2004 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
154 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 154 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 24 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 13.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 44 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 |
Air Bags: 44; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Power Train: 14; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 63 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 7; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 9; 2010: 15; 2011: 14; 2012: 5; 2013: 7; 2014: 5; 2015: 34; 2016: 19; 2017: 11; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10177402 · 2006-12-30 (December 30, 2006)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BROKEN WHILE SELECTING TO PARK, THIS VEHICLE COULD ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARD UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE. IF IN CASE THE CABLE BROKEN WITHOUT KNOWING WHILE CRUISING I HAVE NO OPTION TO DOWNSHIFT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ON A DOWNHILL ROAD OR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I'VE REPLACED THE PART AT A COST OF $196.00 + LABOR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294531 · 2009-12-04 (December 4, 2009)
2004 RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY HARD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO FOR TESTING. IT IS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER MODULE AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062139 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
SUDDEN AND RAPID ACCELERATION WHEN AUTO WAS PUT IN REVERSE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK. CAR FORCED INTO PARK AND CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE ENGAGED IN PARK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255281 · 2009-01-16 (January 16, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 151,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373842 · 2011-01-03 (January 3, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE ANTI-SKID AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD REMAIN ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO SET ANY SPEED DURING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534219 · 2013-08-08 (August 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED AND THE WARNING CHIME BEGAN TO SOUND. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542990 · 2013-09-10 (September 10, 2013)
VEHICLE DECELERATE, IGNORES THROTTLE INPUT WITH ESP LIGHT FLASHING AND SOMETIMES A 'BEEPING' SOUND WITH VIOLENT SEQUENTIAL BRAKE APPLICATION BY ITSELF OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, WITH THE VIOLENT CONSEQUENCE THAT IT HAS ON STEERING WHEEL. MADE A 'RESET' OF STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR PROCEDURE BY TOYOTA STEPS. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. BY MY EXPERIENCE AS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I SUSPECTED OF AN ESP PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHTLY INCREASED INPUT OF STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO HAVE THE SAME EFFECT THAN BEFORE. BY VISUAL INSPECTION, WITH A…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482688 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
WHEN I DRIVE MY AUTOMATIC AWD 2004 RAV4 (143,000 MILES, ONLY OWNER, MAINTAINED WELL THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE) ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SLIGHT CURVES, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNS ON AND BEEPS LOUDLY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY ENGINE STALLED, JERKED, AND THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SWERVED ME INTO THE NEXT LANE, ALMOST CAUSING A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, I WAS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKE OR TURNING THE WHEEL. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR, BUT THEY COULD NOT GIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482688 at NHTSA ↗