2005 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
168 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Toyota RAV4, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 109,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2005 Toyota RAV4 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2005 sits among all RAV4 years
What owners report
“I received an interim recall notice on 6/18/15. I was told by toyota us headquarters that parts would be available 90 days after the interim notice. Local dealer says part are not available and they don't know when they will be. Toyota has exceeded a reasonable time to fix this problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 RAV4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 107 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,858 miles. Half of those reports fall between 48,000 and 120,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2005 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
The 2005 Toyota RAV4 drew 168 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2005 Toyota RAV4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2005 Toyota RAV4 are airbags (59 complaints), other (16), and engine (15).
At what mileage do 2005 Toyota RAV4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2005 Toyota RAV4 problems around 80,858 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 48,000 and 120,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Toyota RAV4 have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Toyota RAV4. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.