2003 Toyota Rav4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (102) · Power Train (88) · Vehicle Speed Control (27)
🧭 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
272 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (102)
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 102 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-01 · Suspension:front:control Arm · 💥 crash“see attached document for complaint…”
2023-10-02 · Power Train · 103,000 mi“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 the check engine warning was i…”
2023-03-16 · Vehicle Speed Control“the vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks…”
2020-06-16 · Power Train · 190,000 mi“i drive and the sleep while i'm driving and the can not change correctly the gear. *tr…”
2020-02-15 · Engine · 84,100 mi“this car has been maintained and preserved and only 84000 miles on it. and the car wont shift. it jolts me or revs extremely high and also almost caused me an accident as it almost shut down on power while making a left turn in intersection. the check engine light comes on and off. it's only while going from 2nd to 3rd or shifting down from 2 to 1s…”
2019-11-29 · Power Train · 100,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. on several occasions, while driving, the vehicle failed to shift into gear correctly. the contact stated that the vehicle occasionally failed to shift into third gear. the rpms would rev; however, the vehicle would lose forward momentum. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the…”
2019-11-26 · Power Train · 150,000 mi“my transmission started raving up and shifting all crazy and taken to scan to show a shift selinoid b took to tranny shop who says it's computer and see several post about this happening to others. i am a grandma and i can't even drive him around don't feel safe. it was driving during this time in the city streets…”
2019-04-11 · Power Train“i just bought a one owner used 2003 rava4 with only 58,000 miles on it right before christmas. i have driven it for almost 4months now and about 6 weeks ago it started shifting hard going into 2nd gear, sometimes it jumps/bounces. i looked it up and am seeing that alot of people have had the some problem and they are saying it's the emc. wonderi…”
2019-02-27 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 50,991 mi“ecm failed. original owner, vehicle has 50,991 mi. on it . 16 years old. toyota aware of problem-- extended warranty to 10 yrs./150000. mi. called toyota customer. service, stated that i'm out of luck. original part clearly defective. consideration should be extended because of extremely low mileage. cost will be $2000.00 or more. vehicle wa…”
2018-10-24 · Air Bags · 125,000 mi · 💥 crash“my wife had an accident on the highway oct /16/2018 a chevy van severely crash into the rear of my 2003 rav4 ,and none of the airbags deployed .shouldn't the airbags have deployed?what should i do?…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.