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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

What owners actually said

154 reports
125,000 miles · Jan 23, 2017
Power TrainTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. FROM A STOP SIGN IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN START WITH A JERK. WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE RPMS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM READ THE ERROR CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SOLENOID PROBLEM WITHIN THE …

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THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. FROM A STOP SIGN IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN START WITH A JERK. WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE RPMS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM READ THE ERROR CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SOLENOID PROBLEM WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND ORDERED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $4,600. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS WITH SAME PROBLEM. TODAY, 1-23-17, I DROVE IT ABOUT 1 MILE AND VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND LEFT IT RUNNING. THEY CAME OUT AND TRIED TO USE THEIR SCANNER BUT HAD SOME DIFFICULTY SO THEY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO RESTART IT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SO THE CAR NOW HAS BEEN TOWED TO TUNEX SINCE THEY HAVE MORE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. ON THE INTERNET I SEE ARTICLE THAT CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE 2001 THRU AT LEAST 2005 RAVS IS THE ECM. THE SITE OF OTHER DEAL.COM SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ECMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA THAT COVERED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2001-2003 RAVS. SEEMS LIKE WHETHER IT IS THE ECM OR THE TRANSMISSION OR BOTH THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10947127

50,000 miles · Jan 13, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH "TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH "TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10945036

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2016
Visibility/wiper

SUN VISORS KEEP FALLING DOWN. REMOVING THEM PERMITS TOO MUCH SUN GLARE & IMPAIRS VISIBILITY, EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. LEAVING THEM ALL THE WAY FALLEN DOWN GREATLY RESTRICTS VISIBILITY. THIS IS A PROBLEM LONG-ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS OCCURRED IN 2012 - PRESENT. NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN BY TOYOTA. NEED VISORS THAT WORK P…

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SUN VISORS KEEP FALLING DOWN. REMOVING THEM PERMITS TOO MUCH SUN GLARE & IMPAIRS VISIBILITY, EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. LEAVING THEM ALL THE WAY FALLEN DOWN GREATLY RESTRICTS VISIBILITY. THIS IS A PROBLEM LONG-ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS OCCURRED IN 2012 - PRESENT. NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN BY TOYOTA. NEED VISORS THAT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10916716

104,250 miles · Sep 28, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL, WAS NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA. I CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX. TOLD I WAS PUT ON A LIST TO BE CALLED WHEN PARTS CAME IN. WAS CALLED BY TOYOTA TO ASK IF THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE, I TOLD THEM NO AND THEY HUNG UP ON ME. STILL WAITING ON CALL.

NHTSA ODI #10910117

136,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. COMES DOWN AND BLOCKS VIEW.

NHTSA ODI #10908054

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL RECIEVED NOTICE - FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO CALL AND SET APPOINTMENT. CALLED CORPORATE CORPROATE GAVE ME CASE NUMBER 5 MONTHS LATER NOTHING. WHEN I CALL THEY SAY TO WAIT. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IF THE CAR IS A THREAT TO MY LIFE REPLACE THE BAG ALREADY!

NHTSA ODI #10906210

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2016
Air Bags

2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP POOR COMMUNICATION TO SCHEDULE AIRBAG RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENTS AND TO ORDER DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT PARTS. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10895633

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE …

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10889108

155,000 miles · Jul 9, 2016
Unknown Or Other

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED POSITION THE CAR HESITATES, MOVES VERY SLOWLY, THEN WITH ADDED PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL JERKS AS IT SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR, AFTER THAT IT SEEMS TO RUN FINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A BUSY ROAD OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI #10883741

120,000 miles · Jun 17, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

OFTEN AFTER A COLD START (ALL YEAR ROUND), STABILITY CONTROL KICKS IN (WITH BEEP AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON) AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF DRIVING, RESULTING IN ONE OR MORE WHEELS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND CAUSING A JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS ON SMOOTH SURFACES AND WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION WHERE STABILITY CO…

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OFTEN AFTER A COLD START (ALL YEAR ROUND), STABILITY CONTROL KICKS IN (WITH BEEP AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON) AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF DRIVING, RESULTING IN ONE OR MORE WHEELS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND CAUSING A JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS ON SMOOTH SURFACES AND WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION WHERE STABILITY CONTROL SHOULD NEVER ACTIVATE. HAS NEVER HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED BECAUSE IT ALWAYS HAPPENS SHORTLY AFTER START, SO ALWAYS FULLY RECOVERABLE, BUT VERY CONCERNING. TOYOTA (ACTON TOYOTA OF LITTLETON, MA) HAS FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10874946

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.

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