2003 Toyota RAV4 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• SuspensionCrash1 injury

  See attached document for complaint

  Jul 6, 2026
• Power train

  The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would jolt into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Electronic Control Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

  Jun 2, 2023 · 103,000 miles
• Engine

  The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks

  Jan 2, 2023
• Power train

  I DRIVE AND THE SLEEP WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE CAN NOT CHANGE CORRECTLY THE GEAR. *TR

  Jun 10, 2020 · 190,000 miles
• Engine

  THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED AND ONLY 84000 MILES ON IT. AND THE CAR WONT SHIFT. IT JOLTS ME OR REVS EXTREMELY HIGH AND ALSO ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT AS IT ALMOST SHUT DOWN ON POWER WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN INTERSECTION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. IT'S ONLY WHILE GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD OR SHIFTING DOWN FROM 2 TO 1ST. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ECU TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE FOR FREE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 150 JUST TO EXAMINE IT.

  Feb 14, 2020 · 84,100 miles
• Power train

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE RPMS WOULD REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT *DL *JS

  Nov 7, 2019 · 100,000 miles
• Power train

  MY TRANSMISSION STARTED RAVING UP AND SHIFTING ALL CRAZY AND TAKEN TO SCAN TO SHOW A SHIFT SELINOID B TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP WHO SAYS IT'S COMPUTER AND SEE SEVERAL POST ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I AM A GRANDMA AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE HIM AROUND DON'T FEEL SAFE. IT WAS DRIVING DURING THIS TIME IN THE CITY STREETS

  Oct 10, 2019 · 150,000 miles
• Power train

  I JUST BOUGHT A ONE OWNER USED 2003 RAVA4 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR ALMOST 4MONTHS NOW AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, SOMETIMES IT JUMPS/BOUNCES. I LOOKED IT UP AND AM SEEING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SOME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT'S THE EMC. WONDERING IF ANYONE WAS ABLE TO GET ANY HELP AT ALL OUT TOYOTA. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S WHERE EVER MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION & HAVE NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. THINK IT'S PRETTY CRAZY TO HAVE TO PAY A BUNCH OF MONEY WHEN THERE IS SUCH LOW MILAGE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD FIX IT.

  Feb 28, 2019

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000

  NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…

  DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023