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
326 reports, newest first.
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
Power train, Oct 1, 2008
I HAVE TOYOTA RAV 4 2003 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGE. *TR
Power train, Sep 9, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP, IT LOST POWER. IF THE AIR CONDITIONING WERE TO BE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOSE POWER. WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS THERE WASN'T A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A WORN CLUTCH. ALSO, THE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES FOR THE WARRANTY TO BE IN EFFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Power train, Aug 10, 2008
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4, AT 140,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE CAR NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAD REPAIRS DONE, LIGHT CAME BACK ON AT 160,00 . DEALER SAYS NEEDS NEED TRANSMISSION. STARTED DOING MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS FORUM AT WWW.CARCOMPLAINS.COM AND DISCOVERED THERE ARE A LOT OF RAV 4 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS IGNORING OUR CRY FOR HELP. *TR
Power train, Jul 21, 2008
IN OCTOBER 2004, I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM MODERN TOYOTA IN WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA ON A SIX-YEAR PAYMENT PLAN. I ALSO PURCHASED OUT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE THREE-YEAR WARRANTY, AND A ONE-YEAR MAINTENANCE PLAN. I HAVE CONTINUED TO GET OIL CHANGES AND TUNE-UPS AT REGULAR INTERVALS. THE CAR IS AT ABOUT 93,000 MILES. ON FRIDAY, JULY 18, I WAS DRIVING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, AND QUITE SUDDENLY, IT BEGAN SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. IN THE LOWER GEARS, IT LURCHED AND BUCKED AS IF IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING. IMMEDIATELY, I DROVE TO EMPORIA MOTORS, THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. IT WAS ABOUT 11 AM. EMPORIA MOTORS WAS TOO BUSY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BY THE END OF THE BUSINESS DAY. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER, SO I HAD TO DO WITHOUT A VEHICLE OVER THE WEEKEND. ON MONDAY, JULY 21AT AT 8:30 AM, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART NEEDED WAS ESTIMATED AT $3,450.00. AFTER RUNNING AN INTERNET SEARCH AT WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, I FOUND THAT THERE WERE 103 COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE 2002 RAV4, MOST OF WHICH WERE FOCUSED ON PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING, OFTEN OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE REACHED THE 90,000 MARK. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM, THE COSTS OF THOSE REPAIRS TO OTHER CONSUMERS ARE COMPARABLE TO MINE, AND YET, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NOT EVEN FINISHED PAYING IT OFF, AND NOW I'LL HAVE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE HIGH COST OF THIS UNEXPECTED REPAIR IS A SERIOUS BURDEN IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR. I LIVE IN A RURAL STATE AND I NEED TO KNOW THAT MY CAR IS RELIABLE AND THAT ITS QUALITY IS BACKED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Power train, Jul 18, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT AND UPSHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Power train, Jun 17, 2008
TOYOTA RAV-4 HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AT INTERSECTIONS ETC. HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC ON TWO OCCASIONS. TOYOTA WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Structure, Jun 17, 2008
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SQUEAKING/CRUNCHING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF. MY MECHANIC HAS PUT PACKING BEHIND MY RADIO AND IN THE VICINITY AND FOR THE FIRST DAY THE NOISE IS GONE BUT IT ALWAYS RETURNS. IT IS HORRIBLE IN THE WINTER IN THE MIDWEST WHEN EVERYTHING IS COLD AND STIFF BUT GETS A LITTLE MORE TOLERABLE WHEN ITS HOT AND HUMID. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 16, 2008
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4- SEEMS TO BE EXACT SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING--NO PROBLEMS UNTIL EARLY THIS YEAR 2008, TRANSMISSION WAS SKIPPING GEAR 2 TO 3, TOOK TO MECHANIC THEN TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, WHERE THE SAME PROCEDURE OCCURRED. COMPUTER CHIP REPLACED, FEW DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 89,000 MILES, 3400 DOLLARS TOTAL. OTHERWISE, THE CAR IS GREAT. NO ACCIDENT, JUST TOO MUCH HASSLE, MONEY, AND SEVERAL STRESSFUL, SCARY RIDES HOME. *TR
Power train, Jun 10, 2008
MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4 WITH 103,000 MILES ON IT IS HAVING SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND WITHOUT LUNGING, CLUNKING, AND HESITATING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HARDLY MOVES. JUST HAD THE 90,000 MILE TUNE UP DONE AND THE DEALER COULD NOT ID THE PROBLEM. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME IT IS UNDRIVABLE-WE DID NOT THINK WE WOULD MAKE IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY TELL ME IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM-VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND A CLEAR MANUF. DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING IN THE SHOP WITH NO HOPE OF A SOLUTION. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 4, 2008
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, AT 86600 MILES IT APPEARED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ANYONE IT WAS STALL AND SLIP WHILE GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA) SAID IT WAS INTERNAL IN THE TRANSMISSION SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER REVIEW THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH TOYOTA'S 2001 THRU 2003 AND IT IS THE ECM THAT GOES BAD AND IF YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR IT WILL TARE UP THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT BACK TO TOYOTA AND SHOWED THEM THE BULLETIN PUT OUT BY TOYOTA AND AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM THEY INSTALLED ME A NEW ECM, THIS WAS JUST 2 DAYS AGO, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOT, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED, THIS IS A REAL EXPENSE TO THE CAR OWNERS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 7, 2008
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 RAV 4 THE CHECK OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND IT WILL COST ABOUT 8,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Seat belts, Mar 10, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. OVER TIME, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 184,000.
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
Power train, Feb 28, 2008
REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK, LARGE AMOUNT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 15, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH OIL HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE A WEEK BEFORE. THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Power train, Oct 31, 2007
I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER THAT HAS A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A STOP. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND NOT VERY COMFORTING. IF THE DRIVESHAFT IS SLAMMING AND MAKING THIS NOISE, I CAN'T IMAGING ANYONE THINKING THAT IS VERY SAFE. THE THING COULD BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THE SLAMMING DOES TO IT! TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOME GETS HURT FROM IT. *TR
Structure, Oct 21, 2007
BACK HATCH UNLOCKED AND FLEW OPEN ON HIGHWAY WHILE I HAD CUSTOMERS IN MY 4 RUNNER. PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO SHUT...WOULD NOT SHUT. HAVING TO DRIVE NOW WITH BACK TAILGATE TIED SHUT. EXHAUST COMES IN THROUGH BACK OF VEHICLE. HAVING REPAIRED ON 10/24 FOR A COST OF OVER $400! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD TICKING AND RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.
Power train, Jul 30, 2007
MY TOYOTA RAV4 WD, 2003, TRANSMISSION FAILED IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND AGAIN TRAVELING UP A HILL. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 21, 2007
AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS, RAV4 WOULD NOT START. CHECKED BATTERY, BUT IT WAS WORKING. ALSO TRIED TO JUMP-START CAR, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A COMPUTER FAILED.*AK
Electrical system, Mar 21, 2007
WHILE DRIVING THE RAV 4 ON COUNTRY ROADS, THE CAR STALLED AT A STOP. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, WE WERE ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AND DRIVE IT HOME ALTHOUGH IT RAN VERY ROUGH. TOWED CAR TO DEALER WHO EVENTUALLY DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY A INTERMITTENT GROUND-WIRE CONNECTION BETWEEN COMPUTERS. CAR HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Power train, Feb 20, 2007
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY '03 TOYOTA RAV4: - CURRENT MILEAGE: 93K MILES - AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AT A STREET LIGHT I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO STALL. I FIGURED MY FOOT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. - LATER THAT WEEK THE STALLING WORSENED AND MY CAR WOULD THEN START TO SHUTTER UNCONTROLLABLY. - THIS LED ME TO TAKE NOTICE THAT THE STALLING/SHUTTERING OCCURRED AFTER MY CAR WAS WARMED UP AND I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MINS. - I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. - DIAGNOSTICS TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND I WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING/SHUTTERING. - THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE "TOYOTA" RECOMMENDS TO DO SO INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE IS. - THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME IT WOULD COST ME $4,000 TO REPLACE WHICH HAS LED ME TO THIS POINT IN POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. - I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE OPTIONS I WAS GIVEN AND WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT TOYOTA IS A DEPENDABLE CAR. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. *JB
Latches/locks/linkages, Jan 8, 2007
POWER LOCKS - BEGINNING IN 2006, THE DRIVER SIDE/REAR POWER LOCK IN MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SE BEGAN TO FAIL. THE FAILURE BEGINS WITH INTERMITTENT FUNCTIONING OF THE LOCKS - THE DOORS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK UNPREDICTABLY. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS - CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THE RISK OF THEFT FROM A CAR THAT FAILED TO LOCK. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. (I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD). *NM
Power train, Oct 12, 2006
MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS 85000 MILES. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING POORLY AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT MOVE EASILY FROM REST. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. WE COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL COTTMAN TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIR. AFTER 2 WEEKS AND THE REPLACEMENT OF MANY INTERNAL PARTS, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL, WE PAID $4000 FOR OUR CAR AND DROVE IT AWAY. WITHIN 100 MILES THE SAME SYMPTOMS RETURNED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE COTTMAN TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY WANTED ANOTHER $1100 TO REPLACE IT. WHETHER COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IS BEING HONEST OR NOT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. SO FAR TOYOTA USA HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL OR UNRESPONSIVE. I DISCOVERED A TSB (TC002-06) THAT DISCUSSES THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE TSB STATES THAT IT IS PART OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM AND THAT REPLACEMENT WILL BE COVERED BY WARRANTY UP UNTIL 96 MONTHS OR 80000 MILES. LEAVES US OUT BUT OTHERS MAY BE INTERESTED. *JB