2005 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2005 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025

5 safety recalls for the 2005 Toyota RAV4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Inflator module (air bags)

   NHTSA 19V741000 Reported October 17, 2019 928,220 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   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…

   Remedy: 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.…

2. Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

   NHTSA 15V284000 Reported May 13, 2015 159,700 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   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.

   Remedy: 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…

3. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 10V035000 Reported February 3, 2010 271,417 vehicles potentially affected GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.

   Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

   Remedy: 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,…

4. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 10V036000 Reported February 3, 2010 153,418 vehicles potentially affected SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

   Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

   Remedy: 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…

5. Air bags

   NHTSA 06V096000 Reported April 3, 2006 133 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

   On certain vehicles, due to improper assembly of the air bag inflator, which is used in the side air bag, the curtain shield air bag, and the knee air bag assembly, some inflators were produced with an insufficient amount of the heating agents necessary for proper air bag deployment. In this condition, the expansion force of the gas may…

   Remedy: 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.

141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Toyota RAV4 have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA; 22 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,090 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 41 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Air bags59
• Vehicle speed control12
• Unknown or other11
• Engine9
• Steering8
• Service brakes6
• Electrical system5
• Electronic stability control (esc)5

What owners are reporting

“Electronic door locking mechanism on front passenger side has failed and cannot be controlled by the key fob like the other doors. Therefore, it is necessary for the driver to reach across the front s”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 29, 2025 · Unknown or other

“The recall repair was completed 7/15/25. It never updated in anyone’s system. I have been fighting between Toyota corp and the dealership for weeks more like a month just to get them to do the repair.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 11, 2025 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2005 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 2WD, RAV4 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Toyota RAV4 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 2005 Toyota RAV4

Other Toyota models

• Camry18,189 complaints
• Prius12,516 complaints
• Corolla11,739 complaints
• Sienna8,549 complaints
• Tacoma8,440 complaints
• Tundra6,922 complaints
• Highlander5,745 complaints
• 4Runner4,860 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.