Vehicle report

2011 Toyota RAV4

Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2011 Toyota RAV4, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.

The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has 11 NHTSA recalls on record and 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Its overall NHTSA crash-test rating is 3 out of 5. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.

11

Open recalls

15

Complaints

3

Overall safety

Get the full vehicle history report

SPONSORED

Accident & damage records, liens, title brands, ownership history, and odometer verification.

Get full report →

Provided by our vehicle-history partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

2011 Toyota RAV4 recalls (11)

  • SUSPENSION:REAR

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V-383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.

  • VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.

  • VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

  • SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

  • SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

  • SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

  • AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

    TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RAV4 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 24, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 19, 2011. IN THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS, PROPELLANT WITH THE INCORRECT SPECIFICATION WAS USED FOR THE INITIATOR ASSEMBLED IN THE AIRBAG INFLATOR. IN THIS CONDITION, THE INFLATOR MAY NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, CAUSING ONE OR BOTH CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY.

    Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO IDENTIFY THE CURTAIN SHIELD ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THE ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

  • SUSPENSION:REAR

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.

  • SUSPENSION:REAR

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be launched in phases from September 2013 through mid-April 2014. All owners will receive notification of the recall, with most receiving second notifications when parts are available in their area. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes Toyota and Lexus recall 12V-373. All vehicles that have been inspected and remedied under the previous recall need to be re-inspected and have the appropriate remedy applied.

  • EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

    Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

2011 Toyota RAV4 safety ratings

3

Overall

3

Front

4

Side

4

Rollover

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2011 Toyota RAV4 owner complaints (15)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 89,000. It was later discovered upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 230,000.

  • SUSPENSION

    The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle felt as if the rear suspension had failed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who determined that the rear suspension arms were detaching from the subframe. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously included in TSB: 0042-14, NHTSA ID Number: 10060729 (Suspension), and was repaired in 2013. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V596000 (Suspension), and the campaign had since expired in 2019; and the repair was not covered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed that the campaign had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

  • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal and shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle responded as intended. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop and while reversing from the driveway onto the roadway. The failure only occurred while the cruise control was activated but not set. The contact previously owned another 2011 Toyota Rav4 vehicle, which also experienced the failure. An independent mechanic informed the contact that the manufacturer had previously provided a remedy for the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

  • STRUCTURE

    I bought a pre-own car for my daughter in November 2022 from CARMAX in the City of Colma, California. The car is white color 2011 Toyota Rav4. In March 2025, my daughter started noticing the paint peeling off from the roof and driver side front panel. I found out that the paint issue is due to the defects from manufacturer when I visited paint shop to repair. I did researched online and found out Toyota had Customer Support Program until December 2022 for the issue. I contacted Toyota Corporate office but was told that CSP has ended and nothing they can do. Even though I am now aware that CSP has ended in December 2022, I found that it is unfair for the owner whose car just started exhibiting the issue after the program ended especially for the second owner like me who has never received any notice about the issue and bought the Toyota believing it will be a good investment. Can you please look into the issue and help for those owner like me who are unfairly left out? The attached picture shows the current condition of my car for your reference.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 146,000. It was later discovered, upon checking with the local State Secretary, that the mileage was 190,000.

  • STEERING

    Electric power steering problem, steering wheel is very stiff and wont return to center ,car is very difficult to drive, I have read that nhtsa issued some safety recalls on 2011 toyota rav4 related to this mfg. defect in the circut board -ecu -electronic control unit in the electric power steering , I purchased this used car on 9/17/2025 .I am taking it to Toyota dealer 10/9/2025

  • SEAT BELTS

    The contact's sister owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the dealer performed the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V096000(Seat Belts); however, after the recall repair, the seat belts became inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a diagnostic fee was required. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 120,000.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while reversing to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle and entering the residence, the vehicle independently restarted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

  • TIRES

    235/55R 18 I took my car for a tire rotation at a tire shop. I was told that the right front tire was not good so I asked to be replace with another new tire I had, which was exactly the same Yokohama tire my car had on. When I drove off the shop the tire started making a weird loud noise so I drove back to the shop. They switch the tire to the rear and there I noticed that was a different tire, not the new tire I have provided them. I asked the guys where my tire was and why they had switched it with an old-use worn tire. They denied doing so and refused to give me back my tire. Besides putting a used-worn out tire, the tire also has a different speed rate than the rest of my tires. Since it is raining in Houston and having different speed tires is itself dangerous, I found this improper and in disregard of putting my safety in danger. My tire was a Yokohama Brand; The shop switched it to a worn-used Dimax brand with a different speed.

  • ENGINE

    A lot oil consumption from oil change to 1000 miles 4 quarts of oil consumption no warning light until car stops I’m been charging oil every 4 k miles now I have to check oil every day is been almost 4years with this problem

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

    I understand there is a recall on Rav4 starting fire from 2013. Our vehicle is a 2011 and started on fire in our driveway and is a total loss. May need to include other years.

  • ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    After pressing the accelerator pedal, I released the pressure on the pedal because of traffic and the accelerator continued to accelerate. had to hold the brake pedal down and then shifted to Park and shutoff engine. When restarted the car operate normally. This has happened in the past and is very scary and unsafe. My internet research on problem shows that there have been two problems associated with this occurrence. One, accelerator trapped by floor mats and the second was because the accelerator pedal could "stick". The floor mats are secured by manufacture securing systems so it must be the in the sticking pedal. I am contacting Toyota but not optimistic...is there anything the NHTA can do for Toyota at least checking my car for a sticking accelerator pedal sticking. Finally, has there been any other reports of this happening?

  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    Everything working

  • AIR BAGS

    I bought my RAV4 in May 2018, and it currently has just under 100,000 miles. My local mechanic says he "was kneeling on the driver's seat while reinstalling the center console after replacing the e-brake cable, when the side curtain air bags deployed!" He is frantic as this has never happened before, and his shop insurance won't cover the replacement costs. I know that insurance companies tend to "total" cars after air bags have deployed. Have you ever heard of such an incident with the recalled 2011 RAV4 air bags?

  • SEAT BELTS,VISIBILITY/WIPER

    Unknown

Checking a used Toyota RAV4 before you buy

The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2011 RAV4 in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular RAV4's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.

Before you buy a 2011 Toyota RAV4 in Alberta:

See other model years of the Toyota RAV4, or browse more Toyota models.

2011 Toyota RAV4 — questions and answers

Does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?+

Our check found 11 NHTSA recalls associated with the 2011 Toyota RAV4. Check the specific vehicle by VIN to see which remain outstanding, since some may already have been repaired. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

How many complaints does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have?+

NHTSA lists 15 owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota RAV4 in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.

Is the 2011 Toyota RAV4 safe?+

The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has an overall NHTSA crash-test rating of 3. Review the front-crash, side-crash, and rollover ratings above, and pair safety ratings with a mechanical inspection of the specific vehicle.

How do I check a 2011 Toyota RAV4 VIN?+

Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.

Are recall repairs on a Toyota free?+

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised Toyota dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.

Get the full vehicle history report

SPONSORED

Accident & damage records, liens, title brands, ownership history, and odometer verification.

Get full report →

Provided by our vehicle-history partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.