Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

27 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2004 Toyota RAV4, which is 15% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
27 15% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
88,000 miles 24 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
1 and 2
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2004 Toyota RAV4 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 88,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 2 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 7 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 4 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 2 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 88,000 miles
Based on 24 complaints that include mileage. 21% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles2
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles7
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles4
140k to 160k miles2
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 24 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 88,000 miles, and 21% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH and attempting a left turn when another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side door of the contact's vehicle. The vehicle slid forward and proceeded to crash over a curb and into a pole. The side curtain air bags failed to deploy. Immediately after the crash, smoke began emitting from the engine compartment. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and noticed flames coming from under the hood.

Reported at 34,000 miles, September 2012 CrashFireInjury

I noticed a coolant leak between 2nd & 3rd cylinder coming from head gasket.the leak and the cause was confirmed by my mechanic.

Reported at 104,000 miles, December 2008

Other problems reported for the 2004 Toyota RAV4

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Toyota models