Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light, she depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop the vehicle and rear-ended another vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The contact stated a police officer was at the site but no police report was filed. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,047.
Critical safety concern regarding the braking system in my Toyota Rav4, 2021 which I believe may warrant further investigation for a potential recall as there are none at this time. The issue pertains to the breaking system, which locks up unexpectadly during use, casuing sudden and severe break locking without warning (unable to break). I suspect as many others online who have mentioned this issue on Toyota Forums is that it is the prime breaking software. I have had my breaks inspected multiple times as I was in a car accident where the breaks did not work and I rolled into the car in front of me when we were starting to proceed through a green light at 5MPH. When pushing on the brakes nothing happened and I rolled into a mother and children. Luckily I did not cause significant damage however I explained to her my breaks would not work. …
My wife was pulling her car into a parking area consisting of a few small storefronts. When pulling in, the brakes completely failed as did the forward collision warning system and the automatic emergency braking system. As she continued to press the brake pedal it just went to the floor of the car. The end result was that the car struck one of the storefronts causing damage to the building as well as her car. Fortunately the store was closed at the time and no one was injured, nor was she. There were not any warning lamps or messages prior to the brakes failing. The brakes worked fine in the approx. 15 minute drive prior to the accident. I realize that drivers sometimes press the accelerator in error instead of the brakes and I can assure you that this was not the case (we wife is not elderly and is a very safe driver). …
On Nov 05, at approximately 11:10pm, I was driving my RAV4 on Alafaya Trail, Orange County, Orlando. While approaching the traffic signal which had turned red, despite multiple attempts to engage the brakes, the vehicle continued moving, ultimately leading to the collision with the traffic turning left at the signal (coming from her right). The impact of the collision resulted in significant damage to the RAV4, and unfortunately, the airbags did not deploy as they should have. As a result, I hit my face on the steering wheel, and then hit the head on the left window when a second vehicle hit my RAV4 on the passenger side. The complete failure of airbag deployment has raised serious safety concerns for me. As of 28th November, I have been informed by our insurance company that the vehicle cannot be repaired and has been totaled. …
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was approaching a traffic light and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the parking brake was activated to slow and stop the vehicle. The driver was then able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made the dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,900.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: Primacy MXV4, Tire Size: 225/65/R17, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while having routine maintenance at the local dealer, the contact was informed that the driver's side and passenger's front tire threads were at 3 on the inside and 4 on the outside. While depressing the brake pedal, an abnormal noise was detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The tire mileage was approximately 45,419. The approximate failure mileage was 39,706.
While using Cruse control. It did not slow the vehicle. I could not turn it off. The brakes would not work. I ran thru an intersection against the light. Bounced over the median. I turned off the ignition, still coasted about 1/2 mile. Finally I jammed the gear shift lever into Park. Toyota has the vehicle for inspection and reading of the black box. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS OF THE FAILURE. WARNING MESSAGES DID DISPLAY DURING THE FAILURE, WHICH WERE "CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE", "BRAKE FAILURE", AND "LANE DEPARTURE".
I had 2 sudden acceleration incidents. The first occurred 10/6/21.My car lurched forward & hit a pole. I was with my mom who saw me press the brake, which did not engage. My car has an auto-braking system which did not function as designed. I took it to Toyota.They determined there were no issues w/the vehicle. I insisted there was something wrong & warned this will happen again & could be much worse. I felt defeated but hoped it was an isolated glitch & hoped for the best. Fast forward 2 months to 12/13/21 I was in a drive-thru using the hold button, which is a feature that holds the brake in place, so my foot was not on any pedal. All of a sudden, my car began to accelerate & the brakes would not engage. An error message on the dash said "BRAKE MALFUNCTION". I could not stop the car. I put in park, but it did not stop the car. …
2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid XLE Premium. Purchased new from the dealer. It currently has 75,000 miles (predominantly highway). Condition: The Braking mechanisms behind the firewall intermittently make a noise when the brake pedal is pressed fast (emergency) and/or released. It sounds like a seal barking when the pedal is moving either up or down. These are not your typical noises from a pad or rotor wear. Cause: At approximately 28,000 miles, the seal barking sound was there but very faint. As I added miles the sound became more frequent and louder. I did take it to the dealer who was not able to help. Environment: This seal barking sound can happen at any time and any condition, but is almost always going to happen when I want to avoid hitting an object that suddenly appears in my lane of travel and must brake quickly. …
To whom this may concern, I have had many problems with the Toyota Rav-4. I had so many problems with my 2017 Rav 4, that I under pressure upgraded to the 2021 LE version. I have had many problems with the breaks. I have brought it in (3) times to be serviced since I purchased it in March of 2021. The breaks are still squeaking. I have also had problems with the electrical system. The dash panel comes on, and abruptly shuts down when it feels like it. My wipers also come on intermittently. Every time I try and talk to Toyota about this they tell me there is nothing wrong. This same thing happens with the 2017, until my breaking mechanism stopped. I am looking for someone to look into this matter because these are dangerous conditions and unacceptable especially for new cars.
Brake complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2021 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the brakes of the 2021 Toyota RAV4, 5% of the model year's 387 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2021 Toyota RAV4 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2021 Toyota RAV4, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Toyota RAV4 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.