Model year guide

2004 Toyota rav 4

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2004 Toyota rav 4 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

2004 Toyota rav 4 at a glance

Safety recalls2
Combined21–23 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2004 Toyota rav 4 recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V741000 · manufacturer #J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · 17/10/2019

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 vehicl…

Fix: 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…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #15V284000 · 13/05/2015

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.

Fix: 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. Own…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2004 Toyota rav 4 safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Frontal crash test — 2004 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.Frontal crash test
Side barrier test — 2004 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.Side barrier test

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2004 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2004 Toyota rav 4 MPG & running costs

Combined21–23 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,013
EPA size classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$3,063 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2004 Toyota rav 4 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,065
Fuel only$15,065
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 135

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 135.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid,…

Bulletin T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before th…

Bulletin T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especiall…

Bulletin T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to r…

Bulletin T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, r…

Bulletin T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Structure · Dec 2024

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid,…

Bulletin T-SB-0035-24 Rev1 · Structure · Jul 2024

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before th…

Bulletin T-SB-0038-24 Rev1 · Structure · Jul 2024

The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especiall…

Bulletin T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Structure · Jul 2024

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid,…

Bulletin T-SB-0035-24 Rev1 · Structure · Jul 2024

To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before th…

Bulletin T-SB-0038-24 Rev1 · Structure · Jul 2024

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the RAV4. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Toyota rav 4

The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. Having sold over 15 million units worldwide as of 2025, the RAV4 is the best-selling SUV of all time. The car is credited with popularizing compact crossover automobiles, often credited as the first modern compact crossover SUV. In February 2025, the RAV4 replaced the Ford F-150 as the best-selling car in the United States, after nearly four decades of the latter's reign.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2004 Toyota rav 4 trims & engines on record

Engines
2.4L 4-cyl 149 hp

2004 Toyota rav 4 vehicles on record

Other Toyota rav 4 model years

2004 Toyota rav 4 — frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Toyota rav 4 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Toyota rav 4. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What is the 2004 Toyota rav 4 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2004 Toyota rav 4 crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2004 Toyota rav 4 get?

The 2004 Toyota rav 4 has U.S. EPA estimates of 21–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.