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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2013 RAV4's top complaint is that the navigation screen is impossible to see in direct sunlight.

While certainly an annoyance, it's not a big deal in the world of car problems. Luckily the fix is a $10 anti-glare screen cover.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,807 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments

problem #17

Nov 122017

RAV4

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 2 mph and slowing down to park, the vehicle accelerated. The maintenance required and horseshoe warning indicators illuminated. The contact quickly cut off the engine to stop the vehicle. While driving approximately 60 mph on the highway, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure recurred twice. The contact also stated that the key intermittently did not unlock the doors. The failures were not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Rockhill, SC, USA

problem #16

Aug 132013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 379 miles
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Rav4. While attempting to reverse, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle, but the brakes ceased. As a result, the vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into three trucks and a tree. The failure occurred without warning. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 379. Consumer stated she started reversing and suddenly the car started acceleration, she pressed the brake it did not stop as a result the car went out of control and hit 3 parked trucks. Updated 8/15/18

- Springfield Gardens, NY, USA

problem #15

Mar 312016

RAV4

  • 103 miles
I did not realize that the Rav4 class action was even filed. I own a rav 4 2003 and I never received a letter informing that there was a problem with this vehicle. I have 103,000 miles on it. I take it to the dealer on a regular base.recently 3/25, 2016 it started to run rough, and was difficult to accelerate. I took it to my Toyota dealer and they stated that they would adjust the ECM which they did and told me to drive it another 100 miles. Well, I asked them what happens if the problem persists and they said then we replace the ECM for $ 1100 dollars if that does not fix it they said they would charge me $6,000 dollars for a new transmission. At the time I did not realize how many other people who owned this model had this problem. So I took it home and have been driving it. I am a home dialysis nurse and travel quite frequently to patient's homes who depend upon me when they are having problems with their dialysis treatments. Well, needless to say, I was working late and coming home on a main highway pm 03/31/2016 and it hesitates to shift when merging and shakes. I was almost hit from behind but lucky it finally engaged and I was able to pull over in a nearby parking lot. I called my Toyota dealer and told them and they went on to say well we then have to replace the ECM etc. I told them about my search regarding the problems with this model and they put the manager on the line. I told him about by research etc. He said he would then find parts from a discarded rav 4. now I am without a car, which will affect the lives of my patient's, and how reliable will it be if they are going to the junk yard for parts to repair it. Please help me.

- Levittown, PA, USA

problem #14

Nov 162015

RAV4

  • 23,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On at least 5 different occasions since owning this Toyota Rav4 I have experienced a serious engine control problem. It happens in the economy mode of the car which is the default mode you start the car up in. What happens is when pulling into traffic and you push down on the accelerator to get fast speed to merge into traffic the engine stalls. You can have the accelerator pushed all the way down and the engine gives you no power. This creates a very dangerous condition on the road as my car is actually stalling when it should be accelerating. I have tested and done the same thing in the 'sport mode' of the vehicle and it does not create the same stall situation. Thus my conclusion is the problem rests in the 'economy mode'. I have asked the dealer about this and they say they do not know why. I am going back tomorrow to as them to take back this car, as it is dangerous and is not predictable or dependable in driving.

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #13

Sep 092015

RAV4

  • 28,000 miles
The car accelerated suddenly without intent almost crashing into a wall. I was able to stop the car w/out injury or accident. I was entering my garage at a very slow speed ( under 5 mph).

- Carlisle, MA, USA

problem #12

Aug 152015

RAV4

  • miles
Cruise control problem rpms jump from 2200 to 4000 or higher 5000 car is not safe to drive with cruise control on.

- Cincinati, OH, USA

problem #11

Dec 162013

RAV4

  • 50 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Within the first few months after purchase the engine of my vehicle would sometimes hesitate during a turn. It for a moment will loose power and then have a burst of acceleration. It seems that this happens most often after it has been driven, then parked for a short time and then started and turned but it may also have happened at other times. It seems to be happening more often lately and makes turning dangerous if there is a vehicle approaching across the curve of thee term. I know others have experienced this same problem with the 2013 Rav4. I asked the dealer's service department if then could fix the problem and was told no. This problem is dangerous.

- Western Springs , IL, USA

problem #10

Mar 042015

RAV4 4WD 4-cyl

  • 17,745 miles
The throttle stuck on the car. I could not stop the car and it went over a 10 foot fall and crashed to the ground. It was a very scary ride. I tried every way to stop the car but could not. I had my foot on the brake the entire time of the unintended event. I am still very sore three weeks later and have some spinal sprain and wrist sprain, cervical sprain and both knees bruised both knees. The car was taken to a collision center for repairs after I consulted my insurance company....updated 06-16-15 updated 10/2/2017

- Dandridge, TN, USA

problem #9

May 272014

RAV4

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, it remained stuck. As a result, the vehicle's speed increased and crashed into a retaining wall. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or if there were any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

- Dandridge , TN, USA

problem #8

May 052014

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
On rare occasions when driving, I will suddenly lose power. It's as if someone has suddenly turned off the ignition switch. Depressing the gas pedal will not solve the problem. The only way to regain power is to take your foot off the gas pedal and then push down again to regain speed. It can occur at any time on flat roads, hills, snow or rain covered, there seems to be no reason for this. The Toyota dealer says he can't solve the problem unless I can duplicate the problem for him so he can see for himself what is happening & then solve the problem. But I can't duplicate the problem! it's totally random. This puts me literally on pins & needles when I drive because what happens if I am passing a car and suddenly I lose power? I have 20000 miles on my vehicle and loss of power has occured maybe 20 times. This is very frustrating and dangerous.

- Cadillac, MI, USA

problem #7

Jan 082015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 7,490 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When making a legal U-turn on a busy road I rapidly braked the car (from 45mph to 2-3mph) to a partial stop rolling through the intersection while turning the wheels to a hard left. I pressed on the accelerator expecting to accelerate out of the U-turn and instead the car hesitated and slowed feeling like there was a momentary loss of power to the wheels. I pressed harder on the accelerator with no immediate effect in acceleration. Approximately 2-3 seconds passed as oncoming traffic approached in the lane I was drifting into when suddenly all acceleration resumed normally. This incident occurred just once. Eco mode was turned on and my Rav4 is an AWD model. I consider it to be a reportable incident since the hesitation was not expected and increased the probability of collision with traffic in the driving lane I was turning into.

- Sussex, WI, USA

problem #6

Aug 122014

RAV4

  • 2,450 miles
I was preparing to make a right turn into an exit driveway. About 12 feet directly in front of me was a cement brick wall paralleling the driveway. As I took my foot off the brake, the car rocketed into the cement brick wall. Fortunately, , air bags deployed and I was not injured badly nor was anyone else. $ 13,000 to fix my car and I don't know if this will happen tome again. I will be like driving a time bomb. I plan to take the car to Toyota and have them check my systems and certify, this will not happen again. I am very fortunate that this did not happen in traffic.

- Northridge, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 252013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 3,025 miles
I leased 2013 Toyota Rav4, around 2900 miles the warning and indicating lights on the instrument panel lit up while I was driving. Took the car to the dealer who determined the cause was "some one hit ABS sensor and cut harness..." since the sensors were not under warranty, it will cost me $600 in repairs. The failed sensors are used for vehicle safety and traction control. I think that the cable harness should be designed to be better protected from road hazards and the customer should not be liable for Toyota design flaws. Plead find attached some supporting documents. Thank you,

- Unknown, DC, USA

problem #4

Dec 042013

RAV4

  • 127 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota rav 4. the contact was driving 55 mph and noticed that the speed reading was inaccurate when compared to the speed displayed on the gps system. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but no repairs were performed. The contact stated that the mechanic confirmed that the speedometer was indicating a higher speed then the vehicle was actually traveling but the speed was within an acceptable range. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 127.

- Clifton, NJ, USA

problem #3

Dec 042013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 7,400 miles
Approaching stop sign with foot on brake, sudden acceleration, towards oncoming intersection, with cross traffic, vehicle still lunged and vibrated further, able to stop vehicle by turning the ignition off!

- Tulare, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 272013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 1,825 miles
Unintended acceleration. I was pulling into park at work with my foot on the brake (fortunately) and the Rav4 suddenly accelerated.

- Hilton Head, SC, USA

problem #1

Apr 052013

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 120 miles
2 separate episodes of unintended acceleration in a brand new car dealer unable to verify defect.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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