1999 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota RAV4. Part of Generation 1 — 1996–2000.

19982000
Complaints
75
Crashes
18
Fires
4
Injuries
17
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 1999 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:93,976 mi
Crash-related:1
#29 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:51,892 mi
Crash-related:4
#35 complaints

Air Bags:Frontal

Avg mileage:70,775 mi
Crash-related:5
Considering a 1999 Toyota RAV4?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $8.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Toyota RAV4.

Unintended Acceleration
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,976
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,892
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,775
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Toyota RAV4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1999 Toyota RAV4

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~138,842 vehicles.

20V033000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~138,842 affected

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Other Toyota RAV4 Years

1999 Toyota RAV4 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1999 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1999 Toyota RAV4 has 75 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Toyota RAV4?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (11 complaints, avg 93,976 mi); Airbags (9 complaints, avg 51,892 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (5 complaints, avg 70,775 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1999 Toyota RAV4?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 74,186 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Toyota RAV4 include 18 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1999 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 138,842 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1999 Toyota RAV4?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Toyota RAV4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1999 Toyota RAV4

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $8.99