IllustrationCONSUMER COMPLAINS OF RATTLE NOISE IN THE WINDSHIELD, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *TT
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.
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
130–25K
525–50K
2950–75K
6875–100K
93100–150K
28150K+
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
What owners actually said
309 reportsCONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, GOT IN AND PUT ON SEAT BELT, AND CLOSED THE DOOR. CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF SHATTERING GLASS, WHEN SHE LOOKED BEHIND HER SHE SAW A LRAGE GAPING HOLE IN THE WINDOW OF THE REAR DOOR. THE MANAGER AT RITE-WAY AUTO GLASS STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT THE ROBOT AT THE FA…
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CONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, GOT IN AND PUT ON SEAT BELT, AND CLOSED THE DOOR. CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF SHATTERING GLASS, WHEN SHE LOOKED BEHIND HER SHE SAW A LRAGE GAPING HOLE IN THE WINDOW OF THE REAR DOOR. THE MANAGER AT RITE-WAY AUTO GLASS STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT THE ROBOT AT THE FACTORY PUT THE GLASS IN WRONG. *JG
WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHEN THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND JUMPED SIDE WALK. VEHICLE HIT CONCRETE WALL AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH DOWN A HILL, HAD APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK, AND HIT A CEMENT WALL. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*AK
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND STILL RUNNING, VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A HUGE CLANKING NOISE AND WOULD SPEED FORWARD WITH UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, VEHICLE RECEIVED BODY DAMAGE, DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *TT
BRAKES SQUEAL TOO MUCH. I BROUGHT IT BACK THREE TIME AND THE PROBLEMS IS STILL THERE. *AK
REAR BRAKE DRUMS MADE A NOISE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THEY GRAB AND PULL, MAKING VEHICLE JERK. ALSO, FRONT BRAKES WOULD GRIND, AND STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER CAN'T GET ADEQUATE INFORMATION.*AK
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THESE DATES FOR THE SA ME REPAIR FEB.9.2001,MARCH 12,MARCH 26,APRIL19 AND SEPT 14 AND INSTEAD OF FIXING IT THE NOISE IS WORSE . IT IS SO BAD THAT I TAKE NERVE PILLS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE . I HAVE TAKEN MY FAMILY DOCTOR FOR A RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD WORTE IN MY FILE THAT HE HAS HE…
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I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THESE DATES FOR THE SA ME REPAIR FEB.9.2001,MARCH 12,MARCH 26,APRIL19 AND SEPT 14 AND INSTEAD OF FIXING IT THE NOISE IS WORSE . IT IS SO BAD THAT I TAKE NERVE PILLS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE . I HAVE TAKEN MY FAMILY DOCTOR FOR A RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD WORTE IN MY FILE THAT HE HAS HEARD ITAND IT VERY ANOYING IF I SHOULD TAKE SO MANY NERVE PILLS THAT I SHOULD HAVE A WRECK I WOULD HOPE THAT TOYOTA IS READY FOR A LAW SUIT MY ATTORNEY HAS ALSO HEARD THIS . I FILLED OUT THE LEMON LAW FORMS AND WAS DENIED AT THE ARBITRATION AS IT WAS A WENDY DAY AND THE ARBITRATOR EVEN SAID THAT HIS HEARING WAS NOT GOOD FROM WORKING IN FACTORIES . SO HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT HEAR THIS . I HAVE ALSO HAD A BODY SHOP RIDE IN THIS CAR AND THEY HAVE ALSO HEARD THE NOISE. I SURE HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I HAVE 2 GRANDCHILDREN AND MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS WITH ME THE OTHER DAY AND SAID MIMI WHAT IS THAT NOISE ? YOU NEED A NEW CAR . THAT IS PRETTY BAD WHEN A 3 YEAR OLD SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 4. *AK
VEHICLE DOES NOT RETURN THROTTLE TO IDLE POSITION WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE DOES NOT DECELERATE. WHEN PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PRESSED CLUTCH RPMS WOULD GO UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.