2005 Toyota Rav4: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 168 complaints
168
Total Complaints
80,858mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
31
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
48,000
25th Percentile
80,858
Median Mileage
120,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Air Bags
59
Vehicle Speed Control
12
Unknown Or Other
11
Engine
9
Steering
8
Service Brakes
6
Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
5
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Electrical System
5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
5
Severity Assessment
31
Crashes
4
Fires
18
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THERE IS A UNDERCOATING ON THE ENGINE TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM RUSTING. THE SMELL OF THE CHEMICAL IS TOXIC AND COMING INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVER TO GET SICK, AND CAN EVEN POSSIBLY TO PUT THEM TO SLEEP. THE EFFECT OF THIS IS EVEN HOURS AFTER GE..."
"I PURCHASED A 2005 RAV4 2 WHEEL DRIVE, 5 SPEED, IN DECEMBER 2005. THE EXACT DATE, I AM NOT SURE OF IN THAT THE ISSUE IS ONGOING. I FIRST NOTICED THE OE (TOYO TRANPATH A14 215/70R16 99S M-S) TIRES BY TOYO WERE LOOSING TRACTION WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, I ATTRIBUTED THAT TO THE NEW AUTO AND WAS M..."
"FUEL HOSE BROKEN WITHOUT ANY REASON I HAVE KNOWN OF. I DROVE MY CAR IN CASUAL MANNER (SHORT DISTANCE FROM WORK TO HOME) WITH 7900 MILES ON IT AND DIDN'T RECALL HITTING ANYTHING HARD UNDERNEATH MY CAR. PARKED MY CAR LAST FRIDAY. ON SUNDAY, MY 05 RAV4 COULDN'T START AND SMELLED GASOLINE. LOOKED DOWN T..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Air Bags
59 complaints
25th: 48,000 mi
Median: 91,000 mi
75th: 138,130 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
12 complaints
25th: 38,000 mi
Median: 70,000 mi
75th: 99,200 mi
Unknown Or Other
11 complaints
25th: 100,000 mi
Median: 120,000 mi
75th: 122,000 mi
Engine
9 complaints
25th: 83,964 mi
Median: 93,732 mi
75th: 115,000 mi
Steering
8 complaints
25th: 73,030 mi
Median: 120,000 mi
75th: 190,116 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 25
NY: 18
NJ: 14
TX: 9
FL: 8
OH: 8
PA: 8
MA: 7
VA: 7
NC: 6
Who Files Complaints?
11.9%
Original Owners
88.1%
Second+ Owners
Toyota Rav4 — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (5)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V741000 | 17/10/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V284000 | 13/05/2015
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.
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.
Labels
Campaign 10V036000 | 03/02/2010
A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Labels
Campaign 10V035000 | 03/02/2010
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
Air Bags
Campaign 06V096000 | 03/04/2006
THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPECIFIC SRS AIR BAG. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371, SCION AT 1-866-548-1851, OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Airbag Safety
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
- Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
- Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
- Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28