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2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

Plug-in hybrid
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA98
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA38 mpg
2024202320222021

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid compact SUV. The most efficient version, the RAV4 Prime 4WD, is EPA-rated at 38 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 98 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
RAV4 Prime 4WDPlug-in hybridAWD2.5L 4-cyl + 40 and 134 kW AC Induction403638 (65 MPGe blended)42 mi electric364.5 h$1,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42793.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

23TB07/23LB01
43,442 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RAV4 Prime and 2022 Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. The electric current rectifying module contained within the DC-DC converter may have been damaged during production, which can result in an electrical short-circuit.RiskA short circuit can cause the DC-DC converter to overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.FixOwners are advised not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). Dealers will replace the DC-DC converter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB07/23LB01.
NHTSA campaign 23V478000reported Jul 12, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Electrical System

23TA01
16,679 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. During certain cold weather driving conditions, while driving in EV Mode, the hybrid vehicle control engine control unit (HEV ECU) software may cause the hybrid system to shut down if the accelerator is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle, resulting in a stall.RiskAn engine stall increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the HEV ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA01.
NHTSA campaign 23V041000reported Feb 2, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
○minor

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

22TA03, 22LA01
458,110 vehicles
ProblemToyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."RiskDriving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
NHTSA campaign 22V239000reported Apr 13, 2022Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
▲high

Exterior Lighting

20TA15
413 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles. The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."RiskAdjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.FixToyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights, free of charge. The recall began January 6, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA15.
NHTSA campaign 20V698000reported Nov 12, 2020Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
98complaints filed

12 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 11 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 22 · 2024: 26 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Electrical System37
Unspecified23
Fuel/Propulsion System18
Service Brakes16
Forward Collision Avoidance11
Air Bags5

What owners describe

“We have COMPLETELY lost brakes on MULTIPLE occasions for a few seconds per occasion. Brake loss has occurred upon slow, even braking and on flat, dry, even pavement with no pot poles or loose gravel around. When this happens, an orange light appears on the dash, we lose brakes for a few seconds, the car regains brakes,…”Jun 4, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“Today, May 28, 2022, between 11:40am and 11:45am, I was making a left at an intersection when the vehicle did not respond to my pressing of the gas pedal input. It was highly dangerous and the oncoming traffic had to slow down not to hit me. The car, which usually responds very well to my pressing the gas pedal has not…”May 28, 2022 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“All four brake rotors are defective, the metal is pitted scored and not smooth, as it should be. This increases the braking distance. The vehicle is equipped with regenerative braking thus increasing the brake service interval. With mileage at 21600 this is not normal. Upon inspection at the dealer, it was described as…”May 11, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Compare the 2021 RAV4 Prime with

2021 Tesla Model Y →2021 Honda CR-V →2021 Chevrolet Equinox →2021 Nissan Rogue →2021 Hyundai Tucson →

Other RAV4 Prime model years

B

2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime

2 recalls · 28 complaints

B

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime

2 recalls · 62 complaints

C

2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime

3 recalls · 21 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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