2004 Toyota RAV4 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 13%of 154 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2004 Toyota RAV4, 13% of the 154 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My car had the check engine and vsc trac lights came on at the same time. If I start the car, put it in drive and press on the gas pedal sometime nothing happens, sometimes the car suddenly accelerate. I took the car back to Toyota dealer next. They said it was a accelerator pedal error (p2121 error) and card was not safe for driving. The car is still at Toyota dealer for further trouble shooting.”
NHTSA complaint #10494727, filed 2013-01, 39,800 miles“I entered my car in the home garage while coasting and the car suddenly accelerated as I approached about 5 feet within my parking spot. After the car suddenly accelerated, it was a matter of seconds before the car crashed into a floor cabinet and refrigerator that rests against our garage wall stopping the car's forward movement and allowing me put the car in the drive gear and turn off the engine. The air bags did not deploy and fortunately I was not injured. …”
NHTSA complaint #10520467, filed 2013-06, 80,764 miles“I was pulling into a parking spot at less than 10 MPH when the engine revved loudly, lurched forward, jumped the curb and continued up a slope. I was unable to stop the car. I was able to turn the wheel to avoid a head-on collision with a building, and instead hit the building on an angle on the left front side. The car stopped only after hitting the building. This is the third instance of unintended acceleration I have experienced with this vehicle. This was the most serious episode. The other two events were similar. …”
NHTSA complaint #10824130, filed 2016-02, 60,000 miles“My cars check engine and vsc trac lights came on at the same time when I started the car. I then put it in drive and pressed on the gas pedal and nothing happened, but sometimes the car suddenly accelerates. My husband had to drive my car and I had to follow him home b/c the car was so unpredictable. He would have to push down hard on the gas pedal and it would hesitate but then all of a sudden it would then jerk forward. He was terrified that he would get stuck in the middle of an intersection! …”
NHTSA complaint #10561694, filed 2014-01, 115,000 miles“The vsc/trac light came on while driving. Also transmission started acting funny. From a stop sign it would hesitate and then start with a jerk. While driving at a constant speed the rpms would go up and down. I took it to an auto parts store to have them read the error code. They said it was a solenoid problem within the transmission. I took it to a transmission shop and they checked it out and ordered a remanufactured transmission. Total cost was over $4,600. Since the transmission was replaced have had the car back 3 times in 2 weeks with same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10947127, filed 2017-01, 125,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10045140Jun 13, 2012Toyota: accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and installation, if lubrication or oil, is applied.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 8% |
| 2024 | 12 | 7% |
| 2023 | 7 | 4% |
| 2022 | 7 | 5% |
| 2021 | 6 | 2% |
| 2020 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019 | 30 | 3% |
| 2018 | 20 | 6% |
| 2017 | 13 | 4% |
| 2016 | 12 | 5% |
| 2015 | 21 | 7% |
| 2014 | 7 | 4% |
| 2013 | 17 | 7% |
| 2012 | 49 | 19% |
| 2011 | 69 | 24% |
| 2010 | 83 | 21% |
| 2009 | 99 | 30% |
| 2008 | 92 | 16% |
| 2007 | 101 | 10% |
| 2006 | 74 | 11% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 20 | 13% |
| 2003 | 29 | 9% |
| 2002 | 36 | 7% |
| 2001 | 22 | 7% |
| 2000 | 7 | 23% |
| 1999 | 14 | 23% |
| 1998 | 12 | 16% |
| 1997 | 7 | 13% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2004 Toyota RAV4
47 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTires
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology