Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota RAV4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode
- Summary
- 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.
- 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 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.
Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture
- Summary
- 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.
- 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 Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (154)
154 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 154 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 47 | 30.5% |
| Power train | 23 | 14.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 11.7% |
| Engine | 11 | 7.1% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 6.5% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 5.2% |
| Electronic stability control | 7 | 4.5% |
| Visibility | 7 | 4.5% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3.9% |
How 2004 compares with other RAV4 years
Best and worst RAV4 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 30 | 3 |
| 2001 | 309 | 0 |
| 2002 | 527 | 0 |
| 2003 | 315 | 0 |
| 2004 | 154 | 2 |
| 2005 | 141 | 5 |
| 2006 | 705 | 11 |
| 2007 | 1,004 | 14 |
| 2008 | 575 | 14 |
| 2009 | 327 | 15 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2004 RAV4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2004 Toyota RAV4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 19V741000 (air bag), 15V284000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2004 Toyota RAV4 problems?
Owners filed 154 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (47), Power train (23), Vehicle speed control (20) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2004 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 21 city, 27 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2004 RAV4 compare with other years?
Among the 2000–2009 Toyota RAV4 model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (30) and the 2007 the most (1,004). The 2004 drew 154. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.