2003 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 326 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 19 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: air bags
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Oct 24, 2018, crash
MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY OCT /16/2018 A CHEVY VAN SEVERELY CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY 2003 RAV4 ,AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED .SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Air bags, Jan 30, 2018
TAKATA RECALL
Air bags, Aug 10, 2011, crash
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.
Air bags, Feb 17, 2010, crash
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 ROLLING OVER AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS HAD OPENED FRONT OR SKIRT ABOVE THE HEAD FOR ROLL OVER. *TR
Air bags, Oct 3, 2008
INSTRUCTIONS SAY A 12 YR. OLD OR UNDER SHOULD SIT IN THE BACK SEAT DUE TO THE FACT AN AIRBAG COULD KILL THE CHILD. HOWEVER, WE ARE ONLY 5 FEET 2 INCHES WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A 12 YR OLD. SHOULDN'T OUR AIRBAGS BE DISCONNECTED?? *TR
Air bags, Mar 5, 2008, crash
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING BACK FROM HER SECOND HOME ON THE 60 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAME UP UPON STOPPED TRAFFIC. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES HARD BUT RAN INTO THE BACK OF ONE VEHICLE WHICH WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE LANE AND THEN MY MOTHER CONTINUED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. IN NEITHER OF THE 2 SEPARATE COLLISIONS DID ANY OF THE AIRBAGS IN HER 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT SHE BROKE HER NECK BETWEEN C5 AND C6 IN HER SPINAL COLUMN AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU UNIT OF THE LOCAL HOSPITAL EVER SINCE. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 11, 2005, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHETR VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE DRIVER, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Air bags, Seat belts, Feb 15, 2005, crash
WHEN THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Air bags, Jan 26, 2005, crash
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *NM
Air bags, Apr 14, 2003, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB