2021 Toyota RAV4
Hybrid Gas Compact SUV
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RAV4 Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 40 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 405 complaints, most often about air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl + 245V Li-Ion and NiMH | 41 | 38 | 40 | $1,550 |
| RAV4 | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,100 |
| RAV4 | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 28 | 35 | 30 | $2,100 |
| RAV4 AWD LE | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 27 | 34 | 30 | $2,100 |
| RAV4 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 27 | 33 | 29 | $2,150 |
| RAV4 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,250 |
| RAV4 AWD TRD OFFROAD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,250 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
Compare coverage →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Data on this page is never influenced by that.
Recalls (1)
Air Bags
highProblem: Toyota 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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA 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
405 complaints filed
47 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 49 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2020: 5 · 2021: 40 · 2022: 49 · 2023: 43 · 2024: 95 · 2025: 120 · 2026: 53
Most-cited components
- Air Bags — 142
- Unknown Or Other — 73
- Electrical System — 49
- Engine — 40
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 21
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
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Compare the 2021 RAV4 with
Other RAV4 model years
2026 RAV4
0 recalls · 28 complaints
C2025 RAV4
4 recalls · 100 complaints
C2024 RAV4
4 recalls · 173 complaints
B2023 RAV4
3 recalls · 159 complaints
B2022 RAV4
2 recalls · 149 complaints
F2020 RAV4
6 recalls · 646 complaints
F2019 RAV4
8 recalls · 897 complaints
C2018 RAV4
3 recalls · 345 complaints
C2017 RAV4
3 recalls · 319 complaints
D2016 RAV4
3 recalls · 255 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 (ids 42972, 42959, 42960, 42971, 42968, 42969, 42970). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.