← New search

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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all RAV4 years →

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

What owners actually said

314 reports
84,072 miles · Sep 15, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

2003 RAV 4 85,401 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MISS SHIFT, ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF POWER. FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOYOTA TECH ADVISES THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION , A $6,000 EXPENSE. MIND YOU THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD …

Read full complaint

2003 RAV 4 85,401 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MISS SHIFT, ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF POWER. FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOYOTA TECH ADVISES THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION , A $6,000 EXPENSE. MIND YOU THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD BUT HAS ONLY 85,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. TOYOTA ADVISES NO WARRANTY EFFECT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A MAIN HIGHWAY ( SUNRISE HIGHWAY LONG ISLAND) WHEN MALFUNCTION OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10906922

143,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

HARSH SHIFTING, JUMPING FROM GEAR-TO-GEAR, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. CALLED TOYOTA REGARDING THE EXTENDED WARRENTY. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DESPITE NOT PROVIDING NOTICE TO THE CORRECT ADDRESS.

NHTSA ODI #10906740

74,650 miles · Sep 14, 2016
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED VERY SLOWLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED VERY SLOWLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAILED OR THERE WAS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,650.

NHTSA ODI #10906455

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2016
Power TrainCrash

WE WERE ON A FAMILY VACATION ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WHEN WE MERGED ON THE FREEWAY AND MY TOYOTA RAV 4 WOULD NOT SHIFT OVER. WE ALMOST WERE HIT BY ONCOMING CARS FROM THE FREEWAY. I SWERVED TO AVOID A CRASH AND CRASHED INTO THE DITCH. I CHECKED ON LINE TO GET TOYOTA PHONE NUMBER WHEN I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL AND EXTENDED WA…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10904983

92,000 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10899810

204,000 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLES RPMS CUT OUT AND THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY IN LAWTON OKLAHOMA. IT TOOK ME 2 AND A HALF HOURS TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME IN RYAN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALL WHILE COASTING AND LET IT DIE THEN TURN IT …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLES RPMS CUT OUT AND THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY IN LAWTON OKLAHOMA. IT TOOK ME 2 AND A HALF HOURS TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME IN RYAN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALL WHILE COASTING AND LET IT DIE THEN TURN IT OFF AND TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STAY STARTED AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD ONLY REVIEW TO 2000 RPMS AND DIE. I HAD TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY SEVERAL TIMES AND LET IT SET FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD DRIVE AT AROUND 60 MPH FOR ONLY 2 TO 3 MINUTES. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHILE THE RPMS CUT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP AND GO.

NHTSA ODI #10899682

82,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD SHIFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITH A REVING ENGINE NOISE AND AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW IN 2003 TO ACCOMODATE MY DISABILITY NEEDS AND ONLY HAVE 82,000 MILES.…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD SHIFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITH A REVING ENGINE NOISE AND AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW IN 2003 TO ACCOMODATE MY DISABILITY NEEDS AND ONLY HAVE 82,000 MILES.I CHECKED WITH MY MECHANIC TODAY AND HE LOOKED UP THE TOYOTA RECALL ON THESE RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND NOT ONCE DID TOYOTA INFORM ME ABOUT THE RECALL. HOW IS DISABLED INDIVIDUAL ON FIXED INCOME TO AFFORD $3000.00 FOR A TRANSMISSION ON A WELL MAINTAINED TOYOTA WITH ONLY 82,000 MILES. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD SHOW SOME EMPATHY TO ACCOMMODATE AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE OF A BRAND NEW RAV4 WOULD FULFILL HIS DAILY PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND NOW LEFT WITH A TOYOTA WITH 82,000 MILES IN NEED OF A TRANSMISSION. THIS RAV4 IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE DRIVEN GIVEN ITS NATURE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

NHTSA ODI #10898405

90,831 miles · Aug 21, 2016
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #10897451

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2016
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #10897446

158,000 miles · Jul 25, 2016
Power TrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A HARSH SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FAILED AND T…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A HARSH SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

NHTSA ODI #10888167

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.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems