This used Toyota RAV4 review covers the 2015 to 2022 model years for Texas buyers. NHTSA's records split the span in two: the 2019 and 2020 RAV4s, the first years of the current design, carry the most complaints and recalls, while the 2022 has the fewest complaints of the newer design and the 2016 the fewest of the older one. If I were buying, I would start with a 2022, then a 2021 with its air bag recall closed, and I would treat a 2019 with extra care. Check every VIN for open recalls and pay for an inspection.
All the evidence below is public: NHTSA recall, complaint and crash-test data pulled from api.nhtsa.gov on November 5, 2026, EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov, and Toyota's warranty terms. No owner reviews, no invented scores and no prices.
Where the RAV4 ranks in Texas sales
CarEdge's best-selling new cars in Texas list, data updated October 27, 2026, puts the RAV4 at number three with 6,469 new units sold in Texas over the previous 45 days. Only the Ford F-150 and Toyota Camry sold more, and the RAV4 is the top SUV on that list. CarEdge uses new-vehicle dealer inventory data, not registrations, so this is about new sales. For a used shopper, a steady new-car flow means a deep used pool, which gives you room to skip a RAV4 with a thin service history or an open recall the seller will not address.
Toyota RAV4 years for used buyers: 2015 to 2022
Two designs cover this span. The split is visible in the engine and transmission data on fueleconomy.gov.
2015 to 2018
Every gas RAV4 in these years uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic, in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. A RAV4 Hybrid with all-wheel drive joins in 2016. NHTSA lists a mid-year change for 2015, with separate "early release" and "later release" crash ratings.
2019 to 2022
The 2019 model year brought the current design. fueleconomy.gov lists a new 2.5-liter four with direct and port injection and an 8-speed automatic, plus a much more efficient hybrid. The first two years of this design hold the highest complaint totals in the whole span.
The plug-in RAV4 Prime is outside the scope of this guide.
Used RAV4 review by year: recalls, complaints and crash ratings
From NHTSA records pulled November 5, 2026. The recall column counts campaigns that list the model year; some cover only certain builds, the hybrid, or accessories and labels from regional distributors such as Southeast Toyota and Gulf States Toyota. "Unknown or other" is skipped when naming the top component.
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Owner complaints | Crash / fire complaints | Top named complaint component (count) | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 | 305 | 37 / 41 | Electrical system (85) | 5 stars later release; 4 stars AWD early release |
| 2016 | 3 | 239 | 33 / 12 | Electrical system (58) | 5 stars |
| 2017 | 3 | 308 | 33 / 24 | Electrical system (108) | 5 stars |
| 2018 | 3 | 333 | 31 / 33 | Electrical system (130) | 5 stars |
| 2019 | 7 | 886 | 25 / 3 | Fuel/propulsion system (255) | 5 stars |
| 2020 | 6 | 639 | 17 / 5 | Engine (180) | 5 stars |
| 2021 | 1 | 389 | 47 / 7 | Air bags (125) | 5 stars |
| 2022 | 1 | 150 | 14 / 0 | Electrical system (41) | 5 stars |
NHTSA's rollover rating is 4 stars for every year listed. Two patterns stand out. The 2015-2018 RAV4s have far more fire complaints than the 2019-2022 models, and the 2019-2020 models have far more complaints overall. Raw counts need context, which my guide to reading NHTSA complaint data explains. You can check any VIN on NHTSA's recalls page.
The RAV4 recalls that matter most
These are the campaigns I would confirm first, using NHTSA's component names.
2015 to 2018
- 12-volt battery fit (23V734000), 2013-2018. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit the tray properly, so the battery can move and touch the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit. I would confirm this one on every 2015-2018 RAV4, given the fire complaint counts for those years. The data does not show what caused each fire complaint, so do not read it as proof of a link.
- Electric power steering (15V144000), 2014-2015. A part of the power steering control unit may have been damaged in manufacturing, which over time could lead to power steering failure.
- ABS actuator (16V198000), 2016 built October 30, 2015 to February 3, 2016. A damaged O-ring could cause improper brake fluid pressure control when ABS, traction control or stability control activates.
- Accessory trailer light module (15V011000), 2013-2015 built June 1, 2013 to December 29, 2014. Applies only to RAV4s with that accessory module from Southeast Toyota.
2019 to 2020
- Front lower suspension arms (20V286000), 2019-2020. The arms may have cracks that can let the arm separate from the front wheel assembly. This is the one I would never skip.
- Electric power steering (20V373000), 2019-2020. Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of power steering assist.
- Engine casting porosity (20V064000), 2019-2020 with the 2.5-liter. Porosity in the engine castings can lead to cracks that leak coolant internally or externally.
- Low-pressure fuel pump (20V682000), 2019-2020. The pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Back-up camera (19V576000), 2019. A damaged connector may stop the camera from activating.
- Steering column breakaway pins (20V734000), 2020. Pins designed to absorb crash energy may have been damaged in production, which could affect driver air bag performance.
2020 to 2022
- Occupant classification sensor (23V865000), 2020-2021. A short circuit may stop the front passenger air bag from deploying. This is the only campaign listed for 2021.
- Front passenger seat (22V519000), 2022. Interference between internal seat parts may make the occupant classification sensor misread the occupant.
Toyota RAV4 problems owners report most
2015 to 2018: Electrical system is the top named component every year, and in the complaint text "brake," "battery" and "stall" come up often. These years also hold the high fire complaint counts noted above.
2019 and 2020: These two years dominate. For 2019, fuel/propulsion system (255) and engine (208) lead, and the complaint text most often mentions fueling and the fuel tank, coolant and the hybrid system. For 2020, engine (180), electrical (120) and fuel/propulsion (90) lead, with coolant and hybrid again common words. The coolant theme overlaps with the engine casting recall. The fueling theme is not tied to any recall in this data.
2021: Air bags lead (125), which matches the occupant classification sensor recall. Complaint text also often mentions seats and steering.
2022: A much lower total, led by electrical system (41) and with steering mentioned in the text.
RAV4 MPG and specs by engine
EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov, regular gasoline for all.
| Engine and drive | Years | Transmission | City / hwy / combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L four, FWD | 2015-2018 | 6-speed auto | 23 / 29-30 / 25-26 |
| 2.5L four, AWD | 2015-2018 | 6-speed auto | 22 / 28 / 24-25 |
| 2.5L hybrid, AWD | 2016-2018 | CVT | 34 / 30 / 32 |
| 2.5L four, FWD | 2019-2022 | 8-speed auto | 26-28 / 35 / 30 |
| 2.5L four, AWD | 2019-2022 | 8-speed auto | 25-27 / 32-34 / 27-30 |
| 2.5L hybrid, AWD | 2019-2022 | CVT | 41 / 38 / 40 |
The 2019-2022 hybrid is the efficiency pick at 40 combined, and every hybrid listed is all-wheel drive. The 2020-2022 TRD Off-Road trim rates 27 to 28 combined, at the low end of the gas range.
Is any Toyota factory warranty left?
Toyota's warranty page lists 36 months or 36,000 miles of basic coverage and 60 months or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. On a 2015-2021 RAV4 those are almost certainly over, and only a low-mileage 2022 might have powertrain time left. For hybrids, Toyota says that from the 2020 model year the hybrid battery is covered for 10 years from first use or 150,000 miles, and its newsroom announcement says earlier hybrids had 8 years or 100,000 miles. A 2020-2022 RAV4 Hybrid may still have battery coverage. Confirm the in-service date with a Toyota dealer. Recall repairs are free at a Toyota dealer either way.
Texas notes for RAV4 owners
Heat. A RAV4 parked outside in Central Texas works its AC, cooling system and 12-volt battery hard. Given the coolant theme in 2019-2020 complaints and the battery recall on 2015-2018 models, I would look at both closely. My used cars and Texas heat guide has the full test. fueleconomy.gov's hot weather page notes AC use can cut a conventional car's fuel economy by more than 25% in very hot conditions, especially on short trips.
I-35 commuting. In stop-and-go traffic the hybrid's ratings hold up, with the 2016-2018 hybrid rating higher in the city than on the highway and the 2019-2022 hybrid close to even. The gas RAV4s lose more in city driving.
Hail. RAV4s are popular family cars, and family cars park outside. Check the roof and hood in low, angled light for dents, and run the title for brands. My hail damage guide explains what to look for.
Emissions counties. Per TCEQ, gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old need a yearly emissions test before registration in Travis and Williamson counties, and in Bexar County starting November 1, 2026. Hays, Comal, Guadalupe and Caldwell are not on the list.
Best years: the RAV4s I would shortlist, and the ones I would check extra carefully
My opinion, based only on the data shown here.
Years I would shortlist
- 2022 RAV4. The fewest complaints of the newer design (150), no fire complaints in the data, and one recall, the passenger seat sensor.
- 2021 RAV4. One recall, the passenger air bag sensor, and far fewer complaints than 2019-2020. Air bag complaints are high, so I would only buy one with that campaign confirmed closed.
- 2016 RAV4. The fewest complaints of the older design (239) and three campaigns. Confirm the battery fit recall and, for early builds, the ABS actuator recall.
Years I would check extra carefully
- 2019 RAV4. The most complaints in the span (886), seven recall campaigns including the cracked lower control arms, power steering water entry and engine casting porosity, and the first year of a new design.
- 2020 RAV4. 639 complaints and six campaigns, with the same suspension, steering, engine and fuel pump issues as 2019.
- 2015, 2017 and 2018 RAV4. Fire complaints run higher in these years than anywhere else in the span (41, 24 and 33). Confirm the battery fit recall and check the 12-volt battery, tray and wiring.
Pre-purchase inspection checklist for a used RAV4
Use this with my general pre-purchase inspection checklist.
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup and ask a Toyota dealer for the completed-recall history.
- On 2019-2020 models, have a mechanic inspect the front lower control arms and confirm the recall repair.
- Check the coolant level and look for coolant traces around the engine on 2019-2020 models.
- On 2015-2018 models, open the hood and check that the 12-volt battery fits its tray, is secured and has no rub marks on the hold-down bracket.
- Drive over rough pavement and listen for knocks from the front suspension.
- Turn the steering lock to lock and drive a few miles; watch for any loss of power assist or warning lights.
- Fill the tank if you can, or ask the seller whether it fills normally, since fueling is a common 2019 complaint theme.
- Confirm the back-up camera comes on every time in reverse.
- Check the passenger air bag status light with an adult in the seat and with it empty.
- On a hybrid, ask a Toyota dealer for a hybrid system check and confirm battery coverage dates.
- Test the AC from a hot start and check for hail dents and a clean title through TxDMV Title Check.
For model data across years, see the Toyota RAV4 car data page.
Sources
- CarEdge, Best Selling New Cars in Texas (data updated 2026-10-27)
- NHTSA recalls lookup; recall, complaint and NCAP data from NHTSA (api.nhtsa.gov), data pulled 2026-11-05
- fueleconomy.gov Find a Car (EPA ratings, 2015-2022 RAV4)
- fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Economy in Hot Weather
- Toyota, Warranty and Owner's Manuals
- Toyota newsroom, battery warranty extension for model year 2020 hybrids
- TCEQ, Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texas
- TxDMV Title Check
Frequently asked questions
What are the best years for a used Toyota RAV4?
Based on NHTSA data for 2015-2022, the 2022 has the fewest complaints of the newer design and one recall, and the 2021 also has one recall. For an older RAV4, the 2016 has the fewest complaints.
Which RAV4 years should I avoid or check carefully?
The 2019 and 2020 RAV4s have the most complaints (886 and 639) and recall campaigns, including cracked front lower control arms and engine casting porosity. Buy one only with every campaign confirmed closed.
Why do 2015-2018 RAV4s show more fire complaints?
NHTSA's data shows 41, 12, 24 and 33 fire complaints for 2015-2018, versus 0 to 7 for 2019-2022. Recall 23V734000 covers a 12-volt battery fit problem that can cause a short circuit on 2013-2018 models; the data does not say what caused each complaint.
What MPG does a used RAV4 Hybrid get?
The 2019-2022 RAV4 Hybrid rates 41 city, 38 highway and 40 combined on fueleconomy.gov. The 2016-2018 hybrid rates 34, 30 and 32.
Does a used RAV4 need an emissions test in Texas?
Yes in Travis and Williamson counties, and in Bexar County from November 1, 2026, for gasoline vehicles 2 to 24 years old, according to TCEQ.
Is the RAV4 safe?
NHTSA rates every RAV4 from 2015 to 2022 at 5 stars overall, except the early-release 2015 AWD at 4 stars. Rollover ratings are 4 stars throughout.
Educational content. Anthony does not sell, broker or arrange vehicle sales in Texas. Confirm fees and rules with the office named in each source before you pay anything.
