FREE VEHICLE RESEARCH
2014 Toyota RAV4
The 2014 Toyota RAV4 has 4 NHTSA safety recalls on file, 194 owner complaints, and gets about 26 mpg combined. Here's the full free record from NHTSA and the EPA.
SPECS
2014 Toyota RAV4 at a glance
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.5L
- Cylinders
- 4
- Displacement
- 2.5 L
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Body
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Fuel
- Regular
Source: EPA / NHTSA vPIC, as of July 12, 2026.
SAFETY RECALLS · NHTSA
4 openEquipment
30/12/2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering
13/03/2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
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.
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.
NHTSA has opened one or more investigations covering this model. Recalls can follow an investigation, so check NHTSA for the latest before you buy.
Open safety recalls are free to fix at any franchised dealer. What recalls mean → Source: NHTSA recalls, as of July 12, 2026. Recalls can be issued any time, confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy.
OWNER COMPLAINTS · NHTSA
194 filed- 61
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY DIED MID-DRIVE NOW THE RADIO HEAD UNIT IS IN A BOOT LOOP RENDERING ALL FUNCTIONS UNAVAILABLE.
- 28
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am filing a complaint regarding Toyota’s handling of a known paint defect affecting my 2014 Toyota RAV4 Limited in Blizzard Pearl paint. Over the past several years, the paint on my vehicle has progressively peeled and deteriorated. Appr
- 19
POWER TRAIN
UPDATE TO PRIOR COMPLAINT — Filed April 2, 2026. VIN: [XXX] . 2014 Toyota RAV4 AWD XLE. Team Toyota Langhorne, 746 E Lincoln Hwy, Langhorne PA 19047. Vehicle remains out of service — 53 days as of April 10, 2026. SECOND REPLACEMENT VEHICLE
- 19
STEERING
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right at an intersection, the steering wheel seized with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact completed the turn,
- 13
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that during a rainstorm, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the A, B, C, and D pillars and the ceiling control center. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced
- 12
ENGINE
1) Vehicle had a recall for something concerning the transmission. Service was done and just after the warranty expired on that issue the transmission went out while driving and I had to put a new one in the vehicle, Toyota did help with $
Problems owners reported to the government, useful for spotting patterns, not proof any one car has them. What complaints mean → Source: NHTSA complaints, as of July 12, 2026. Owner-submitted reports, not verified diagnoses.
CRASH-TEST RATINGS · NHTSA NCAP
- Overall
- ★★★★☆
- Frontal
- ★★★★☆
- Side
- ★★★★★
- Rollover
- ★★★★☆
Government crash tests of this model; not every trim or year is tested. Source: NHTSA NCAP, as of July 12, 2026.
FUEL & RUNNING COST · U.S. EPA
- Combined
- 26 mpg
- City / Hwy
- 23 / 30
- Est. fuel / yr
- $2,400
- CO₂ / mi
- 338 g
EPA lab estimates; real mpg varies by how you drive. Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov, as of July 12, 2026. Annual cost assumes 15,000 mi/yr at EPA's reference price.
All figures above come from free U.S. government sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, investigations, crash tests) and the EPA (fuel economy and specs). We don't show market price, insurance cost, or proprietary reliability scores, because there's no free, reliable public source for them. For a verdict on a specific listing, with a fair-offer number and what to ask the seller, that's the VINly app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
What to check on this car
Confirm the recalls were fixed
This model has 4 open NHTSA recalls (including the equipment). 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.
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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.
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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.
Quick answers
What is recalled on the 2014 Toyota RAV4? +
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2014 Toyota RAV4, including the equipment. See the full list above, and confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Toyota RAV4 get? +
The EPA rates the 2014 Toyota RAV4 at 26 mpg combined (23 city / 30 highway), about $2,400 a year in fuel.
How safe is the 2014 Toyota RAV4? +
NHTSA's NCAP program gives the 2014 Toyota RAV4 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover resistance.
What do owners complain about on the 2014 Toyota RAV4? +
Owners have filed 194 complaints with NHTSA for the 2014 Toyota RAV4, including 19 involving a crash. The most-reported area is electrical system.
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