repaired · 2021 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2005 Toyota RAV4Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 141 owner complaints about the 2005 Toyota RAV4, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-741 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 29, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Toyota RAV4 has problems
141 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
59Air bags9 crash/fire/injury
13Vehicle speed control10 crash/fire/injury
9Steering
9Engine
8Power train
8Tires
6Visibility
6Engine and engine cooling
6Electrical system
3210 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 59 | 9 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 10 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 |
| Engine | 9 | 1 |
| Power train | 8 | 2 |
| Tires | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 |
| 10 other systems | 32 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2005 Toyota RAV4 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. 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…
no report yet
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other RAV4 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAV4 median. How we score
'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Toyota RAV4 safety ratings
2005 Toyota RAV4 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What RAV4 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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. After it was done I got my car damaged. A whole separate issue. I need to get inspection done on…
AIR BAG RECALL: I HAVE BEEN GETTING RECALL NOTICES FOR YEARS. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA MANY TIMES THAT I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE!!! IT WAS TRADED IN TO TOYOTA OF LEWISVILLE TX IN OCTOBER 25, 2014. THIS IS BORDERING ON HARRASSMENT! IT IS ALSO A WASTE OF MONEY. I RECENTLY RECIEVED A NOTICE VIA…
MY CAR WAS A TOYOTA RAV4 BASIC MODEL 2005 BOUGHT TOYOTA PURCHASE AT DEALER IN (LA,CA)， A CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 09, 2017 AND ANOTHER CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2018; THE SECOND ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF WORK ON MY CAR AIRBAG. MY HEAD AND BODY COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT…
Own a 2005 RAV4?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.