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2001 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

236 reports with mileage · 73 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 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 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 reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

190 reports
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105,431 miles · May 29, 2013
Power Train

I HAVE A 2001 RAV4 THAT IN 2010 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR AND THE DEALER CHANGE THE REMAN TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY BUT KNOW I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER PART AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN THE KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD ALL THESE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGH THE CAR FOR 28,000 DOLLARS THEY WE…

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I HAVE A 2001 RAV4 THAT IN 2010 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR AND THE DEALER CHANGE THE REMAN TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY BUT KNOW I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER PART AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN THE KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD ALL THESE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGH THE CAR FOR 28,000 DOLLARS THEY WERE HAPPY IF THESE IS THE WAY THAT TOYOTA GET RICH STEALING FROM PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE BUYING A GOOD PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514176

82,045 miles · Mar 1, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD AND JERKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD AND JERKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,045.

NHTSA ODI #10500896

119,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

HARSH VEHICLE JERKING WITH BAD AUTOMATIC SHIFTING/ACCELERATION. USED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT WITH BADLY PERFORMING VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECM. *TR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (TOYOTA DOCUMENT T-SB-0156-10) BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS. ECM FAILURE IN MY CAR CAUSED A VERY DANGE…

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HARSH VEHICLE JERKING WITH BAD AUTOMATIC SHIFTING/ACCELERATION. USED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT WITH BADLY PERFORMING VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECM. *TR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (TOYOTA DOCUMENT T-SB-0156-10) BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS. ECM FAILURE IN MY CAR CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED BY PRO-ACTIVELY REPLACING THE FACTORY INSTALLED ECM IF I HAD BEEN GIVEN THE T-SB-0156-10 INFORMATION. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS AT THE TIME. THIS PART FAILURE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA NOTIFY OWNERS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. THANKS.

NHTSA ODI #10488641

114,800 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAV…

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OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS YET. ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 2012 I TOOK MY RAV4 BACK TO CARMAX IN ATTLEBORO WITH MY COMPLAINT--I WILL BE LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH THEM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2012 SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TCM (THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WHICH HAS HAD THE RECALL). IF IT IS FOUND THAT MY RAV4 IS ONE OF MANY UNDER THIS RECALL, I WILL HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL HONOR ITS' COMMITMENT AND FIX MY RAV. I DO HOPE THAT LODGING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU WILL HELP ME IN THIS PLIGHT, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO AS TO THE ABOVE, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS A RECALL WITH TOYOTA. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479841

200,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXHIBITING BEHAVIORS OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC. THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY BEFORE SHIFTING AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXHIBITING BEHAVIORS OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC. THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY BEFORE SHIFTING AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10470624

137,000 miles · Jun 18, 2012
Power Train

APPARENTLY THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED ON THIS AND A CUSTOMER CARE TICKET ISSUED AND A RECALL BUT BEING AS MY CAR IS 11 YEARS OLD AND 137,000 IT FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS TOYOTA SET OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $4000!! I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A PROBLEM THAT THEY ACKNOW…

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APPARENTLY THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED ON THIS AND A CUSTOMER CARE TICKET ISSUED AND A RECALL BUT BEING AS MY CAR IS 11 YEARS OLD AND 137,000 IT FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS TOYOTA SET OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $4000!! I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A PROBLEM THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE WILL HAPPEN HAS HAPPENED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10462138

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HOLD ON TO A GEAR AND WHEN A GEAR IS FINALLY ENGAGED, THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING; I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BECAUSE I STALL IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. TRYING TO ENTER A FAST PACED ROAD IS HIGHLY RISK…

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WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR STALLS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HOLD ON TO A GEAR AND WHEN A GEAR IS FINALLY ENGAGED, THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING; I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BECAUSE I STALL IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. TRYING TO ENTER A FAST PACED ROAD IS HIGHLY RISKING THE CHANCE OF BEING READ ENDED, AND AT TIMES I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT ONLY TO CRAWL INTO THE INTERSECTION AND SIT IN HORROR. SOMETIMES HIGHER GEAR WOULD JUDDER THE CAR. APPARENTLY TOYOTA KNOWS THE ECM IS FAULTY AND DAMAGES THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE ACTIONS THEY TOOK ON THIS MATTER WERE TOO LATE AND BARELY CARING. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DANGER. I HAD TO COME INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO LEARN AND BY THEN MY CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY AND MY CAR IS IN NO WORKING ORDER. NO PROPER STEPS WERE TAKEN TO WARN DRIVERS OF THIS HAZARD. THE WARRANTY THEY PROVIDE IS INCAPABLE AND RESTRICTIVE OF ADDRESSING THE FAULTY ECM THAT WILL INEVITABLY PUT UNWARY DRIVERS IN DANGER. I AM STILL TRYING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS MATTER BUT TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES INSIST I PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A DEFECT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLVED BY A RECALL YEARS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10446937

115,807 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE IN LOW GEAR AND SHIFTING FROM A LOW SPEED. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ECM PROBLEM KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MY MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURC…

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THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE IN LOW GEAR AND SHIFTING FROM A LOW SPEED. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ECM PROBLEM KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MY MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (I PURCHASED MY CAR 11 YEARS AGO) DESPITE THE FACT IT IS KNOWN THAT THE ECM, THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TOYOTA CANNOT ETHICALLY COVER THIS KNOWING IT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS PROBABLE TO CAUSE OWNERS PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, REGARDLESS IF IT'S 8, 10, OR 12 YEARS DOWN THE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439946

115,790 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE IN LOW GEAR AND SHIFTING FROM A LOW SPEED. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ECM PROBLEM KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MY MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PUR…

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THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE IN LOW GEAR AND SHIFTING FROM A LOW SPEED. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ECM PROBLEM KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MY MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (I PURCHASED MY CAR 11 YEARS AGO) DESPITE THE FACT IT IS KNOWN THAT THE ECM, THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TOYOTA CANNOT ETHICALLY COVER THIS KNOWING IT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS PROBABLE TO CAUSE OWNERS PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, REGARDLESS IF IT'S 8, 10, OR 12 YEARS DOWN THE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439793

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING AND HARD ENGAGEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED TOYOTA RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS FAR BACK AS 2006 IN THE 2001-2003 MODELS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND…

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MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING AND HARD ENGAGEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED TOYOTA RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS FAR BACK AS 2006 IN THE 2001-2003 MODELS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 150, 000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS BEYOND THE DATE (ONLY 103,000 MILES). I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, I DISCOVERED THAT OWNERS HAD ISSUES WITH THE REPLACED EMC UNIT WITHIN 2 YEARS-CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE OR REPEATED ECM FAILURE. I QUESTIONED TOYOTA AS TO WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IF IT HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUE, TOYOTA WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND NOT ME. IN ADDITION, HOW DO I KNOW THAT ONCE I HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED TODAY, THAT I WON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OR WORSE IN 2 YEARS--LIKE MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS? TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE--ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437988

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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