2001 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
309 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
101,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 236 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 121 of 309 complaints (39.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 196 | 63.4% |
| Braking behavior | 34 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 31 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 121 |
| Power Train | 63 |
| Electrical System | 57 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 121; Power Train: 63; Electrical System: 57; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Engine: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 68 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 93 |
| 150,000 and above | 28 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 68; 100,000 to 149,999: 93; 150,000 and above: 28
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (93). 73 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 56 |
| 2010 | 70 |
| 2011 | 32 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 23; 2002: 17; 2003: 6; 2004: 10; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 7; 2008: 22; 2009: 56; 2010: 70; 2011: 32; 2012: 11; 2013: 10; 2014: 9; 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 196 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10177224 · 2006-12-28 (December 28, 2006)
2001 RAV4 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - THE GEAR SHIFT STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN THE 5TH GEAR POSITION WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED/RELEASED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. WENT TO BALISE TOYOTA IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR (EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE CAR STARTED "POPPING" OUT OF 5TH GEAR. BALISE THEN ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM (THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM). WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186752 · 2007-04-02 (April 2, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 AT 65 MPH (WITH 80000 FAILURE MILEAGE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLINKING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008698 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*JB,...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020768 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
SQUEALING, HOWLING BRAKES. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN NOV, 2000, AND IT IS THE 2001 RAV4 L MODEL, I HAVE GONE BACK 3-4 TIMES, AND NOTHING THEY DO HELPS THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THE CAR IS SAFE AND THAT SQUEALING IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SQUEAL, OR SCREECH, ITS MORE LIKE "HOWLING". *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053331 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, BUT WOULD RESTART WITHIN SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071914 · 2004-04-30 (April 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114457 · 2005-03-22 (March 22, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 ( 31000 TOTAL MILEAGE ), WITH THE HEATER MOTOR ON HIGH, I HEARD ALOUD WHIRLING NOISE. AFTER A SHORT TIME ( 5 OR 10 MINUTES ) THE HEATER FAN STOPPED WORKING AND THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING FILLED THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE FAN SWITCH OFF. A WISP OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH VENT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUSE BOX SHOWED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE FAN HAD NOT BLOWN. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE FAN OFF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VEHICLE FIRE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THE DASHBOARD WAS COVER…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285623 · 2009-09-29 (September 29, 2009)
MY 2001 RAV4 HAD BEEN EXHIBITING A HARSH SHIFT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE,VERY POOR ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION,LOSS OF POWER,UNUSUAL SOUNDS AND FINALLY A P0758 TROUBLE CODE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO STONECREST TOYOTA 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD ON 9/28/09 THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, I'VE HAD A TUNE UP,OIL CHANGE,A NEW BATTERY AND A COMPUTERIZED ENGINE DIAGNOSIS. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR QUITE OFTEN AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC POSES AN INJURY RISK AS THEY ARE UNPREDICT…
Owner-reported narrative. 177,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031808 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
THE CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *AK *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313278 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY TO WORK AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES TO STOP ( I BARELY PRESSED THEM) AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND I COULDN'T STOP. I TRIED TO PRESS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND EVEN PUMPED THEM. I TRIED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER AND MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH BEFORE I TRIED STOPPING, AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO STOP, AND WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FRONT END WAS SMASHED END AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE LADY I HIT HAD JUST A DENT IN HER BUMPER. I DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287626 · 2019-12-07 (December 7, 2019)
THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK UP ROTTED OUT AND OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11287626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11553634 · 2023-11-05 (November 5, 2023)
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, they were "fixing it". Upon buying this car and driving it to a gas station, filled it up, much to my horror, gas spilled out. The gas tank has a leak in it. Also, upon driving it home the engine warni…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11553634 at NHTSA ↗