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2003 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from 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

275 reports with mileage · 39 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 209 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

7 reports
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50,991 miles · Feb 27, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

ECM FAILED. ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE HAS 50,991 MI. ON IT . 16 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA AWARE OF PROBLEM-- EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS./150000. MI. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. SERVICE, STATED THAT I'M OUT OF LUCK. ORIGINAL PART CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE. COST WILL BE $2000.00 …

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ECM FAILED. ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE HAS 50,991 MI. ON IT . 16 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA AWARE OF PROBLEM-- EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS./150000. MI. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. SERVICE, STATED THAT I'M OUT OF LUCK. ORIGINAL PART CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE. COST WILL BE $2000.00 OR MORE. VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED SHIFTING IN TRANSMISSION. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11182823

108,000 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

EXPERIENCING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (AUTO TRANS). TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ODDLY - HARSH SHIFT CONDITION . IT WAS NOT A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND NO ENGINE LIGHT AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CONNECTED TO HIS COMPUTER AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I MOVE FROM A STOP. …

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EXPERIENCING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (AUTO TRANS). TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ODDLY - HARSH SHIFT CONDITION . IT WAS NOT A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND NO ENGINE LIGHT AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CONNECTED TO HIS COMPUTER AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I MOVE FROM A STOP. FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA PUT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN EARLY 2006 AFTER DEFECTS STARTED SURFACING STATING TO REPLACE THE CAR'S COMPUTER ECM/ECU AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION.. THE COMPANY DID NOT INFORM OWNERS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WHICH IS NOW SURFACING AND DID NOT RECALL DUE TO COST OF REPLACING THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION IT DESTROYS. THE DEFECTIVE ECU BURNS UP THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #10670525

188,400 miles · May 27, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

ON OR ABOUT MAY 5, 2013 I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO HARD SHIFT, THOUGH I WAS DRIVING AS USUAL. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS OFF AND ON AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT OR DRIVE THRU AT A RESTAURANT. THE SHIFT JOLT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFTING INTO DRIVE--IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN I G…

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ON OR ABOUT MAY 5, 2013 I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO HARD SHIFT, THOUGH I WAS DRIVING AS USUAL. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS OFF AND ON AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT OR DRIVE THRU AT A RESTAURANT. THE SHIFT JOLT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFTING INTO DRIVE--IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE. THE SHIFT JOLT SOMETIMES IS ACCOMPANIED BY A THUD NOISE. ON MAY 7, 2013 I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND DISCUSS THIS WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT 1-800-331-4331. SHE TRANSFERRED ME TO A RUDE AND CANTANKEROUS WOMAN WHO SEEMED TO HAVE HEARD THE STORY BEFORE. SHE STATED I NEED TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND GET A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH COSTS $100 IN MY AREA. SHE THEN STATED THAT IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CODES APPEAR: CODES: P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758 OR P0760 THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ECM MODULE FIRST, IF STILL PROBLEM THE FAULTY MODULE COULD'VE MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. SHE CONCEDED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERSHIPS AND APPARENTLY IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. AT SOME POINT I RECEIVED A TOYOTA INTERNAL CASE NUMBER. SHE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO FOR ME AS I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE 188,000+ MILES ON MY CAR AND APPARENTLY IF IT IS NOT UNDER 150,000 MILE WARRANTY. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND IT IS NOT MY FAULT THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR WITHIN A RANDOMLY SELECTED MILEAGE THEY CHOSE. TOYOTA ADMITTED THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE LIABLE FOR ANY MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OF THE ECM/TRANSMISSION. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING MY CAR REPAIRED FOR FREE AS IT IS TOYOTA'S FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS NOW CAUSING MY CAR PROBLEMS. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER GETTING THE REPAIRS DONE, TOYOTA REFUSED TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER PARTIAL PAYMENT. EVEN THOUGH, A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INITIALLY TOLD HER SHE WOULD NEED TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE AND TEN TOYOTA WOULD REIMBURSE HER. UPDATED 12/16/13

NHTSA ODI #10513658

174,900 miles · Aug 12, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WELL KNOWN BY MANUFACTURERS,AS,HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATICTRANSAXLES , OR (ECM)CODE P0755.TOYOTA SENT SERVICE BULLETINS TO DEALERS BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED>NOW I HAVE TO REPAIR MY CAR AT A COST OF OVER $6000.TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOUR MY REPAIR,EVEN THOUGH THEY HONOURED FOR CALIFORN…

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MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WELL KNOWN BY MANUFACTURERS,AS,HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATICTRANSAXLES , OR (ECM)CODE P0755.TOYOTA SENT SERVICE BULLETINS TO DEALERS BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED>NOW I HAVE TO REPAIR MY CAR AT A COST OF OVER $6000.TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOUR MY REPAIR,EVEN THOUGH THEY HONOURED FOR CALIFORNIA.REASON BEING AM OUT OF WARRANTY BY THE MILES,WHICH I HAVE 175000,BUT IM STILL IN WARRANTY BY THE YEARS OF 10 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10420155

116,000 miles · Mar 23, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TRANSMISSION UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES. HARD SHIFTING IN REVERSE. HESITATES AT 1ST GEAR...

NHTSA ODI #10321586

95,000 miles · Mar 22, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I WOULD BE ENTERING TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, ON HIGHWAYS. A NUMBER OF TIMES IT WOULD START ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOW DOWN OR LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS CAUSED MANY ANXIOUS MOMENT…

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MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I WOULD BE ENTERING TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, ON HIGHWAYS. A NUMBER OF TIMES IT WOULD START ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOW DOWN OR LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS CAUSED MANY ANXIOUS MOMENTS AS OFTEN A CAR/TRUCK WOULD BE COMING UP BEHIND ME. I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE AND STEP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REALLY MOVE UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AND SUDDENLY START MOVING. THIS WAS SCARY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT GEARS, OR DROP GEARS WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD BE IN TRAFFIC AND WE WOULD BE MOVING ALONG WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND LITERALLY JUMP FORWARD SOMETIMES PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD A LITTLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, BOTH LOCAL ROADS AND ON HIGHWAYS THE CAR WOULD DROP GEARS AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND THEN SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. THE CAR HAS 95000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD BY A MECHANIC (WHO IS NOT FIXING THE CAR) THAT TOYOTA HAD ADVISED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER-THE ECM- IN THE RAV 4, THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO JUMP AND SHIFT GEARS AND POSSIBLY RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN DAMAGED AND ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *DT

NHTSA ODI #10321405

81,008 miles · Dec 26, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

TOYOTA RAV4 2003, TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICE A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, MORE SO FROM A STOP AND GO MOTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TRANSMISSION EXPERT, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER NEEDS CHANGING. A DAY LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER I NOTIC…

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TOYOTA RAV4 2003, TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICE A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, MORE SO FROM A STOP AND GO MOTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TRANSMISSION EXPERT, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER NEEDS CHANGING. A DAY LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT BACK. NOW THEY TOLD ME THE TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER, THAT MAY AT THIS POINT CONTRIBUTED TO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND IF I WANTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I NEED TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER, WHICH CAN RUN TO THOUSAND OF DOLLARS, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AT THIS TIME. MY QUESTION IS IF TOYOTA KNOW THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WHY NOT RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM? I HAVE GONE TO CARCOMPLAINT.COM AND READ MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THOSE OWNERS PAID ALOT MONEY UP FRONT TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIX, UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR CARS HAD HIGH MILEAGE, AND OUT WARRANTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, I AM FOR WHATEVER ACTIONS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST TOYOTA TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DANIEL *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252805

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

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