Showing the 2021 RAV4 XLE Premium. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 2.5 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2021 RAV4
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 has 409 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Air bags draw the most, at 142, followed by electrical system at 49. Fuel economy is 28 to 40 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $8,120 to $11,600 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall. It has 1 recall campaign, covering air bags, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
28–40 mpgcombined; city 25–41, highway 32–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$8,120–$11,600U.S. average; Ohio $7,260–$10,370 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2021 RAV4. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 409 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 RAV4. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
142
29
1
34
Unknown or other
75
3
2
4
Electrical system
49
4
5
4
Engine
41
0
3
0
Power train
22
2
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
21
1
1
0
Service brakes
21
8
0
3
Steering
21
3
0
1
Structure
21
2
0
2
Visibility/wiper
19
1
0
2
Forward collision avoidance
18
8
1
4
Seats
18
0
0
0
14 more parts
Visibility
13
0
0
0
Lane departure
11
4
0
2
Latches/locks/linkages
8
0
0
0
Seat belts
8
3
0
4
Vehicle speed control
7
3
0
7
Exterior lighting
6
0
3
0
Suspension
6
0
0
0
Tires
6
0
0
0
Wheels
5
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
2
2
0
2
Traction control system
2
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Tether, lower anchor (ON CAR SEAT OR VEHICLE)
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2021 RAV4 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 264 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2021 RAV4, the latest on Aug 20, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (79), equipment (61), engine and engine cooling (39), engine (37), structure (36).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2021 RAV4.
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data