2001 Toyota Rav4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (118) · Power Train (57) · Vehicle Speed Control (21)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Rav4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
236 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (127)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 127 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-30 · Air Bags“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)…”
2023-11-05 · Suspension“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 noise coming from the rear, the…”
2021-03-07 · Power Train · 125,000 mi“ 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 …”
2019-12-07 · Suspension“the straps that hold the gas tank up rotted out and off.…”
2019-03-09 · Vehicle Speed Control · 111,219 mi · 💥 crash“my 2001 silver toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when i was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. i was applying brake pressure from 20 mph, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 mph, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a…”
2019-02-22 · Structure:body · 111,219 mi · 💥 crash“my 2001 rav 4 rear ended a car in front of me, and it was due to a major unintended acceleration of the engine. i am an experienced driver with no prior accidents and my foot was not on the wrong pedal when i was slowing down - applying my brake pedal when i was approaching a bumper to bumper congested intersection (around 5pm). all of a sudden a…”
2018-03-05 · Power Train · 120,000 mi“my rav 4 2001 has about 140,000 miles on it and has developed a serious problem. to clarify, a massive acceleration problem is occurring when i've been driving the car for 15 to 20 minutes, then suddenly - while i'm at a stop light, the suv's engine races wildly loud like what you hear at the indy 500... it jerked and felt like it internally contro…”
2017-12-20 · Power Train · 103,034 mi“the rav4 would not shift. the transmission needed to be replaced…”
2017-08-15 · Unknown Or Other · 137,255 mi“ecm unit went bad causing damage to my transmission…”
2017-07-02 · Power Train“the ecm on my 2001 rav4 was calibrated in 2008 by a local dealer. under recall 601. in 2008 the car had just over 63000 miles. it now has 124000 and the transmission is hard shifting again.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.