2001 Toyota RAV4 recalls & problems
The 2001 Toyota RAV4 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 309 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (191 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Toyota RAV4.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2001 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Range & efficiency
RAV4 EV EV
| Efficiency | 47 kWh/100 mi |
|---|---|
| MPGe city / hwy / comb | 81 / 64 / 72 |
2-Wheel Drive · about $1,050/year to charge
RAV4 2WD
| City / highway | 22 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
RAV4 2WD
| City / highway | 21 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
RAV4 4WD
| City / highway | 20 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
RAV4 4WD
| City / highway | 20 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power train Automatic transmission; Manual transmission | 191 | 104,095 mi |
| Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood; Ignition › Module | 60 | 104,095 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system | 28 | 96,161 mi |
| Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal | 23 | 104,568 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc; Foundation components | 21 | — |
| Air bags Frontal | 13 | 90,000 mi |
| Visibility Windshield; Sun/moon roof assembly | 12 | — |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 114,000 mi |
| Engine | 9 | 135,000 mi |
| Structure Body › Door; Body | 8 | 88,000 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 8 | 129,000 mi |
| Steering Linkages; Linkages › Tie rod assembly | 6 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jan 29, 2024Air bags
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) - Aug 5, 2023Fuel/propulsion system
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,… - Mar 3, 2021 · 125,000 milesElectrical system
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 - Dec 6, 2019Suspension
THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK UP ROTTED OUT AND OFF. - Feb 21, 2019 · 111,219 miles · crash · 1 injuryEngine
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… - Feb 21, 2019 · 111,219 miles · crash · 1 injuryStructure › Body
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… - Feb 1, 2018 · 120,000 milesPower train
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… - Nov 21, 2017 · 103,034 milesPower train
THE RAV4 WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.