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2017 Toyota RAV4

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2017 Toyota RAV4 — Safety Summary

The 2017 Toyota RAV4 has 3 NHTSA safety recalls and 307 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 5 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is electrical system. It earned an NHTSA overall safety rating of 5 out of 5. Based on this public data we rate its risk profile as high. Enter your VIN above to confirm which of these apply to your exact vehicle, then get the Smart Buyer Report for a buyer analysis of this model's reliability, common issues by mileage, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

Should you buy the 2017 Toyota RAV4 in Canada?

The 2017 Toyota RAV4 shows a higher level of recall or complaint activity in public data. That is not a reason to rule it out, but it does mean a careful inspection and VIN-specific check are especially worthwhile.

The best next step is to run the exact VIN and, if the car still looks promising, get a Smart Buyer Report for a model-specific reliability read and an inspection checklist before you visit the seller.

3
NHTSA Recalls
307
Owner Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
High
Risk Level

What owners complain about most

The complaint categories reported most often for the 2017 Toyota RAV4, based on owner reports in the public NHTSA data.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM74 reports
UNKNOWN OR OTHER38 reports
EXTERIOR LIGHTING24 reports
SERVICE BRAKES24 reports

Complaint patterns suggest where to look — they are not proof any specific vehicle has that issue. Treat them as inspection prompts.

What to check before buying a used 2017 Toyota RAV4

  • Owners report electrical system concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
  • Owners report unknown or other concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
  • Owners report exterior lighting concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
  • Owners report service brakes concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
  • Confirm any open recall work was completed by running the exact VIN.

Canadian ownership considerations

General things worth checking on a used RAV4 in the Canadian climate — winter, road salt, and cold-weather wear.

  • Check AWD or 4WD operation if equipped — driveline components are costly to repair.
  • Road salt drives corrosion on underbody and subframe points; inspect the undercarriage on salt-belt vehicles.
  • Verify heater, defroster, and rear demister all work ahead of winter.
  • Battery and cold-start reliability are worth confirming for Canadian winters.

Pre-purchase inspection priorities

  • Bring a qualified mechanic or book an independent pre-purchase inspection.
  • Check the undercarriage for rust and corrosion, especially on salt-belt vehicles.
  • Confirm all open recalls have been repaired using the VIN.
  • Review maintenance records and look for gaps in servicing.
  • Test all winter-critical systems: heater, defroster, battery, and (if equipped) AWD/4WD.

Want a buyer-focused summary for this VIN?

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NHTSA Safety Ratings

Government crash test results

★★★★★
Overall
★★★★☆
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★☆
Rollover

NHTSA Recalls

3 recall(s) for this year/model

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

28/06/2019

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

02/05/2017

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

01/11/2023

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, possibly causing a short circuit.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

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Transport Canada Recalls

5 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database

Electrical

2017-07-20

On certain vehicles, the electrical power cords of some dealer installed block heaters may have been improperly manufactured, causing the wires to contact each other, resulting in a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to a fire which would increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property. Correction: For vehicles where the subject block heater was approved for installation, the dealer will replace the block heater assembly with a new one of an improved design. For vehicles where the subject block heater was not approved for installation, dealers will remove the block heater assembly. In the interim, until the remedy can be performed, dealers will cut the plug end from the block heater cord to disable the block heater's operation.

🍁 Transport Canada #2017363· 39,189.00 units affected

Other

2019-08-21

Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Safety Risk: Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.

🍁 Transport Canada #2019420· 5,327.00 units affected

Accessories

2019-08-23

Issue: On certain vehicles, the hook and loop material used to attach the carpet to its underpadding may not be flame resistant. As a result, when it is tested alone, the loop fasteners do not meet the requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: As the carpet is always assembled, and the loop fasteners are very small, this problem does not create a safety risk. Corrective Action: This is not a recall. The company has made production changes to ensure that all new vehicles meet the requirements of Canadian regulations.

🍁 Transport Canada #2019428· 327,373.00 units affected

Electrical

2021-11-24

Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.

🍁 Transport Canada #2021723· 55,683.00 units affected

Electrical

2023-11-01

Issue: On certain vehicles, the battery hold-down assembly may not properly secure certain 12 V aftermarket batteries. As a result, the battery could shift positions and cause the positive battery post to contact the hold down bracket. If this happens, there could be a short circuit. Safety Risk: A short circuit could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover.

🍁 Transport Canada #2023589· 249,416.00 units affected

Contains information sourced from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database, licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Data is provided "as is" from Transport Canada's monthly release and may not reflect real-time updates. Transport Canada does not endorse this service. Always confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or Transport Canada before purchase.

Owner Complaints

307 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA

Top complaint categories:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM74 (24%)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER38 (12%)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING24 (8%)
SERVICE BRAKES24 (8%)
ENGINE10 (3%)

Want the full picture?

The free data above comes from public NHTSA records. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer analysis for this exact model — reliability score, common problems by mileage, real maintenance costs in CAD, a pre-purchase inspection checklist, a market value estimate, and Canadian notes on rust, winter, and fuel.

Data disclaimer:Vehicle history information on CarHistoryReport.ca is compiled from publicly available government sources, primarily the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Reports may not include all incidents, recalls, or issues related to a specific vehicle. Data is provided "as-is" without warranty of completeness or accuracy. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase inspection before buying any used vehicle. CarHistoryReport.ca is not liable for purchasing decisions made based on report contents.