RecallMyCar

2013 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2013 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
257
owner complaints to NHTSA
22 / 29
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–76
MPGe combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2013 Toyota RAV4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. 12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)

    NHTSA 23V734000 Reported 1,853,568 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification…

  2. Trailer hitches and exterior lighting

    NHTSA 15V011000 Reported 1,140 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the…

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at…

257 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA; 22 describe a crash and 29 describe a fire. Reports cite 15 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 39,068 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 39 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The system that failed is the 12-volt battery hold-down assembly and associated electrical infrastructure, exactly as described under NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign Number 23V-729 (Toyota Recalls 23TA13”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 24, 2026 · Electrical system

“Toyota issues a Customer Support Program Notification regarding paint peeling on vehicles with factory applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint. The original expiration date was December 11, 2022 w”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 20, 2026 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 2WD, RAV4 AWD, RAV4 EV, RAV4 Limited AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–76 MPGe
City / Highway22–78 / 28–74
FuelElectricity, Regular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6); Automatic (variable gear ratios)

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 2013 Toyota RAV4

How do I know if my 2013 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2013 Toyota RAV4; 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 15V011000).

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.