Car Defect Radar

Toyota Highlander vs Toyota RAV4: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Toyota Highlander and the Toyota RAV4, with the 15 model years both have (2010–2024) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Toyota Highlander

Years to avoid
20192021
Fewest complaints
201120122023

The typical Toyota Highlander year has 206 complaints on file, across 15 model years (2010–2024).

Toyota RAV4

Years to avoid
20192020
Fewest complaints
No year stands out yet

The typical Toyota RAV4 year has 274 complaints on file, across 16 model years (2010–2025).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 15 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Toyota Highlander

2.5× its typical year in 2021, its worst year

512 complaints against a typical year of 206.

Years to avoid: 2019, 2021. Fewest complaints: 2011, 2012, 2023.

Toyota RAV4

3.2× its typical year in 2019, its worst year

877 complaints against a typical year of 274.

Years to avoid: 2019, 2020. Fewest complaints: no year yet.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Toyota Highlander2 years to avoid · typical year 206avoid zone: 412+02004006002010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025noneToyota Highlanderavoid zone: 412+typical 2062024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year422023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2452021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year3142019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1102015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1912014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1352013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2062012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year216
Toyota RAV42 years to avoid · typical year 274avoid zone: 547+02004006008001,0002010Toyota RAV4 2010: 400 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2011Toyota RAV4 2011: 287 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2012Toyota RAV4 2012: 260 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2013Toyota RAV4 2013: 256 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2014Toyota RAV4 2014: 197 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2015Toyota RAV4 2015: 303 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2016Toyota RAV4 2016: 238 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2017Toyota RAV4 2017: 307 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2018Toyota RAV4 2018: 331 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2019Toyota RAV4 2019: 877 complaints, 3.2× its typical year, a year to avoid877avoid2020Toyota RAV4 2020: 634 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid634avoid2021Toyota RAV4 2021: 385 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2022Toyota RAV4 2022: 144 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2023Toyota RAV4 2023: 153 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2024Toyota RAV4 2024: 173 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2025Toyota RAV4 2025: 86 complaints, 0.3× its typical yearToyota RAV4avoid zone: 547+typical 2742025Toyota RAV4 2025: 86 complaints, 0.3× its typical year862024Toyota RAV4 2024: 173 complaints, 0.6× its typical year1732023Toyota RAV4 2023: 153 complaints, 0.6× its typical year1532022Toyota RAV4 2022: 144 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1442021Toyota RAV4 2021: 385 complaints, 1.4× its typical year3852020Toyota RAV4 2020: 634 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid634avoid2019Toyota RAV4 2019: 877 complaints, 3.2× its typical year, a year to avoid877avoid2018Toyota RAV4 2018: 331 complaints, 1.2× its typical year3312017Toyota RAV4 2017: 307 complaints, 1.1× its typical year3072016Toyota RAV4 2016: 238 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2382015Toyota RAV4 2015: 303 complaints, 1.1× its typical year3032014Toyota RAV4 2014: 197 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1972013Toyota RAV4 2013: 256 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2562012Toyota RAV4 2012: 260 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2602011Toyota RAV4 2011: 287 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2872010Toyota RAV4 2010: 400 complaints, 1.5× its typical year400
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearToyota HighlanderToyota RAV4
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2024420.2×7Few red flags1730.6×3Some concerns to check
20231800.9×9Few red flags1530.6×3Some concerns to check
20222451.2×5Some concerns to check1440.5×1Some concerns to check
20215122.5×4Approach with caution3851.4×1Some concerns to check
20203141.5×4Some concerns to check6342.3×6Approach with caution
20194802.3×3Approach with caution8773.2×7Approach with caution
20182651.3×5Few red flags3311.2×3Some concerns to check
20172651.3×4Few red flags3071.1×3Some concerns to check
20161100.5×3Some concerns to check2380.9×3Some concerns to check
20151910.9×2Few red flags3031.1×4Some concerns to check
20141350.7×5Some concerns to check1970.7×4Some concerns to check
20132061.0×3Some concerns to check2560.9×2Some concerns to check
20121820.9×2Few red flags2601.0×5Some concerns to check
20111810.9×5Few red flags2871.0×11Some concerns to check
20102161.0×10Few red flags4001.5×14Some concerns to check

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearToyota HighlanderToyota RAV4
2024BrakesEngine
2023Body and structureElectrical system
2022Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2021Transmission and drivetrainAirbags
2020Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2019Transmission and drivetrainFuel system
2018Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2017Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2016BrakesElectrical system
2015Electrical systemElectrical system
2014Electrical systemElectrical system
2013SteeringElectrical system
2012SteeringWipers and visibility
2011Wipers and visibilitySpeed control
2010Electrical systemSuspension

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Toyota Highlander

Toyota RAV4

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show