2011 Toyota RAV4: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 Toyota RAV4: 11 recalls, 287 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
_Cruiser_wagon_(2008-11-07).jpg){kind=link}
Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V029000 · 2012 · 427 vehicles
What's wrong: In the curtain shield airbags, propellant with the incorrect specification was used for the initiator assembled in the airbag inflator. In this condition, the inflator May not perform properly, causing one or both curtain shield airbags to not deploy.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the airbags May not deploy and will not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the vehicle identification number to identify the curtain shield assemblies and replace the assemblies as necessary with new ones free of charge. The safety recall began on March 8, 2012.
Suspension Vehicle recall #12V373000 · 2012 · 780,584 vehicles
What's wrong: If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) May develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012.
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles May not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system May not operate as designed.
Why it matters: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags May not deploy or they May deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag…
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.
Equipment Vehicle recall #13V123000 · 2013 · 7,525 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which May result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013.
Suspension Vehicle recall #13V383000 · 2013 · 780,584 vehicles
What's wrong: If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) May develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Visibility/Wiper Vehicle recall #15V577000 · 2015 · 423,456 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, water May drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
Why it matters: Over time, the dripping water May cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the…
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #15V689000 · 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles
What's wrong: During the manufacturing of the power window master switch (pwms), grease lubricant May have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Why it matters: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch May cause a short circuit and the switch assembly May overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the pwms circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V096000 · 2016 · 1,123,752 vehicles
What's wrong: In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats May be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Why it matters: A cut seat belt May not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V596000 · 2016 · 337,449 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that May have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm May have thread damage and May rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 8 mention a fire, 20 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Speed control / throttle (69): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (15).
- Visibility/Wiper (48): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (3).
- Brakes (43): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (14).
- Engine (33): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (5).
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has 287 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 32 RAV4 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 293). Complaints peaked in 2016 (62 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 45,468 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (400 complaints, 14 recalls), 2012 (260 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Toyota RAV4.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Toyota RAV4. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota RAV4 problems?
Owners have filed 287 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are speed control / throttle (69), visibility/wiper (48), brakes (43).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 Toyota RAV4 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.