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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Toyota RAV4: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

314 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

95,363 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 274 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 106 of 314 complaints (33.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting21167.2%
Engine operation3310.5%
Braking behavior268.3%
Electrical and battery issues82.5%
Steering behavior41.3%
Fuel system concerns10.3%

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.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
106
Power Train
100
Electrical System
39
Vehicle Speed Control
27
Engine
21
Engine And Engine Cooling
15
Unknown Or Other
15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission106
Power Train100
Electrical System39
Vehicle Speed Control27
Engine21
Engine And Engine Cooling15
Unknown Or Other15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine8

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 106; Power Train: 100; Electrical System: 39; Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Engine: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
13
50,000 to 74,999
37
75,000 to 99,999
91
100,000 to 149,999
97
150,000 and above
25
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,99913
50,000 to 74,99937
75,000 to 99,99991
100,000 to 149,99997
150,000 and above25

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 91; 100,000 to 149,999: 97; 150,000 and above: 25

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (97). 40 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.

2002
1
2003
5
2004
5
2005
7
2006
4
2007
4
2008
21
2009
44
2010
90
2011
18
2012
11
2013
23
2014
23
2015
20
2016
19
2017
4
2018
7
2019
4
2020
2
2023
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
20035
20045
20057
20064
20074
200821
200944
201090
201118
201211
201323
201423
201520
201619
20174
20187
20194
20202
20232

2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 5; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 21; 2009: 44; 2010: 90; 2011: 18; 2012: 11; 2013: 23; 2014: 23; 2015: 20; 2016: 19; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 211 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 33 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001251 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THAT HE PURCHASED DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, SO THE DEALER OFFERED TO ADD IT, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FAULTY, WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTUATED TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN SPEED , IN ORDER TO STAY WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES 3-4 MPH ABOVE THE DESIRED SPEED THEN DROPS BACK 3-4 MPH BELOW THE DESIRED SPEED, THEN SLOWLY MOVES UP TO THE DESIRED SPEED, THE SECOND CRUISE CONTROL WAS INSTALLED AND ACTED EXACTLY AS THE FIRST, IN THE END THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10015828 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015828 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034060 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING EAST AT 75 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MADE A 190' TURN ON THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AFTER HITTING A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES, AND A AMBULANCE CAME TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS THE POLICE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034531 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)

TOYOTA RAV 4 DRIVE BELT PULLEYS WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY.*MR. WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY DISCHARGER LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BELT TENSIONER AND BELT HOUSING BROKE.*TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034531 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044772 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)

WHILE COASTING DOWN A HILL DRIVER BEGAN TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE. ALSO, DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTING AT ANYTIME. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044772 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045536 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

2003 TOYOTA RAV4, 5SP, 4WD. THROTTLE BODY WHINE BETWEEN 2700 AND 3000 RPM. THE NOISE IS SO ANNOYING THAT YOU EITHER NEED TO TURN THE STEREO UP LOUD OR WEAR EAR PLUGS. TOYOTA STATES THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *LA *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 404 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045536 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10052828 · 2004-01-11 (January 11, 2004)

CRUNCHING NOISE IN DASH BOARD ALTHOUGH REPAIRED 4 TIMES BY DEALER NOISE IS STILL EVIDENT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052828 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10080483 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)

I HAD MY HAND RESTING ON THE GEAR SHIFT (AUTOMATIC ON THE FLOOR) AND BUMPED IT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. I DID NOT PUSH THE BUTTON DESIGNED FOR SHIFTING. I WAS STOPPED ON A HILL; WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO START, I DRIFTED BACKWARD TOWARD ANOTHER CAR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080483 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.