2013 Toyota Rav4 — Recalls & Safety

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this vehicle and 256 owner complaints. Recall repairs are free by US law at any authorized dealer.

2 Campaigns

Every Recall on File

TRAILER HITCHES 15V011000 16/01/2015

What's wrong: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Risk: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Free fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY 23V734000 01/11/2023

What's wrong: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Free fix: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

NHTSA Crash Tests

Official Safety Ratings

2013 Toyota Rav4 SUV AWD Later Release

★★★★☆

Overall

4/5 stars

★★★★☆

Frontal Crash

NHTSA test

★★★★★

Side Crash

NHTSA test

★★★★☆

Rollover

NHTSA test

Other Years

Same Model, Different Year

2015 2016

Check Another Car

Recall Checker

Any year, make and model: open the Car Recall Checker. Also see owner-reported problems & years to avoid for the 2013 Toyota Rav4. Data: NHTSA (US DOT, public domain), cached up to 7 days.

Questions

FAQ

Does the 2013 Toyota Rav4 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota Rav4. Every listed defect must be repaired free of charge by any authorized Toyota dealer, regardless of vehicle age or ownership history.

Is the recall repair really free?

Yes. US federal law requires manufacturers to fix safety recalls free at any authorized dealer — parts and labour. You do not need to be the original owner.

How do I check my exact vehicle?

This page covers the 2013 Toyota Rav4 generally. For your specific car, use the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — it tells you whether YOUR vehicle's recalls were already repaired.