2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Headlight Recall (20V698)

Recall 20V698 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime in recall 20V698?

The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles. The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 RAV4 Prime with recall 20V698?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your RAV4 Prime shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the headlights, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 20V698?

Recall 20V698 covers 413 vehicles: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime.

NHTSA lists 413 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the RAV4 Prime headlight recall?

Yes. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights, free of charge.

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights, free of charge. The recall began January 6, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA15.

When was recall 20V698 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 20V698 to NHTSA on November 12, 2020.

This recall was filed 71 months ago. If your RAV4 Prime was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my RAV4 Prime is part of recall 20V698?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V698 is open on your RAV4 Prime, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should RAV4 Prime owners do about recall 20V698?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V698000 applies to your RAV4 Prime.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Toyota dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any headlights symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are RAV4 Prime owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 20V698 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 99 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime: 99 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility

Can recall 20V698 make my RAV4 Prime a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 20V698000 does not automatically make your RAV4 Prime a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the RAV4 Prime went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 20V698