The 1997 Toyota RAV4 has 59 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine cooling and vehicle speed control. Owners most often flag interior noise: cabin described as noisier than some competitors (e.g., volkswagen tiguan, subaru forester) at highway speeds. frequency: recurrent.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1997 Toyota RAV4 vehicles (US, public record).
Across the 15 RAV4 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 41 (2000) to 1,110 (2002). With 59 complaints, the 1997 RAV4 sits belowthe model's median of 342.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
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Campaign 09E012000SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMEN…
Overwhelmingly positive sentiment centered on exceptional long-term reliability, low maintenance costs, and high resale value.
Owner insights cover all generations of the RAV4. See the full RAV4 owner picture and every model year.
Used RAV4 listings typically run $18,897–$27,760 across 2013 to 2026 model years.
Compare every RAV4 year side by side to see how 1997 ranks against the rest.