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.
Power train, Nov 3, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH HAS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH TWICE WITHIN THREE YEARS. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Oct 14, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING IN THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE THIRD TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER PLANNED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE FUTURE. CURRENTLY THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY URGED THE CONSUMER TO WORK WITH THE DEALER, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD HELP HER WITH THE COST. *AK (11/21/05) THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHER SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEARS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *SC
Visibility, Mar 22, 2005
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 ( 31000 TOTAL MILEAGE ), WITH THE HEATER MOTOR ON HIGH, I HEARD ALOUD WHIRLING NOISE. AFTER A SHORT TIME ( 5 OR 10 MINUTES ) THE HEATER FAN STOPPED WORKING AND THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING FILLED THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE FAN SWITCH OFF. A WISP OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH VENT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUSE BOX SHOWED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE FAN HAD NOT BLOWN. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE FAN OFF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VEHICLE FIRE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THE DASHBOARD WAS COVERED WITH FINE PARTICLES OF AN UNDETERMINED ORIGIN WHICH I ASSUMED CAME OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE.*AK
Exterior lighting, Equipment, Mar 2, 2005
TOYOTA RAV 4 2001, HEADLIGHTS FOG UP AFTER ONE YEAR. THEY ARE A SEALED UNIT. I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED 3 TIME NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT CRACKED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. THE HEADLIGHTS JUST FOGG UP AFTER ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS. THE COST OF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE $500 AND TO INSTALL THEM IT'S $180. AFTER THEY FOGG UP, THE LIGHT IS DIMMER ON THE NIGHT HEADLIGHTS AND CAN'T SEE VERY GOOD WHEN THE LIGHT IS SO DIM. I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS HAPPENS TO THE HEADLIGHTS ALL THE TIME. ALSO ON THE LEXUS MODEL THAT THEY ALSO MAKE. HE TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED. HE JUST KNOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE HE REPLACES THEM ALL THE TIME. THAT IS UNEXCEPTIBLE, THE HEAD SHOULD NOT BE FOGGING UP LIKE THAT. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA MFG. DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM???? PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT. PLEASEEEEEE. THANK YOU. *AK
Power train, Aug 21, 2004
VEHICLE HESITATES FREQUENTLY WHEN ENGINE COLD. WILL NOT ACCELERATE EVEN WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. HESITATION LAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE ONE IS NEVER SURE IF VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY OR LIMP ALONG FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 6, 2004
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM COX TOYOTA IN BURLINGTON, NC IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. THE VEHICLE HAD 28 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IN MAY OF 2001 I HAD MY 15,000 MILE SERVICE DONE AT COX TOYOTA AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN JULY OF 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THAT DAY,7/16/01, I WENT TO COX TOYOTA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE O2 SENSORS AND I DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT. BEING THAT I HAVE A DEGREE IN ENGLISH AND NOT AUTO MECHANICS, AND I WAS DEALING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I TOOK THEIR WORD AND LEFT IT ALONE. THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING. LATER IN 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I WENT TO TOYOTA OF DURHAM TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WENT TO THEM TWICE ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT ITSELF. SO THE LIGHT JUST STAYED ON, AND SINCE I WAS TOLD TO BASICALLY IGNORE THE LIGHT BY TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THAT'S WHAT I DID. NOW I AM HAVING A PROBLEM PASSING THE NC VEHICLE INSPECTION, BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC TOLD ME IN MAY OF 2004 THAT IT'LL COST 1,945.00 TO FIX MY CAR IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION, AND THE O2 SENSORS ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. MY CAR ISN'T PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD AND IT MAY HAVE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE. I AM WORKING WITH A MECHANIC IN ELON, NC TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. HE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN WHAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS, SO IT CAN PASS INSPECTION. IF COX TOYOTA HAD FIXED MY CAR WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM IN JULY 2001, I WOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS NOW. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 30, 2004
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 24, 2004
2001 RAV4 CATALYST SYSTEM FAIL. MANY OWNERS FOR 2001-2002 ARE HAVING PROBLEM GETTING ENGINE ERROR CODE PO420/430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD) I HAD THIS ERROR SINCE NEW. THEY CHANGED CONVERTER AND REBOOTED SOFTWARE, BUT NEVER GOT FIXED. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS TSB EG010-02. IT SHOWS SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED 4 TIMES. "MISPROGAMMED FUEL MAP". I WENT TO DEALER WITH COPY OF TSB. I SPENT $80 FOR SOFT UPDATE BECAUSE OVER WARRANTY. IT CAME BACK 2 DAYS LATER. I CHECKED "WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM" EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT SAME ISSUE AND THEY ARE SAYING CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ON BACK ORDER ABOUT 2500. DEALER TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU CAN GET. SOME HAVE WAITED 2 MO.THE COST IS MORE THAN $2000. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2004, fire
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGERS SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FIRE. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK SMOKE HAD COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *SC
Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2004
ON MANY OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WANDERED WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE WIND PUSHING THE VEHICLE AROUND. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING PERFECTLY. *NM
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 5, 2004
ENGINE LIGHT ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. REPAIRED 2ND TIME ON WARRANTY FOR $1500 FOR CATALYTIC CONV, 4 EGR SENSORS ETC. I FEAR I WILL PAY NEXT TIME OUT OF WARRANTY. BOUGHT NEW. WELL MAINTAINED, BY THE BOOK.*JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 23, 2004
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, BUT WOULD RESTART WITHIN SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *AK *SC *JB
Air bags, Jan 17, 2004, crash
FRONTAL CRASH TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB
Other or unspecified, Jan 5, 2004
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT CHUGS AND SINCE THE CHANGING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS GETTING BETWEEN 12 AND 14 MPG. IT IS GOING IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 010504 FOR THE 4TH TIME. IN NOV. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THAT IS WHEN THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR AND SOME SENSORS. SINCE THE REPLACING OF THE ITEMS IS WHEN THE GAS MILEAGE HAS DECREASED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO HAD THE CHUGGING PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING.*AK
Tires, Nov 9, 2003
A CONSTANT RATTLE/SQUEAK IN FRONT DASH. THE REAR TIRE MOUNT RATTLES/SQUEAKS TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO REMOVE THE TIRE MOUNT. *AK
Air bags, Sep 11, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 26, 2003, crash
THE CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *AK *SCC *NLM
Electrical system, Jul 19, 2003
THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF I CAN SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ,AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CLEAR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER'S MEMORY, AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CLEARED UP. NOTHING WAS SAID ON HOW OR WHY THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT. THE DAY AFTER THE CLEARING OF THE MEMORY THE VEHICLE DID THIS AGAIN. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CLEARING OF MEMORY. WHAT MEASURES CAN I TAKE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? I CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BRING THIS IN EVERY WEEK. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 30, 2003
SQUEALING, HOWLING BRAKES. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN NOV, 2000, AND IT IS THE 2001 RAV4 L MODEL, I HAVE GONE BACK 3-4 TIMES, AND NOTHING THEY DO HELPS THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THE CAR IS SAFE AND THAT SQUEALING IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SQUEAL, OR SCREECH, ITS MORE LIKE "HOWLING". *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Feb 19, 2003
BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*JB,...*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 30, 2002
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Vehicle speed control, Jul 13, 2002, crash
OUR RAV4 2001 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER WE CAME TO A STOP AND RESULTED IN US CRASHING HEAD ON INTO A BRICK BUILDING WITHOUT THE AIRBAGS OPENING CAUSING TREMENDEOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING BOTH AUTOS ON EACH SIDE AND OF COURSE OUR CAR. TWO DAYS BEFORE, IT ACCELERATED AGAIN AFTER WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WAITING IN LINE FOR GAS JUST MISSING US CRASHING INTO A TRUCK.*AK
Air bags, Jul 11, 2002, crash
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING BETWEEN 30-40MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AT 15MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION.*AK
Vehicle speed control, Jul 2, 2002
CONSUMER SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 35 MPH, AT THE NEXT BLOCK THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPEEDING AT 60MPH AND WAS CLIMBING, CONSUMER SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE THE RPMS WENT TO 6000, CONSUMER THEN SHUT OFF THE IGNITION, DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR WAS AT FAULT. *SLC
Air bags, May 1, 2002, crash
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY.*JB