2003 Toyota RAV4 Power Train Problems
- 97
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 97 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 14 records
- check engine · 13 records
- needed replaced · 11 records
- extended warranty · 10 records
- engine light · 10 records
- independent mechanic · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 39 |
| 100–150k mi | 36 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
| 30–60k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
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.…
ODI 11282867
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
ODI 11282552
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…
ODI 11195650
Power Train · Unknown Or Other · Vehicle Speed Control
Takata recall" i was driving on a city street on my way home late afternoon...auto started to jerk and felt like something was pulling at it...it slowed up then jerked again...it continued on...i was driving at 45 speed limit...as i was turning the shifting was sounding like it was sticking...i parked it at home and next morning i had it checked and diagnosed as solenoid problem causing transmission burnout...also…
ODI 11119009
Power Train
Long story short, bought the car "as is" from a toyota dealership in october 2017, did not know of the transmission/ecm problem until november 2017 (yes that fast). Got a diagnostic test, the code said the transmission needed to be replaced. We are now in january 2018, i got the transmission replaced for 2,714 right? Okay, today january 16th 2018, i picked up my car, drove it around, brought it right back within 45…
ODI 11063181
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving various speeds, it became difficult to shift gears and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
ODI 11103418
Power Train · Unknown Or Other
March the vehicle started jerking and was no pulling out correctly at stop sign and red lights. The transmission wouldn't down shift so you were trying to pull out in 3rd or 4th gear. It felt like you were pulling a house. I was pulling out onto a highway and the vehicle would hardly go... It caused three vehicles to bow up and stop in the middle of the highway because my vehicle was out in the roadway moving at…
ODI 10995083
Power Train
What i have a 2003 rav4 that doesn't shift properly as a slow acceleration and between first and second it'll slip and rev high on the rpm then talk into gear and same between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd to drive
ODI 10950215
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle hard shifted and would not accelerate. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new transmission. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vin was unknown. The failure mileage was 119,000.
ODI 10916648
Power Train
We were on a family vacation on labor day weekend, when we merged on the freeway and my toyota rav 4 would not shift over. We almost were hit by oncoming cars from the freeway. I swerved to avoid a crash and crashed into the ditch. I checked on line to get toyota phone number when i noticed there was a recall and extended warranty on this part on toyota rav 4 2001 2002 and 2003. I purchased the car in oct 2010 from…
Crash reported
ODI 10904983
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact attempted to accelerate again and the vehicle responded very slowly to approximately 15 mph. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that…
ODI 10906455
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed and the technician informed that the ecm needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
ODI 10899810
Electrical System · Power Train
I was driving my 2003 toyota rav4 and attempted to merge into another lane when i experienced a very hard shift from the transmission causing the vehicle to stall with a reving engine noise and avoided being rear ended by a truck. I purchased my rav4 brand new in 2003 to accomodate my disability needs and only have 82,000 miles.i checked with my mechanic today and he looked up the toyota recall on these rav4…
ODI 10898405
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle began to experience a harsh shift while the vehicle began to reduce in speed. The contact stated that a burning odor was present. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the automatic transaxle failed and the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
Fire reported
ODI 10888167
Power Train
The transmission acted up. It would work well, then it was like if it was in the wrong gear.
ODI 10884349
Power Train
My 2003 rav 4 starting shifting gears erratically, starting in 3rd intead of 1st gear, very sluggish to get moving after stopping. Toyota issued a warning regarding a faulty ecm in this model and extended the warranty to 10 years/150000miles. Unfortuantetly my car is 13 years old and 95,000 miles and toyota would not fix. On the way to the dealership to have this fixed my car was turning left into 2 lanes of traffic…
ODI 10875545
Power Train
Had this car for only 10 months (my daughter worked 2 jobs to buy it) and it started clunking when it was put into reverse and then not shifting properly while driving. Took it in and it was the computer, and it would be minimum of $1000 to fix it. It has 170,000 miles which for a toyota is not a lot. Can't believe this was never a recall and it is now past the warrenty. I love my toyotas but this is not ok that…
ODI 10871084
Power Train
Ecm failed causing harsh shift transmission problem while driving in lower gears
ODI 10873677
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle jerked. As a result, the vehicle became stuck in second and third gear. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined; however, the technician discovered that the computer damaged the transmission. The vehicle was…
ODI 10860330
Power Train
Transmission slipping when shifting from first to second gear
ODI 10853186
Power Train
My toyota 2003 rav 4 began having transmiision shifting problems. At times when in motion this vehicle would not continue driving for a few seconds. It also happened on the highway and put us in a very scary and dangerous situation. I took it to my mechanic. He researched and diagnosed the situation. After running a diagnostic, he found error code po750. He had to replace the engine control module which controlled…
ODI 10837938
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission/transaxles experienced a harsh shift failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 95,225.
ODI 10808360
Power Train
I was driving on city streets when the car violently jerked and speeded up. I was in fear of being in an accident and feared for my safety. I immediately took action to repair this car that was in mint condition to this point. The 2003 rav 4 module and transmission failed at 83559 miles, which is low mileage for a toyota. Toyota motor corp lost a class action law suit, and agreed to be responsible for replacement of…
ODI 10816219
Engine · Power Train
My vehicle began to "buck" and then shortly thereafter the check engine light came on. I initially took it to the closest mechanic and was told i needed a new transmission and that they couldn't replace it. Told them to take it to krause toyota. Was then told by krause it needed a new ecm but they were too busy and couldn't look at the vehicle for 2 weeks since i wasn't a "regular" customer. I then took the car to…
ODI 10760770
Power Train
The transmission started shifting erratically at times. After doing some checking online, i discovered that toyota had put faulty ecm's in some rav 4s. The ecm controls the shifting of the transmission. You have to replace the ecm & the transmission if its damaged at a cost of $4,000.00 or more. Toyota knew about this & extended the warranties on these vehicles 10 years. Unfortunatley we didn't buy the vehicle until…
ODI 10762891