Wrench.Pro

2004 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Toyota RAV4 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Driver-side sun visor will not stay up.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Toyota RAV4.

Reported to NHTSA

Driver-side sun visor will not stay up

VISIBILITY/WIPER

7 NHTSA complaints · 2011-06 → 2019-10

“THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. COMES DOWN AND BLOCKS VIEW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10908054
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP WHICH LIMITS VISABILITY. I HAD IT CHANGED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN RECENTLY. TOYOTA ADMITTED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WILL NOT FIX IT FOR FREE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10744766
“2004 TOYOTA RAV4 DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. THIS STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO FOR NO REASON. DEALER STATES IT IS NOT A DEFECT SO NOTHING SHORT OF REPLACING IT CAN BE DONE. I HAVE TO PUSH THE VISOR UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD TO GET IT OUT OF MY SIGHTLINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10413604

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear window glass shattering

VISIBILITY

4 NHTSA complaints · 2005-06 → 2008-03

“DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BACK WINDOW ON MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 SHATTERED TO PIECES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING HIT THE WINDOW. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WINDOW SHATTERED ON IT'S OWN. *JB WINDOW WAS REPLACED THE DAY AFTER THE EVENT TOOK PLACE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10140078
“THE VEHICLE HAD A REAR DOOR WITH A WINDOW AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH A POP WAS HEARD. THE WINDOW SHATTERED THEN STARTED BREAKING AWAY. IT WAS A MILD DAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10119790
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TWO REAR WINDOWS SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOW JUST POPPED, SHATTERED, AND EXPLODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10220271

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata airbag inflator recall remedy delays

AIR BAGS

39 NHTSA complaints · 2015-06 → 2019-07

“TAKATA RECALL SINCE OCTOBER 2015, I HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY BEECHMONT TOYOTA IN CINCINNATI, OHIO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPAIR PART IN STOCK. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY WILL ORDER IT, BUT IT NEVER SEEMS TO COME IN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10851312
“TAKATA RECALL CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME ABOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS UNDER RECALL, ONLY TO BE TOLD ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS AND TO CALL BACK IN A FEW WEEKS. I CALLED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10870554
“TAKATA RECALL WE HAVE RECEIVED THE REMEDY NOTICE. NONE OF THE DEALERS IN OUR AREA HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO PERFORM THE REMEDY. FURTHER THAT THE PARTS HAVE BEEN BACK ORDERED FOR MONTHS. TOYOTA'S LETTER SAYS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10808177

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Head gasket coolant leak with stripped head bolts

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

22 NHTSA complaints · 2009-04 → 2017-12

“CAR BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE NO RADIATOR OR OTHER COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS WERE DETECTED, BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10275387
“IN OCTOBER/2013 WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 START SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT IT WAS COOLANT FLUIDS ALL OVER THE ENGINE, TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER CHECK IT OUT, IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, RESULTS WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10555194
“2.4L ENGINE WAS LOOSING COOLANT AND OVERHEATING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD WATER PUMP DUE TO THE LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR GARAGE, I LEARNED THAT THE CAUSE WAS 3 STRIPPED OUT BOLTS HOLDING THE HEAD ONTO THE BLOCK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10396928

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission shifting faults and ECM

POWER TRAIN

19 NHTSA complaints · 2009-10 → 2026-04

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11503509
“I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND FINALLY WOULDN'T GET IN GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS AT FAULT (ERROR P0766- SHIFT SOLENOID D STUCK)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10386226
“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 report, NHTSA ODI #10294531

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration and throttle surge

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

15 NHTSA complaints · 2004-03 → 2017-12

“WHILE EXITING A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I LIGHTLY TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND THEN STARTED TO GO AT A RAPID SPEED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10319312
“I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT LESS THAN 10 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY, LURCHED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB AND CONTINUED UP A SLOPE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10824130
“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 report, NHTSA ODI #10062139

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ESC/VSC/TRAC activation and warning lights

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

7 NHTSA complaints · 2012-10 → 2022-10

“OFTEN AFTER A COLD START (ALL YEAR ROUND), STABILITY CONTROL KICKS IN (WITH BEEP AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON) AFTER A FEW HUNDRED FEET OF DRIVING, RESULTING IN ONE OR MORE WHEELS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND CAUSING A JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10874946
“WHEN DRIVING ON HILLS, SPECIFY DURING A TURN, AT SPORADIC TIMES, THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON, WITH 3 BEEPS FROM THE DASH......THE CAR JERKS AND LUGS, LIKE THE ENGINE IS DYING, THEN RESUMES NORMAL SPEED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10955531
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ESC WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SUSPENSION BEING UNSTABLE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER 30 MPH AND UPON MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10808802

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

67 crashes 1990–2024

How the 67 occupant deaths break down

58

driver deaths

9

passenger deaths

67

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

16

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Toyota RAV4 reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →