2013 Toyota RAV4: recalls, complaints & known problems

Every safety recall and owner complaint on record for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, straight from the U.S. government's NHTSA database — so you know what you're buying before you message the seller.

Moderate caution

A notable history on record — read the details and ask the right questions.

2Safety recalls
254Owner complaints
5Problem patterns
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Safety recalls

2 recalls on record. Recall repairs are free at the dealer — ask if they were done.

Trailer Hitches
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 ma
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
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,

Most-reported problems

Recurring failures owners filed with NHTSA for this model year:

Stalling / loss of power while driving — 23 owner complaints
Paint peeling / rust — 11 owner complaints
Transmission slipping / jerking / failure — 8 owner complaints
Brake problems — 4 owner complaints
Overheating / coolant problems — 3 owner complaints

Complaints by area

Which parts of the car owners complain about most:

Electrical System
73
Unknown Or Other
39
Engine
29
Power Train
29
Structure
28
Service Brakes
23

Is 2013 the bad year? Complaints by model year

Sometimes the same car one year newer or older has a far cleaner record. Complaint volume across the Toyota RAV4 years we track (click a year for its full report):

2013 ◀ this
254
2014
194
2015
302
2016
233
2017
301
2018
327
2019
867
2020
624
2021
375

Newer years have had less time on the road to accumulate complaints.

Frequently asked

How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have?

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on record. Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers — always ask the seller whether the recall work was completed.

How reliable is the 2013 Toyota RAV4?

NHTSA has 254 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported issues are stalling / loss of power while driving, paint peeling / rust, transmission slipping / jerking / failure. Compare it against nearby model years above.

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Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.gov). Informational only — not mechanical or purchase advice. Always inspect the vehicle and test drive before buying.