2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, and owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Dc/dc converter (electrical system)
Toyota 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.
Remedy: Owners 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.…
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Power control unit/module (hpcu) (electrical system)
Toyota 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…
Remedy: Dealers 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…
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Software (electronic stability control (esc))
Toyota 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…
Remedy: Dealers 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…
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
Toyota 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,…
Remedy: Toyota 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…
99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 10,574 miles. Complaints peaked in 2022 with 28 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Rear glass broken all of sudden when the vehicle is parked outside”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 10, 2026 · Unknown or other
“Observed arcing noises and strong electrical fire smell upon plugging in L2 EVSE charging cable. MIL lit, Hybrid Vehicle Charging System codes active; vehicle refused to charge afterwards. Self-diagno”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 7, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime (RAV4 Prime 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 38 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 40 / 36 |
| Fuel | Regular Gas and Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AV-S6) |
Compare Toyota RAV4 Prime model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 Prime model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 4 | 99 |
| 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 3 | 21 |
| 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 2 | 64 |
| 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 2 | 29 |
Checking a specific 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
How do I know if my 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 20V698000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.