Most common 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV problems
Share of the 10 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota RAV4 EV complaints by model year
Best RAV4 EV years: 2013, 2012. Compare all years →
2014 Toyota RAV4 EV recalls (3)
Seat belts › Rear/other
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Visibility/wiper
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014.
Remedy: 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.
Hybrid propulsion system
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly software, free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Starting around 24,500 miles, Toyota RAV4 EV 2014 started to make a loud noise with acceleration. This noise was diagnosed by the authorized Toyota dealer as an issue with the drive motor made by Tesla, but I was told that at that time the noise is "not loud enough" to get anything done by Toyota/Tesla. Since then, another 2000 miles have passed and the noise is only louder. The dealer has again diagnosed the issue as the drive motor, submitted recording of noise to Toyota/Tesla but states that Toyota/Tesla not ready to replace drive motor. This is clearly an issue with a vehicle under warranty. I haver noticed my overall range is being affected and down by 10%. I am very concerned that the vehicle will malfunction while I am driving around, possibly ending in an accident where someone gets seriously injured.
I was driving on the freeway going about 65mph in the hov lane when the accelerator pedal stopped working and a warning light came on the dashboard. I was not able to get over to the shoulder due to not having power and all of the cars on the freeway. I came to a complete stop, powered off the car and then powered it back on again hoping it would work and it did. Power came back to the accelerator pedal and I was able to safely take the car to the dealership. Luckily I didn't create an accident and nobody was hurt. I took my car to the dealership on dec 16 2014 and I just got my car back yesterday January 31st 2015. The dealer replaced the drive unit assembly which they said they were waiting to receive the part from Tesla.
Fuel & propulsion system
Whilst driving at 70mph on the hov lane of the freeway, the car switched into neutral and coasted to a stop. Because this happened at night, and on a lane that does not have a stopping lane, it was grossly unsafe as cars whizzed by. The car was towed to a dealer for repairs. The dealership, Toyota carlsbad, has informed me that a new drive motor will be installed. Unfortunately, this issue with the propulsion system failing is common in the Toyota RAV4 EV (it uses a Tesla motor). There are so many drive motors being replaced right now, I have to wait at least two weeks for a new one. Others have recently waiting up to a month.
Was driving in city at about 30 MPH , car stopped having propulsion, stopped with a shudder and warnings lights pop up. "check EV system" was able to reset the computer by powering off/on for 3 cycles to make it over to the curb. Called tow to transport to the dealer. Send me away after resetting the error message in the computer. Week later it happened again backing out of a parking spot. Now Toyota is blaming my add ons like charge indicator (showing volts/amps of the j1772 input) and the fact I fitted a trailer hitch (for a bike rack). Which has absolutely nothing to do with the electrical propulsion system.
2014 Toyota RAV4 EV engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | CVT | FWD | 78 / 74 / 76 MPGe | 103 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 RAV4 EV rates average: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the RAV4 EV at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV?
The transmission & drivetrain — 5 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV, the most recent from February 19, 2016 (rear/other). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota RAV4 EV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013 and 2012. See the full Toyota RAV4 EV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2014 Toyota RAV4 EV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 17,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.