Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: it scores well across the board with no single weak engine.
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota RAV4, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 24 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 7% |
| Steering | 7 | 5% |
| Tires | 6 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 4% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 3% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The backup camera display only works intermittently. About 75% of the time the screen is blank when I put it into reverse
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Destination LE2, Tire Size: 225/65/R17, DOT Number: [XXX]. The contact stated that while driving on [XXX], the red light illuminated and there
NHTSA complaint: Tires
The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Front forward camera unavailable, World wide shortage of part. No known date of supply.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Description of the Defect:I am reporting a premature and dangerous failure of the electronic door lock actuators on my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE. The issue began with the driver’s door lock intermittently failing to res
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal bang coming from the vehicle, and the rear glass shattered without impact. The vehicl
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
On August 6 2026, my RAV4 just cut off at the traffic light. The car was completely dead. I was unable to unlock the trunk but the doors did open. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership. The tow truck man hooked u
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Driving South on [XXX] and almost to [XXX] about 60 MPH. The rubber roof drip moldings released and starting flying against my car very hard, this was beyond scary. I had to pull over and try to tuck them in, they are
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota RAV4 vehicles equipped with 17" black alloy accessory wheels. During installation of the alloy wheels, the tire valve stem may have been improperly installed or damaged. In addition, the load carrying capacity label may state the inco
Risk: A damaged or improperly installed valve stem may allow air to leak and/or the tires to be underinflated, increasing the risk of tire failure and a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheel valve stems and replace the load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 18,
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or di
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this re
| Reliability | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 98 | excellent |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and unknown or other is the most reported area with 24 of them (16%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2023 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: buy, because it scores well across the board with no single weak engine. Its overall ownership score is 80/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.