The Toyota Rav4 is a compact SUV first introduced in 1996 and still in production. It comes in four- or six-cylinder engines with either four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive drivetrain options. Like most vehicles, it requires regular maintenance.
Required maintenance every 5,000 miles or 6 months includes replacing the engine oil and filter (use synthetic oils, they last longer and have less contaminants then natural oil); rotating the tires (front and back); and inspecting the brakes (no action is needed if nothing is wrong with the brakes).
If you have been using the Rav4 off-road a lot, you also should do a complete undercarriage check on drivetrain components and ball points for visible damage, as well as retorqueing the drive shaft bolt if you have a four-wheel-drive Rav4.
Required maintenance every 30,000 miles or 36 months includes replacing the engine oil and filter (again, use synthetics for your oil); replacing the cabin air filter; replacing the engine air filter; rotating the tires; inspecting the brakes; doing a complete undercarriage check on drivetrain components and ball points for visible damage; inspecting the coolant fluid for contaminants; inspecting the transmission oil for contaminants; inspecting the differential fluids (front and rear for AWD) for contaminants; inspecting the transfer case oil for AWD for contaminants; inspecting the fuel lines for damage; inspecting the steering gear for damage; inspecting the radiator and condenser for any leaks; and if you have a 4WD Rav4, you must also retorque the drive shaft bolt.
Required maintenance every 120,000 miles or 144 months includes replacing the spark plugs; replacing the engine oil and filter (use synthetics); replacing the cabin air filter; replacing the engine air filter; rotating the tires; inspecting the brakes; doing a complete undercarriage check on drivetrain components and ball points for visible damage; inspecting the coolant fluid for contaminants; inspecting the transmission oil for contaminants; inspecting the differential fluids (front and rear for AWD) for contaminants; inspecting the transfer case oil for AWD for contaminants; inspecting the fuel lines for damage; inspecting the steering gear for damage; inspecting the radiator and condenser for any leaks; inspecting the drive belts and replacing if damaged; inspecting the drive shaft boots; and if you have a 4WD Rav4, you must also retorque the drive shaft bolt.
If you have kept up with maintenance here, your car should be fine, but this is the time when drivetrain problems can start to occur, especially if it has been used for towing.
