The ToyotaRAV 4 is a popular car on the market today. However, Toyota issued a recall regarding RAV4 vehicles regarding engine reliability concerns, along with other model years having issues with the engine control module, oxygen sensor, fuel lines, and breakdown of engine parts. With these problems across different model years, owners can expect to pay between $2,500 and $4,000 for the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost!
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Toyota RAV4 Engine Types
First Generation
The first generation of the RAV4 has two different engine types, with either the 2.0-liter 3S-FE or the 2.0-liter 3S-GE engine. The 3S-GE can produce around 177 horsepower, providing ample acceleration and performance capabilities for the 1995-2000 model years.
Second Generation
The second generation of the Toyota RAV4 had more engine possibilities, involving the 1.8-liter 1ZZ, 2.0-liter 1AZ, 2.4-liter 2AZ, and the 2.0-liter 1CD-FTV engine. The last engine type uses diesel fuel, which increases the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost.
The 1.8-liter engine can produce 123 horsepower, the 2.0-liter engine produces 150 horsepower, and the 2.4-liter engine can produce 158 horsepower. The 2.0-oiter engine was upgraded to the 2.4 liter engine in the 2004 model year, increasing the kW output, the horsepower, and the torque to 162 pound-per-foot.
Third Generation
The third generation of RAV4 uses many more engine types, featuring two diesel options and six gasoline choices. The capacity ranges from 2.0-liter engines to a 3.5-liter gasoline engine. The V6 model has 270 horsepower, with the slightly larger 133kW engine producing 178 horsepower and the 2.5-liter engine producing 166 horsepower.
The new engine types increase the acceleration and horsepower, but also increase the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost.
Fourth Generation
The fourth generation of the RAV4 features 3 gasoline engines, two diesel options, and one hybrid gasoline/electric engine. All engine choices used the infline-four construction, with the full hybrid system combining the 2.-liter gasoline engine with a powerful electric motor. The electric engine was popular in many markets across the world, but also contributed to a higher Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost for owners.
Fifth Generation
The engine types in the fifth generation of the Toyota RAV4 were two gasoline options and one hybrid gasoline electric option. The 2.5-liter inline-4 engine is typically paired with the 8-speed transmission, heping increase horsepower and performance capabilities.
Worst Model Years of the Toyota RAV4
Despite the popularity of the RAV4, there are certain model eyes that are not smart to buy in terms of reliability, performance, safety, and overall price of repairs. Although The 2002 model years has the highest number of complaints from owners, 2008 is often regarded as the worst year due to the onset of problems and the severity of issues.
2001 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems
The worst complaints from owners regarding the 2001 RAV4 include the check engine light turning on, the engine blowing while driving, the engine stopping suddenly, and the head gasket leaking.
Fix: Replace Head Gasket
Unfortunately, replacing the head gasket will increase the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost. The total price of replacing the head gasket is typically between $1,500 and $1,600, with some luxury and high-performance cars ranging upwards of $2,500 for the fix.
2002 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems
The 2002 model year had one of the highest numbers of complaints regarding the engine, with owners stating various issues that reduce the safety of the drivers and passengers. The main problems focus on the engine control module failure, the check engine light, the oil sludge causing engine failure, engine seizing while driving, metal shavings in engine oil, and a faulty head gasket.
Fix #1: Replace Engine Control Module
The price of replacing the engine control module is typically around $1,000, increasing the overall Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost substantially. The cost of hte labor is between $80 and $100, since this procedure is around one hour of work, but the cost of the parts is very expensive, coming in at around $850-$900 total.
Fix #2: Engine Flush
If you find the metal shavings in the engine oil is the main concern for the Toyota RAV4 engine, then you will need to perform an engine flush. This procedure costs anywhere between $7 and $19 for a 16-ounce bottle, without factoring in the price of the replacement oil filter and the motor oil. Replacing the oil filter typically is between $65 and $125, increasing the overall Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost.
2007 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems
Unfortunately for Toyota RAV4 owners, the engine concerns did not disappear after the 2002 model year. After a few years of relatively minimal issues, the 2007 RAV4 had numerous concerns regarding the engine system. Owners complained of excessive oil consumption, oxygen sensor failure, engine failure, check engine light, engine knocking, and a cracked head gasket.
Fix #1: Replace Oxygen Sensor
Replacing your oxygen sensor is generally between $113 and $478 if you get this procedure done at a professional’s or local mechanic’s shop. However, if you find you can do the car DIY knowledge yourself, the cost to replace the oxygen sensor is between $20 adn $94. The cost of the parts of the oxygen sensor is typically between $20 and $100 on average.
Fix #2: Rebuild Engine
To fix the excessive oil consumption in the Toyota RAV4, owners will sometimes have to rebuild part of their engine to keep the car running safely and reliably. The typical repair cost for the engine rebuild is around $2,040, which severely increases steh overall Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost. This procedure generally happens at around 103,000 miles.
2008 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems
The top category of concern in the 2008 Toyota RAV4 is the engine system, with owners stating there is excessive oil consumption, oil leaking, engine blowing during use, and the car lacking horsepower while accelerating.
Fix: Replace Hose, Pan, and Piston Rings
To fix the oil leak in your car, most drivers are fortunate to find that oil leak repairs are typically quick fixes. Simple fluid leak repairs usually range from around $20 for a new oil filter, to a more costly price of around $200 for a new oil gasket.
If you find there is more extensive damage in your fuel or oil system, the total price you can add to the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost is between $400 and $600 to replace the hose, pan, and piston rings.
Toyota RAV4 Engine Recall
Toyota was forced to recall nearly 45k vehicles in early 2020 due to issues with the engine reliability and durability. Toyota recalled certain 2019 and 2020 model years of the RAV4, Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES300H due to concerns regarding engine cracks in these model years.
The recall involved the possibility that these dangerous engine cracks could form while the car is in use, leading to multiple issues that could cause safety concerns to the driver and passenger.
- Coolant Leak – One of the main concerns is the coolant leaking from one of the engine cracks. This will typically cost around $786 to fix, including the cost of labor and deciding what parts have to be replaced. However, if you catch the problem early on, the total repair cost may only come to $100, only adding one hundred dollars to your Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost.
- Engine Oil Leak – The second concern from engine cracks deals with the engine oil leaking into the car. The total price of this fix is usually between $400 and $600 if you have to repair the gasket, filter, hose, pan, or piston ring in your RAV4.
- Engine Stalling – Unfortunately for drivers, the typical price for fixing your engine stalling in your RAV4 has an extensive range. In some cases, it may only add $200 to the total Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost, but in other cases, it can add $500 to repair the alternator. If there is an issue with the engine control unit or overheating in the engine, you can expect this price to skyrocket to $2,000 to fix the stalling.
- Engine Overheating – The typical repair cost for the engine overheating is usually quite high, adding thousands to the Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost. For most cars, the more inexpensive repairs to overcome the car running high will cost between $500 and $1,500 for this fix.
The cars involved in the 2020 Toyota Recall involved the following:
- 2020 Toyota Camry
- 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid
- 2020 Avalon Hybrid
- 2019-2020 Toyota RAV4
- 2019-2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- 2020 Lexus ES300H
In total, all of these cars recalled make up around 44,191 production units that were sold by Toyota. The majority of the recalled cars, coming in at 36,920, involved the 2019 and 2020 Toyota RAV4 cars. The issues with the engine cracking in these vehicles led to a very expensive Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, with a recall, reliability concerns, and safety issues across various model years of the Toyota RAV4, paying for the hefty Toyota RAV4 engine replacement cost may sometimes not be worth it for car owners!