2021 Toyota RAV4 visibility & wipers problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

31 owners have reported visibility & wipers problems with the 2021 Toyota RAV4, 8% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 41,402 mi.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
31
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Related recalls
0
Median mileage
41,402 mi

Specific components reported

Visibility & Wipers covers: Windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors and windows.

ComponentComplaints
Visibility/wiper19
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior5
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly3
Visibility1
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices1
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility:power window devices and controls1

Visibility & Wipers complaints across Toyota RAV4 years

1200711200912201154201312201555201771520191631202161220238122025
Visibility & Wipers complaints by model year. The 2021 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

2Under 10k10k–30k430k–60k60k–100k100k–150k150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

  1. Filed Jul 31, 2026CASeats & Seat BeltsVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s seat became stuck. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure reoccurred on several occasions. The contact stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the front driver’s and passenger sides, causing puddles of water in the front driver’s and passenger’s seats with an abnormal odor. The contact stated that the leak was near the bolts and screws.…
    NHTSA complaint #11753992 · source
  2. Filed Jun 2, 2026SCVisibility & Wipers
    was driving on 4 lane hwy and it was raining and my wipers stopped working mid-way on windshield, I had to find a safe place to pull off road and inspect the problem i tried turning car off and back on and wipers would still not work. I drove another 3 miles or so to the Toyota dealership luckily with no accident which made me feel very unsafe without my wipers. They told me i would have to leave car for them to take panel off to find the cause of failure and provided a…
    NHTSA complaint #11741647 · source
  3. Filed Apr 2, 2026MOVisibility & Wipers
    My 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid exhibits significant vibration in both exterior rear-view mirrors beginning at approximately 30 MPH, worsening at highway speeds of 50–70 MPH. Toyota has acknowledged this as a known manufacturing defect via TSB T-SB-0079-20, which identifies the original mirror mounting studs and reinforcement brackets as inadequate from the factory. The condition was confirmed by my local Toyota dealership, who verified TSB applicability but declined to cover the…
    NHTSA complaint #11728927 · source
  4. Filed Jan 15, 202656,413 miFLVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard a loud bang and then heard wind entering the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof had shattered without impact. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,413.
    NHTSA complaint #11711279 · source
  5. Filed Aug 22, 2025CAVisibility & Wipers
    Vehicle has both rear view mirror distortion (assembly mirror face on both sides) vibrate causing distortion deeming outside rear view mirrors useless and hazardous. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin for 2019-2021 Toyota RAV4 models but refuses to pay for this safety defect.
    NHTSA complaint #11682491 · source
  6. Filed Aug 14, 2025INVisibility & Wipers
    The outer rear-view mirrors on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 vibrate all times, and excessively at highway speeds (approximately 50–70 mph), creating a shaky and distorted image of surrounding vehicles. This failure of the mirror mounting system makes it difficult to accurately judge the position and speed of other cars when changing lanes, merging, or reacting to traffic. The mirrors remain installed on my vehicle and are available for inspection. This issue poses a serious safety…
    NHTSA complaint #11680638 · source
  7. Filed Jul 17, 2025COVisibility & Wipers
    The side mirrors shake heavily especially on highways. It puts my safety at risk and others as I am unable to properly focus on the road ahead of me when I am trying to clearly see if there are cars behind me while I am changing lanes. It causes me to take extra time looking at the mirror that I shouldn't have to in order to change lanes safely. This is a known issue and a Technical Service Bulletin has been created for it, but it requires a payment of over $1,000 to fix…
    NHTSA complaint #11674249 · source
  8. Filed Jun 30, 2025CAVisibility & Wipers
    UKNOWN. The panoramic sunroof of my vehicle exploded unexpectedly while driving on the freeway and the glass shattered everywhere. There were no debris in sight that would cause the incident and the glass of the sunroof was facing outward when inspected seems to indicate that the breakage occurred from inside the vehicle. The shattered glass and shards caused minor injuries on myself and one other passenger. The 'explosion' caused the debris glass to have potentially hit…
    NHTSA complaint #11670308 · source
  9. Filed May 8, 202532,804 miHIVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the front driver’s side window became inoperable. The contact stated that the power button would not function properly, and the contact could not get the front window off track. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the window regulator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer…
    NHTSA complaint #11659818 · source
  10. Filed Dec 24, 2024NHVisibility & Wipers
    Without any warning and without anyone touching the car my back windshield exploded out. This flung pieces of glass inches from my toddler as we were about to get in the car. I have a remote car starter (for 4 years on this car) and had started it a few minutes before walking to my car to put my stuff down, I opened the passenger door, put my bags on the seat and closed the door. I then turned around to help my toddler into the car and it suddenly exploded inches from us
    NHTSA complaint #11632244 · source
  11. Filed Jul 30, 2024VTVisibility & Wipers
    The sideview mirrors vibrate - the part that vibrates is the actual glass inside. I have read that many other 2021 RAV4 owners have complained about the same issue. The car was taken to a Toyota dealership and they reported not being able to locate a repair kit for this issue. The vibration makes it difficult to use the mirrors when driving at higher speeds on the interstate. It puts myself and others at risk because it makes it more challenging to safely change lanes.
    NHTSA complaint #11605330 · source
  12. Filed Jul 25, 2024MTVisibility & Wipers
    Purchased a 2021 Toyota Rav4 Limited and the side mirrors vibrate while driving to the point it is unsafe to use them as their intended purpose. Nationally, Toyota seems to have acknowledged the problem via T-SB-0079-20 and only covers them on vehicles with 36k miles or 36,000 miles. Our vehicle was on the dealer lot for a year and the coverage for this TSB expired in February 2024 and has over 36k miles so my local dealer has told me it does not qualify to be repaired but…
    NHTSA complaint #11604478 · source

Other 2021 Toyota RAV4 problem areas

Back to all 2021 Toyota RAV4 problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology