NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
314 reports138,000 miles · Sep 11, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control
PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HAD I NOT ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITNESS' SAID VEHICLE LURCHED UPWARD JUST BEFORE ACCELERATION. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK AND CUT ENGINE TO MAKE IT STOP. AFTERWARDS, TRYING TO GET IT HOME, WHEN I TO…
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PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HAD I NOT ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITNESS' SAID VEHICLE LURCHED UPWARD JUST BEFORE ACCELERATION. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK AND CUT ENGINE TO MAKE IT STOP. AFTERWARDS, TRYING TO GET IT HOME, WHEN I TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER AND ALMOST DIE, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND REV ENGINE TO KEEP IT FROM DYING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10424676
76,763 miles · Aug 17, 2011
Power Train
VEHICLE STARTED TO BEGIN TAKEOFF REALLY SLOW AND HESITANT, AND THEN SHIFT REALLY HARD WITH A JERKING MOTION INTO SECOND. NOT SAFE FOR TAKING OFF WITH TRAFFIC OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS. VERY SCARY TO OPERATE. COULD RUIN TRANSMISSION, SHAFTS, AND OTHER PARTS. QUOTE FROM DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ECM IS AROUND 1500+. THEN TRANSMISSION …
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VEHICLE STARTED TO BEGIN TAKEOFF REALLY SLOW AND HESITANT, AND THEN SHIFT REALLY HARD WITH A JERKING MOTION INTO SECOND. NOT SAFE FOR TAKING OFF WITH TRAFFIC OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS. VERY SCARY TO OPERATE. COULD RUIN TRANSMISSION, SHAFTS, AND OTHER PARTS. QUOTE FROM DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ECM IS AROUND 1500+. THEN TRANSMISSION AROUND 3000+. I AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH TOYOTA BACK AND FORTH ON GETTING REPAIR APPROVED. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. ALL NECESSARY CALLS HAVE BEEN DONE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. THEY ARE NOT WARRANTING THIS CLAIM AT THIS TIME. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10419869
93,400 miles · Aug 15, 2011
Power Train
2003 TOYOTA RAV4 - TRANSMISSION SLIPPING; ENDS UP IT IS A COMPUTER (ECM) PROBLEM WHICH IS SKIPPING 2ND GEAR AND HESITATING ON ACCELERATION AND JERKING INTO 3RD GEAR FROM 1ST GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10419584
128,593 miles · Aug 13, 2011
Power Train
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE WHEN HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SOON AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. WE SOON DISCOVERED OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS A DEFECTIVE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO THE ECM. IT COSTS OVER $5,000 DO…
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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY STORE WHEN HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. SOON AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. WE SOON DISCOVERED OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS A DEFECTIVE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO THE ECM. IT COSTS OVER $5,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION. WE ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WE FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10419272
174,900 miles · Aug 12, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WELL KNOWN BY MANUFACTURERS,AS,HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATICTRANSAXLES , OR (ECM)CODE P0755.TOYOTA SENT SERVICE BULLETINS TO DEALERS BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED>NOW I HAVE TO REPAIR MY CAR AT A COST OF OVER $6000.TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOUR MY REPAIR,EVEN THOUGH THEY HONOURED FOR CALIFORN…
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MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM WELL KNOWN BY MANUFACTURERS,AS,HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATICTRANSAXLES , OR (ECM)CODE P0755.TOYOTA SENT SERVICE BULLETINS TO DEALERS BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED>NOW I HAVE TO REPAIR MY CAR AT A COST OF OVER $6000.TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA HAS REFUSED TO HONOUR MY REPAIR,EVEN THOUGH THEY HONOURED FOR CALIFORNIA.REASON BEING AM OUT OF WARRANTY BY THE MILES,WHICH I HAVE 175000,BUT IM STILL IN WARRANTY BY THE YEARS OF 10 YEARS.
NHTSA ODI #10420155
50,000 miles · Aug 10, 2011
Air BagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND SEIZED. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND SEIZED. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE LOCATED ON THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10418396
212,000 miles · Aug 5, 2011
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other
HI ABOUT MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, ITS SEEMS TO STALL AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. FOR EXAPLE IT HAPPEN MORE THEN 5 TIME ON ME THIS MONTH7/1/2011, AND ALMOST GETTING BUMP IN REAR END. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, AND PAYING $100 FOR WHAT THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE RECALL OR ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN…
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HI ABOUT MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, ITS SEEMS TO STALL AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. FOR EXAPLE IT HAPPEN MORE THEN 5 TIME ON ME THIS MONTH7/1/2011, AND ALMOST GETTING BUMP IN REAR END. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, AND PAYING $100 FOR WHAT THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE RECALL OR ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10417146
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE STICKING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THROTTLE BO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE STICKING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THROTTLE BODY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
NHTSA ODI #10411725
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2011
Power Train
I HAVE 2003 RAV4 WITH 70000 MILES, ALL OF SUDDEN THE GEAR STARTED JUMP AND JERK, I ASKED A DEALER HOW TO FIX IT, THE DEALER TOLD ME TO PAY $4000, THIS IS VERY BAD I HOPE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE EVERYBODY WITH RAV 4 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM..THIS IS SO BAD.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400820
102,058 miles · Apr 26, 2011
Power Train
2003 TOYOTA RAV4. STARTED HAVING VAGUE PROBLEMS LAST YEAR WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO SHIFT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. ON DEC 22, 2010 WE TOOK IT TO GREENTREE TOYOTA IN DANBURY CT AND THEY REPLACED AN ECU UNIT. IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING BETTER BUT NOT OPTIMAL. IT STARTED SHIFTING BAD AGAIN AND AT TIMES NOT WANTING TO SHIFT AT A…
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2003 TOYOTA RAV4. STARTED HAVING VAGUE PROBLEMS LAST YEAR WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO SHIFT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. ON DEC 22, 2010 WE TOOK IT TO GREENTREE TOYOTA IN DANBURY CT AND THEY REPLACED AN ECU UNIT. IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING BETTER BUT NOT OPTIMAL. IT STARTED SHIFTING BAD AGAIN AND AT TIMES NOT WANTING TO SHIFT AT ALL SO WE RETURNED THE CAR TO MILTON RUBEN TOYOTA IN AUGUSTA GA ON 4/25/11. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE SPORADIC AND SOME DAYS IT RUNS BETTER THAN OTHERS. UPON DRIVING THE CAR THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON AND THE CODES ARE FINE, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THEY CAN NOT GET IT TO REPRODUCE ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS I AM COMPLAINING OF I.E. DIFFICULTY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC B/C IT WILL HARDLEY GO AT TIMES, UPON TAKING OFF ON AN INCLINE, AT TIMES, IT WILL NOT GO OVER 30 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AT TIMES IT WILL GO OVER 4.5 RPM BEFORE IT DECIDES TO SHIFT, I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID SHE WILL PULL OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO GO IN TIME. THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY OBVIOUS BUT I AM BEING TOLD THAT THEY DON'T SEE ANY SYMPTOMS AT ALL AND THE CAR IS RUNNING BEAUTIFULLY AND THAT THEY CAN NOT PUT FORTH A CLAIM TO TOYOTA FOR THIS ISSUE WITHOUT A SET CRITERIA. THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY THEM MONEY TO TELL ME THAT THE CAR IS FINE WHEN IT IS NOT. I SO WISH I HAD NOT BOUGHT THIS TOYOTA AND WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10397925