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2004 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 63 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports4 fire reports11 injury reports

Tires complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2011
Tires

TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37K BECAUSE THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. I REPLACED THE TIRES PER THE TIRE WARRANTY WITH THE SAME TIRES AND AT 95K MILES THEY ARE AGAIN DRY ROTTED. I RECOMMEND THAT TOYOTA STOP PUTTING TOYO TIRES ON ITS RAV4S. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TOYOTA ISSUED BATTERY TWO TIMES IN THE VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 7…

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TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37K BECAUSE THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. I REPLACED THE TIRES PER THE TIRE WARRANTY WITH THE SAME TIRES AND AT 95K MILES THEY ARE AGAIN DRY ROTTED. I RECOMMEND THAT TOYOTA STOP PUTTING TOYO TIRES ON ITS RAV4S. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TOYOTA ISSUED BATTERY TWO TIMES IN THE VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424227

20,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE SNOW, HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE BALD TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 30 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE RENTAL AGENCY TOWED THE VEHICLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE SNOW, HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE BALD TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 30 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE RENTAL AGENCY TOWED THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANOTHER RENTAL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE RENTAL VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY INSPECTED BEFORE HE RENTED IT. THE MANAGER ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE RENTAL VEHICLE FAILURE. THE RENTAL VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IT WAS INSPECTED ON 2/11/10 AND THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 5 DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.

NHTSA ODI #10316022

151,100 miles · Jan 16, 2009
TiresVehicle Speed Control

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT...EVEN WITH FULL TIRE PRESSURE. NOW AT 151K MILES, THE VSC TRAC, TRAC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG AND BULLETIN BOARDS SHOW PEOPLE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AT DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE IT COME ON AGAIN. I WILL NOT GO THAT ROUTE, AND WILL TRY TO TURN IT OFF AS IT S…

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TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT...EVEN WITH FULL TIRE PRESSURE. NOW AT 151K MILES, THE VSC TRAC, TRAC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG AND BULLETIN BOARDS SHOW PEOPLE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AT DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE IT COME ON AGAIN. I WILL NOT GO THAT ROUTE, AND WILL TRY TO TURN IT OFF AS IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A GLITCH. WANT TO REPORT IN THE HOPES THAT TOYOTA WILL FIX/RECALL. I LOVE MY RAV4 AND WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ONE WHEN THIS ONE IS TOO OLD TO DRIVE, BUT DON'T WANT TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255281

Official recalls

2

19V741000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Oct 17, 2019

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 under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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 under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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

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 under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

15V284000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 13, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems