2001 Toyota RAV4 problems and complaints

Owners have filed 323 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported areas: Power Train (191), Electrical System (60), Engine And Engine Cooling (29).

Key takeaways

  • 323 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 20 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train19159%
Electrical System6019%
Engine And Engine Cooling299%
Service Brakes237%
Vehicle Speed Control237%
Hydraulic196%
Air Bags144%
Unknown Or Other134%
Visibility113%
Engine93%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)82%
Structure72%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2001 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Air Bags - filed 2024-01-30

My Rav4 is 23 years old and has 76K miles on it. Does it have Takata airbags? If so, I want them replaced. I plan on driving my car until I die and I don't want the airbags to take me out. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Suspension,service Brakes,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2023-11-05

2001 Toyota Rav4 was sold at Auction, to a used car dealership. I purchased this car from the used car dealer on August 5, 2023. Unfortunately, the dealer tampered with the brakes. I witnessed their mechanic working on the rear brake system in person on August 4, 2023. The owner told me that because there was a no...

Power Train,electrical System - filed 2021-03-07

MY2001RAV4 WITH 125000 STARTED JUMPING INTO GEAR ALSO THE RPM REVS UP BUT VECHICLE LOSSES POWER VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERK INTO GEARS

Diagnose it yourself

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

More for the 2001 Toyota RAV4

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.