Car · Toyota recalls

2013 Toyota RAV4 recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, filed between January 16, 2015 and November 1, 2023. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.

Check my VIN for open recalls

Campaign	Filed	Part
23V734000	November 1, 2023	Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
15V011000	January 16, 2015	Trailer hitches

Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery (23V734000)

Filed November 1, 2023

What is wrong. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

What could happen. A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

The fix. Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

Trailer hitches (15V011000)

Filed January 16, 2015

What is wrong. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

What could happen. If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

The fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

Check that your car is on the list

Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2013 Toyota RAV4 may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN.

How to confirm the repair is free

Call any authorized Toyota dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.

If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, Toyota may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or Toyota customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.

Other model years of the RAV4

More: all Toyota recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.

2013 Toyota RAV4 recall questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota RAV4. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.

Is a recall repair on a 2013 Toyota RAV4 free?

Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized Toyota dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.

How do I know if my 2013 Toyota RAV4 was already fixed?

Enter the VIN on our recall page. If a campaign is still open, it shows as open. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.

Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-28. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.