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It’s time to circle back to the topic of buyer’s remorse with the Toyota RAV4. We’re going to put on our detective hats and bust out the magnifying glass to see if people are happy with the Toyota RAV4. Let’s see the most significant issues and complaints. 

Is the Toyota RAV4 worth buying? 

Front angle view of the popular 2022 Toyota RAV4 SUV, which is the best selling car in the world
2022 Toyota RAV4 | Toyota

Yes, the Toyota RAV4 is an excellent SUV to consider. It’s rugged, capable, and fuel-efficient, with plenty of passenger and cargo space. It includes a long list of standard features to provide plenty of value. 

According to Consumer Reports, a little over of those who bought the 2021 Toyota RAV4 would buy the same vehicle again. This leads to the above-average consumer satisfaction score of three out of five. 

Interestingly, most people said they would buy the 2021 Subaru Forester again. Also, a higher percentage of the people surveyed would repurchase the Honda CR-V. 

The RAV4 got a pretty high score for its driving experience, meaning people are happy with its acceleration and handling. It earned a slightly above-average rating for its comfort, including seats, climate control, noise, and ride. 

The RAV4 got a below average for its value, meaning people aren’t happy with what they got for the price. On that note, the RAV4 starts at $26,975. It got a high score for its style, so owners like how it looks inside and out. 

What are the biggest RAV4 problems? 

According to Cars.com, people had a lot to rant and rave about with the Toyota RAV4. One complaint about the 2021 RAV4 involves the automatic start and stop feature. Apparently, it has a delay before the engine restarts. 

Also, it’s rough. The vehicle vibrates when the engine fires up and the pedal shudders. It can also make it difficult to put the RAV4 in park. 

Other owners complained about the RAV4 being loud. It’s louder than rivals on the freeway and has a lot of wind noise. One driver claims they have to turn up the radio to drown out the noise. The wind and engine are also loud. 

People with the 2019 Toyota RAV4 struggle with transmission problems. Reportedly, drivers experienced the transmission jerking and hesitating at lower speeds. It would also slip, lurch forward, and sound really loud. 

How reliable is the RAV4? 

2022 Toyota RAV4 vs. 2022 Mazda CX-5
2022 Toyota RAV4 | Allison Barfield, MotorBiscuit

The Toyota RAV4 is a pretty reliable option. It got a rating of four out of five from Repair Pal and is the third most reliable SUV on its list of 26 options. It costs about $426 to maintain a RAV4 annually, compared to the average yearly SUV repair cost of $652.

If your RAV4 is properly taken care of, then it should last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. But there are reports of older RAV4 models making it past 500,000 miles. You can expect about 13 to 20 years on the road if you drive about 15,000 miles a year. 

Drivers love their RAV4 for the way it looks, its tech the ride and handling, and safety features. It’s also pretty good on fuel. Those who regret buying it may have struggled with the 2019 model and its transmission issues, or perhaps they expected a slightly more refined experience.

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