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2000 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 30 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
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3,894 miles · Apr 12, 2013
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I SENT INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY RE MY MOTHER'S ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE VIN. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR, FATAL FRONT-END MVA INTO A SMALL, RESULTING IN WHAT THE MECHANIC CALLED "INCREDIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE - IT CAUSED MORE INTERNAL DAMAGE THAN YOU'D THINK" AND HE WONDERED ABOUT HIGH SPEED. I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO …

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I SENT INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY RE MY MOTHER'S ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE VIN. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR, FATAL FRONT-END MVA INTO A SMALL, RESULTING IN WHAT THE MECHANIC CALLED "INCREDIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE - IT CAUSED MORE INTERNAL DAMAGE THAN YOU'D THINK" AND HE WONDERED ABOUT HIGH SPEED. I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPID ACCELERATION VS BRAKE ISSUE, RESULTING IN A HIGHER ENERGY (THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED) CRASH. I HAVE THE POLICE REPORT ETC. PREVIOUSLY, SHE HAD NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A TICKET (AND WAS ALMOST 59 YRS OLD). THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10506041

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TOYOTA CRASHED INTO TREE, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES THAT MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, NO DECELERATION. 59 YR OLD DRIVER HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. NEW TOYOTA RAV4. MECHANIC REMARKED ON DAMAGE TO VEHICLE GIVEN LOCATION OF ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/04/11 *BF*TR

NHTSA ODI #10384256

170,000 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4. MOVED TO LEFT LANE TO PASS AND ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 49 MPH. ACCELERATOR JOLTED TO A VERY HIGH RPM AND SPEED INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. MOVED INTO A LEFT HAND TURN LANE; AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO "NEUTRAL". AFTER 10-12 SECONDS THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION RETURNED TO IDLE. REP…

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WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4. MOVED TO LEFT LANE TO PASS AND ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 49 MPH. ACCELERATOR JOLTED TO A VERY HIGH RPM AND SPEED INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. MOVED INTO A LEFT HAND TURN LANE; AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO "NEUTRAL". AFTER 10-12 SECONDS THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION RETURNED TO IDLE. REPORTED TO (2) TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL OF TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324682

50,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

GAS PEDAL NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN DEPRESSED NO ACTION & THEN ACCELERATES QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320022

43,112 miles · Mar 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE NEWS CAME OUT REGARDING THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTAS, I RECALLED HAVING A SIMILAR PROGRAM WITH MY 2000 RAV 4. ON JULY 8,2002 I EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH ON FREEWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. DESPITE APPLYING THE BR…

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WHEN THE NEWS CAME OUT REGARDING THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTAS, I RECALLED HAVING A SIMILAR PROGRAM WITH MY 2000 RAV 4. ON JULY 8,2002 I EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH ON FREEWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. DESPITE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 70MPH FROM 55MPH. I TRIED PUTTING MY FOOT UNDER THE THROTTLE TO PULL IT UP WITHOUT SUCCESS, I ALSO TRIED PUSHING BACK ON THE MAT, THINKING THE MATT WAS IN THE WAY, BUT THE MATT WAS NOT STUCK UP AGAINST THE THROTTLE. I ALSO PUT ON MY FLASHERS TO TRY AND WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. I KEPT THINKING, "WITH A GAS TANK HALF FULL, I WOULD NEED TO TRY AND DRIVE TO SEATTLE IN ORDER FOR THE GAS TO RUN OUT, WHICH WOULD THEN STOP THE CAR". MEANWHILE, I CONTINUED TO KEEP TRYING TO PUSH THE THROTTLE UP WITH MY FOOT AND APPLY THE BRAKES. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY, BUT WAS PROBABLY ONLY A FEW MINUTES, BECAUSE I DROVE PASS MY USUAL EXIT , THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND I HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF MY PUSHING UNDER AND UP ON THE THROTTLE DID IT. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY "DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT". I STILL HAVE THE SERVICE INVOICE , WHICH DOCUMENTS MY PROBLEM. NATURALLY I WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE WHOLE SITUATION AND IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN. HOWEVER, I ALSO HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION SINCE. IT SEEMS THOUGH THAT TOYOTA'S ACCELERATION PROBLEM STARTED WAY BACK. MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER OLDER RAV4S OUT THERE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TEND TO KEEP ALL MY CAR INVOICES, SO LIKE I SAID I HAVE THE ORIGINAL INVOICE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319375

110,000 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE ENGINE REVS UP ON ITS OWN AND STARTS MOVING. THE FOOT IS ONLY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MANY YEARS BUT NOT ALWAYS. WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, I BRING IT TO 'NEUTRAL' FROM 'DRIVE' GEAR POSITION TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. …

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WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE ENGINE REVS UP ON ITS OWN AND STARTS MOVING. THE FOOT IS ONLY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MANY YEARS BUT NOT ALWAYS. WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, I BRING IT TO 'NEUTRAL' FROM 'DRIVE' GEAR POSITION TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. AS I AM HEARING RECALLS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THIS KIND OF ISSUES, I AM BRINGING IT UP SO THAT IT MAY ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304547

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH CONSUMER DEACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL RPMS STAYED SPEEDED UP. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017561

Official recalls

3

20V033000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 22, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.

00V211000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Aug 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.

00V212000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:rotor

Aug 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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