2005 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
141 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
79,825 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 141 complaints (41.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 12.8% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 59 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
Air Bags: 59; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine: 9; Steering: 8; Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 57 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 41 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 16; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 41; 2016: 20; 2017: 7; 2018: 7; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10192622 · 2007-06-06 (June 6, 2007)
HAD 2005 TOYOTA RAV 4 FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DISPLAYED STRAIGHT LINES OF TINY PITS ACROSS BRAKING SURFACE , APPEARED TO BE CASTING FLAWS EXTENDED INTO AND BELOW ROTOR SURFACE. HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES PREMATURELY WEARING ON INNER SIDES, SCRAPING NOISE. *AK ASKED DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP ABOUT THESE ROTORS AND WAS TOLD THEY SEE A LOT OF THEM LIKE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303018 · 2010-01-28 (January 28, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 1-10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO TURN MAKE A LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN OPPOSING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323905 · 2010-04-05 (April 5, 2010)
INTERMITTENT "LOOSE" STEERING FEELING IN 2005 TOYOTA RAV-4. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL. MY CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED AND NOW I SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER MODELS RECENTLY. MY BOYFRIEND FELT IT HAPPEN 2X.WHEN HE WAS DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY 15-20 TIMES TOTAL. WHEN DRIVING IN A 45 OR 55 MPH ZONE IT IS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE AT THOSE SPEEDS. SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 20 OR 30 MPH WAS NECESSARY TO FEEL SAFE. MOST OF THE TIME THE WEATHER WAS EXTREMELY COLD BUT IT DI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10323905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326044 · 2010-04-16 (April 16, 2010)
STEERING APPEARS DEFECTIVE- DIFFICULT TO TURN-MAKES CLICKING SOUND. TOLD BY DEALER THAT 'BOTH STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT'. DEALER CLAIMS THEY TOLD US THIS BEFORE. THEY HAVE NEVER TOLD US THIS BEFORE. CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM- AND HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE- AT THIS DEALER. SOMEONE FROM DEALER CALLED US OUT OF THE BLUE PRIOR TO BRINGING CAR IN FOR REPAIR; OFFERING TO BUY THIS CAR. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD AS WE HAD NEVER EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SELLING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282925 · 2009-09-05 (September 5, 2009)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS BEGUN TO SLIP. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE PRESCRIBED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND HAVE HAD MOST OF THE SERVICES PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK, ALWAYS AT SPEEDS BELOW 40. TODAY I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY AND I HEARD THE TRANSMISSION SLIP. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST PROPULSION, SLOWING TO A DANGEROUS SPEED FOR AN ACCELERATION RAMP, AND I WAS AFRAID THAT I WAS GOING TO BE REAR-ENDED. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND SEE THAT THIS IS A …
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289351 · 2009-10-22 (October 22, 2009)
I PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4 IN JULY OF 2005, AND HAVE TAKEN SUPERB CARE OF IT OVER THE YEARS. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP ON ME AFTER JUST 89,000 MILES. I WAS CROSSING A DOUBLE SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND IT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. IT'S COSTING ME $3,000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE GUY AT THE GARAGE COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A REASON FOR THIS HAPPENING. AFTER SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS '01-'05 RAV4 CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE REACHED JUST OVER 80,000 MILES DUE TO A FAULTY ECM T…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502921 · 2013-03-07 (March 7, 2013)
FIRST TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CHECKED PRESSURE IN ALL TIRES. TIRES WERE AT CORRECT AMOUNT. WENT TO RESET LIGHT WHICH DID NOT WORK. SUV WAS ON AN INCLINE (DRIVEWAY). LET CAR SIT FOR AN HOUR ON FLAT SURFACE. STARTED RAV4.THE TIRE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON PLUS ABS AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS. CONSULTED OWNERS MANUAL WHICH STATED TO TAKE TO TOYOTA. NO OTHER BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. WAS 1/2 MILE FROM DEALER WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO PASSENGER CABIN. SMOKE/FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND UNDER RAV4. SMOKE WAS A BLUISH GREY. PULLED OFF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564453 · 2014-02-15 (February 15, 2014)
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRING ON 2/14/2014, MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AS I AM DRIVING, FOR ABOUT ONE TO THREE SECONDS, THEN JUST AS SUDDEN KICK BACK ON AGAIN. WHEN IT LOSES POWER FOR THAT SECOND OR TWO, I LOSE MY POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. ONCE THE POWER COMES BACK ON, IT CONTINUES TO RIDE FINE AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL PEP BOYS FACILITY. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE THE ISSUE WAS ORIGI…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11487875 · 2022-10-04 (October 4, 2022)
On 10/1/2022 in Berwick, PA while pulling into the Dollar Tree parking lot, smoke appeared in the passenger cabin and the vehicle accelerated on it's own. The brakes were applied and the vehicle continue to accelerate. The vehicle went down through a yard, across a road through another parking lot and crashed into a high curb before stalling out. The airbags deployed. My mother was transported to the hospital and is still in ICU with broken ribs, cuts and bruises. She was able to steer the vehicle away from a parked car, a person on a bic…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11487875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761092 · 2015-09-02 (September 2, 2015)
THE RIGHT SIDE GAS TANK STRAP HAD RUSTED OUT AND BROKE, CAUSING THE GAS TANK ASSEMBLY TO DROP DOWN ONTO THE DRIVESHAFT.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761092 at NHTSA ↗