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
Car will not moves very slowly when it stops and you try to accelerate, very dangerous! *tr
ODI 10429229
Power Train
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
ODI 10419584
Power Train
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
ODI 10454197
Power Train
The vehicle jerks, misses gears. When trying to pull out..it doesn't move then suddenly takes off. I did some research and this seems to be a problem in 02/03 & 04 rav 4's also says the ecm is a problem. Had the vehicle checked, replaced the filter & transmission fluid only to have it still acting the same way...we were told the transmission is shot. My research indicated toyota knows of the problem & extended the…
ODI 10505751
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
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…
ODI 10372436
Power Train
Was slightly skipping gears. Was taken to dealership. Was told that if it was the ecm, the engine light would have come on, it did not. Was told that it was the transmission, hard to believe as there were no noise except the rpms. They recommend transmission replacement and transmission computer est. $5512,00 +tax. 2003 rav4 should of at least go beyond 10 years without any mayor repairs. I told them no. Do not…
ODI 10334508
Electrical System · Power Train
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
ODI 10354644
Electrical System · Power Train
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. She noticed that when she stopped the gear will fail it will stay in drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the diagnosis indicated that the failure was caused by the electronic control unit. The dealer replaced the ecu and the failure was corrected. The failure mileage was 102,000 and the current mileage was 104,236. Updated 03/30/10. *lj the consumer stated when she…
ODI 10312257
Power Train
This is a well known safety hazard toyota will not acknowledge with 2001-04 rav4s. My well maintained 2003 rav4 with 135k miles suddenly hesitates/jerks on acceleration. Never had issues with car until few days ago with mild hesitation intermittently. Now car bucks violently, shakes, skips gears and lurches ahead when accelerating and before coming to full stop. Car is at dealership and no defects found. They are…
ODI 10297244
Power Train
My wife's 2003 toyota rav4 [redacted] transmission suddenly stopped driving in traffic while at a traffic light. It revved up but wouldn't move. Then it finally took hold and drove off in a higher gear. Then while driving on the road in traffic it did it again (very dangerous-she could of been hit from behind. Apparently after reading up on it, toyota issued in march 06' a report to toyota service centers about…
ODI 10294590
Power Train
Hello, i just recently submitted a complaint on the toyota rav4 that is having wide spread transmission problems due to a faulty ecm. I just spoke to the dealership and they are aware of it, but the consumers are not. It is only taken care of after the problem starts and if you take it to a toyota dealer who runs a service bulletin check. This is just not acceptable for all these people that are suffering the huge…
ODI 10313795
Power Train
I own a toyota rav 4 2003. In a matter of days, my car started slipping gears while accelerating. My car was unable to accelerate safely in 45 mph bumper to bumper traffic. I took my car into the dealer to find out that there is a faulty ecm that affects transmissions that toyota has known about. I think it is unethical practice for a car maker to know that there is a faulty design in a car that can affect something…
ODI 10289252
Power Train
I have a 2003 toyota rav 4 that began shifting hard in the lower gears and the transmission was skipping. I took my vehicle to the shop that i normally use and was told that i would need to take it to the dealership since there was a bulletin out about a possible computer problem. A month before the problem, my car was serviced at my normal shop and a transmission flush was performed. I picked my car up from the…
ODI 10283675
Power Train
Toyota 2003 rav4- car started bucking when accelerating after traffic light. Did not accelerate evenly into traffic. Had to pull over and let cars pass. Onboard computer (ecm) had failed and was not communicating with the transmission. Toyota had not informed consumers of this known defect. *tr
ODI 10285481
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
In 2009, without notice my 2003 toyota rav 4 was "jerking and going". Then it would barely move once stopped. Then when it would move, it would drag. In august of 2009, the transmission was replaced by palmer's toyota superstore. This cost $1,721.93. *tr
ODI 10319641
Power Train
I have a 2003 rav4 brought new at 0 miles with 92,000 miles never a problem or check engine light until may 31 [redacted] home from work the transmission did not want to engage properly. The car was taken to the dealers tech the next morning. They have always serviced this car they informed me that i needed a remanufactured 3122.24 trans and a 1145.89 ecu.i was never told that there was a problem with the ecu in…
ODI 10273541
Fuel System, Gasoline · Power Train · Steering
I was at a stop sign no gas, turned down hill in snow car accelerated going straight into downed tree. My vehicle is not on the recall list and has had sticking accelerator, rear end clunking noise and power steering has made it where i am afraid to drive vehicle. My service animal hit the windshield that shattered when vehicle accelerated and had to slam on brakes at another time. I've had other near misses and two…
Crash reported
ODI 10522946
Power Train
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…
ODI 10241458
Power Train
For a few months now the problem has progressively gotten worse. It is a constant issue. When in park or stopped the car idles high. When driving the car (automatic transmission) the shift of gears is not smooth, it is jumpy and jerky. Also when switching to drive, reverse etc, its not a smooth transition. I feel like the transmission is not safe and could fail while im driving. My passengers often tell me i am a…
ODI 10255932
Electrical System · Power Train
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…
ODI 10231204
Power Train
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact has experienced multiple failures with the vehicle ever since it was purchased. While driving at any speed, the transmission stalls and prevents the vehicle from accelerating. The computer was removed from the vehicle and sent to the manufacturer to be serviced. The vehicle is currently being repaired at the cost of $400. The contact is in the process of notifying…
ODI 10268461
Electrical System · Power Train
S10 appropriate handling-letter to the secretary from re toyota problems *tgw 2003 toyota rav4. The consumer stated when plugged into the electric charging system, the vehicle rolled away. The consumer stated it can happen if the gear is inadvertently shifted out of park and into neutral if the vehicle is parked on a slight slope. *jb
ODI 10332774