2012 Toyota RAV4 EV: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 6 owner complaints on record; most reports concern vehicle speed control.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota rav4 ev. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v577000 (visibility/wiper) and 16v096000 (seat belts) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Mar 2017
“While driving 35 on a local road, the vehicle lost all power to the propulsion system. Power steering and brakes worked as I was lucky to be able to coast safely to a turnout. The vehicle warning light saying "check ev system, have dealer check immediately" was illuminated on the information display. This is a common problem for the rav4 ev as the toyota and tesla parts have trouble maintaining communication with each other within a part called the gateway ecm. My car was serviced by the dealer after this incident, where they updated the firmware loaded on the gateway ecm.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2014
“I was driving in the parking garage at work and the yellow exclamation light appeared on the dash with a message that says "check ev system. Have you vehicle checked by a dealership immediately." I was able to stop and the car started after several attempts. The dealership replaced the ecu. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible loss of drive power.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly software, free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all RAV4 EV years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact RAV4 EV by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV reliable?
NHTSA has 6 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV. The most complained-about area is vehicle speed control.
Does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning visibility and wiper. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.