It seems like a simple task to find out where an automobile is built. Even while a quick Google search might yield the results you need, and tell you where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, you still might not find exactly what you’re looking for.
The Toyota RAV4 comes from plants in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and Russia. Previous iterations of the RAV4 came from plants in one of these locations at least. The sole factory that has recently been added to the list of those that make the RAV4 is the plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Different models, however, come from different places since different car parts are made in different factories. For instance, the RAV4’s transmissions and engine, respectively, are both from Japanese plants.
- Facilities In Japan
- Facilities Outside Japan
- Where A RAV4 Was Made
- Toyota RAV4 Issues
- Toyota RAV4 Lifespan
- Frequently Asked Questions
Facilities Around The World
Many people wonder where is the Toyota RAV 4 made. Well… Canada makes body parts, which then go to Georgetown for the final assembly.
In 1994, the Tahara and Motomachi factories in Japan, as well as the Guangdong and Zhuhai factories in China, produced the first RAV4. The second-generation RAV4 came from Toyota’s factories in Nakagusa and Tahara, Japan.
For the third generation of the car, the Woodstock site in Canada became part of the list of RAV4 manufacturing. Toyota also started making third-generation RAV4s in Changchun, China (2005-2012).
To cater to the fourth generation of the RAV4 (2013–2018), factories were located in Japan, China, Russia, and Canada. The RAV4 was created at Toyota’s Nakagusa and Takaoka factories in Japan.
The fourth-generation RAV4 vehicles came from factories in Canada, Woodstock, Ontario. The factories in Changchun, China, and St. Petersburg, Russia, were also on the list. Toyota incorporates the Georgetown factory in the US with all of the existing RAV4 facilities for the fifth generation.
Toyota Facilities Making The RAV4 In Japan
Let’s examine the Japanese factories where the RAV4 rolls out from now being aware that different components of the car are created in several nations.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Shimoyama Plant
This plant, which has been in operation since 1966, is in Toyota City. The facility, which has a total size of nearly 3 million square meters, employs about 4,000 people.
The Shimoyama factory produces the transmission and engine parts for the RAV4. Additionally, the location has a plant that handles cylinder heads and engine block production.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Motomachi Plant
This plant, which has been in operation since 1963, is in Aichi. The factory, which occupies a space of around 2 million square meters, has a workforce of about 3,000.
The Motomachi facility’s major use is for vehicle assembly. Since its debut in 1994, the Motomachi Plant has been producing the RAV4.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Tahara Plant
For those wondering where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, the plant has been in operation since 1966 and is in Aichi. The factory, which occupies a space of around 2 million square meters, employs about 4,000 workers.
The RAV4 engines and transmissions roll out of the Tahara Plant. Additionally, the location has a plant that handles cylinder heads and engine block production.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Nakagawa Plant
The plant, which has been in operation since 1971, is in Toyota City. The factory has a workforce of roughly 4,000 workers and a total floor size of about 2 million square meters.
The RAV4 engines and transmissions come out of the Nakagawa Plant. Additionally, the location has a plant that handles cylinder heads and engine block production.
Toyota Facilities Outside Japan
As we are already familiar with Toyota’s manufacturing practices in Japan, we will explain how various manufacturing facilities operate outside of Japan. They consist of:
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Georgetown, Kentucky, USA
The Georgetown facility is Toyota’s first factory in North America that completely focuses on making cars. The facility, which occupies a space of around 4 million square meters, employs about 8,000 people.
Since the third generation of the RAV4 production, The Georgetown plant has been in operation since 1988.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
If you wondering where is the Toyota RAV 4 made in Canada specifically, the Woodstock plant has been in operation since 2008 and is in Ontario. The factory, which occupies a space of around 2,000,000 square meters, employs about 2000 people.
Since the release of the third generation of the RAV4, the Woodstock plant has been in operation since 2008.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – Changchun, Jilin, China
The Changchun factory has been in operation since 2005 and is in Changchun, China. The facility, which occupies a space of around 3 million square meters, employs about 4,000 workers.
Since the third generation of the RAV4 rolled out from this plant has been in operation since 2005.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made – St. Petersburg, Russia
For those wondering where is the Toyota RAV 4 made in Russia, this plant has been in operation since 2009 and is in St. Petersburg. The factory, which occupies a space of around 2,000,000 square meters, employs about 2000 people.
Since 2009 the RAV4’s fourth generation has come from this factory.
How To Find Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made
Like all other Toyota cars, or even that Audi, yours may be identified by its VIN to determine which country is from. The 17 characters which make up the VIN are all references to important details about your vehicle.
The country where your car comes from is indicated by the first character on your VIN. Depending on if the plant is located in the US, this character could either be a letter or a number. Letters will mean countries outside of the US, whereas numbers correspond to countries on the American continent.
The first figure on the VIN may be any of the characters, numbers, or letters because only five nations make this car:
- J stands for Japan.
- L designates China.
- X0-X3 represents Russia.
- 2 denotes Canada.
- 4 or 5 represent the United States of America.
For a variety of purposes, knowing where your RAV comes from can be useful knowledge. For starters, it can assist you in determining the language of your car’s manual. Knowing that your RAV is assembled in your country or another country with a solid reputation for manufacturing quality might also make you feel proud.
Are RAV4s Made In Japan Or Europe Better
There is excellent construction in both the RAV4’s European and Japanese models. No one is better than the others. In actuality, the 2010 Best Car in Japan Award went to the Japanese RAV4.
While other vehicles made in the same Russian facility as the RAV4 have won awards, the RAV4 has never won one.
Therefore, we can answer where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, Japan and Russia are likely of comparable quality.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made For The Australian Market
The Toyota plants in Japan produce the RAV4s for the Australian market. According to the manufacturer plates, at least for the previous two years.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made For The Canadian Market
The Toyota RAV4 that is available in Canada comes from plants in the country. In Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, these automobiles come from a factory.
Where Is The Toyota RAV 4 Made For The UK Market
Toyota in Japan manufactures The RAV4 which then finds itself in markets throughout Europe, including the UK market.
Are Production Facilities Moving
Toyota has no plans to relocate the RAV4’s manufacturing facility. Toyota has never moved production from one factory to another, not even in the past. Instead, it increased RAV4 production in several other nations.
Toyota initially produced the RAV4 only in China and Japan. Over time, the firm added plants in the USA, Canada, China, and Russia to the production of the vehicle.
Toyota RAV4 Issues
Now that we’ve seen where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, let’s now take a look at some of the main issues.
There were 35 reports of transmission issues made by RAV4 drivers as of December 2021, as per data from carcomplaints.com. One customer claimed that after purchasing a 2019 RAV4 with 10874 miles, he frequently experienced issues with the gears changing correctly.
When this RAV4 owner takes his vehicle to a Toyota dealership, the car gets a software update. As vehicles do not become better with time, these kinds of software updates are frequently more of a band-aid than a remedy.
Another driver complained that his RAV4 was lurching forward at slower speeds, making the on-ramp to the busy 10 highway unpredictable and perhaps dangerous.
Shuttering and shaking were other prevalent concerns. The vehicle was functioning as should and the dealership could not reproduce the problem.
There were six recalls for the 2019 RAV4 due to difficulties with the backup camera, separating suspension arms, and coolant leaks, among other things. Surprisingly, there were no transmission-related recalls.
Toyota RAV4 Transmission Issues
Transmission issues with the 2019 Toyota RAV4 are quite common. The 2020 RAV4 was to be an improved model, but there have already been far too many complaints and reports of unhappiness.
The 2020 RAV4 has several concerns that drivers have, some of which include:
- Transmission that struggles.
- Transmission that lags.
- Transmission leaks.
- The gasoline gauge occasionally malfunctions and displays a low fuel level.
- The brakes can occasionally stop working suddenly.
- Alignment and steering problems
Recalls For The Toyota RAV4
There are no recalls as yet as a result of the 2020 RAV4 transmission issues. But these are the recalls for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 as of April 2021:
- Some 2020 RAV4s have engine problems and coolant leaks, which led Toyota to conduct a recall and provide some RAV4 owners with a free replacement engine and engine block.
- Some 2020 RAV4s may have fractured front lower suspension arms; Toyota has committed to replacing these arms at no cost to restore the safety of these vehicles.
- Toyota has replaced the power steering in a small number of 2020 RAV4s because of issues with the electric power steering in these vehicles.
- Some 2020 RAVs’ fuel pumps have started to malfunction and create engine issues, necessitating Toyota’s replacement of the fuel pump assemblies in such vehicles.
- Toyota is offering to replace the steering columns in select 2020 RAV4s because of the possibility that doing so could affect the airbags in those vehicles.
Has Toyota Resolved The RAV4’s Issues
Having answered the question of where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, you probably want to know if the RAV 4 issues are still there or not.
Several sources claim that a software update can fix the Toyota RAV4 transmission.
However, other owners claimed that even after receiving updates from the Toyota dealership, the transmission issues persisted, and owners had to take their RAV4 to a dealership to get the update.
If you know what to search for, it shouldn’t be difficult to locate the finest used Toyota RAV4 SUV years. This Toyota sport utility vehicle has a long history of reliability which explains its close to 30 years of existence. Having said that, there is one year that you should avoid. More on this later.
The 2017 RAV4
One of the best years to look for a used Toyota RAV4 SUV is 2017.
Consumer Reports puts every new car on the market through a rigorous testing process. One of the greatest years to hunt for a used Toyota RAV4 SUV is 2017.
This year has shown to be a smart buy with high-reliability ratings. Although the owner satisfaction score for this year was only ordinary, it was higher than in previous and succeeding years. Sure you will not get Lamborghini performance.
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 has no issues with some of the reliability problematic spots, such as the engine, transmission, and drive system.
The driving and styling are top notch according to owners. According to Consumer Reports, the Toyota SUV from this year is “among the most dependable small SUVs you can buy.”
The 2012 RAV4
Check out the 2012 Toyota RAV4 SUV for the best-used years.
One of the best pre-owned Toyota RAV4 SUVs is the 2012 model, which is a couple more years old. 2012 is a fantastic year to look for.
The owner satisfaction score was adequate, while the reliability score is high. In its crashworthiness testing this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) primarily awarded four and five stars.
Speaking of the NHTSA, this year has seen several Toyota SUV recalls from the agency. Make sure these recalls are no longer a problem before signing any documentation because two of these recalls concern the airbags.
Apart from that, the 2012 model is a trustworthy Toyota RAV4 SUV.
The 2019 RAV4
Avoid purchasing 2019 RAV4 if at all possible.
Even though 2019 wasn’t all that long ago, the Toyota RAV4 rarely misses. It is not a good combination when both the owner satisfaction and reliability scores are below average. 2019 began with a slight decline in the typically excellent reliability history, for whatever reason.
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 received excellent results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the majority of its crashworthiness tests.
Skip the 2019 year and refer to the 2020 version, which witnessed a modest improvement. Although it is still a secure SUV, some customers may find it to be more trouble than it is worth.
If you are purchasing a used car, it is usually a good idea to undergo a pre-purchase inspection. A smart alternative is to look for a Certified Pre-Owned automobile, truck, or SUV.
They most likely won’t be more than a couple of years old and have fewer miles. The Toyota RAV4 SUV features plenty of storage space, outstanding fuel efficiency ratings, and a wide range of years to fit a variety of budgets.
How Long Will A Toyota RAV4 Last
The first Toyota RAV4 debuted in the United States for the 1996 model year. In 2020, it was the SUV with the most units in sales. It even outsells the enduringly popular Toyota Camry and similar cars from Hyundai in terms of sales.
It’s useful, effective, and attractive, according to Kelley Blue Book. The Toyota RAV4 comes in gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid configurations starting from 2021 and onwards till today. You might already own one or thinking of buying one because it is so well-liked.
If so, you might be curious about the lifespan and durability of your Toyota RAV4.
The RAV4 can cover more than 124,274 miles, on average.
According to Motor & Wheels, a Toyota RAV4 should endure over 155,343 miles. According to how much you drive each year, that might be 13 to 16 years.
If you maintain it properly, you can expect this SUV to survive for a long time.
You’ll probably need to start replacing major components, like the engine or the transmission, once your RAV4 reaches 250,000 miles. The RAV4 is fortunate not to have a rust issue.
However, after roughly six years, depending on where you reside, you’ll still need to keep an eye out for rust. Rust is more prone to form on RAV4s in regions of the country with salty ocean air or with winter-salted roads.
The Toyota RAV4 comes in a variety of model years, though. Model years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, and 2008 may be ones to skip over based on the volume of complaints made to carcomplaints.com.
There are not many complaints for other model years. Additionally, if you plan to buy a used RAV4, make sure that there are no more outstanding recalls.
How Long It Will Last In Comparison To Rivals
Two of the most well-liked small SUVs are the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. The CR-V can last even longer, up to 300,000 miles, than the RAV4, which can also have a long lifespan.
The CR-V, according to Motor and Wheels, also boasts lower service costs, at $407 per year. The annual service fee for the RAV4 is roughly $429.
However, the average compact SUV requires $521 in annual maintenance. Additionally, the CR-V has higher dependability ratings, which affects maintenance requirements and longevity in general.
The Mazda CX-5 can last 200,000 to 250,000 miles, whereas the Subaru Forester can travel roughly 250,000 miles.
According to iSeeCars.com, the Toyota RAV4 is one of the top 10 SUVs that owners keep for 15 years or more, along with the Honda CR-V and the Subaru Forester.
How To Maximize The Mileage Of Your Toyota Rav4
Now that you can tell where is the Toyota RAV 4 made, let’s find out how you can maximize the life of your RAV 4.
If you treat your Toyota RAV4 well, it will last the longest and can even last longer than the Honda Civic. For advice on when to undertake specific where are RAV maintenance procedures, consult your RAV4 owner’s manual.
After 30,000 to 60,000 miles, your RAV4 brakes will probably need replacements. Although you should rotate them every 5,000 miles, tires will last 40,000 to 60,000 miles. The transmission should last at least 120,000 miles with proper maintenance.
Additionally, spark plugs have a 100,000-mile lifespan.
The RAV4 may also receive an anti-rust treatment. You can choose to occasionally spray oil onto the RAV4 yourself or hire a professional to do it. Regular washing is a simple method to maintain your RAV4.
This helps get rid of any salt that can lead to rust and corrosion. Last but not least, keep an eye on your RAV4 to make sure you hear any strange noises or see any unusual leaks so you can get these potential issues sorted.
Your Toyota RAV4 should last for many years and many miles if you take proper care of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is Toyota Made
Toyota has plants all over the world. In the United States, their vehicle factories are located in states including Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, Canada, Mississippi, and California.
Is Toyota American
Toyota is both a Japanese and American manufacturer, according to the CEO of the business. Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motor Corp, said that the famed Japanese automaker ought to be regarded as a U.S. manufacturer as well, because it has boosted its U.S. output over the previous 30 years.
Is The Toyota RAV4 A Good Car
With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, the Toyota RAV4 is ranked third among 26 compact SUVs. It offers great ownership costs with an average annual repair cost of $429, according to surveys done by RepairPal.
