RAV4 2.5-liter engine oil and coolant problems: the coolant valve, milky oil, oil leaks and oil burning

Quick picks

Which RAV4 engine this guide covers

So every 2019 to 2025 RAV4 uses the same family of 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which Toyota calls the A25A. The gas RAV4 has the A25A-FKS. The RAV4 Hybrid and the 2021 to 2024 RAV4 Prime, which Toyota renamed the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid for 2025, have the A25A-FXS.

Basically, the gas and hybrid versions of the A25A are close enough that Toyota's bulletins cover the gas RAV4 and the RAV4 Hybrid together. Most of those bulletins cover the 2021 to 2024 RAV4 Prime too. So in each section below, I say exactly which RAV4s each problem applies to.

And the 2026 RAV4 only comes as a Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid. There are no oil or coolant bulletins or owner complaints for the 2026 RAV4's engine so far.

Now The Car Care Nut, a Toyota master technician on YouTube, likes the A25A. They say most of its common problems were either factory campaigns or production issues, and they've seen A25A engines past 200,000 miles. They also say the A25A is loud and a bit rattly by design, so a noisy engine on its own isn't a sign of trouble.

"Engine Maintenance Required" and losing coolant: the coolant bypass valve

So the coolant bypass valve is the one engine problem that shows up a lot on 2019 and 2020 RAV4s. Toyota's 24TE04 letter says there's "a small engine coolant leak that can occur from a specific valve." Basically, coolant drips from the valve onto other parts. And Toyota says the leak can show "Engine Maintenance Required" on the gauge screen, or make the A/C stop working normally.

Basically, the coolant bypass valve controls where the engine's coolant flows. On the 2019 to 2021 RAV4 the valve is built into a short hose, which Toyota sells as one piece called the "hose assembly, water by-pass." The valve sits between the small 12-volt battery and the engine.

Which RAV4s are in Toyota's free valve program, 24TE04

And here's how often owners have reported the valve or the "Engine Maintenance Required" message to NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

So the valve is really a 2019 and 2020 problem. Most owners reported the leak between 30,000 and 65,000 miles, and most complaints came in 2023 and 2024, before Toyota started 24TE04.

What Toyota's 24TE04 program covers

• What 24TE04 is: a Customer Support Program. Basically, a Customer Support Program is a free repair Toyota offers for one specific problem, past the normal warranty. Toyota started 24TE04 on December 5, 2024, and updated the replacement part numbers on August 11, 2026.
• How long 24TE04 lasts now: 10 years from the day the car was first sold, or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Until November 30, 2025, there was no mileage limit at all, but that first period is over.
• What the dealer does: the dealer has to confirm the leak, then puts in a new valve. Toyota also adds its Super Long Life Coolant during the repair.
• Toyota dealers only: 24TE04 is only paid at a Toyota dealer.
• Salvage titles still qualify: Toyota treats the valve as an emissions part, so a RAV4 with a salvage title is still covered under 24TE04.
• The next owner keeps the coverage: Toyota says 24TE04 coverage transfers to the next owner when the RAV4 is sold.
• Before 24TE04: the valve was only covered by the 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty. That's why so many owners paid out of pocket before December 2024.

The fault codes for the coolant valve

So a fault code is a short code the car's computer saves when something goes wrong. Any basic code reader can read the codes. Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0112-24 names two codes for the coolant bypass valve on the 2019 to 2021 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid and the 2021 Prime.

• P268111 means the coolant bypass valve circuit is shorted to ground.
• P268115 means the coolant bypass valve circuit is shorted to battery or open.

And keep in mind that codes starting with P26CA or P26CB are a different part, the electric water pump. I cover the water pump below.

Is a RAV4 with a leaking coolant valve safe to drive?

So Toyota's 24TE04 letter only lists the warning message and the A/C acting up. And Friendly Mechanic, a repair channel on YouTube, says a shorted valve won't make the engine overheat, and that slower cabin heat is the usual sign. In owner complaints to NHTSA, 27 owners also mention the A/C acting up.

But keep in mind that low coolant can overheat any engine, whatever caused the leak. So if the coolant level is dropping, top up the coolant and get the RAV4 to a Toyota dealer. And if the temperature gauge climbs or you see a high coolant temperature warning, pull over, as I explain in my warning lights guide.

What to do if your RAV4 says "Engine Maintenance Required"

1. Check the coolant level with the engine cold. The engine coolant tank has FULL and LOW marks on the side. Never open the cap on a hot engine. And on a RAV4 Hybrid or Prime, there's a second coolant tank for the inverter, so make sure you're looking at the engine's tank.
2. Read the codes if you have a code reader. P268111 or P268115 points to the coolant bypass valve. P26CA or P26CB points to the electric water pump.
3. Call a Toyota dealer and ask them to check your VIN for Customer Support Program 24TE04. Your VIN, or vehicle identification number, is the 17-digit code that identifies your exact car. If the car is under 10 years and 100,000 miles from first sale and the dealer confirms the leak, the new valve is free.
4. If you already paid for the valve, keep the invoice and see the next section.

If you already paid for the coolant valve

So owners told NHTSA they paid anywhere from $400 to $2,000 for the valve, and half of them paid between $700 and $1,000. Around $800 was typical.

Toyota's 24TE04 owner letter says owners who paid for this repair before getting the letter "may be eligible for reimbursement." So the letter doesn't promise a refund. To ask, you send Toyota a copy of the repair order, proof that you paid, and proof that you own the car.

• Online: log in to your Toyota Owners account, click the "Resources" tab, pick "Safety Recalls and Service Campaigns," then click "Submit Reimbursement Request."
• By mail: Toyota Customer Experience Center, TSR, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., c/o Toyota Motor North America, Inc., P O Box 259001, SSC/CSP Reimbursements, Plano, Texas 75025-9001.
• By fax: 310-381-7756.
• Questions: call Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 with your VIN and the program number, 24TE04.

And something to note is that there was a class action over the 2019 to 2023 RAV4 and Corolla coolant bypass valves, called Barrientos v. Toyota. In November 2024, the owners who filed Barrientos v. Toyota dropped the lawsuit. So 24TE04 is the route that actually pays.

Past 100,000 miles or 10 years: replacing the valve yourself

So once your RAV4 is past 10 years or 100,000 miles, 24TE04 no longer pays. Basically, the valve is one hose assembly near the 12-volt battery. Toyota gives its dealers 1.4 hours of labor for the job on a gas RAV4, and 1.5 hours on a Hybrid or Prime. Do-it-yourself videos show the job taking about 30 minutes to an hour.

And something to note is that the gas RAV4 and the RAV4 Hybrid use different part numbers. Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0112-24 lists the newer part numbers below in place of the original ones. Prices are from ToyotaPartsDeal on October 15, 2026.

And on the 2019 gas RAV4 in Friendly Mechanic's video, a second bypass valve sits under the 12-volt battery tray, and they say both valves can fail. Several owners told NHTSA a second valve failed too. So if "Engine Maintenance Required" comes back after the first valve is replaced, have the dealer check the second valve.

Coolant codes P26CA and P26CB: the electric water pump

So the A25A was one of Toyota's first non-hybrid engines with an electric water pump. Basically, the water pump pushes coolant through the engine, and the A25A's pump runs on electricity.

Toyota has two tech tips on coolant leaks from the electric water pump. Basically, a tech tip is a short note Toyota sends its dealers to help them find or fix a problem.

• T-TT-0614-20 (May 28, 2020) covers the 2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota ties codes P26CB71, P26CA14 and P26CA31 to a coolant leak from the water pump body or its connector.
• T-TT-0733-23 (April 21, 2023) covers water pump leaks with P26CA14 and P26CA31 on 2022 to 2024 A25A engines.

Now unlike the coolant valve, there's no free Toyota program for the water pump. And The Car Care Nut suggests a new water pump at about 150,000 miles, while the coolant is being changed, which I cover in my 200,000-mile guide.

Milky oil on a 2019 to 2024 RAV4

So milky or tan goo under the oil filler cap looks scary, and a lot of owners assume a blown head gasket. But on a 2019 to 2024 gas RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid or 2021 to 2024 RAV4 Prime, Toyota's bulletin T-SB-0104-21 explained the milky goo. Toyota marked T-SB-0104-21 obsolete on February 27, 2026, and the obsolete notice doesn't name a bulletin that replaces it.

T-SB-0104-21 said "moisture from blow-by gases condenses and accumulates in the engine oil during short trips in extreme cold weather." Basically, the engine never gets hot enough on a short winter trip to boil the water back out of the oil. And Toyota said when that water freezes, the oil pressure can drop.

The milky oil signs Toyota's bulletin listed

• You see milky or discolored oil on the dipstick or under the oil filler cap.
• The gauge screen shows an "Oil Pressure Low" message.
• The check engine light comes on, with code P05202A or P052477 saved.

What Toyota's milky oil bulletin told dealers to do, and who paid

So T-SB-0104-21 had the dealer start with a cooling system pressure test. Basically, the pressure test checks whether coolant is leaking inside the engine, because Toyota said coolant mixing with oil makes the same milky look.

If the cooling system held pressure, Toyota's fix was simple. The dealer cleared the codes, warmed the engine up, changed the oil and filter, and wiped the residue off the filler cap. If the warning came back with fresh oil, the bulletin didn't apply and the dealer kept looking.

But it's worth noting that Toyota listed T-SB-0104-21 as "Not Applicable to Warranty." So expect to pay for the oil change and the dealer's check. I list the right oil and filter in my maintenance schedule guide.

Condensation or a coolant leak? How to tell

And on a 2019 or 2020 RAV4, also make sure engine block recall 20V064000 was done, which I explain below.

How to keep milky oil from coming back

• Take one longer drive each week in winter. Forum posters on Bob Is The Oil Guy say the oil needs 20 minutes or more of driving to get hot enough to cook off the water. A highway run works best.
• A RAV4 Hybrid or Prime warms up slower. On a RAV4 Hybrid or Prime, the engine shuts off a lot, so the oil takes longer to get hot.
• A block heater helps. I cover which RAV4s can take a block heater in my winter prep guide.
• Change the oil sooner if most of your winter driving is short trips. Toyota's schedule counts "repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing" as a special operating condition. That moves the oil change to every 5,000 miles or 6 months, which I explain in my maintenance schedule guide.

Oil leaks on the RAV4's 2.5-liter engine

So Toyota knows about a few oil leak spots on the A25A. But oil leaks aren't a common problem in owner complaints. NHTSA only has a handful of oil leak complaints for all 2019 to 2025 RAV4s.

Now The Car Care Nut fixed a front timing cover leak on a 2019 RAV4 with about 39,000 miles. The owner smelled burning after long drives, and oil was dripping off the timing cover. Basically, the timing cover is the cover on the end of the engine where the timing chain runs. The Car Care Nut says timing cover leaks are "not a chronic thing," and they blame contaminated sealer at the factory. And they say a wave of oil pan leaks seems to have stopped.

So here's where I'd look for an oil leak.

• Look on the ground under the engine after the RAV4 sits overnight.
• Look for wet oil along the oil pan seam at the bottom of the engine.
• Look at the timing cover end of the engine, and along the top edge of the valve cover.
• Pay attention to a burning smell after a long drive, since that was the first clue on The Car Care Nut's 2019 RAV4.

Coolant inside the engine: engine block recall 20V064000 (2019 and 2020)

So the engine block recall is a real safety recall, and it's a different problem from the coolant valve. Recall 20V064000 covers certain 2019 and 2020 gas RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models. NHTSA's recall says porosity in the engine block, which means tiny air pockets in the metal, can lead to cracks. And those cracks can let coolant leak inside or outside the engine.

On a gas RAV4, the coolant leak can cause overheating and a stall. And the recall also lists engine damage, a possible oil leak and a fire risk. The fix is that a Toyota dealer inspects the engine and replaces the engine if needed. I cover recall 20V064000 with the rest of the 2019 and 2020 recalls in my RAV4 years to avoid guide.

Do 2019 and newer RAV4s burn oil?

So no, there's no oil burning pattern on the 2019 to 2025 RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid or RAV4 Prime. NHTSA has no owner complaints about a 2019 to 2025 RAV4 burning oil or needing oil added between changes. And Toyota has no oil consumption bulletin or program for the A25A engine.

Basically, the "RAV4 burns oil" reputation comes from two older engines.

• The 2006 to 2008 RAV4's 2.4-liter engine had a Toyota program for excessive oil use, called ZE7. Toyota fixed engines that failed a dealer oil consumption test.
• The 2009 to 2018 RAV4's 2.5-liter engine, an older design than the A25A, can burn oil when oil changes are skipped. The Car Care Nut says most oil burning they see comes from neglected oil changes.

Now keep in mind that Toyota's owner's manuals for the 2019 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid say some oil use is normal. And Toyota says the engine uses more oil when the engine is new. The engine also uses more when you run the wrong oil, rev the engine high, tow, accelerate hard a lot, or idle a lot. So Toyota tells owners to check the dipstick regularly. And The Car Care Nut says Toyota's limit is about 1 quart every 1,200 miles.

The Car Care Nut also says they've seen some scoring on A25A cylinder walls but haven't seen one burn oil yet. And they say 10,000-mile oil changes aren't a terrible idea for the A25A. So ultimately, oil burning isn't something I'd worry about on a 2019 or newer RAV4 with oil change records.

My 7-step engine check for a used 2019 to 2025 RAV4

So none of these problems should scare you off a 2019 to 2025 RAV4, as long as you check a few things before you buy. Here's what I'd do.

1. Run the VIN on Toyota's recall lookup and NHTSA's recall lookup. NHTSA's lookup shows whether recall 20V064000 is still open. Then ask a Toyota dealer to check the VIN for 24TE04.
2. Ask if the coolant bypass valve was replaced under 24TE04. On a 2019 to early 2021 RAV4 with no record, that's not a deal breaker, because 24TE04 still covers the valve until 10 years or 100,000 miles, and Toyota says the coverage carries over to you as the next owner.
3. Check the coolant with the engine cold. The engine coolant tank should be at FULL. On a Hybrid or Prime, there's a second coolant tank for the hybrid system's inverter, so check the engine's tank.
4. Pull the oil filler cap and the dipstick. Milky residue under the cap in winter can be condensation. But if you see milky oil plus low coolant, I'd walk away until a cooling system pressure test is done.
5. Look under the engine for wet oil at the oil pan seam and the front timing cover.
6. Scan for stored codes, or ask a shop to. Watch for P2681 codes (the coolant valve), P26CA or P26CB codes (the water pump), and P0520 codes (oil pressure).
7. Ask for oil change records. The Car Care Nut says skipped oil changes are the main reason Toyota engines burn oil, so records matter.

I go through the rest of a used RAV4 test drive in my used RAV4 buying guide. And if you're still choosing a year, my RAV4 years to avoid guide lists every recall and program by year.

Videos on the RAV4's 2.5-liter engine