YearToAvoid

2005 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2005 Toyota RAV4, 20% of all 141 complaints for this model year. That is #20 highest engine complaint count among 21 RAV4 model years. These complaints report 10 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 82,929 miles.

Engine complaints
28
20% of 141
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
82,929 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2005 Toyota RAV4 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 9, 2005, latest Oct 4, 2022.

2005 Toyota RAV4 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2005Feb 2010Jan 2012Nov 2013Oct 2014Nov 2015Jun 2016Jul 2018
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2005 to Oct 2022; peak Mar 2010 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2005 Toyota RAV4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200528 (20%)
  2. 2006220 (31%)
  3. 2007331 (33%)
  4. 2008246 (43%)
  5. 2009129 (39%)
  6. 2010108 (27%)
  7. 201198 (34%)
  8. 201269 (27%)
  9. 201345 (18%)
  10. 201438 (19%)
  11. 201556 (18%)
  12. 201636 (15%)
  13. 201746 (15%)
  14. 201850 (15%)
  15. 2019239 (27%)
  16. 2020205 (32%)
  17. 202146 (12%)
  18. 202234 (23%)
  19. 202332 (21%)
  20. 202446 (26%)
  21. 202518 (21%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?
NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about the engine in the 2005 Toyota RAV4, 20% of all complaints for this model year, including 10 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 82,929 miles.
Which Toyota RAV4 year has the most engine complaints?
The 2007 Toyota RAV4 has the most engine complaints (331), compared with 28 for the 2005.
Is there a engine recall for the 2005 Toyota RAV4?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2005 Toyota RAV4 is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.