Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2004)
154 consumer complaints on file.
- #10947127January 23, 2017POWER TRAIN, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10945036January 13, 2017POWER TRAIN
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10916716October 18, 2016VISIBILITY/WIPER
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10910117September 28, 2016AIR BAGS
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10908054September 19, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. COMES DOWN AND BLOCKS VIEW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10906210September 13, 2016AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL RECIEVED NOTICE - FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO CALL AND SET APPOINTMENT. CALLED CORPORATE CORPROATE GAVE ME CASE NUMBER 5 MONTHS LATER NOTHING. WHEN I CALL THEY SAY TO WAIT. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IF THE CAR IS A THREAT TO MY LIFE REPLACE THE BAG ALREADY!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10895633August 18, 2016AIR BAGS
2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP POOR COMMUNICATION TO SCHEDULE AIRBAG RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENTS AND TO ORDER DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT PARTS. *SMD
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10889108July 27, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10883741July 9, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOPPED POSITION THE CAR HESITATES, MOVES VERY SLOWLY, THEN WITH ADDED PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL JERKS AS IT SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR, AFTER THAT IT SEEMS TO RUN FINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS ARE ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A BUSY ROAD OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10874946June 17, 2016ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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. THIS HAPPENS ON SMOOTH SURFACES AND WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION WHERE STABILITY CONTROL SHOULD NEVER ACTIVATE. HAS NEVER HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED BECAUSE IT ALWAYS HAPPENS SHORTLY AFTER START, SO ALWAYS FULLY RECOVERABLE, BUT VERY CONCERNING. TOYOTA (ACTON TOYOTA OF LITTLETON, MA) HAS FAILED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10870554May 24, 2016AIR BAGS
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. NOW I'M HEARING THEY ARE ADDING MORE CARS TO THE RECALL AND I FEAR I MAY NEVER GET MINE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10861053April 23, 2016ENGINE
FEB 2016 - WHILE CHECKING FLUIDS I NOTICED THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS LOW. SANSONE AUTOMALL NJ WAS NOTIFIED AND TOLD ME WHAT TO BUY AND FILL IT UNTIL MY APPT ON 2/27. DURING SERVICE CHECK THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NOW, APRIL 2016, MY CAR OVERHEATED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK TO SANSONE WITH THE HEAT ON HIGH ON TO KEEP IT FROM OVERHEATING. NOW I'M BEING TOLD I NEED THE HEADGASKET REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE ($1950 FOR HEADGASKET AND $4500 FOR USED ENGINE) OH AND THEY MADE IT A POINT TO TELL ME THAT THE 25 POINT INSPECTION WAS FREE THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE. SINCE I REFUSED SERVICE, THEY ASKED US TO LEAVE THE CAR, THINK ABOUT IT AND COME BACK SATURDAY TO SPEAK TO THE MECHANIC AND DIRECTOR. WE SHOWED UP BUT NO ONE WHO INSPECTED THE CAR WAS THERE. WE REFUSED SERVICE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEIR SERVICE AND FOR TOYOTA FOR NOT BEEN PROACTIVE IN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE WHICH SEEMS TO BE GROWING AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND FOUND MANY OTHERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA RAV WITH ONLY 76,970 MILES WHICH REALLY WAS A GREAT CAR- NEVER ANY ISSUES. I PURCHASED THIS 'CERTIFIED USED' CAR IN 2007 AT SANSONE AUTOMALL WHICH CAN NOT BE DRIVEN...COST TO FIX IT WILL BE USED TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW NON TOYOTA VEHICLE. IN CONCLUSION, TOYOTA NEEDS TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE LOSING LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10860648April 21, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WAS MADE ON 05/12/16. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10854143April 7, 2016AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED MY FIRST NOTICE FROM TOYOTA LAST YEAR, 6-8 MONTH AGO, TO GIVE NOTICE FOR A RECALL ON MY FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN GRAPEVINE AND AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND CONTACT ME WHEN IT WAS IN. 6 TO 8 MONTH HAVE GONE BY AND ANOTHER REMINDER FROM TOYOTA, TORRANCE, CA ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WAS SENT TO ME. FOLLOWING I CALLED MY GRAPEVINE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE PART WAS IN. I NEEDED TO CHECK MY SCHEDULE AND I CALLED THEY BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. THEN, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY PART WAS NEVER ORDERED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY AIRBAG INFLATORS ON STOCK. I HAVE NOW MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA OF LEWISVILLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA OF GRAPEVINE IS ONLY A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853656April 5, 2016POWER TRAIN
THE POWER OF THE CAR IS IN TROUBLE AT START, JUMPS LIKE IS LOCKED, OR LOSE POWER, THAN, WHEN I GIVE GAS IS RUNNING OK IN THE STREET OR IGHWAY, TILL STOP AND RENEW RUNNING THE CAR.EVERY TIME THAT I STOP IS THE PROBLEM. THE PROFETIONAL MECHANIS LOOK AT IT, AND HE SAY THE TRANSMITION (SELENOID) IS NOT WORKING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853287April 4, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10851312March 23, 2016AIR BAGS
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. I AM GROWING CONCERNED, AS THE AIRBAG IN THE CAR NOW MAY BE DANGEROUS, AND COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO MY WIFE AND MYSELF. I AM TIRED OF WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO GET THIS PART, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10845961March 10, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V284000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND ONLY STATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A LIMITED SUPPLY OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10824993February 8, 2016ENGINE
THE SEALS ON THE HEAD GASKET ARE LEAKING COOLANT. THIS IS DUE TO SEVERAL OF THE METAL BOLTS BEING STRIPPED. THIS HAS RENDERED OUR CAR USELESS. OUR MECHANIC, BEING AN HONEST PERSON, IS HESITANT TO BEGIN A SEVERAL THOUSAND $ REPAIR, SINCE HE IS UNABLE TO GUARANTEE THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT FOR THE LONG TERM. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING SO COOLANT WAS ADDED BUT THIS LEAKED QUICKLY WITH A 18 MILE RIDE FROM THE CHICAGO SUBURB OF WOODRIDGE INTO THE CITY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10824130February 4, 2016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A BUILDING, AND INSTEAD HIT THE BUILDING ON AN ANGLE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER HITTING THE BUILDING. THIS IS THE THIRD INSTANCE OF "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE MOST SERIOUS EPISODE. THE OTHER TWO EVENTS WERE SIMILAR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE THE CAR AGAIN ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS PARKING AT LOW SPEED AND HIT A FENCE. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY AS I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0