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Equipment and labels
NHTSA campaign 17V831000 · 2017-12-20
What happens
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence
An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.
Complaints from other owners
332 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.
31 with a crash · 32 with a fire · 18 injuries
Most reported problems on the Toyota RAV4 2018
- Electrical system: 128 (39% of complaints)
- Engine: 32 (10% of complaints)
- Brakes: 28 (8% of complaints)
- Powertrain and transmission: 26 (8% of complaints)
- Exterior lighting: 22 (7% of complaints)
Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.
What to check before buying a Toyota RAV4 2018
- Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
- Test lights, windows, locks, the screen and dashboard warning lights; have trouble codes scanned.
- Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
- Brake hard somewhere safe: the car shouldn't pull to one side and the pedal shouldn't sink; check rotors and pads.
- Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.
Safety rating (NCAP)
| Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Rav4 SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| 2018 Toyota Rav4 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Toyota RAV4 recalls by year
- 2016 : 3 recalls · 239 complaints
- 2017 : 3 recalls · 307 complaints
- 2018 : 3 recalls · 332 complaints
- 2019 : 7 recalls · 879 complaints
- 2020 : 6 recalls · 635 complaints
- 2021 : 1 recalls · 387 complaints
- 2022 : 1 recalls · 148 complaints
- 2023 : 3 recalls · 157 complaints
- 2024 : 3 recalls · 176 complaints
- 2025 : 3 recalls · 88 complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Toyota RAV4 2018 have?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls issued for the Toyota RAV4 2018. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.
What is the most common problem with the Toyota RAV4 2018?
In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: electrical system (128 of 332 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.
Model-level information from official NHTSA sources. Confirm by VIN on NHTSA. Not a substitute for a mechanical inspection.
Last updated: October 12, 2026. Sources: NHTSA vPIC (decoding), NHTSA Recalls, NHTSA Complaints and NHTSA NCAP (5-Star Safety Ratings).