Is the 2007 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
1,004 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 236, 9.1× a quiet RAV4 year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 60k–119k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 0 of 103 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 RAV4 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 90,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 236 (24%) | 60k–119k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 125 (12%) | 58k–118k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 50 (5%) | 50k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 99 (10%) | 57k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 76 (8%) | 50k–97k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 53 (5%) | 30k–106k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Wheels | 22 (2%) | 44k–118k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Stability control | 17 (2%) | 35k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 271 (27%) | 36k–70k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 101 (10%) | 16k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 47 (5%) | 28k–87k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 24 (2%) | 12k–85k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 22 (2%) | 21k–74k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 17 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 90,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,004 complaints: 53 mention a crash · 37 mention a fire · 30 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Check engine light came on, followed by all of the maintenance lights. The vehicle had recently had an oil change but when oil was checked, there was no oil left.
Just after oil change, about one week later and having driven about 500 miles, oil was already one quart low. Since then it varies, but it burns more oil than any car I've ever owned.
Excessive oil consumption. I have observed excessive oil consumption between oil changes the oil lamp glows showing there is more than normal oil consumption.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 90,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Toyota RAV4: 14
The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame. A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned. If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated.
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat. If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the curtain shield airbag (Csa) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle. Inadvertent activation of the csa and/or the seat belt pretensioner can cause injury to a vehicle occupant.
The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 161
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Toyota RAV4. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Toyota has received reports that certain 2006 through 2008 Model Year RAV4 vehicles (equipped with a V6…
Some vehicles may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling when driving as a result of contamination to the front bearing
In certain 2006 to 2012 model year RAV4 4WD vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where the vehicle may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear…
In our continuing efforts to help ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Power Window Master Switch Fire
Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure
Power Window Master Switch Fire
Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
Neighbouring years
2006 RAV4: 705 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2008 RAV4: 575 complaints, consider selling.
Every Toyota RAV4 year
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Questions
Is the 2007 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
1,004 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 236, 9.1× a quiet RAV4 year. At 90,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 60k–119k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 0 of 103 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Toyota RAV4?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (236), suspension (125), visibility and wipers (50), air bags (99), electrical system (76). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 60k–119k miles.
How many recalls does the 2007 Toyota RAV4 have?
14 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 16V-596), Seats (NHTSA 16V-396), Seat belts (NHTSA 16V-096), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-689) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.