2019 Toyota RAV4

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What changed

2.5L four-cylinder¹

203 hp
Hybrid^2,3
Plug-in hybrid (Prime)⁴

Up to 302 hp and 42 miles on the battery. From 2021

Transmissions: 8-speed automatic¹
Drivetrains: Front-wheel drive¹, AWD^1,4, AWD with torque vectoring¹
Trims: LE^1,2, XLE^1,2, XLE Premium¹, Limited^1,2, Adventure (2019–2024)^1,5, XSE^2,4, SE⁴
Packages: Woodland Edition⁶

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

Hesitation and lurching at low speed 2019 One source so far

What to check: Drive it slowly in traffic and from a stop, and feel for hesitation or a lurch.

The top complaint for the 2019 on CarComplaints.com, ahead of leaking roof rack rails and parking brake faults.

Sources ⁹
Grinding as the AWD connects and disconnects 2019 One source so far

What to check: Listen for grinding or a moan as the AWD driveline engages and disengages on a test drive.

Two owners of 2019 Adventures in Edmunds' owner reviews report grinding when the AWD driveline disconnects or engages.

Sources ¹
Hybrid fuel tank will not fill 2019–2020 One source so far

What to check: Fill the tank and check the gauge reads full, and ask whether the tank was replaced.

Toyota put it down to variation in the tank's shape, and offered a replacement tank as a stopgap that might not stop it coming back.

Sources ³
Corroded high-voltage cable 2019–2022 One source so far

The Car Guide, a Canadian site, reports that Toyota extended cover for early corrosion of a high-voltage cable on select 2019–2022 RAV4 Hybrids, to 8 years or 160,000 km, and that it seems not to cover the Prime. No US program was found in the sources read.

Sources ¹⁰

Rare options, colors and interiors to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

19V544000 2019
The brake booster pump can fail, switching off stability control and brake assist.¹¹
19V576000 2019
A damaged connector can stop the backup camera showing in reverse.¹²
20V064000 2019–2020
Porous engine castings can crack and leak coolant, and the engine can overheat.^12,13,11,14
20V286000 2019–2020
The front lower suspension arms can crack and separate from the wheel assembly. Both are replaced.^12,13,11,14
20V373000 2019–2020
Water can get into the steering gearbox cover and power steering assist can be lost. The gearbox is replaced.^12,13,14
20V682000 2019–2020
The low-pressure fuel pump in the tank can fail and stall the engine.^12,13

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Avoid: 2019, the first year 2019 Less sought after

CarComplaints.com rates the 2019 as the worse year even though the 2002 has more complaints, with hesitation and lurching at low speed the 2019's top complaint.^15,9

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