IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY DEPLETED IN THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT REACHED 12000 MILES. ON A DRY ROAD, THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE WAS GREATLY EXTENDED, AND GREATER FORCE THAN USUAL HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SUGGESTED CALLING NHTSA.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1225–50K
1750–75K
1975–100K
24100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
154 reportsDURING A HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER FRONT ENDS OF BOTH VEHICLES TWO OF THREE SEATBELTS DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING TWO PASSENGERS TO COLLIDE WITH THE DASHBOARD AND THE REAR OF THE FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL. THE RAV 4 WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH, THE OTHER VECHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40-45 MP…
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DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER FRONT ENDS OF BOTH VEHICLES TWO OF THREE SEATBELTS DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING TWO PASSENGERS TO COLLIDE WITH THE DASHBOARD AND THE REAR OF THE FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL. THE RAV 4 WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH, THE OTHER VECHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH.*AK
DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BACK WINDOW ON MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 SHATTERED TO PIECES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING HIT THE WINDOW. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WINDOW SHATTERED ON IT'S OWN. *JB WINDOW WAS REPLACED THE DAY AFTER THE EVENT TOOK PLACE.
HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15900 MILES ON MY 2004 RAV4. ENGINE RUNNING QUIETLY UNTIL ONE DAY I WAKE UP AND THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT IS ESPECIALLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SOUND IS ALSO BAD WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT ALSO LOUD IDLING. TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH EVERY OTHER NEW …
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HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15900 MILES ON MY 2004 RAV4. ENGINE RUNNING QUIETLY UNTIL ONE DAY I WAKE UP AND THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT IS ESPECIALLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SOUND IS ALSO BAD WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT ALSO LOUD IDLING. TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH EVERY OTHER NEW CAR I HAVE OWNED NEVER SOUNDED LIKE THAT EVEN AFTER 100K ON THE ENGINE . *JB
WHEN MY CAR IGNITION KEY IS IN THE "ACCESSORY" POSITION THE FM CHANNELS OF MY RADIO ARE CLEAR. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION THE FM CHANNELS CANNOT BE HEARD OVER THE STATIC.
THE VEHICLE HAD A REAR DOOR WITH A WINDOW AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH A POP WAS HEARD. THE WINDOW SHATTERED THEN STARTED BREAKING AWAY. IT WAS A MILD DAY. A POLICE OFFICER WAS NEARBY WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT, SUCH AS A BULLET OR ROCK, ETC. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND WAS N…
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THE VEHICLE HAD A REAR DOOR WITH A WINDOW AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH A POP WAS HEARD. THE WINDOW SHATTERED THEN STARTED BREAKING AWAY. IT WAS A MILD DAY. A POLICE OFFICER WAS NEARBY WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT, SUCH AS A BULLET OR ROCK, ETC. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DEFECT WITH THE WINDOW. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT NO INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED BY TOYOTA. *AK *SC *JB
CONSUMER WAS SHOCKED AS HE EXITED THE 2004 TOYOTA RAV4.*MR THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF IT OCCURS AT A GAS STATION. *NM
MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4 CAUGHT FIRE IN MINUTES WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. IT WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD, I HAD OIL AND FILTER CHANGES DONE ON SCHEDULE BY TOYOTA AND THE VEHIVLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I SMELLED SOMETHING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES MY CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND WENT UP IN FLAMES.*AK
THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WENT OVER A CURB AND FLATTENED HER TIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR FUMES FILLED THE CABIN SINCE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CHARCOAL CANISTER. IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DU…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR FUMES FILLED THE CABIN SINCE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CHARCOAL CANISTER. IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO PARTS OUT OF STOCK AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED ON SEPT. 24, 2004 UNDER WARRANTY. THIS HAPPENED TO A BRAND NEW TOYOTA RAV 4 AT 2300 MILES.*AK
Official recalls
219V741000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.