2015 Toyota RAV4 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2015 Toyota RAV4, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 46,945 miles. The words owners use most often: “electrical contacted” (13% of reports).
- 85electrical system complaints
- 46,945median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 30%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Electrical contacted: mentioned in 11 of 85 complaints (13%)
- Fire department: mentioned in 8 of 85 complaints (9%)
- Minutes later: mentioned in 5 of 85 complaints (6%)
- Total loss: mentioned in 5 of 85 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 41 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 85 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 26 a fire, 1 an injury.
Toyota RAV4 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4 | 15 | 17% | 4,250 |
| 2024 RAV4 | 32 | 18% | 32,750 |
| 2023 RAV4 | 41 | 26% | 21,000 |
| 2022 RAV4 | 40 | 27% | 53,800 |
| 2021 RAV4 | 47 | 12% | 30,000 |
| 2020 RAV4 | 119 | 19% | 2,800 |
| 2019 RAV4 | 102 | 12% | 25,000 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 130 | 39% | 16,500 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 108 | 35% | 36,500 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 59 | 25% | 52,000 |
| 2015 RAV4 | 85 | 28% | 46,945 |
| 2014 RAV4 | 69 | 35% | 60,000 |
| 2013 RAV4 | 75 | 29% | 7,745 |
| 2012 RAV4 | 30 | 12% | 33,000 |
| 2011 RAV4 | 19 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2010 RAV4 | 15 | 4% | 108,520 |
| 2009 RAV4 | 19 | 6% | 33,960 |
| 2008 RAV4 | 27 | 5% | 67,000 |
| 2007 RAV4 | 76 | 8% | 79,800 |
| 2006 RAV4 | 42 | 6% | 65,000 |
| 2005 RAV4 | 6 | 4% | 96,100 |
| 2004 RAV4 | 10 | 6% | 91,000 |
| 2003 RAV4 | 42 | 13% | 98,000 |
| 2002 RAV4 | 92 | 17% | 93,608 |
| 2001 RAV4 | 60 | 19% | 104,095 |
| 2000 RAV4 | 1 | 3% | 172,000 |
| 1999 RAV4 | 6 | 10% | 64,000 |
| 1998 RAV4 | 3 | 4% | — |
| 1997 RAV4 | 3 | 6% | — |
| 1996 RAV4 | 2 | 4% | 150,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While driving my 2015 Toyota RAV4 XLE 2WD (2.5L, about 207,000 miles), the electric power steering assist failed instantly with no warning, making the steering wheel feel locked. At the same moment, the infotainment screen went black and rebooted. It has happened at freeway speeds and at low…
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the radio was inoperable. The contact stated that the gauges failed to properly operate. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the rearview camera image was reversed before becoming inoperable…
On Friday February 27, 2026 as the vehicle was being driven it caught fire. Fire department and sheriffs office was called to the scene. Vehicle fire was put out but the whole front end burned.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 Toyota RAV4s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 85 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2015 Toyota RAV4 (28% of the 305 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Toyota RAV4 electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 46,945 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2015 Toyota RAV4?
The most frequent phrase is “electrical contacted”, in 11 of 85 complaints, followed by “fire department” (8).
See all 2015 Toyota RAV4 problems or electrical system problems across all RAV4 years.