RecallMyCar

1996 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

No safety recalls list the 1996 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

0
safety recalls
47
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
21–24
MPG combined (EPA)

No safety recalls on record

NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1996 Toyota RAV4. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.

47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Toyota RAV4 have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 111,775 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 15 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Excessive engine oil use, 1 qt every 1000 miles”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 29, 2016 · Engine

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 toyota rav4. The contact stated that when the temperature would drop, the doors would shut abnormally and the locks would malfunction. The contact was unable to open the do”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 7, 2014 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 2WD, RAV4 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21–24 mpg
City / Highway19–21 / 24–27
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Toyota RAV4 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Toyota RAV404
1995 Toyota RAV401
1996 Toyota RAV4047
1997 Toyota RAV4054
1998 Toyota RAV4477
1999 Toyota RAV4462
2000 Toyota RAV4330
2001 Toyota RAV40309
2002 Toyota RAV40527
2003 Toyota RAV40315
2004 Toyota RAV42154
2005 Toyota RAV45141
2006 Toyota RAV411705
2007 Toyota RAV4141,004
2008 Toyota RAV414575
2009 Toyota RAV415327
2010 Toyota RAV414400
2011 Toyota RAV411287
2012 Toyota RAV45260
2013 Toyota RAV42257
2014 Toyota RAV44197
2015 Toyota RAV44305
2016 Toyota RAV43240
2017 Toyota RAV43307
2018 Toyota RAV43331
2019 Toyota RAV47879
2020 Toyota RAV46635
2021 Toyota RAV41387
2022 Toyota RAV41147
2023 Toyota RAV43157
2024 Toyota RAV43176
2025 Toyota RAV4388

Checking a specific 1996 Toyota RAV4

How do I know if my 1996 Toyota RAV4 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.

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.

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

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.