In Toyota We Trust: Most Reliable RAV4 Models

Here are the best years of the best-selling crossover SUV in the world. America has a huge market for crossovers and SUVs. In 2022, crossovers made up over 45% of the 13.75 million passenger vehicles sold in the country. The Toyota RAV4 – with over 333,000 units sold in the same year – was America's top-selling SUV.

The Toyota RAV4's popularity isn't limited to US shores. With 868,309 units sold globally in 2022, the Toyota RAV4 claimed the crown of the best-selling SUV in the world for the 4th consecutive year. It was also the 2nd-best-selling passenger car on the planet, next only to another Toyota nameplate – the Corolla.

Launched in North America in 1996, the Toyota RAV4 (Recreational Active Vehicle with 4WD) is considered as the world's first compact crossover SUV. Although the 1st-generation RAV4 was a bit too small for Americans, the 2nd and succeeding generations became larger and more appropriate for the US population. Combining car-like comfort with the ride height and some of the utility of a small pickup truck, the RAV4 steadily gained popularity through the decades. The Toyota badge's reputation for quality, durability, and reliability didn't hurt the RAV4's ascent in the automotive industry.

Not all Toyota RAV4s, however, share the same levels of reliability. After all, every change in design can affect the vehicle's overall reliability. Thus, some generations or model years are often more reliable than others.

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Written by: Jean Bernard
VO: JB
Edited by: Gonzalo Lugo

[maxpower]

Good vid but how about doing them in sequence?

[nolaninja]

I have a 2018 Toyota RAV4 adventure all wheel drive / 4 wheel drive 3500 lb towing capacity. It's the best Toyota ever! 2018 was the best year! And the 2018 Toyota adventure RAV4 was the cherry on the cake!

[jakevic]

Love my 2017 Rav4. I owned an equinox before this and it fell apart around 110k miles. I've put 100k miles on my Rav4 in a year and a half and all I have had to do outside of basic maintenance was replace the battery. I will say the torque converter started making noise and grumbling around 100k miles but my mechanic put an additive in it and I haven't heard it since!

[ALazyImmigrantInUS]

That's the reason, I love my 2018 model by heart... I got it on 2018 June with price tag of $22K brand new.

[Slip_The_Jab]

I have a 2004 5spd awd with 250k on it. It’s not perfect but ya cant kill her. In the event she goes down anytime soon I just picked up a 2010 sport v6 awd with 60k original miles to keep me going.

[josephfraley]

Really not heard of a bad one here, that are reported elsewhere.

[truthfacts]

Went from Honda to Nissan and now a 2017 Rav4 .

[RickB]

I’ve bought four of these, four years apart. They have gotten steadily worse with each one. I’m moving on to something else.