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2021 Toyota RAV4
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2021 Toyota RAV4 — Safety Summary
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 has 1 NHTSA safety recall and 387 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 5 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is air bags. 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 2021 Toyota RAV4 in Canada?
The 2021 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.
What owners complain about most
The complaint categories reported most often for the 2021 Toyota RAV4, based on owner reports in the public NHTSA data.
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 2021 Toyota RAV4
- Owners report air bags 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 seats concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report structure 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?
The free VIN Check helps you screen the vehicle. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer risk scoring, inspection guidance, and a buyer-focused summary for this specific VIN.
Unlock the full buyer reportNHTSA Safety Ratings
Government crash test results
NHTSA Recalls
1 recall(s) for this year/model
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
20/12/2023Toyota 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.
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.
Transport Canada Recalls
5 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database
Lights And Instruments
2020-11-12Issue: On certain RAV4 Prime models, the headlight adjustment caps were not properly installed when the vehicle was assembled. As a result, the headlights may be adjusted horizontally. Canadian regulations do not allow for horizontal headlight adjustment unless the vehicle is equipped with a built-in aiming device. Safety Risk: Headlights that are not properly adjusted could cause reduced visibility or glare for oncoming drivers, and could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to close the aiming caps on the headlights to prevent horizontal adjustment.
Brakes
2022-04-13Issue: Under certain conditions, the vehicle stability control (VSC) system may not switch on when the ignition is restarted. This can happen if the driver manually turns off the VSC, depresses the brake pedal, and then turns off and restarts the vehicle while continuously depressing the brake pedal. Canadian regulations require the stability control system to be active each time that you start the vehicle. Safety Risk: A stability control system that is switched off could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to update the skid control ECU software.
Powertrain
2023-02-02Issue: On certain RAV4 Prime models, rapid acceleration could cause the battery voltage to drop suddenly while driving in "EV mode" in cold temperatures. If this happens, the hybrid system could shut down and cause a sudden loss of power to the wheels. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to update the hybrid vehicle control ECU software.
Electrical
2023-07-12Issue: On certain plug-in hybrid vehicles, the DC-DC converter located under the rear seat could fail. If this happens, the DC-DC converter and nearby parts could overheat. Safety Risk: A DC-DC converter that overheats can 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 DC-DC converter. To reduce the safety risk, Toyota recommends not to charge your vehicle while the air temperature is below or expected to drop below 5° C until the recall repairs have been completed.
Airbag
2023-12-20Issue: On certain vehicles, a sensor for the occupant classification system (OCS) may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the sensor could short circuit and cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause a warning message to display on the instrument panel and the airbag indicator light would display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the OCS sensor.
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
387 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA
Top complaint categories:
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.
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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.