NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2004 Toyota RAV4 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 154 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Toyota RAV4, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 Toyota RAV4 owner complaints
Owners have filed 154 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota RAV4, describing incidents dated January 23, 2004 to July 19, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Air Bags 47 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Power Train 23 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 20 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 11 complaints
- Electrical System 10 complaints
Of the 154 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 154 complaints, owners report 15 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11753960 · Filed
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…
ODI #11742160 · Filed
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.
ODI #11733766 · Filed
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…
Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode
NHTSA #19V741000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported October 17, 2019 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 928,220 vehicles
Repair completion: 72.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Toyota campaign J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · Owners notified November 20, 2019 · Vehicles built July 31, 2003 – October 13, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture
NHTSA #15V284000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported May 13, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 159,700 vehicles
Repair completion: 93% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified August 21, 2015 · Vehicles built May 13, 2003 – October 25, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Toyota RAV4 model years
Check your 2004 Toyota RAV4 VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota RAV4 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Toyota VIN