← 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
115,100 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ACTED UP. IT WOULD WORK WELL, THEN IT WAS LIKE IF IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10884349

95,500 miles · Jun 21, 2016
Power Train

MY 2003 RAV 4 STARTING SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, STARTING IN 3RD INTEAD OF 1ST GEAR, VERY SLUGGISH TO GET MOVING AFTER STOPPING. TOYOTA ISSUED A WARNING REGARDING A FAULTY ECM IN THIS MODEL AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150000MILES. UNFORTUANTETLY MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND 95,000 MILES AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX. ON …

Read full complaint

MY 2003 RAV 4 STARTING SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, STARTING IN 3RD INTEAD OF 1ST GEAR, VERY SLUGGISH TO GET MOVING AFTER STOPPING. TOYOTA ISSUED A WARNING REGARDING A FAULTY ECM IN THIS MODEL AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150000MILES. UNFORTUANTETLY MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND 95,000 MILES AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED MY CAR WAS TURNING LEFT INTO 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STALLED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, A CAR NEARLY T-BONED ME BUT HE WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND CORRECT ALL CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #10875545

108,000 miles · Jun 10, 2016
Power Train

ECM FAILED CAUSING HARSH SHIFT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS

NHTSA ODI #10873677

170,000 miles · May 26, 2016
Power Train

HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 10 MONTHS (MY DAUGHTER WORKED 2 JOBS TO BUY IT) AND IT STARTED CLUNKING WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND IT WOULD BE MINIMUM OF $1000 TO FIX IT. IT HAS 170,000 MILES WHICH FOR A TOYOTA IS NOT A LOT. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NEVE…

Read full complaint

HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 10 MONTHS (MY DAUGHTER WORKED 2 JOBS TO BUY IT) AND IT STARTED CLUNKING WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND IT WOULD BE MINIMUM OF $1000 TO FIX IT. IT HAS 170,000 MILES WHICH FOR A TOYOTA IS NOT A LOT. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NEVER A RECALL AND IT IS NOW PAST THE WARRENTY. I LOVE MY TOYOTAS BUT THIS IS NOT OK THAT THEY WON'T OWN UP AND PAY TO FIX IT!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10871084

103,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTER DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #10860330

144,540 miles · Apr 3, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR

NHTSA ODI #10853186

47,000 miles · Feb 24, 2016
Power Train

MY TOYOTA 2003 RAV 4 BEGAN HAVING TRANSMIISION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. AT TIMES WHEN IN MOTION THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUT US IN A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE RESEARCHED AND DIAGNOSED THE SITUATION. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC, …

Read full complaint

MY TOYOTA 2003 RAV 4 BEGAN HAVING TRANSMIISION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. AT TIMES WHEN IN MOTION THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUT US IN A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE RESEARCHED AND DIAGNOSED THE SITUATION. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC, HE FOUND ERROR CODE PO750. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION.. HE ALSO FOUND BULLETINS SENT OUT BY TOYOTA THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. I HAD TO PAY $2091.63 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPT.

NHTSA ODI #10837938

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2016
Seat Belts

SINCE LAST SUMMER OF 2015, MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FRAYING. THE FRAY IS OVER A FOOT LONG AND A 1/2" INCH OF SEATBELT IS FRAYED. I WILL ATTEMPT TO SEND PICS ALONG WITH THIS FORM. IT IS A HABIT WITH ME TO ALWAYS WEAR MY SEATBELT, AND OF ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE …

Read full complaint

SINCE LAST SUMMER OF 2015, MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FRAYING. THE FRAY IS OVER A FOOT LONG AND A 1/2" INCH OF SEATBELT IS FRAYED. I WILL ATTEMPT TO SEND PICS ALONG WITH THIS FORM. IT IS A HABIT WITH ME TO ALWAYS WEAR MY SEATBELT, AND OF ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I DO HOPE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY BE AN UNUSUAL ISSUE, I TRUST YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PROMPTLY, FOR IT DOES CAUSE ME TO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS EACH TIME I DRIVE WITH THIS FRAYED SEATBELT ON. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER. SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY WITH ME, AS I AM SURE IT IS WITH YOU AS WELL. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PROMPT ATTENTION. FYI: IF MY 2 PICTURES JUST SO HAPPEN TO NOT BE WITH THIS FORM, PLEASE CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL AND I WILL TRY TO SENT THEM TO YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10820796

83,559 miles · Dec 25, 2015
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED AND SPEEDED UP. I WAS IN FEAR OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO REPAIR THIS CAR THAT WAS IN MINT CONDITION TO THIS POINT. THE 2003 RAV 4 MODULE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83559 MILES, WHICH IS LOW MILEAGE FOR A TOYOTA. TOYOT…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED AND SPEEDED UP. I WAS IN FEAR OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO REPAIR THIS CAR THAT WAS IN MINT CONDITION TO THIS POINT. THE 2003 RAV 4 MODULE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83559 MILES, WHICH IS LOW MILEAGE FOR A TOYOTA. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP LOST A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, AND AGREED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND MODULE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2001 TO 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV'S 4 THAT FAILED WITHIN 150,000 MILE USAGE OR 10 YEAR USE. MY CAR HAD ONLY 83,559 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE DUE TO THE FAULTY ORIGINAL MODULE THAT CAUSED THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2006 TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1046 WITH REFERENCE TO 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION: U14OF, U241E. SUBJECT:2-3 BLIND UP/HARSH 2-3 PO755, BURNT (C2, CLUTCH, HARSH REV. ENGAGEMENT, WRONG GEAR STARTS....SAYING THAT THE FAULTY PCM IN THE TOYOA RAV4'S CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT MY CAR EXPERIENCED..........(I HAVE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT FOR REFERENCE, IF NECESSARY) THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY RAV4 WITH ONLY 83559 MILES WAS A DURABILITY ISSUE; TOYOTA SOLD THE CAR WITH A FAULTY MODULE, DID NOT REPLACE IT WHEN THEY ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL COSTS INCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10816219

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2015
Unknown Or Other

THE CAR JERKS WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA RECCOMMENDS THAT I REPLACE THE ECM AND BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 101,000 AND IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD I AM NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM). I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR 3 WEEKS AGO. THIS SHOULD BE AN ONGOING WARRANTY OFFERRED TO ALL 2003 RAV 4 OWNERS.…

Read full complaint

THE CAR JERKS WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA RECCOMMENDS THAT I REPLACE THE ECM AND BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 101,000 AND IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD I AM NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM). I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR 3 WEEKS AGO. THIS SHOULD BE AN ONGOING WARRANTY OFFERRED TO ALL 2003 RAV 4 OWNERS. THE OUT OF POCKET COST FOR ECM IS $1590.00 AND $3750.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK AND DRIVE A CAR OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTED ECMS AND THE DAMAGING AFFECTS IT HAS ON THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10811490

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