2004 Toyota RAV4 Owner Complaints

Rear suspension control arm assembly (that supports the springs, control arm rods, shocks, as well as the the hub, brakes and wheel ) breaks completely due to rust and corrosion. It is a poor design that you can see this would happen at the weakest and narrowest section of the part. This causes the entire wheel assembly to drop or twist off, as it did mine and fortunately not on highway however on a busy local road. This vehicle was bought in [XXX], but original owner primarily had it in [XXX] where I can understand there was lots of salt on the road during snow time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753960

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11742160

Incident

Jun 4, 2026

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 accelerator pedal issues but I replace the pedal and its the same not shifting properly.I cannot drive my car now due to shifting issue in first anf second gear.This my second Rav4 .I have 2001 toyota Rav4 all wheel drive I I have the same Issue not shifting properly first and second gear ,I purchase ECM module back in 2021,2022 amount of $775.00 at Toyota Parts Deal.com that is not calibrated and I pay $350 at DCH toyata in Torrance for calibration I bring this issues at BAR in 2021 ,2022 to reinburstment of the money to Toyota Headquaters until now no response .I need your help to resolves this Issues. I work Winston Tire and Firestone tire And I studies Automotive system at SCROC in Torrance,Ca. 90505 Diploma, profile.I need my money back for the 2001 toyota Rav4 and I need your help for this 2003,2004 transmission issues that I have right now .My 2001 toyota Rav4 has no issues in shifting since I purchase the ECM module.I currently own this 2 vehicle registered under my name.Thank you for kind Consideration, Respectfully yours [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11733766

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

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 car, but the car kept moving forward and was about to hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the car behind me. The brakes and gas were not responsive. I took it to a mechanic right away, got new brakes, rotors, engine and transmission was checked. A couple months later this happened again.

NHTSA ID

11622621

Incident

Oct 29, 2024

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 it could simply die at any time, and it needed a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

NHTSA ID

11610035

Incident

Aug 11, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11503509

Incident

Jan 23, 2023

The TRAC system which brakes the car when it senses the wheel loosing traction hits the breaks on curves, even when turned off. It is random. It is not part of the inspection. When the streets are rain slick it has caused my car to skid out of the lane I was in. It has not been reproduced by anyone as I have not turned the car in to an independent dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

NHTSA ID

11490185

Incident

Oct 19, 2022

GOOD AFTERNOON! I JUST NOTICE TODAY THE REAR SUSPENSION IS VERY RUSTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IS ANY RECALL IN THIS CAR. THANKING IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11340252

Incident

Jul 19, 2020

DRIVER SIDE VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND BLOCKING VIEW AND WILL NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION. OTHER DRIVERS REPORT SAME ISSUE WITH THIS RAV4 -2004 AND BEYOND MODEL YEAR. NOT A RECALL ITEM AND WONDER WHY NOT?

NHTSA ID

11266123

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

67,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2019 AND SINCE THAT TIME HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS MAILED NOTICES FROM TOYOTA "SAFETY RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICE." I HAVE MADE AT LEAST 8 PHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA AND BEEN PROMISED REPEATEDLY THAT I WILL BE CONTACTED FOR AIRBAG REPLACEMENT...BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. EACH PERSON WITH WHOM I SPEAK FAITHFULLY PROMISES THAT I WILL BE CONTACTED, THEN NOTHING. I LIVE IN RURAL ALASKA ON AN ISLAND WITHOUT A TOYOTA DEALER. THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALER IS IN ANCHORAGE. GETTING MY VEHICLE TO ANCHORAGE WILL ENTAIL A 12-24 HOUR FERRY RIDE AND A 2-8 HOUR HIGHWAY DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11233499

Incident

Jul 19, 2019

I HAVE EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, AND SOLENOID CODE WARNINGS ON MY 2004 RAV4 BEGINNING IN APRIL 2018. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AN ASE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT ASSURES ME THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY ECM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF A DEFECTIVE ECM (PER KEITH PIERSON TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE, FL) THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS IT POSES A RISK TO MYSELF AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN DUE TO ABRUPT, UNANTICIPATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11120898

Incident

Apr 13, 2018

Mileage

191,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSA LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO RISE, INDICATING THAT THE CAR WAS STARTING TO OVERHEAT. TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. APPARENTLY, THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT THREADING HAS BECOME STRIPPED DUE TO STRAIN FROM THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER BLOCK. THIS HAS LEAD TO THE ENGINE LEAKING COOLANT. THE ENGINE IS NOW PRONE TO OVERHEATING. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11053548

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED EXCEEDED 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER (WELLESLEY TOYOTA, 234 WORCESTER ST, WELLESLEY, MA 02481, (888) 577-6342) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DETERMINED CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST AND THE COLLISION DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. *JS

NHTSA ID

11053346

Incident

Nov 2, 2017

Mileage

55,000 mi

"TAMARA RECALL". COMPLAINT #1 IN MAY 2016, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE TO THE AIRBAGS. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE CONNECTED ME TO WOBURN TOYOTA TO HAVE ME SPEAK TO THEM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH I DID. ON MAY 24 2016 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN 11 A.M. APPT. I WAS TOLD TO PARK IT OUTSIDE. WHEN I REGISTERED AT THE COUNTER, THE CLERK ASKED ME IF I WANTED NUMEROUS OTHER SERVICES DONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I DENIED ALL OF THEM. THE SERVICE DEPT WAS BUSY, HE TOLD ME TO COME BACK IN ABOUT 2 HOURS. I CAME BACK IN 2 HRS 30 MINS TO FIND MY CAR PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT I LEFT IT. I WENT TO THE COUNTER AND THE SAME CLERK TOLD ME, THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WORK ON IT YET BUT THEY COULD GET TO IT SOON!!! UNACCEPTABLE I LEFT.I HAD AN APPT AT 3 P.M. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, I WAS SENT AN EMAIL TO TRY TO PHONE AGAIN AND RESCHEDULE. COMPLAINT #2 A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY SON IN LAW LOU INTOPPA, CALLED TO MAKE THE APPT FOR ME AT THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER NUMBER. HE WAS TOLD WOBURN TOYOTA , WHICH DID IT BEFORE, DOES NOT DO THE RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO LEXINGTON WHICH IS FARTHER AWAY. HE WAS DROPPING MY CAR OFF ON HIS WAY TO WORK. LEXINGTON IS NOT ON THE WAY. HE CALLED WOBURN TOYOTA ON HIS OWN. THEY TOLD HIM THEY DO THE RECALLS BUT THEY HAD NO PARTS BUT WE'RE GETTING THEM IN. CALL BACK IN A FEW DAYS. HE DID BUT NO PARTS YET. COMPLAINT #3. WOBURN TOYOTA TOLD MY SON IN LAW TO CALL AGAIN TO SEE IF THE PARTS CAME IN, HE DID. NO PARTS YET SO THEY TOOK HIS NUMBER AND TOLD HIM THEY WOULD CALL HIM WHEN THEY CAME IN. THAT WAS 5 MONTHS AGO. HE HAS NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. WE KEEP GETTING THE TOYOTA RECORDED MESSAGES ON MY CELL , HIS CELL AND HIS HOME PHONE FOR THE RECALL BUT THEY DON'T MAKE IT EASY. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFIED RETURNED SIGNATURE LETTER FROM THEM TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11051063

Incident

May 24, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" RECEIVED NOTICE TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL

NHTSA ID

11045239

Incident

Nov 10, 2017

Mileage

121,225 mi

TAKATA RECALL KEEPING GETTING NOTICES ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THE BANKRUPTCY CASE AGAINST TK HOLDINGS. I (WE) HAVEN'T OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 4 YEARS. I ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO INFORM TOYOTA (ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO) BUT THEY SAID THE INFO COMES FROM MY STATE DMV AND I COULDN'T GET THEM TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL OWNER. I ALSO CONTACTED THE NH DMV AT THAT TIME AND PROVIDED THE VIN. THEY SAID THEIR RECORDS INDICATE WE DON'T OWN THE VEHICLE. WE TRADED IT IN AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN NH IN OCT 2013. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO OWNS THE VEHICLE! AND THE NAME ON THE LATEST NOTICE STILL HAS MY WIFE'S NAME; SHE PASSED AWAY IN JULY 2015. . WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO GET THE RECORDS GET CORRECTED? . [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

11040591

Incident

Oct 27, 2017

I WAS NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA THAT MY AIR BAGS WERE RECALLED AND I HAD THEM REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11013138

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY SON AND I WERE ON WAY TO PEYTON MANNING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED, WHICH MADE ME ABRUPTLY STOP, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND REAR ENDED ME AS I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND HE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER BACK OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING ALMOST $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE, HOWEVER, MY SON NOR MY SEAT BELTS LOCKED INTO PLACE, THEREFORE, HE SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION, WHIP LASH, MILD MEMORY LOSS, AND NEEDING PHYSICAL THERAPY. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL, BUT I SUSTAINED WHIP LASH, INJURY TO BOTH MY LEFT & RIGHT SHOULDERS, NECK, AND BACK. I MUST REINFORCE THAT STATEMENT THAT IF THE SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE LOCKED PROPERLY MY SON AND I MAY HAVE NOT SUSTAINED THIS TYPE OF INJURY, THEREFORE, THIS ACCIDENT WAS LIKE WEARING NO SEATBELT WHEN WE WERE BOTH SECURELY BUCKLED IN AND THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING MADE IT LIKE WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO SEAT BELTS FOR PROTECTION.

NHTSA ID

11000131

Incident

Nov 7, 2016

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10986068

Incident

Oct 31, 2016

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. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS IS A LITTLE MORE DRAMATIC THAN THE LAST, AND HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. MY CAR HAS 99000 MILES ON IT , AND HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC CAR SO FAR, BUT NOW I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. MY HUSBAND CALLED TOYOTA DEALERS, AND LOCAL TOY SPECIALTY SHOPS, BUT NO ONE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR ESC PROBLEMS, I AM LEARY OF THE COST OF A FISHING EXPEDITION AT A DEALER, UNLESS I CAN GO IN WITH MORE INFORMATION. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, BASED ON THE DEPENDABILITY REPORTS FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR, AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT FIRST NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10955531

Incident

Feb 18, 2017

Mileage

99,000 mi

THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. FROM A STOP SIGN IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN START WITH A JERK. WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE RPMS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM READ THE ERROR CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SOLENOID PROBLEM WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND ORDERED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $4,600. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS WITH SAME PROBLEM. TODAY, 1-23-17, I DROVE IT ABOUT 1 MILE AND VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND LEFT IT RUNNING. THEY CAME OUT AND TRIED TO USE THEIR SCANNER BUT HAD SOME DIFFICULTY SO THEY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO RESTART IT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SO THE CAR NOW HAS BEEN TOWED TO TUNEX SINCE THEY HAVE MORE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. ON THE INTERNET I SEE ARTICLE THAT CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE 2001 THRU AT LEAST 2005 RAVS IS THE ECM. THE SITE OF OTHER DEAL.COM SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ECMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA THAT COVERED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2001-2003 RAVS. SEEMS LIKE WHETHER IT IS THE ECM OR THE TRANSMISSION OR BOTH THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947127

Incident

Dec 20, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH "TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10945036

Incident

Dec 29, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

SUN VISORS KEEP FALLING DOWN. REMOVING THEM PERMITS TOO MUCH SUN GLARE & IMPAIRS VISIBILITY, EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. LEAVING THEM ALL THE WAY FALLEN DOWN GREATLY RESTRICTS VISIBILITY. THIS IS A PROBLEM LONG-ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS OCCURRED IN 2012 - PRESENT. NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN BY TOYOTA. NEED VISORS THAT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10916716

Incident

Sep 30, 2012

TAKATA RECALL, WAS NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA. I CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX. TOLD I WAS PUT ON A LIST TO BE CALLED WHEN PARTS CAME IN. WAS CALLED BY TOYOTA TO ASK IF THE REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE, I TOLD THEM NO AND THEY HUNG UP ON ME. STILL WAITING ON CALL.

NHTSA ID

10910117

Incident

Jul 25, 2016

Mileage

104,250 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. COMES DOWN AND BLOCKS VIEW.

NHTSA ID

10908054

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

136,000 mi