2003 Toyota RAV4 Automatic Transmission Problems
- 106
- 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.
What owners report
- transmission problems · 12 records
- engine light · 11 records
- check engine · 9 records
- same problem · 8 records
- transmission problem · 8 records
- first second · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 54 |
| 100–150k mi | 36 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
| 30–60k mi | 2 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission
My husband was driving to the grocery store when he heard a grinding noise. Soon after, the check engine light went on. He immediately took our vehicle to the local toyota dealer. We soon discovered our 2003 toyota rav 4 has a defective ecm and the transmission has been severely damaged due to the ecm. It costs over $5,000 dollars to replace the ecm and the transmission. We are unable to drive the vehicle because we…
ODI 10419272
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle started to begin takeoff really slow and hesitant, and then shift really hard with a jerking motion into second. Not safe for taking off with traffic or crossing intersections. Very scary to operate. Could ruin transmission, shafts, and other parts. Quote from dealership to replace ecm is around 1500+. Then transmission around 3000+. I am currently dealing with toyota back and forth on getting repair…
ODI 10419869
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Hi about my 2003 toyota rav4, its seems to stall and shutting off the engine while driving. For exaple it happen more then 5 time on me this month7/1/2011, and almost getting bump in rear end. I took it to toyota dealer, and paying $100 for what they could find anything wrong. This model should be recall or accident will happen. *tt
ODI 10417146
Automatic Transmission
2003 toyota rav4. Started having vague problems last year with the car not wanting to shift at the appropriate times. On dec 22, 2010 we took it to greentree toyota in danbury ct and they replaced an ecu unit. It seemed to be working better but not optimal. It started shifting bad again and at times not wanting to shift at all so we returned the car to milton ruben toyota in augusta ga on 4/25/11. These symptoms are…
ODI 10397925
Automatic Transmission
I have 2003 rav4 with 70000 miles, all of sudden the gear started jump and jerk, i asked a dealer how to fix it, the dealer told me to pay $4000, this is very bad i hope there should be a recall because everybody with rav 4 has the same problem..this is so bad.. *tr
ODI 10400820
Automatic Transmission
In october, 2010 my 2003 rav4 started acting sluggish and shifting poorly. It would almost stall out in traffic and several times i was almost rear ended because the car would balk shifting from second to third gear. I took it to arlington toyota in palatine, illinois. They could find nothing wrong. In january, 2011 the problem got worse. The dealer reflashed the ecm module which controls the transmission. The…
ODI 10380138
Automatic Transmission
I was recently warned that my 2003 toyota rav4 had many, many transmission complaints. Not 2 days later, my rav began showing signs of transmission failure. I researched the issue on the internet to find that there were an unusually large number of owners with similar problems, but found no relief with toyota. After taking my vehicle to the dealer for analyzing, i was informed it needed a new transmission to the…
ODI 10365137
Automatic Transmission
Toyota rav4 2003, transmission issue, during driving, the car sometimes slowdown, in highway, during driving time, the car sudden slowdown, just like deep step on the brake pad. It is happen all the time during driving. *tr
ODI 10364270
Automatic Transmission
2003 toyota rav4 at 90,000 miles the vehicle showed signs of an issue with the transmission or computer that controls the transmission, symptoms include rough shifting and delayed engagement (3-9 seconds) of the drive train on acceleration. *tr
ODI 10359856
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
My wife's' 2003 toyota rav4 just started having transmission problems. We took it immediately to a repair shop. On the way there were serious problems with the transmission shifting which was particularly dangerous during the acceleration and deceleration in intersections. The dealer repair shop said the computer and transmission would need to be replaced. I called toyota customer service and they told me a service…
ODI 10356880
Automatic Transmission
Toyota rav4 2003 has transmission problems. The mechanic said this is common with this car so i did some research and quickly found that many other people had the same problem. There is a problem with the computer asking the car to shift to first and second gear at the same time. This causes the car to slow down then rapidly accelerate. *tr
ODI 10355616
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact stated that he experienced transmission problems; the gears would slip at times. The vehicle was inspected by a mechanic who stated that the problem was most likely the engine control module; no codes were produced. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure…
ODI 10354643
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The vehicle began to hesitate and then rapidly accelerate after the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where he was informed that the ecu and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 83,000. Updated 11/05/10. *lj updated 02/03/11*lj updated 02/04/11*jb
ODI 10348676
Automatic Transmission
I was about to merge with traffic on a local highway when i stepped on the gas pedal and the car did not accelerate. It terrified me because there was a tractor trailer to my left that almost hit me. As i pressed harder on the pedal to accelerate the car, the engine made a loud revving sound, and the car started to jerk forward, in the sense that there seemed to be transmission slippage: sometimes the car…
ODI 10343362
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav 4. When the contact drove out of her driveway at a slow speed the vehicle started shaking. The dealer changed the oil, the fuel filter and the catalytic converter. The failure still persisted. The dealer later stated that the ecm needed to be replaced at her expense and that if the ecm did not correct the failure the transmission would have to be replaced for $5500.00. Toyota…
ODI 10341612
Automatic Transmission · Engine And Engine Cooling
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. When the contact shifted into reverse gear, the vehicle began to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the electronic control module and the transmission had failed. The manufacturer stated that the warranty was no longer valid;…
ODI 10340937
Automatic Transmission
No warning when transmission slipped from stopped to first. Would jerk then be fine. Drove approximately 50 miles while this was happening with hazard lights on. Took to a local transmission shop & was quoted $3,200 for a new transmission. No mention of the ecm being the cause or needing repaired. Will have to trade in. Failure 110,000. *tr
ODI 10339642
Automatic Transmission · Engine
Transmission problem on a 2003 rav4 [redacted]. It started at 100,456 miles. Never had problem with the car before. It started to occur once in a while in first gear, then the engine light came on, got it check. Came up code po755. Now is occurring more often. Light goes off and after a couple of day goes on again. Took it to toyota. They said it needs a remanufacture transmission and they need to change the ecm.…
ODI 10340731
Automatic Transmission
Car suddenly started having shifting problem, hesitates from a start, very jerky, then difficulty shifting into second gear. *tr
ODI 10336948
Automatic Transmission
Car jerks, harsh shifting, stays stuck in gear, will not go back into first gear. Have done oil change, transmission fluid flush, left and right 02 sensors, still shifting harsh conditions, feels very unsafe. *tr
ODI 10340844
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2003 toyota rav4 with only 63k miles on it. The transmission failed while my son was driving the car. We took it to a local transmission shop to have it fixed. The transmission shop had so many problems trying to install a rebuilt transmission that they contacted a toyota dealership. They were told that the year and model toyota i have was know to have a faulty computer that caused transmission failure. It…
ODI 10342384
Automatic Transmission
Rav4 transmission slips, jerks and slams into gear. Very unsettling and unsafe. No "check" light. Took it to the dealer and they gave a lame excuse about my husband driving it and confusing the computer. Symptoms never stopped so i took it to a trusted independent shop and am having to pay $4000 for repairs. Toyota should be held accountable, especially since they know about the problem and even issued a tsb on it.…
ODI 10336612
Automatic Transmission
My toyota rav4 2003 has 85,200 miles and transmission is giving me a lot of problems. It's jerking the first and second speed and when i took the car to the dealer(findlay toyota) they told me there is no warranty so i have to spend $1,600 buying a new computer and if the problem persist i will have to spend money fixing the transmission. There is a bulletin from toyota about this fails(rav4 2001-2003) but was sent…
ODI 10332682
Automatic Transmission
My 2003 toyota rav4 is slipping, bucking, and dragging: transmission problems, just like all the rest! What more is there to say? Besides the fact that i don't feel safe driving it with my 6 month old daughter in there, and i have no money to have it fixed! *tr
ODI 10330939
Automatic Transmission
My 2003 rav4, suddenly began having intermittent transmission problems - the transmission sticks in first gear then bangs into second; jerking sporadically - not moving, then lunging forward. It is dangerous. My mechanic said that it was a common problem with my toyota and that the transmission would have to be replaced along with the computer that controls it. $3,500. My car has just over 100,000 miles. It is…
ODI 10331060