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2020 Toyota RAV4 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
52% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Toyota RAV4 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 55 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).
Does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 303 of 580 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota RAV4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%), and the largest group is filed under engine (180). For comparison, the 2019 scores 62% and the 2021 scores 26%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Toyota RAV4 years
Of the 14 Toyota RAV4 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (52%). The worst is the 2019 (62%), the best the 2016 (20%). By volume, the 2020 drew 635 complaints (303 drivetrain), against 879 for the 2019 and 486 for the 2021.
Toyota RAV4 years to avoid and best years →
2010 RAV4 problems · 2011 RAV4 problems · 2012 RAV4 problems · 2013 RAV4 problems · 2014 RAV4 problems · 2015 RAV4 problems · 2016 RAV4 problems · 2017 RAV4 problems · 2018 RAV4 problems · 2019 RAV4 problems · 2020 · 2021 RAV4 problems · 2022 RAV4 problems · 2023 RAV4 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Toyota RAV4
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 303 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Toyota RAV4 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Toyota RAV4 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020…
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021.…
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
Risk: A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged…
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Toyota RAV4? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2020 Toyota RAV4
Does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 303 of 580 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota RAV4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Toyota RAV4 is engine: 180 of 635 complaints (28%) name it, followed by electrical system (119) and fuel/propulsion system (90). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 52% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota RAV4 years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Toyota RAV4 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 20V682000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 20V064000 (engine and engine cooling). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Toyota RAV4 years are better?
Among the Toyota RAV4 years we track, the 2010 (20%), the 2016 (20%) and the 2017 (21%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (52%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-rav4
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.