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: power train
213 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 26, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 14, 2012
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. MY CAR WAS RUNNING IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, WITH JUST OVER 99,000 MILES ON IT. ON MAY 2ND 2012, I EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION AND ECM. THE CAR WOULD REV WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE CAR WOULD SLOW TO A BRAKE AND THEN THERE WAS BE A BUMP OR GRINDING IN THE GEARS BEFORE THE CAR WOULD PROCEED TO MOVE. THIS WOULD PUT ME IN DANGER OF A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD SUDDENLY BRAKE WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE BRAKES TO SIGNAL THE DRIVER BEHIND ME THAT I WAS GOING TO SLOW DOWN. I HAVE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH MANY OF ITS RAV4'S (2001-2003). IS THERE ANY HELP ON TOYOTA'S PART TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW OF WITHOUT PASSING ALONG THE COST TO THE INNOCENT CUSTOMER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR UPDATED 06/22/2012 *JS
Power train, Apr 11, 2012
MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED SHIFTING POORLY AND INCONSISTENTLY BY NOT SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR, SLIPPING IN BETWEEN GEARS AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY AND THEN THERE ARE DAYS WHEN IT NEVER DOES. I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOT KNOWING WHETHER IT WILL BE A GOOD DAY WHEN MY RAV4 BEHAVES AS IT SHOULD OR IF ITS GOING TO LEAVE TRANSMISSION PARTS ALL OVER THE ROAD, GET US IN AN ACCIDENT OR AT THE VERY LEAST, LEAVE US STRANDED. NERVE RACKING AND INCREDIBLY UNSAFE. *TR
Power train, Apr 5, 2012
MY CAR LOST POWER. I COULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEARS AND THIS YEARS. JUST RECENTLY ON 04/04/2012 AT 4:55PM I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND HER SISTER AND I HAD TO PULL ON SHOULDER AND TURNED ON HAZARD WARNING LIGHT AND DRIVE IN LOWER GEAR ( 2ND GEAR ). *TR
Power train, Nov 9, 2011
THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, SHE WAS THE ONE WHO FIRST NOTICED THE HERKY/JERKY OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE IT IN REVERSE TO BACK UP, SHE THEN NOTIFIED ME OF THE PROBLEM. I PROCEEDED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, WHEN WE WERE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A PARKING LOT, IT SUDDENLY SHUDDERED BETWEEN GEARS AND FINALLY SETTLED INTO THE PROPER GEAR AFTER I LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. ONCE WE MADE IT HOME AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES, WE PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I HAD A CHANCE TO DRIVE IT TO TOYOTA FOR AN ASSESSMENT. THEY DROVE IT AROUND AND NOTICED THE SAME HERKY/JERKY OPERATION, BUT STATED TO ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY RECEIVED A CODE FROM THE COMPUTER STATING EITHER ECU OR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE, AFTER 2 OR 3 DAYS THEY WERE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANY SUCH CODE. *TR
Power train, Nov 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Power train, Oct 9, 2011
CAR WILL NOT MOVES VERY SLOWLY WHEN IT STOPS AND YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
Power train, Aug 17, 2011
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
Power train, Aug 15, 2011
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
Power train, Aug 13, 2011
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
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 5, 2011
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
Power train, May 13, 2011
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
Power train, Apr 26, 2011
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
Power train, Mar 25, 2011
HI, I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. I HAVE EXPERIENCE SOME TROUBLES WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN IN EXTREMELY CLOSE CALLS FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONING WHILE ACCELERATING. THE ECM/TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS OR ACCELERATES OUT OF SEQUENCE AND IT CAUSES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY JERK IN A FORWARD/BACKWARD MOTION. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIRS IS WELL ABOVE $4,000 DOLLARS FOR WHAT DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAS 100K MILES. IN AN ECONOMY LIKE THIS, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO OBTAIN THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS. I TRUSTED TOYOTA FOR ITS RELIABILITY BUT AFTER THIS MY THOUGHTS HAVE CHANGED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO BE DEALING WITH THIS FRUSTRATING ISSUE. I HAVE READ MANY MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON EDMUNDS.COM UNDER COSTUMER REVIEWS. I WISH THAT TOYOTA RECALLS THIS PROBLEM LIKE THEY HAVE FOR OTHER MODELS SINCE THIS PROBLEM CAN BE LIFE THREATENING. *TR
Power train, Feb 3, 2011
IN OCTOBER, 2010 MY 2003 RAV4 STARTED ACTING SLUGGISH AND SHIFTING POORLY. IT WOULD ALMOST STALL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL TIMES I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD BALK SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. I TOOK IT TO ARLINGTON TOYOTA IN PALATINE, ILLINOIS. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IN JANUARY, 2011 THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE DEALER REFLASHED THE ECM MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ECM .COST $1400. MILEAGE OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA REGIONAL WHO ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUT THEY ALSO SAID EVEN THOUGH I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Dec 26, 2010
CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD GO OUT, AFTER CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL ALL APPEAR FINE, THE CAR WOULD BURN 1 QUART EVERY TWO MONTHS. AFTER DRIVING ALONG THE EXPRESS WAY FOR 30 MILES AND USING A TWO LANE ROAD FOR ABOUT 3 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE MAKE NOISE AND QUIT RUNNING, AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP WE WERE TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR IS A RAV 4 2003 WITH ABOUT 89,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 10, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE ECM CARD NEEDED REPROGRAMMING. THE FAILURE STARTED IN JUNE 2009. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,000. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 03/07/11
Power train, Nov 9, 2010
I WAS RECENTLY WARNED THAT MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD MANY, MANY TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS. NOT 2 DAYS LATER, MY RAV BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THERE WERE AN UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT FOUND NO RELIEF WITH TOYOTA. AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYZING, I WAS INFORMED IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $4,000. THIS IS ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY ONLY ME AND HAD PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE DONE REGULARLY. *TR
Power train, Nov 6, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 2003, TRANSMISSION ISSUE, DURING DRIVING, THE CAR SOMETIMES SLOWDOWN, IN HIGHWAY, DURING DRIVING TIME, THE CAR SUDDEN SLOWDOWN, JUST LIKE DEEP STEP ON THE BRAKE PAD. IT IS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME DURING DRIVING. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2010
2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AT 90,000 MILES THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, SYMPTOMS INCLUDE ROUGH SHIFTING AND DELAYED ENGAGEMENT (3-9 SECONDS) OF THE DRIVE TRAIN ON ACCELERATION. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 21, 2010
MY WIFE'S' 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 JUST STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WE TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO A REPAIR SHOP. ON THE WAY THERE WERE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHICH WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DURING THE ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION IN INTERSECTIONS. THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP SAID THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME A SERVICE BULLETINS HAD GONE OUT, BUT THAT OUR PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE BULLETIN, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS HAS BEEN WIDELY NOTED AND RECOGNIZED BY TOYOTA. *TR
Power train, Sep 14, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 2003 HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND QUICKLY FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER ASKING THE CAR TO SHIFT TO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 9, 2010
COMPUTER FAILED THAT LED TO TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. AFTER FIXING IT STILL GLITCHESESES. IT IS OK ONE DAY AND GLITCHES ANOTHER VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND TRANSMISSION MECHANIC CAN NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. COMPUTER WAS PUT IN NEW AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT COST ABOUT $ 4000. IT IS HARD TO EFFORT THIS DURING THESE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS. NOT TO MENTION ALL THIS HAPPENED ONLY ON 88000 KMS. *TR
Power train, Sep 9, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; THE GEARS WOULD SLIP AT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MOST LIKELY THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE; NO CODES WERE PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 89,800.
Power train, Aug 11, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/03/11*LJ UPDATED 02/04/11*JB