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
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle experienced trouble shifting from first to second gear and would abruptly jerk when doing so. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the transmission and electronic control module (ecm) would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted…
ODI 10331052
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving at speeds of 25 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal and after twenty seconds of the vehicle maintaining 25 mph, it accelerated. The dealer advised the connection from the engine block to the body exhibited a broken electrical ground connection. The vehicle was repaired at no cost to the contact. The…
ODI 10336789
Automatic Transmission
Driving on the highway my 2003 toyota rav4 transmission jerks and change gears for no reason all the time very dangerous! Almost caused an accident has 91k miles not repaired yet (waiting to find more information about a recall for the problem) it is a common problem for this year rav4. *tr
ODI 10328903
Automatic Transmission
Driving my rav 4 2003 when all of a sudden it had no power struggled to shift it felt like i was riding a bull. It is very scary. When you have no power and need to accelerate at a light. Please protect the people. Force toyota to so a recall. This is a known issue. Do not wait till someone gets hurt or killed. I am now having to replace a transmission and computer.$3300. My car is in the shop so i do not have the…
ODI 10330539
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph, the vehicle began to hesitate and the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership to have the transmission replaced. While returning to pick up the vehicle from the dealership, the dealer stated that the computer that controlled the transmission also needed to be replaced; the computer was also replaced…
ODI 10327986
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle jerks, sometimes fails to accelerate or it will suddenly slow down while in motion and then suddenly surges forward. It is really a scary situation everytime it happens. *tr
ODI 10330135
Automatic Transmission
I purchased my toyota rav 4 2003 on october 2007 with about 58,000 miles. About 3 weeks ago my car started jerking while changing gears. I had my car parked and when i wanted to move it was making a weird noise and making a jump. At red lights or stop signs car would not move if i press the gas. Noise began to be louder and when driving in highway it was not changing gears. Car would not move at times even if it was…
ODI 10327826
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav 4. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph when the accelerator pedal was engaged without a power response. The vehicle began to accelerate normally after a few moments; however, when the gear was shifted into another gear position the vehicle surged forward. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic which stated that the transmission required replacement. The…
ODI 10324298
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav 4. The contact stated that the vehicle stalls while in park. Also while driving 25mph the vehicle does not pick up speed. He took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer informed him that the transmission needs to be replaced. The contact notice numerous complaints regarding the transmission for this year make and model and make and feels the manufacturer should issue a recall.…
ODI 10320981
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP BY A FAULTY ECM. *TR
ODI 10317899
Automatic Transmission · Electronic Stability Control
My problem is with my 2003 toyota rav 4. Recently i was driving and the vehicle started to have some problems. First, the vehicle would not accelerate as i would be entering traffic, for example, on highways. A number of times it would start accelerating and then slow down or lose acceleration, this caused many anxious moments as often a car/truck would be coming up behind me. I would try to accelerate and step on…
ODI 10321405
Automatic Transmission
I was driving my 2003 rav4 about 2 weeks ago when it refused to accelerate from a stop at a red light, i was in the middle of the intersection(coasting basically) with a line of unhappy traffic behind me before it slammed violently into high gear and almost caused me to crash into the overpass walls. It has since then been intermittent, being fine for a day or so then doing the same thing, in varying degrees of…
ODI 10320207
Automatic Transmission
1. Jerking transmission at low speed 2. Loss of power 3. Dealer replaced ecm to transmission (warranty) in accordance with tsb. *tr
ODI 10316035
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact was driving 5 mph out of a parking space. The rpms rapidly began to increase. Whenever shifting from second gear to third gear range there was a jerking sensation. The vehicle was able to continue in operation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician stated that the failure could be possibly…
ODI 10313042
Automatic Transmission · Labels
Transmission on 2003 rav 4 (toyota) does not work properly it hesitates and does not move the auto when the accelerator is pressed it also jumps and shifts gears roughly when accelerating this could well lead to problems and possible crashes on freeway ramps and at stop lights and signs. *tr
ODI 10312284
Automatic Transmission
Toyota rav4 with only 80,000 miles, the transmission has failed. There are thousands of complaints and here is yet another. Totally ridiculous that toyota won't stand behind this known issue. All i can say is where do i sign on the lawsuit? Quoted over 3,000 to replace and that's not going to happen. I'm sure i speak for all of us when i say, there is something that needs to be done now. Car would not accelerate in…
ODI 10310010
Automatic Transmission
2003 toyota rav4. With no warning or check engine light, car began bucking between 1st and 2nd gears - but then smoothed out in the higher gears and also as the car warmed up. No other cars around so no danger to myself or others. Thought the transmission needed fluid, so i tried that. Seemed to improve somewhat for two days - then the slipping became very bad and the check engine light came on. That same afternoon…
ODI 10310610
Automatic Transmission
2003 toyota rav4 with automatic transmission & 4wd. Transmission will not allow proper acceleration from standing stop, rough shifting resulting in a "slam" into gear, hangs between gears when trying to shift. Flush of fluid alleviated problem for 1 week (approx 200 miles 0 but it has returned. Ecu error code: p0755. *tr
ODI 10310446
Automatic Transmission
How many times does a person have to file a complaint?? My 2003 toyota rav 4 has a major transmission problem that toyota has known about for several years!! It wasn't until i pulled out on a highway and my vehicle would not move (and just missed getting plowed into by an oncoming vehicle) that i discovered there was a very serious issue with my car!! I took the vehicle to a transmission specialist that informed me…
ODI 10308147
Automatic Transmission
2003 toyota rav 4 transmission failure due to faulty pcm- technical bulletin #1046. Transmission experienced bind up and harsh shifting january 2010. Vehicle transmission started binding up, car would not run properly. Towed to transmission shop. Entire transmission and faulty pcm had to be replaced at cost of $4600.00. Toyota is aware of issue, released a tsb regarding repair issues. Tsb is limited to 8 years or…
ODI 10310322
Automatic Transmission
We recently encountered a problem with our 2003 toyota rav4 where the transmission intermittently seemed to slip when engaging first gear from a stopped position, shifted harshly between first and second gears, or at times seemed to slip between shifting from first and second gear. The result of the hesitation to shift gears represents a real safety issue in traffic, and we feared this issue would cause an accident.…
ODI 10303655
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Ecm and transmission problem in 2003 toyota rav4 create a very dangerous condition - severe hesitation and delay/disruption in shifting when other vehicles are behind you or when you are trying to cross lanes of traffic in low gears. *tr
ODI 10300313
Automatic Transmission
Car has been revving at high rpm levels periodically. Just recently the transmission went into low gear while driving on the highway. It was like the brakes were put on me, went from going 45 mph to 1 mph on a busy highway heading towards the off ramp. Very scary. *tr
ODI 10299769
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2003 toyota rav-4. The transmission started to slip, so i took it to the dealer and was told i would need a re-manufactured transmission. I went online to look up costs and saw a ton of complaints about the same problem. I am either going to have the transmission fixed or buy a new car because my car is worth the same as the fix. Apparently from what i am reading it is a common problem with the engine…
ODI 10297819
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Car was having trouble shifting. It felt like the emergency brake was on. I pulled out into traffic and the car would not shift from 1st to 2nd gear. I had to pull over. I called my mechanic who said it sounded like the transmission and recommended a transmission specialist. The transmission was rebuilt. They also replaced the computer. They told me the computer failure is what caused the transmission failure. The…
ODI 10299019