2021 Toyota RAV4 electrical system problems
46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2021 Toyota RAV4 — 12% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The driver side door actuator will not work, car is only five years old. Door will not unlock from fob, door unlock button or app. Began with a few random instances of not unlocking then turned into never unlocking again. Would have to climb through the passenger side to manually unlock by pushing…”
filed Jul 28, 2026
“Car makes a whining noise Toyota Pinellas park said it was normal but the transmission is jolting/slipping not accelerating vs the first test drive. Both cv axles were bad tires were bald when sold to me tps sensors were bad. Had to get a new set of tires and paid the Toyota for work on the vehicle”
filed May 13, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 30, 2026Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
T-SB-0001-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 28, 2026Some RAV4 vehicles power seat where the automatic seat adjustment by the memory function does not work.
T-TT-0797-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2026Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
22TE09 · Service Campaign · issued Sep 17, 2025Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON…
T-SB-0010-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 25, 2025
Electrical System problems in other RAV4 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4 | 14 | 19% |
| 2024 RAV4 | 31 | 19% |
| 2023 RAV4 | 39 | 27% |
| 2022 RAV4 | 34 | 25% |
| 2020 RAV4 | 119 | 19% |
| 2019 RAV4 | 101 | 12% |
| 2018 RAV4 | 129 | 39% |
| 2017 RAV4 | 106 | 35% |
| 2016 RAV4 | 57 | 24% |
| 2015 RAV4 | 84 | 28% |
| 2014 RAV4 | 69 | 35% |
| 2013 RAV4 | 74 | 29% |
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.