2011 Toyota RAV4

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• V6 water pump All years

  What to check: Look for coolant leaks and a low coolant level, and ask whether the water pump has been replaced.

  Four members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads name the V6's water pump as a worry, and one says the job is costly. They disagree on whether the engine has to come out to change it.

  Sources ^6,7

• V6 VVT-i oil line All years

  What to check: Ask for proof that the VVT-i oil line repair was done.

  Three members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads warn that a rubber VVT-i oil hose can burst, and one says that cuts oil to the top of the engine.

  Sources ^6,7

Recalls

• 12V029000 2011

  Some curtain airbag initiators have the wrong propellant, so one or both curtain airbags may not deploy.⁸

• 12V373000 2006–2011

  Rear alignment nuts tightened wrongly can let the rear tie rod rust and fail.^{9,10,11,12,13,8}

• 13V383000 2006–2011

  Rusted rear tie-rod threads are replaced and sealed. This replaces the remedy of recall 12V373000.^{9,10,11,12,13,8}

• 15V577000 2009–2012

  Water dripping onto the wiper linkage joint can corrode it, and the wipers can stop working.^12,13,8,14

• 15V689000 2006–2011

  Uneven grease on the power window master switch can cause a short circuit, melting and fire.^{9,10,11,12,13,8}

• 16V096000 2006–2012

  In a frontal crash, the rear seat cushion frame can cut the outboard rear seat belts.^{9,10,11,12,13,8,14}

• 16V596000 2006–2011

  Rear tie-rod locknuts left loose can corrode and fail, and the driver can lose control. Both rear arms are replaced.^{9,10,11,12,13,8}

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: The 2011 2011 One source so far

  SlashGear lists the 2011 among the used RAV4s to buy, with the caveat that its reliability score only just makes the cut.¹⁵

• Sought after: 3.5L V6 All years

  Six members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads favor the V6, for its speed and, two of them say, its reliability. One member there prefers the four, and two others are not fans of the V6.^7,6

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.