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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Power Train complaints

209 reports
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103,000 miles · Oct 2, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would jolt into gear. The contact stated that the check …

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The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would jolt into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Electronic Control Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ODI #11547851

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2023
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks

NHTSA ODI #11512145

190,000 miles · Jun 16, 2020
Power Train

I DRIVE AND THE SLEEP WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE CAN NOT CHANGE CORRECTLY THE GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11329244

100,000 miles · Nov 29, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE RPMS WOULD REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE RPMS WOULD REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT *DL *JS

NHTSA ODI #11282867

150,000 miles · Nov 26, 2019
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION STARTED RAVING UP AND SHIFTING ALL CRAZY AND TAKEN TO SCAN TO SHOW A SHIFT SELINOID B TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP WHO SAYS IT'S COMPUTER AND SEE SEVERAL POST ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I AM A GRANDMA AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE HIM AROUND DON'T FEEL SAFE. IT WAS DRIVING DURING THIS TIME IN THE CITY STREETS

NHTSA ODI #11282552

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2019
Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT A ONE OWNER USED 2003 RAVA4 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR ALMOST 4MONTHS NOW AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, SOMETIMES IT JUMPS/BOUNCES. I LOOKED IT UP AND AM SEEING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SOME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT…

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I JUST BOUGHT A ONE OWNER USED 2003 RAVA4 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR ALMOST 4MONTHS NOW AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, SOMETIMES IT JUMPS/BOUNCES. I LOOKED IT UP AND AM SEEING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SOME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT'S THE EMC. WONDERING IF ANYONE WAS ABLE TO GET ANY HELP AT ALL OUT TOYOTA. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S WHERE EVER MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION & HAVE NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. THINK IT'S PRETTY CRAZY TO HAVE TO PAY A BUNCH OF MONEY WHEN THERE IS SUCH LOW MILAGE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #11195650

146,000 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Power Train

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND WHEN ACCERATING

NHTSA ODI #11124331

79,279 miles · Aug 10, 2018
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ON MY WAY HOME LATE AFTERNOON...AUTO STARTED TO JERK AND FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS PULLING AT IT...IT SLOWED UP THEN JERKED AGAIN...IT CONTINUED ON...I WAS DRIVING AT 45 SPEED LIMIT...AS I WAS TURNING THE SHIFTING WAS SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS STICKING...I PARKED IT AT HOME AND NEXT MORNIN…

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TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ON MY WAY HOME LATE AFTERNOON...AUTO STARTED TO JERK AND FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS PULLING AT IT...IT SLOWED UP THEN JERKED AGAIN...IT CONTINUED ON...I WAS DRIVING AT 45 SPEED LIMIT...AS I WAS TURNING THE SHIFTING WAS SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS STICKING...I PARKED IT AT HOME AND NEXT MORNING I HAD IT CHECKED AND DIAGNOSED AS SOLENOID PROBLEM CAUSING TRANSMISSION BURNOUT...ALSO TOYOTA REVEALED PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #11119009

187,000 miles · Jun 22, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000.

NHTSA ODI #11103418

150,000 miles · Jan 16, 2018
Power Train

LONG STORY SHORT, BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS" FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2017, DID NOT KNOW OF THE TRANSMISSION/ECM PROBLEM UNTIL NOVEMBER 2017 (YES THAT FAST). GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE CODE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE NOW IN JANUARY 2018, I GOT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 2,714 RIGHT? OKAY, TODAY…

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LONG STORY SHORT, BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS" FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2017, DID NOT KNOW OF THE TRANSMISSION/ECM PROBLEM UNTIL NOVEMBER 2017 (YES THAT FAST). GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE CODE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE NOW IN JANUARY 2018, I GOT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 2,714 RIGHT? OKAY, TODAY JANUARY 16TH 2018, I PICKED UP MY CAR, DROVE IT AROUND, BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK WITHIN 45 MINUTES. MY CAR WAS STILL DOING A HARD SHIFT. I GOT IN THE CAR WITH THE MECHANIC TO DRIVE UP THE HIGHWAY, HE FELT THE SHIFT IMMEDIATELY AND INFORMED ME HE WAS THE ONE THAT PUT THE PART IN. OKAY, AT THIS POINT WE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE ALL THE MANAGERS WERE IN A MEETING. I GET A CALL AROUND 3:30PM SAYING THAT THE ECM IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE! I JUST SPENT 5,000 SO FAR BUYING THE CAR AND 2,700 DOLLARS TO FIX THE CAR. SHE TOLD ME THAT AN ECM WOULD COST FROM 1,500 DOLLARS TO 2,000 TO REPLACE, ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? OF COURSE THE WARRANTY THAT TOYOTA "EXTENDED" IS NO LONGER IN AFFECT, SO ALL OF THIS MONEY HAS TO COME OUT OF POCKET. TO SAY I HAVEN'T HAD MY CAR OR DRIVEN MY CAR FOR LONG AT ALL I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NIGHTMARE. I AM A SENIOR IN COLLEGE NOW, I ONLY BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE MY OTHER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY A DRIVER WHO RAN A STOP SIGN AND STATE FARM AWARDED ME ONLY 2,800 FOR MY PREVIOUS CAR. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE, NO ONE BUT GOD WILL HELP YOU IN THE END THIS IS SAD AND RIDICULOUS. IT'S NOT RIGHT TO GET OVER ON PEOPLE IN THIS WAY.

NHTSA ODI #11063181

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.

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