2004 Toyota Rav4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (42) · Vehicle Speed Control (18) · Engine (11)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Rav4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
91 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-10-17 · campaign 19V741000 · 928,220 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-13 · campaign 15V284000 · 159,700 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured May 13, 2003, to October 25, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag, free of charge. Owners were mailed an interim notice June 17, 2015. The recall began on August 21, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Service bulletins (135)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 135 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-31 · Suspension“rear suspension control arm assembly (that supports the springs, control arm rods, shocks, as well as the the hub, brakes and wheel ) breaks completely due to rust and corrosion. it is a poor design that you can see this would happen at the weakest and narrowest section of the part. this causes the entire wheel assembly to drop or twist off, as it …”
2026-06-04 · Service Brakes“the inspection sticker mechanic inspected the car and found the rear brake hoses rubbing against the sway bar indicating that there should be a clip somewhere to prevent rubbing. see picture attached. see if a possible safety recall can be done on all toyota rav4 vehicles. …”
2026-04-25 · Power Train“ i have 2003 registered as 2004.this vehicle that i has manufactured november 2003 base on the sicker beside driver side door and it's been registered as 2004 .now the problem that i have is slow moving to first gear suddenly jump to second gear (this is automatic trnasmission) i thought it was accelerator pedal issues but i replace the pedal and …”
2024-10-29 · Unknown Or Other“i was driving on a highway, there was a red light and i pressed on the brakes. the car kept going forward, the brakes became resistant to any pressure and the car continued to roll forward. there were no warning lights when the car was started or during the incident. i kept trying to brake the car, but the car kept moving forward and was about to h…”
2024-08-21 · Unknown Or Other“10 days ago transmission on 2004 rav started to act funny. slow/jerky to engage in lower gears. check engine lights came on. checked out by mechanic who said it looked like a transmission problem and should have it looked at by transmission specialist who said it was not safe to drive as is since it could simply die at any time, and it needed …”
2023-01-24 · Power Train“the transmission slips suddenly, even during highway driving conditions, which almost resulted in a terrible crash. i found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues.…”
2022-10-20 · Service Brakes“the trac system which brakes the car when it senses the wheel loosing traction hits the breaks on curves, even when turned off. it is random. it is not part of the inspection. when the streets are rain slick it has caused my car to skid out of the lane i was in. it has not been reproduced by anyone as i have not turned the car in to an independent …”
2020-07-19 · Suspension“good afternoon! i just notice today the rear suspension is very rusty. i would like to know if is any recall in this car. thanking in advance for helping in this matter.…”
2019-10-04 · Visibility/Wiper · 67,000 mi“driver side visor keeps falling down and blocking view and will not stay in upright position. other drivers report same issue with this rav4 -2004 and beyond model year. not a recall item and wonder why not?…”
2019-07-19 · Air Bags“takata recall i purchased this car in january 2019 and since that time have received numerous mailed notices from toyota "safety recall follow-up notice." i have made at least 8 phone calls to toyota and been promised repeatedly that i will be contacted for airbag replacement...but have not been contacted. each person with whom i speak faithfully …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.