2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime.

< older2022
Complaints
129
Crashes
29
Fires
0
Injuries
11
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#135 complaints

Electrical Faults

Crash-related:1
#217 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:804 mi
Crash-related:1
#316 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:9,300 mi
Crash-related:7
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime.

Electrical Faults
35
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
804
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
9,300
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
8
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Warning
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Status Indicator Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~518,644 vehicles.

23V478000Electrical System:propulsion System:dc/dc Converter
~43,442 affected

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.

23V041000Electrical System:propulsion System:hybrid Management:power Control Unit/module (hpcu)
~16,679 affected

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 further accelerate the vehicle, resulting in a stall.

22V239000Electronic Stability Control (esc):control Module:software
~458,110 affected

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 when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

20V698000Exterior Lighting:headlights
~413 affected

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, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Other Toyota RAV4 Prime Years

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has 129 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 35 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (35 complaints); Fuel System (17 complaints, avg 804 mi); Brakes (16 complaints, avg 9,300 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 4,923 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime include 29 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 518,644 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota RAV4 Prime reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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