THE TRANSMISSION ACTED UP. IT WOULD WORK WELL, THEN IT WAS LIKE IF IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR.
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
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.
What owners actually said
314 reportsMY 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 …
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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.
ECM FAILED CAUSING HARSH SHIFT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS
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…
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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!!!!
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…
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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.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR
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, …
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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.
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 …
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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
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…
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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.
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.…
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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.
Official recalls
0No 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
1DP22005 · 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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