2001 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 314 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 19 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
314 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jan 30, 2024
My Rav4 is 23 years old and has 76K miles on it. Does it have Takata airbags? If so, I want them replaced. I plan on driving my car until I die and I don't want the airbags to take me out. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Suspension, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 5, 2023
2001 Toyota Rav4 was sold at Auction, to a used car dealership. I purchased this car from the used car dealer on August 5, 2023. Unfortunately, the dealer tampered with the brakes. I witnessed their mechanic working on the rear brake system in person on August 4, 2023. The owner told me that because there was a noise coming from the rear, they were "fixing it". Upon buying this car and driving it to a gas station, filled it up, much to my horror, gas spilled out. The gas tank has a leak in it. Also, upon driving it home the engine warning light suddenly illuminated. I promptly brought it to a Toyota Dealership in Wooster, Ohio and requested a complete examination. I have their full report, and they have determined this car to be unsafe to drive. The brakes had been adjusted when in fact, the brakes and brake lines need to be replaced, this was the used car dealer at fault. I feel the used car dealership bought car at auction and was unaware of the gas tank leak and the bearing plates being fragile, the engine cradle could break at any given moment, causing the engine to fall out. The car was purchased at and maintained by an Akron Toyota Dealership since it was brand new in 2001. After 23 years why did this dealership allow this car to be released into the general public? Frame Damage so bad, the bearing plates that hold the engine up are beyond fragile, the cradle that holds the engine integrity is grossly compromised, and the gas tank has a hole in it. Bad brakes + leaking gas tank. One spark and = Ka Boom. I would be dead. So many things wrong in this situation. Personally, my physical and emotional health suffered. I had chronic diarrhea, headaches, and went to the Dr several times. Please let me know how this matter should be resolved. I am upset and financially compromised all from this car. Documentation available.
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 7, 2021
MY2001RAV4 WITH 125000 STARTED JUMPING INTO GEAR ALSO THE RPM REVS UP BUT VECHICLE LOSSES POWER VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERK INTO GEARS
Suspension, Dec 7, 2019
THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK UP ROTTED OUT AND OFF.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 9, 2019, crash
MY 2001 SILVER TOYOTA RAV 4 HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DECELERATING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT AN ALREADY CONGESTED INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I WAS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE FROM 20 MPH, DOWN TO 15,10,5, DOWN TO 2 MPH, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, MY RAV 4 ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO REV-UP/RACE WILDLY AND VERY LOUD IN A MATTER OF 3, OR 4-5 SECONDS (THE ENGINE/RPM SOUNDED SIMILAR ONE WOULD HEAR WHEN YOU WOULD BE ACCELERATING ENTERING A FREEWAY VIA THE ENTRANCE RAMP). MY RAV 4 SHOT FORWARD SO FAST LIKE IT WAS ON SOME ROCKET LAUNCHING PAD. MY FOOT WAS ON MY BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE CAR FLOOR AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING INTO THE BACK - AND REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS ABOUT 10-15 FEET IN FRONT OF ME, THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN AT THE ALREADY CONGESTED STOP LIGHT INTERSECTION. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE REAR END OF THE SUV DOOR HATCH AND THE ATTACHED TIRE MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE ON MY RAV 4 WAS CAR HOOD FOLDING BACK AND UP AND MY FRONT UPPER AND LOWER SECTION OF MY BUMPER AND PLASTIC GRILL AREA. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM TO T HE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SENT A 3RD PARTY ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO EXAMINE MY CAR. THE INVESTIGATOR SPENT 4-5 HOURS EXAMINING MY CAR AND COULDN'T ELABORATE HIS FINDINGS BUT HAS SUBMITTED THE INFORMATION HE WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE, BACK TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR CO. APPARENTLY, MY 2001 RAV 4 IS A FIRST GENERATION MODEL/VERSION AND DIDN'T HAVE THE ELABORATE DETAILED EDR DEVICES INSTALLED IN THEM, HOWEVER SOME OTHER DEVICE/DEVICES, COULD POSSIBLY BE RETRIEVED? THE FINAL REPORT BY TOYOTA TAKEN BY THE 3RD PARTY FIELD ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WILL TAKE 3-4 WEEKS FROM THIS REPORT I HAVE POSTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (PLEASE SEE THE SCANNED INFO- FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION).
Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 22, 2019, crash
MY 2001 RAV 4 REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND IT WAS DUE TO A MAJOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS AND MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE WRONG PEDAL WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN - APPLYING MY BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I WAS APPROACHING A BUMPER TO BUMPER CONGESTED INTERSECTION (AROUND 5PM). ALL OF A SUDDEN AS I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE PEDAL DE-ACCELERATING FROM 20 MPH DOWN TO 10 THEN TO 5 MPH TO 2 MPH, MY 2001 RAV 4 ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE AND THE RPM WAS GOING CRAZY MAKING A LOUD ENGINE SOUND) I WAS ONLY 10-15 FEET FROM THE CAR IN FRONT, AND THE IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE (IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS REV VING AROUND 80 MPH IN LESS THEN 2-3 SECONDS) SUDDENLY SHOT MY CAR FORWARD (LIKE A ROCKET)! THE ENGINE HAD FULL POSSESSION OF MY ACCELERATION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE FORCE OF THE INTENSE UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO COMPLETELY STOP MY CAR! MY RAV 4 REAR ENDED THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING, PUSHING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME,WHEN IT FINALLY STOPPED IT'S OWN ACCELERATION AND I HAD TIME TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR. THE ENGINE HAD FULL ACCELERATION POSSESSION OF MY RAV 4! I SIGNED AND SENT BACK A TOYOTA CONSENT FORM THEY SENT ME TO EXAMINE THE EDR AND OTHER RECORDING DEVICES TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE, EXPLAIN WHAT THE HELL WENT WRONG WITH THE ECU OR WHATEVER COMPUTER SYSTEM IS IN THE RAV 4. I TRUST TOYOTA WILL PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THAT MY RAV 4 DID TO THE OTHER CAR AS WELL AS MINE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEATH AND/OR MASSIVE INJURY TO OTHERS AND MYSELF AS WELL AS MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE. I WANT FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF MY ORIGINAL FULL PURCHASE PRICE I HAD PAID FOR THIS 2001 RAV 4 I HAD BOUGHT BACK IN 2001-2002 FOR THIS DEFECTIVE RAV 4.
Power train, Mar 5, 2018
MY RAV 4 2001 HAS ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS PROBLEM. TO CLARIFY, A MASSIVE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS OCCURRING WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 TO 20 MINUTES, THEN SUDDENLY - WHILE I'M AT A STOP LIGHT, THE SUV'S ENGINE RACES WILDLY LOUD LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR AT THE INDY 500... IT JERKED AND FELT LIKE IT INTERNALLY CONTROLLED MY ACCELERATOR FOOT PAD! I HAD TO APPLY A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PAD BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO QUICKLY SHIFT MY CAR INTO PARK TO PREVENT RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS AND HITTING CARS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE STOP LIGHT! MY RAV 4 ENGINE WAS STILL RACING LOUDLY WANTING TO SHOOT FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET! I HAVE HAD THE FAULTY ECM REPLACEMENT RECALL DONE WHEN TOYOTA ISSUED A WARNING TO HAVE THE RAV4 ECU UNIT REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW I'M EXPERIENCING THIS ENGINE RACING/ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH MY RAV 4. WILL MY LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER CHARGE ME FOR THE PARTS AND THE LABOR TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE MECHANICAL PROBLEM?
Power train, Dec 20, 2017
THE RAV4 WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2017
ECM UNIT WENT BAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY TRANSMISSION
Power train, Jul 2, 2017
THE ECM ON MY 2001 RAV4 WAS CALIBRATED IN 2008 BY A LOCAL DEALER. UNDER RECALL 601. IN 2008 THE CAR HAD JUST OVER 63000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 124000 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2017
DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED JERKING AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON TESTER SHOWED IT WAS RELATED TO ECM AND TRANSMISSION
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 28, 2017
THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS.
Power train, Apr 20, 2017
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING IRRATICALLY, SOMETIMES IT WILL TAKE OFF SLOWLY UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES. SOMETIMES THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS.
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 6, 2017
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED DOING STRANGE CHANGES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SUCH AS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND JERKING MOVEMENTS. AT ONE POINT, SHE TOLD ME GETTING ON FREWAY ON RAMP WAS A HAZARD, BECAUSE OF IRRATIC BEHAVIOR OF TRANSMISSION!!
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 5, 2016
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS 63192 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION/ACCELERATION PROBLEMS YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING MY GRANDDAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL, ABOUT A 2 MILE ROUND TRIP ON CITY STREET TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH. THE CAR REFUSED TO PICK UP SPEED AND BEGAN TO JERK DUE TO SHIFTING/MISSING GEARS, ALL BY ITS SELF. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SO SHOULD NOT EXHIBIT THESE PROBLEMS. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO TOYOTA AND THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL THAT I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OFF. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST WITH RECTIFYING THIS PROBLEM SAYING THE DATE FOR THE RECALL HAS PASSED, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF SAID RECALL TO BEGIN WITH. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED AND ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS 15 YO, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED AND ONLY HAS 63K MILES ON IT SO SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I WANT TOYOTA TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR MODULE AND NOT DUE TO THE AGE OR CONDITION OF THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS EXACT VEHICLE YEAR AND MODEL AND TOYOTA HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THESE ISSUES. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AND FIXED IMMEDIATELY. IN AN ARTICLE FOUND ONLINE, TOYOTA ADMITTED TO THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND DESPITE THE DEFECT, TOYOTA DID NOT OFFER ANY SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERAGE. INSTEAD, THE BULLETIN SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES OR EIGHT YEARS FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. BUT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES ON IT, AND IT IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED.
Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2016
AQUIRED MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. AND NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE ECM AS THE OTHERS. IN FACT MY TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY IN A AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER NEARLY 3 WEEKS THE SHOP FINALLY DETERMINED THE ECM NEEDS REPLACING AND POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION ALSO. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE ECM BUT THE RECALL HAS SINCE EXPIRED. WITH THIS IMFORMATION I CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST PEOPLE THAT ARE PURCHASING THESE CARS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THIS ISSUES I AM DEALING WITH INCLUDE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND REVVING HIGHER, OR THE LOSS OF POWER WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TOYOTA HELPED THE OWNERS, WITH AN " EXTENDED WARRANTY" 10 YEARS / 150000 MILES. THAT IS ALL GOOD BUT THE WARRANTY WAS FROM THE FIRST DATE. BASICALLY FROM DAY 1. THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE THESE CARS SECOND HAND WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CASE AN ACCIDENT CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS MY OPINION THAT ANY AND ALL RECALLS SHOULD NOT HAVE LIMITATIONS AND SHOULD NEVER EXPIRE!!! IF A TOYOTA IS "ON THE ROAD" (LICENSING IS UP TO DATE), THEN IT SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR ALL WARRANTED RECALLS!!!
Air bags, Jun 5, 2016
TAKATA RECALL - I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 RAV 4 WITH 224,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY USED IN NEVADA IN THE RENO/LAKE TAHOE AREA AND ALSO IN SEATTLE WA. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLODING AIR BAG. PLEASE ADVISE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HOW SOON THE AIR BAGS CAN BE REPLACED! FROM ALL I READ THESE CARS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY! PLEASE RESPOND SO I CAN PROTECT MY FAMILY.
Air bags, May 8, 2016
TAKATA RECALL I DRIVE MY 2001 RAV4 THAT I INHERITED FROM MY MOTHER. THE CAR IS 15 YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. I AM FEARFUL ABOUT THE AIRBAG EXPLODING SINCE I PLAN TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. I WANT THE AIRBAG REPLACED.
Air bags, Apr 6, 2016
TAKATA RECALL I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF. 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 . I HAVE LIVED IN THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR THE LAST 9 YEARS. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH HERE . SINCE TOYOTA DOES NOT APPEAR TO WANT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE SHOULD I DISCONNECT THE AIRBAG SO IT DOES NOT INFLATE AND INJURE OR KILL ME??
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 4, 2016
WHEN I CHANGE GEAR OR PRESS ACCELERATOR TO GIVE GAS, MY CAR DOESN'T PICK UP RACE AND DOESN'T SHIFT THE GEAR. IT WILL DO ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING TURNED ON, EVEN THOUGH THISNGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
Power train, Dec 14, 2015
WE WERE ALMOST HIT AT A STREET LIGHT. UPON ACCELERATING OUR CAR THE ENGINE DIED DUE THE TRANSMISSION OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRIC CONTROL MODULE. WE WERE LUCKY IF THE PERSON BEHIND HAD NOT SLAMMED ON BRAKES WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. ALSO THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING WHILE DRIVE ON FREEWAY. WE ALWAYS NOW STAY IN THE SLOW LANE BECAUSE WE FEAR TO PASS,
Power train, Jun 7, 2015
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO BUT THE MOST DEBILITATING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 6/5/2015 WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. I ENDED UP DRIVING DIRECTLY HOME USING "LOW" GEAR BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF DAMAGING THE CAR FURTHER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2001. 7 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE, BACK ON 3/10/2008, IT WAS SERVICED BY TOYOTA UNDER A "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN" WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM UNDER WARRANTY. I IMAGINE IT WAS FOR THE HARSH SHIFTING PROBLEM (SEE T-SB-0156-10). IT HAS OBVIOUSLY COME BACK 7 YEARS LATER. PROGRAMMING ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS?
Power train, May 27, 2015
VEHICLE SHIFTS VERY HARSHLY AND JERKS. I SUSPECT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
Power train, May 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM COMPUTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,295.
Power train, Electrical system, May 13, 2015
HARSH SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3, PROBABLY DUE TO ECM FAILING