Is the Toyota RAV4 more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?

Slightly, yes. Both have good standing and almost the same repair costs. The RAV4 pulls ahead because owners file 4.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 8.9 for the Tucson. The lead is small, and the RAV4 has its own problem areas, including air bag and electrical complaints.

Which has more recalls, the RAV4 or the Tucson?

The RAV4 has more. Federal recall records show 53 across its 8 model years, against 23 across 9 model years for the Tucson. Recall counts do not always mean worse cars, but check that every recall repair is done on any car you consider.

Which costs less to repair, the RAV4 or the Tucson?

They cost about the same. Independent repair-cost data shows $429 a year for the RAV4 and $426 for the Tucson. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and both have a 10% chance that a repair is major. Over five years the gap is roughly $15.

Do Hyundai Tucson engines burn oil?

Many owners say so. Complaints describe oil loss of a quart every 1,000 miles or worse, usually around 70,000 to 85,000 miles, and some cars ran the dipstick dry. Dealers typically run a 1,000-mile oil test and a carbon cleaning first. Ask for oil change records before buying.

What are the worst RAV4 and Tucson model years?

For the RAV4, the weakest years are 2019 and 2020. For the Tucson, they are 2022 and 2019. The strongest RAV4 years are 2025 and 2022, and the strongest Tucson years are 2026 and 2021. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so 2022 for the RAV4 and 2021 for the Tucson are safer picks.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Tucson

Good

More Reliable

Toyota RAV4

Good

The Toyota RAV4 edges out the Hyundai Tucson on reliability. Owners file about half as many complaints per vehicle sold. Repair costs are nearly identical, so complaint volume and the type of failure decide it.

How Do the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4 Generations Compare?

Most RAV4 years you will see fall in the fifth generation, which ran from the 2019 to 2025 model years and got a facelift for 2022. The 2018 model is the last year of the fourth generation. The two weakest years, 2019 and 2020, were the first years of the fifth generation, while 2022, the facelift year, is among the strongest. The sixth generation began with the 2026 model year, so a 2026 RAV4 is a different design from everything else here. Complaints build up with time, so 2025 has had the least chance to collect them.

Verdict

The Toyota RAV4 is more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson, scoring 76/100 vs 73/100.

A slight edge goes to the RAV4. Both SUVs land in good standing, and independent repair-cost data puts them almost level on cost, shop visits, and the chance of a major repair. The gap is in owner complaints. RAV4 owners file about half as many per vehicle sold. The RAV4 does carry more federal recalls, so the lead is narrow and not a clear win. Tucson buyers are mainly exposed to engine oil loss and engine failure, which hit harder than most RAV4 gripes.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Tucson has 30 fewer total recalls
2Toyota RAV4 has 4.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Toyota RAV4 scores 3 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Hyundai Tucson

—

2Toyota RAV4

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Tucson	Toyota RAV4
Reliability Score	73/100	76/100
Years Tracked	9	8
Total Recalls	23	53
Complaints per 10k Sold	8.9	4.4
Annual Repair Cost	$426/yr	$429/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	10%	10%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4?

Engine trouble defines the Tucson profile. Oil disappears between changes, often a quart every 1,000 miles, and some engines fail outright with a shutdown at highway speed. The ABS fire recall also left owners waiting weeks or months for parts. RAV4 complaints are more scattered: dashboard warning floods, hybrid fuel tanks that will not fill, and coolant bypass valve failure. Air bags are the RAV4's biggest safety flag, with 71 crash-linked complaints, mostly bags that failed to deploy. The Tucson has no air bag area but does have crash-linked brake and forward collision complaints, which the RAV4 list lacks.

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4 common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Tucson	Toyota RAV4
ENGINE	1.9Low	0.5Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.1Low	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	0.7Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.3Low	0.3Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.1Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	0.5Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.5Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Tucson or Toyota RAV4?

Repair cost is a near tie. Independent repair-cost data puts the RAV4 at $429 a year and the Tucson at $426, a $3 gap that adds up to about $15 over five years. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and both carry a 10% chance that a repair is major. Cost will not decide this choice. The difference shows up in what tends to fail, not in the yearly bill.

How Does Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4 Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Tucson	Toyota RAV4	Edge
2025	75/1006R / 251C	84/1005R / 49C	Toyota RAV4
2024	77/1004R / 87C	80/1006R / 150C	Toyota RAV4
2023	75/1002R / 142C	80/1006R / 147C	Toyota RAV4
2022	66/1003R / 433C	80/1006R / 133C	Toyota RAV4
2021	78/1001R / 58C	73/1006R / 450C	Hyundai Tucson
2020	73/1001R / 153C	70/10011R / 611C	Hyundai Tucson
2019	68/1001R / 349C	66/10010R / 864C	Hyundai Tucson
2018	68/1001R / 362C	76/1003R / 330C	Toyota RAV4

Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 and the 2024 Toyota RAV4 scored 80/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Tucson vs the Toyota RAV4?

Pick the RAV4 if you want fewer owner complaints and plan to keep the car a long time. Target 2022, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2020, its weakest. Skip a Hybrid or Prime if a short fuel fill would bother you, since owners report tanks taking only 10 to 11 gallons. Before you buy any RAV4, ask whether the air bag recall 23V865000 repair is done. Pick the Tucson if you want a comparable repair bill and you will check its history closely. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2022 and 2019, its weakest. Ask for oil change records, because consumption tends to show up around 70,000 to 85,000 miles. Confirm that the ABS fire recall 20V543000 repair was completed. Treat the newest Tucson years with care. Few complaints there mostly reflects less time on the road, so a new model year is not proof of better reliability.

Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota RAV4: Common Questions

Is the Toyota RAV4 more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson?: Slightly, yes. Both have good standing and almost the same repair costs. The RAV4 pulls ahead because owners file 4.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 8.9 for the Tucson. The lead is small, and the RAV4 has its own problem areas, including air bag and electrical complaints.
Which has more recalls, the RAV4 or the Tucson?: The RAV4 has more. Federal recall records show 53 across its 8 model years, against 23 across 9 model years for the Tucson. Recall counts do not always mean worse cars, but check that every recall repair is done on any car you consider.
Which costs less to repair, the RAV4 or the Tucson?: They cost about the same. Independent repair-cost data shows $429 a year for the RAV4 and $426 for the Tucson. Both average 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and both have a 10% chance that a repair is major. Over five years the gap is roughly $15.
Do Hyundai Tucson engines burn oil?: Many owners say so. Complaints describe oil loss of a quart every 1,000 miles or worse, usually around 70,000 to 85,000 miles, and some cars ran the dipstick dry. Dealers typically run a 1,000-mile oil test and a carbon cleaning first. Ask for oil change records before buying.
What are the worst RAV4 and Tucson model years?: For the RAV4, the weakest years are 2019 and 2020. For the Tucson, they are 2022 and 2019. The strongest RAV4 years are 2025 and 2022, and the strongest Tucson years are 2026 and 2021. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so 2022 for the RAV4 and 2021 for the Tucson are safer picks.

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Decided between Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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