Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 9% | — |
| 2024 | 16 | 9% | 6,000 miles |
| 2023 | 18 | 11% | — |
| 2022 | 8 | 5% | 62,000 miles |
| 2021 | 20 | 5% | 33,000 miles |
| 2020 | 19 | 3% | 5,000 miles |
| 2019 | 36 | 4% | 4,000 miles |
| 2018 | 30 | 9% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 38 | 12% | 10,000 miles |
| 2016 | 46 | 19% | 22,000 miles |
| 2015 | 31 | 10% | 24,000 miles |
| 2014 | 16 | 8% | 10,000 miles |
| 2013 | 23 | 9% | 24,000 miles |
| 2012 | 39 | 15% | 16,000 miles |
| 2011 | 48 | 17% | 32,000 miles |
| 2010 | 34 | 9% | 28,000 miles |
| 2009 | 31 | 9% | 21,000 miles |
| 2008 | 34 | 6% | 35,000 miles |
| 2007 | 47 | 5% | 66,000 miles |
| 2006 | 32 | 5% | 44,000 miles |
| 2005 | 11 | 8% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 5% | 35,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% | 64,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2001 | 24 | 8% | 103,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% | 4,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 8% | 94,000 miles |
| 1998 | 16 | 21% | 120,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 1996 | 11 | 23% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
We were on a funeral procession when suddenly the car accelerated at a very high speed and hit the end of guard rail head on. My wife on the passenger side and two people at the back were all taken to the emergency room. I got pinned on the steering column and taken out via the roof. I had severe abrasions on both legs, wife has 3 broken ribs,the 2 passengers suffered whiplash and complains of chest pains. Car was purchased 11/3/2025 and I took it for a recall fix about a month ago at Burien Toyota dealership where we bought it. Incident # 2026-55959 Seattle police. At present our car insurance is investigating and our claim # is 082 0356939 Allstate.
I rented the Toyota RAV4 from Fox Rent a Car [phone]) at the Denver International Airport for a trip to Boulder, CO. On November 9 evening, I drove to the Sugarloaf Mountain Trail Head (GPS: 40.05, -105.425) for a time-lapse photography. Date/Time: 2025-11-09 6:29 PM Location Description: Uneven dirt parking area commonly used by sightseers. Visibility was completely dark at the time of arrival. After arriving at the hilltop, as I parked the vehicle, while applying very light pressure to the accelerator pedal with my right foot, I felt a gradual drop of several inches on the passenger side of the vehicle. Instinctively, I moved my right foot to the brake pedal and applied pressure. However, I immediately sensed that the vehicle was not decelerating; instead, it was accelerating forward. …
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle did not stop as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the contact was trying to avoid a crash. The contact stated that while trying to prevent the oncoming vehicle from crashing into the contact's vehicle, the contact crashed into a curb. The contact stated that while driving off the curb, the brake pedal was depressed and the steering wheel was steered to the left, the vehicle did not stop. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a pole and then the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was damaged on the passenger's side from the front bumper to the passenger's front door. The driver's front door rear view mirror was damaged. In addition, the transmission fluid leaked and the passenger's front wheel was detached. …
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving into a parking speed at a low rate of speed, the contact pressed the brake pedal to stop but the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration. The contact indicated that the vehicle accelerated forward and crashed into the parked vehicle ahead. During the incident no injuries were reported and a police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not determined and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 500.
Sudden surge and acceleration upon parking. I had brakes depressed pulling into a parking space when the vehicle felt like it jumped and quickly accelerated. It veered left missing the parked van in front of me but crashing into the parked Honda Accord two spots over and one in front. It crashed into the back tire and fender area of the passenger side of the Honda pushing it completely out of its spot and sideways. My vehicle kept going even though pushing the brakes to stop. I had to force it into park to stop. The car's air bags deployed but my Toyota's airbags nor crash warning system worked.
I was pulling into a parking spot and my vehicle suddenly accelerated. I slammed on the brakes and the car did stop, but not before hitting a railing in front of me. There were also trees close to the railing, so the camera should have detected those as a barrier and I believe the veauto-braked, even if I had not hit the brakes. This is a safety concern because the vehicle would have plowed over any person in front of the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving through a trench at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed to avoid scraping the bottom of the vehicle however, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and failed to stop. Additionally, the steering wheel failed to turn as needed, and the vehicle crashed into a picnic table and ran over the chairs. The vehicle came to a stop after crashing into a rock. The contact stated that the bumper and doors were damaged and had scratches from the crash. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was not filed. The dealer was contacted and performed an investigation and determined that the accelerator pedal was depressed during the crash and the vehicle was driving 25 MPH; however, the contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed during the crash. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
I was at stop position. i pressed the hold button and then took my foot off the break. when traffic started moving i pressed the hold button again with my foot still on floor the car started jumping and pressing the the two other car on my front. the two other cars got totaled.
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, air › Disc › Rotor
Vehicle description: sport utility electric vehicles. The front disc brake rotor, when equipped with steel wheels, can develop stress fractures if the lug nuts are tightened with excessive torque.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the disc brake rotors. If the vehicle is equipped with steel wheels, Toyota will replace the front disc brake rotors and steel wheels with new disc brake rotors and new aluminum wheels.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota RAV4 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (48), 2007 (47), 2016 (46), 2012 (39) and 2017 (38) model years. Brake complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Toyota RAV4 brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 00V-212 (rotor, Aug 9, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota RAV4 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles; 70% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (22 mentions), followed by the foundation components (15).
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.