Model year guide

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints13
Combined40 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid recalls 5

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #23V865000 · manufacturer #23TA15, 23LA03 · 20/12/2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deployi…

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may con…

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #20V734000 · manufacturer #20TB17/20TA17 · 25/11/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #20V373000 · manufacturer #20TB11 / 20TA11 · 24/06/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm NHTSA Campaign #20V286000 · manufacturer #20TB08 / 20TA08 · 20/05/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.

Engine And Engine Cooling NHTSA Campaign #20V064000 · manufacturer #See report · 06/02/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Le…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid MPG & running costs

Combined40 mpg
City41 mpg
Highway38 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$1,700
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$3,500 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$8,500
Fuel only$8,500
Per mile$0.11

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
180.7 in
Width
72.8 in
Height
66.9 in
Wheelbase
105.9 in
Curb weight
3,755 lb
Front track
63.0 in
Rear track
63.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Pedestrian alert sounds Closed

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. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that…

NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 172

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 172.

This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.

Bulletin T-SB-0051-26 · Engine · Aug 2026

OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.

Bulletin T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 · Engine · Aug 2026

Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to Flow Sh…

Bulletin 24TE04 · Engine · Aug 2026

Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing ext…

Bulletin 22TE09 · Electrical System · May 2026

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.

Bulletin T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 · Engine · Feb 2026

OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.

Bulletin T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · Electrical System · Jan 2026

Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.

Bulletin T-SB-0001-26 · Electrical System · Jan 2026

Some RAV4 vehicles power seat where the automatic seat adjustment by the memory function does not work.

Bulletin T-TT-0797-26 · Electrical System · Jan 2026

Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to p…

Bulletin T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Jan 2026

Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing ext…

Bulletin 22TE09 · Electrical System · Jan 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the RAV4 HYBRID AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Airbag

Issue: On certain vehicles, a sensor for the occupant classification system (OCS) may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the sensor could short circuit and cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause a warning message to display on the instrument panel and the airbag indicator ligh…

Transport Canada #2023684 · Dec 2023

Airbag

Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering column may have been damaged during assembly. As a result, the steering column could move when the driver-front airbag inflates. This could cause reduced protection for the driver in a crash. Safety Risk: Reduced occupant protection could lead to increased injuries in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and ins…

Transport Canada #2020573 · Nov 2020

Engine

Issue: On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.5-L 4-cylinder engine, the engine block may be porous. As a result, the engine block could crack and cause internal or external coolant leaks. This could cause engine overheating or internal engine damage and result in an engine failure. For non-hybrid vehicles, this could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. N…

Transport Canada #2020039 · Feb 2020

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid trims & engines on record

Trims
XSE HV
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl 176 hp

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid vehicles on record

Other Toyota rav4 hybrid model years

2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid — frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid?

Across all 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, engine, electrical system.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid get?

The 2020 Toyota rav4 hybrid has a U.S. EPA estimate of 40 mpg combined (41 city / 38 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.