2021 Toyota RAV4 power train problems
20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2021 Toyota RAV4 — 5% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“My 2021 Toyota RAV4 began experiencing intermittent shuddering and vibration at low speeds around May 2026. The condition occurred while accelerating from a stop or at slow speeds and became more frequent over time. Because the problem was intermittent, the dealership was initially unable to…”
filed Jul 23, 2026
“Gear shift makes noise when moving it, as in you can actually hear the gears/electrical equipment moving and making noise when going from park to drive. The keyless entry when the fob is near, just doesn't work well from the drivers side... I can stand there trying to allow it to unlock and it just…”
filed May 27, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Power Train problems in other RAV4 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4 | 6 | 8% |
| 2024 RAV4 | 7 | 4% |
| 2023 RAV4 | 10 | 7% |
| 2022 RAV4 | 10 | 7% |
| 2020 RAV4 | 36 | 6% |
| 2019 RAV4 | 80 | 9% |
| 2018 RAV4 | 26 | 8% |
| 2017 RAV4 | 16 | 5% |
| 2016 RAV4 | 11 | 5% |
| 2015 RAV4 | 25 | 8% |
| 2014 RAV4 | 20 | 10% |
| 2013 RAV4 | 29 | 11% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Toyota RAV4
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.