2018 Toyota RAV4: won't start

5 of the 333 complaints about the 2018 Toyota RAV4 describe won't start.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 13 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Won't start by model year

2025
2
2024
4
2023
6
2022
5
2021
4
2020
21
2019
6
2018
5
2017
3
2016
5
2015
6
2014
6
2013
3
2012
2
2011
1
2010
1
2008
8
2007
5
2006
1
2004
1
2003
4
2002
2
1997
1

What owners say

Filed Jun 10, 2025 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · TN · fire

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving into a parking lot at a very low speed when the vehicles engine shut off, the contact proceeded to attempt to restart the vehicle however the engine would not start, and upon inspecting underneath the hood of the vehicle the contact noticed that a flame had began to arise from the battery. The contact immediately proceeded to extinguish the fire with a towel. The vehicle was unoccupied as soon as the fire was noticed. A fire department report was not filed. A police department report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed however, the contact was advised that further diagnosis was required in order to determine the cause for failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) as pthe robable cause for the failure experienced. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Oct 1, 2024 · OH

I received the recall notice a long time ago (DEC 2023?) I contacted Toyota 07/08/24 and they advised that a remedy was still being sought with a solution mid 2024? We are now in October and I have been told my battery should be replaced before it doesn't start. How long can they work on a solution? It seems the Toyotas affected will be retired before they do anything. Please address this concern for Toyota owners.

Filed Sep 23, 2021 · Electrical · 28,600 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle would not start. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the battery was drained and needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the battery however, the failure recurred several weeks later. The vehicle was towed back to dealer who inspected the vehicle again and diagnosed that the battery was not charging correctly due to the high-power amp fuse being blown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,600.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · Steering · AR

The Electric Power System warning light came on for the first time and my car will not start.

Filed Oct 1, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 3,500 miles · NJ

While driving on saturday morning 9/29/18, I stopped at a stop light and my 2018 toyota rav4 lost all engine power while in traffic. The computer video screen showed the message "charging system failure\malfunction". I then attempted to restart the vehicle and it did not crank over, I waited a few seconds, made another attempt , the vehicle started. I pulled over and parked the vehicle, looked up the error message in the car manual and it instructed me that it was a serious problem and to take the vehicle immediately to the nearest toyota dealer. I then took the vehicle to my local dealer, they ran a vehicle diagnostic report, they found no error messages or voltage problems with the vehicle. They offered no reason for the loss of vehicle power. The service manager stated that they could only diagnose the vehicle so far and that they would need "corporate" to send someone out to do further diagnostics on the black box. On 10/1/18, I opened a problem report with toyota USA and was given a case#. .