NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 115 complaints against the 2022 Toyota RAV4. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2022 Toyota RAV4 complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has generated 252 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2022 Toyota RAV4 has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Toyota pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has generated 45 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “At the car wash while slowly pulling (1mph) into a parking space to vacuum the vehicle the car unexpectedly accelerated. The brakes failed and the car continued to accelerate until forced into park and turning off the vehicle. During the acceleration there was a grinding noise. This acceleration caused the car to hit the front curb and cement pilings with poles supporting the roof and vacuum. There were no warnings or lights being presented. If not for the curb and being off the road anyone in the car would at the very least been injured and possibly hitting another auto. The dealer is claiming no none issues as described. The auto was towed to the body shop to inspect and repair. We were told by the body repair shop the front suspension failed. The auto was great prior to this incident. Afraid to drive for fear of a repeat especially due to others on the internet claiming the same issue has happened and often continued to have a repeat acceleration incident. No one has found resolution from Toyota. Approximately $7,000.00 worth of damage and our insurance has now gone up.” (NHTSA Complaint #11699459)
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has generated 21 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Rear lift gate hinge bent. No known cause other than hinge may be faulty” (NHTSA Complaint #11712892)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2022 Toyota RAV4 include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 15 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “My infotainment screen went black while I was driving at night and it will not come back on. There was no warning. I took it to the dealer and they said that the system had failed. I saw on line that there was a recall for this very issue but my car is a ’22 and not included in the recall, but I think it should be. This poses a safety hazard and I don’t believe that this should happen under normal circumstances for a car of its age and relatively low mileage. I think this model year should be included in the recall and that Toyota should pay for the repair, which is quite expensive. The receipt on the diagnostic says the radio works, but it does not. It goes on when you push the power and immediately goes off.” (NHTSA Complaint #11722950)
Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 14 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “After turning my car on and the car running for several minutes, the engine shut off on its own and it said “engine stopped steering power low”. This …”
Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has 13 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “1.Airbag did not deploy but it did pop up from steringwheel and there is powder present. 2. Service at the dealership told me based on description that it is airbag failure and that there is no recalls for such on my car. 3.The vehicle is seating at the wrecker yard. UNKNOWN what if any inspections have been done. 4.No warning lights prior” (NHTSA Complaint #11688800)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2022 Toyota RAV4 by the NHTSA or Toyota. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 22TA08.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Toyota RAV4:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Toyota to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Toyota must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2022 Toyota RAV4 qualifies as a lemon under California law, Toyota may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Toyota a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Toyota dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Toyota pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Toyota a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Toyota is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2022 Toyota Rav4 has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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