Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 2% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2021 | 7 | 2% | 108,000 miles |
| 2020 | 5 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% | 30,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% | 108,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 | 3 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 0% | 10,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 0% | 77,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 0% | 115,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 0% | 54,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% | 85,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% | 106,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1996 | 4 | 9% | 6,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the hood was shuddering significantly. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the hood shuddered and rose continuously while remaining closed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road each time the failure occurred due to safety concerns. The contact stated that the failure had reduced the ability to pay attention to the road while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known issue. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure occurred because the hood was no longer made with metal material but with aluminum material. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. …
While I'm driving 2024 RAV4 hybrid, driver side door suddenly got opened (it was looselu hanging itself without fully being opened so I immediately grabbed it). As the vehicle was in driving, all doors were locked, and yet the driver side door suddenly got unlocked, and I had to stopped the car. I was lucked I was not on freeway. This could have been a huge accident if it got fully opened. I tried to call Toyota to report this but as this was around 6:05pm, there were closed. Also, Toyota doesn't make it easy to report issues.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle overnight, the following morning it was discovered that the rear hatchback door had erroneously opened. The contact stated that a severe thunderstorm had occurred over night however, the keys had not been used nor were any buttons depressed to cause the hatchback door to become unlocked. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,055.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the front driver's side door failed to lock securely. The contact stated that the door could not be locked while using the key fob, the keypad, or locked manually. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
The rear hatch liftgate hinges are not adequately structured to withhold pressure under normal use. Over varied short durations of time from the vehicle being new, the rear liftgate hinge's structure fails. The hinges split and crack. This damage occurs despite factory liftgate struts being in plate to assist in the opening of the liftgate. In my case this issue first appeared during and after a snowstorm. A multitude of similar complaints on forums. This has caused my liftgate to misalign and not close. I have had to turn off the auto liftgate and slowly close it despite it is now rubbing the right rear fender/quarter area. As of now I have to repair the issue with new hinges that have not been redesigned, that will again likely prematurely fail. You can view the complaints within Toyota Forums, all see February 2024 class action lawsuit, Hughes vs Toyota attached with the below photos
In March 2025 the driver door lock stopped working electronically and would only work manually. In August 2025 the passenger door lock stopped working noisy of the time. In Dec 2025 the rear passenger side does lock stopped working most of the time.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the rear hatch door failed to remain securely closed. The contact stated that the failure intermittently occurred and became more frequent over time. Additionally, the front driver's side seat belt buckle and rear passenger's side seat belt buckle failed to buckle and lock securely. They also stated that the front driver's side electronic reclining seat made grinding sounds while operating. The contact also stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the rear passenger's side quarter panel. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 32,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle started shaking, jerking, and vibrating abnormally before stopping. Additionally, the exterior door handles on the front passenger's side door, rear passenger's side door, and rear driver's side door had detached from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,053.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota RAV4 years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (7), 2002 (5), 2019 (5) and 2020 (5) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Toyota RAV4 door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for any Toyota RAV4 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota RAV4 door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the electronic lock/latch actuator (9 mentions), followed by the hatchback/liftgate › lock (8).
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.