Are there open safety recalls?
2 open
Ask the seller for proof each was fixed. Repairs are free — and there’s also an open investigation.
FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
The 2013 Toyota RAV4 has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 256 owner complaints, and gets about 76 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
FREE PUBLIC RECORD · U.S. GOVERNMENT DATA
2013 Toyota RAV4
- Drive Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Electricity
- Body Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Should you worry?
Be careful
Serious flags in the public record. Read below, and verify recall work was done.
What do owners report?
1 death reported
Out of 256 owner reports. Read the Owners section before you buy.
How did it score in crash tests?
4 out of 5 stars
5 is best. This model scored well in government crash tests.
Open recalls · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2013.
- 201111recalls
- 20125recalls
- 2013 · this car2recalls
- 20144recalls
Based on free U.S. government safety data · checked August 27, 2026.
SAFETY
Will it protect people in a crash?
These are government crash-test scores. 5 stars is best. They rate this year and model, not your exact car.
- Overall
- 4 / 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 / 5 stars
- Side
- 5 / 5 stars
- Side pole
- 4 / 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 / 5 stars
Factory safety & driver-assist equipment
- Stability control
- Standard
Tested as: 2013 Toyota Rav4 SUV AWD Later Release · 4 versions tested
Open safety recalls
2 openA recall means the manufacturer must fix a safety problem for free at a dealer. Ask the seller for proof the work was done.
-
Trailer Hitches
16/01/2015
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
How they fix it: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
-
Electrical System
01/11/2023
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.
How they fix it: 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 government also has an open investigation on this model. Look it up on nhtsa.gov before you buy.
From NHTSA (U.S. safety agency) · checked August 27, 2026.
OWNERS
What problems do owners report?
People file these with the government when something goes wrong. They show patterns, not a diagnosis of any one car for sale.
Owner reports · nearby years
Same make and model. This car is the 2013.
- 2011287reports
- 2012266reports
- 2013 · this car256reports
- 2014197reports
256 owner reports on file
22 crash mentions 29 fire mentions 15 injury mentions 1 death mentions
Parts mentioned most often. Longer bar = more reports. Counts are out of 256 total reports.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 68 of 256
The system that failed is the 12-volt battery hold-down assembly and associated electrical infrastructure, exactly as described under NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign Number 23V-729 (Toyota Recalls 23TA13 / 23TB13). The vehicle is fully preserv
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34 of 256
Toyota issues a Customer Support Program Notification regarding paint peeling on vehicles with factory applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint. The original expiration date was December 11, 2022 with secondary expiration being 10 years
- POWER TRAIN 28 of 256
The vehicle shudders significantly when accelerating/cruising between 35-45 mph. The shudder started slight and did not pose an issue for a while, but now its significant enough that is causes erratic steering. The vehicle waved back and
- STRUCTURE 23 of 256
The vehicle has experienced premature and widespread paint peeling and clear coat failure on multiple body panels. The paint began deteriorating without impact, collision, or environmental damage and has progressively worsened over time. T
- SERVICE BRAKES 16 of 256
Brakes failed to stop while parking vehicle with a speed of less than 5 mph hitting landscaping with a young pine tree that made the vehicle stopped. Hit and went over some matured bushes on the landscaped parking lot. The SUV cannot be s
- ENGINE 15 of 256
Over the course of the past two days, 2013 Toyota RAV4 has engine cut-off while moving on surface streets, tollroads, and Interstate Highways. Thus far, this has occurred 9 times without any warning whatsoever. Car is in otherwise fine me
Bars are sized relative to the most-mentioned part on this list, not to 100% of all cars.
From NHTSA owner complaints · checked August 27, 2026. Anyone can file a report; they are not verified repairs.
FUEL COST
What does it cost to drive?
EPA estimates for this year and model. Your real cost depends on gas prices, how you drive, and how far you go.
Sold in 4 versions
They range from 25 to 76 mpg combined. Figures below are the base version. Pick yours to see its own numbers.
103 miles
estimated range on a full charge
About $1,000 per year for electricity
Over 5 years, compared to an average new car
This model is estimated to save about $6,000 on fuel.
Spends more Saves more
From EPA fueleconomy.gov · checked August 27, 2026.
HOW IT WAS BUILT
Factory details
What’s on the build record for this VIN or model.
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Fuel
Electricity
See all factory details (6)
- Cylinders
- 0
- Displacement
- 0 L
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Body
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Fuel
- Electricity
From EPA and NHTSA vehicle records · checked August 27, 2026.
What this free check does not include
We only show free U.S. government data: safety recalls, owner reports, crash tests, and fuel economy. We do not show prior accidents, flood or salvage titles, odometer rollback, insurance history, or a “should you buy” verdict on a specific listing. For that kind of check on one car for sale, use the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 2 open NHTSA recalls (including the trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at the dealer, so ask the seller for proof the remedy was performed, or verify by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
Have a mechanic check the electrical system
Owners report problems with the electrical system more than anything else on this model. Call it out specifically during a pre-purchase inspection.
Watch for a pending investigation
NHTSA has an open investigation covering this model. A recall can follow an investigation, so check nhtsa.gov for the latest before you commit.
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Test-drive the basics
Cold start, full-lock steering both ways, firm brakes with no pulsing, smooth shifts, and every electronic feature. Warning lights should come on at key-on, then go out.
-
Check the title and the VIN
Confirm the title status in hand matches the listing, and that the VIN matches across the dash, door jamb, and title. VINly does not show ownership or accident history, for that, run a paid report like Carfax.
-
Ask the seller the right questions
Why they are selling, any service records, accident or panel-repaint history, how many owners, and whether any open recalls were completed.
See the full used-car inspection checklist. None of this replaces a hands-on inspection by a mechanic.
FOR SALE NEAR YOU
2013 Toyota RAV4 listings
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2013 Toyota RAV4? +
NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, including the trailer hitches. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 get? +
The EPA rates the 2013 Toyota RAV4 at 76 mpg combined (78 city / 74 highway), about $1,000 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2013 Toyota RAV4? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2013 Toyota RAV4 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2013 Toyota RAV4? +
Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, including 22 involving a crash. The most-reported area is electrical system.
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