The 2004 Toyota RAV4 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,087,920 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS19V7410002019-10-17928,220 affected
Defect
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…
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…
AIR BAGS15V2840002015-05-13159,700 affected
Defect
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…
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…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
44
4crashes1fires3injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
18
8crashes5injuries
POWER TRAIN
14
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE
11
1crashes1fires1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
5
Total complaints182
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Toyota RAV4 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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