2023 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 31, 2026FLElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   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 20 mph with severe bucking. My [XXX] daughter was driving. Fortunately, this occurred on a quiet local residential road at 5 am; had this sudden failure occurred at highway speeds, it would have resulted in a catastrophic rear-end collision. The vehicle was…

   NHTSA complaint #11760840 · source
2. Filed Aug 12, 2026GAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   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 up his portable car charger and the car started. On August 8, 2026 the car cut off after parking in a parking space and would not start so I had to get a jump off. After driving for approximately 50 miles to home, I got a low voltage warning and a statement…

   NHTSA complaint #11756623 · source
3. Filed May 4, 2026PREngine

   Was moving forward when all of the sudden the tailpipe flew off (metal thing in the muffler). No real cause, moves the vehicle normally oyt of the driveway and it just flew off.

   NHTSA complaint #11735637 · source
4. Filed Mar 4, 2026OHEngineSteering

   On a rainy day after driving on the interstate, I pulled into a drive thru. Once there and idling for a few minutes, I tried moving forward and the car rough idled, shows message on dash "Engine Stopped, Power Stering Low" and had reduced engine power and no power steering and then stalls out. I tried turning it back on and it stays on for less than 3 seconds and shuts off. I had it towed to the dealer and they say there are no codes. After reading online, multiple other…

   NHTSA complaint #11721942 · source
5. Filed Nov 26, 2025NJElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown

   I purchased my 2023 Toyota RAV4 new back on March 13,2023. 10 days later on March 23 it was raining as I pulled into BJ’s parking lot, I parked and began fumbling around getting my bag and keys together when my car started shaking and sputtering eventually shutting down with an error message engine stopped steering power low. After a call to the salesman I was able to get my car restarted after 15minutes and many failed attempts. Car was bought back to service the following…

   NHTSA complaint #11701720 · source
6. Filed May 29, 2025TXElectrical SystemEngine

   During a rain Storm water was able to leak into my air intake box causing my air filter to become soaked. This caused my car to malfunction, come to an abrupt stop, alerting me of a "engine and steering failure" shutting my car off and becoming stranded on the highway.

   NHTSA complaint #11663790 · source
7. Filed May 21, 2025VAEngineSteering

   Was driving in heavy rain after about a 35 mile commute and put the car in park. After about 5 minutes of sitting in park the car turned completely off by itself for a couple of seconds and restarted. Warning message “engine stopped steering power low” popped up on dash and was visible smoke coming from under the hood with a slight burning smell. This is a first incident for the car as it has been driven for about 2 years with a little over 35,100 miles on it.

   NHTSA complaint #11662468 · source
8. Filed May 21, 2025NCEngineSteeringVisibility & Wipers

   My Toyota RAV 4 the power steering light comes on and says low & it always happens when it’s heavy raining and my wipers are on. The car just stops & wont start again for about 20 mins. This is super dangerous and has happened 4 times now

   NHTSA complaint #11662256 · source
9. Filed May 13, 2025MAEngine

   This problem has occurred twice now. First time: 4/19/2023 The car was brought to the car wash, I pulled into my parking spot the car shut off. When I attempted to turn the car back on the car would not start. The car showed a check engine light along with a steering wheel with an exclamation point. The dash said "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low". The car was immediately brought to the dealership after the car would start. The dealership did not find anything wrong along…

   NHTSA complaint #11660599 · source
10. Filed May 9, 2025ILElectrical SystemEngineSteering

    I was driving down [XXX] The car was moving along fine then when I pushed the gas it would jerk back and shake. I pulled off the highway and was able to coast into a gas station, but the engine stopped working as I was driving while cars were coming behind me. I could have been stopped in the middle of traffic with no way to get out. The power steering light came on as well as a light that said the engine was cut off. We just bought the car used with 22k miles on it and put…

    NHTSA complaint #11659981 · source
11. Filed May 6, 2025OKElectrical SystemEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

    Was sitting in my car in the rain and all of a sudden the engine cut off. The check engine light came on and the error message on the dashboard said " Engine Power Reduced". If I try to put it in anything but Park, it won't let me. I have never had this issue, or any issue with this car. If I had been driving, this would have run me off the road.

    NHTSA complaint #11659158 · source
12. Filed May 5, 2025TXEngineSteering

    UNKNOWN: It happened during a heavy storm on my 40 miles to work and all the symbols lights suddenly lit up on the dashboard. The car died and the steering wheel got heavy when I tried to pull to the emergency lane. Luckily I was able to pull over, but it almost caused an accident as I was in the middle lane. I tried to start up the car again, but it would crank up, but died instantly and the dash would show "Ignition on" on the top left and "Engine Stopped: Power Steering…

    NHTSA complaint #11659130 · source

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