TOYOTA RAV4 · model year

2004 TOYOTA RAV4

180 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004TOYOTARAV4 carries 180 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 5 fires, 21 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 RAV4 is air bags with 44 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (18) and power train (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2004 RAV4, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

180
Complaints
23
Crashes
5
Fires
21
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

180 filings

Crashes Reported

23 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS44
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
POWER TRAIN13
ENGINE11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR4
SERVICE BRAKES4
VISIBILITY/WIPER4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL2

Recalls (2)

19V74100017/10/2019

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 GX4

15V28400013/05/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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

Recent Complaints

20241029SERVICE BRAKES

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 hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the

20241029POWER TRAIN

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 hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the

20241029UNKNOWN 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 hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the

20240821POWER TRAIN

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 a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

20240821UNKNOWN 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 a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

20240821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

20230124POWER 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.

20221020SERVICE 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 dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

20221020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

20221020FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

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 dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

20200719SUSPENSION

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.

20191004VISIBILITY/WIPER

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?

Mileage: 67,000

20190719AIR 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 PROMISES THAT I WILL BE CONTACTED, THEN NOTHING. I LIVE IN RURAL ALASKA ON AN ISLAND WITHOUT A TOYOTA DEALER. THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALER IS IN ANCHORAGE. GETTING MY VEHICLE TO ANCHORAGE WILL ENTAIL A 12-24 HOUR FERRY RIDE AND A 2-8 HOUR HIGHWAY DRIVE.

20180819ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, AND SOLENOID CODE WARNINGS ON MY 2004 RAV4 BEGINNING IN APRIL 2018. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AN ASE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT ASSURES ME THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY ECM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF A DEFECTIVE ECM (PER KEITH PIERSON TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE, FL) THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS IT POSES A RISK TO MYSELF AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN DUE TO ABRUPT, UNANTICIPATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Mileage: 191,000

20180819ENGINE

I HAVE EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, AND SOLENOID CODE WARNINGS ON MY 2004 RAV4 BEGINNING IN APRIL 2018. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AN ASE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT ASSURES ME THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY ECM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF A DEFECTIVE ECM (PER KEITH PIERSON TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE, FL) THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS IT POSES A RISK TO MYSELF AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN DUE TO ABRUPT, UNANTICIPATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Mileage: 191,000

20171208ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSA LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO RISE, INDICATING THAT THE CAR WAS STARTING TO OVERHEAT. TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. APPARENTLY, THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT THREADING HAS BECOME STRIPPED DUE TO STRAIN FROM THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER BLOCK. THIS HAS LEAD TO THE ENGINE LEAKING COOLANT. THE ENGINE IS NOW PRONE TO OVERHEATING. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 156,000

20171207CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED EXCEEDED 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER (WELLESLEY TOYOTA, 234 WORCESTER ST, WELLESLEY, MA 02481, (888) 577-6342) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DETERMINED CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST AND THE COLLISION DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. *JS

Mileage: 55,000

20171128AIR BAGS

"TAMARA RECALL". COMPLAINT #1 IN MAY 2016, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE TO THE AIRBAGS. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE CONNECTED ME TO WOBURN TOYOTA TO HAVE ME SPEAK TO THEM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH I DID. ON MAY 24 2016 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN 11 A.M. APPT. I WAS TOLD TO PARK IT OUTSIDE. WHEN I REGISTERED AT THE COUNTER, THE CLERK ASKED ME IF I WANTED NUMEROUS OTHER SERVICES DONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I DENIED ALL OF THEM. THE SERVICE DEPT WAS BUSY, HE TOLD ME TO COME BACK IN ABOUT 2 HOURS. I CAME BACK IN 2 HRS 30 MINS TO FIND MY CAR PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT I LEFT IT. I WENT TO THE COUNTER AND THE SAME CLERK TOLD ME, THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WORK ON IT YET BUT THEY COULD GET TO IT SOON!!! UNACCEPTABLE I LEFT.I HAD AN APPT AT 3 P.M. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, I WAS SENT AN EMAIL TO TRY TO PHONE AGAIN AND RESCHEDULE. COMPLAINT #2 A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY SON IN LAW LOU INTOPPA, CALLED TO MAKE THE APPT FOR ME AT THE TOYO

Mileage: 85,000

20171110AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" RECEIVED NOTICE TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL

Mileage: 121,225

20171027AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL KEEPING GETTING NOTICES ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THE BANKRUPTCY CASE AGAINST TK HOLDINGS. I (WE) HAVEN'T OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 4 YEARS. I ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO INFORM TOYOTA (ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO) BUT THEY SAID THE INFO COMES FROM MY STATE DMV AND I COULDN'T GET THEM TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL OWNER. I ALSO CONTACTED THE NH DMV AT THAT TIME AND PROVIDED THE VIN. THEY SAID THEIR RECORDS INDICATE WE DON'T OWN THE VEHICLE. WE TRADED IT IN AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN NH IN OCT 2013. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE! AND THE NAME ON THE LATEST NOTICE STILL HAS MY WIFE'S NAME; SHE PASSED AWAY IN JULY 2015. . WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO GET THE RECORDS GET CORRECTED? . [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Compare 2004TOYOTARAV4 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 have?
The 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 has 180 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 5 fires, 21 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4?
Yes, the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4?
The most-complained component for the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 is AIR BAGS with 44 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.