2003 Toyota RAV4 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported areas: Power Train (213), Electrical System (42), Vehicle Speed Control (32).
Key takeaways
- 326 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 19 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 9 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 213 | 65% |
| Electrical System | 42 | 13% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 | 10% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 28 | 9% |
| Engine | 22 | 7% |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 10 | 3% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7 | 2% |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 2% |
| Structure | 7 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 1% |
| Fuel System | 3 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Toyota RAV4 4-DR. | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 3/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Wheels,service Brakes,engine - filed 2026-02-01
Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much
Power Train - filed 2023-10-02
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would jolt into gear. The contact stated that ...
Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2023-03-16
The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks
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More for the 2003 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.