Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2003)

315 consumer complaints on file.

#10916648October 17, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906922September 15, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2003 RAV 4 85,401 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MISS SHIFT, ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF POWER. FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOYOTA TECH ADVISES THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION , A $6,000 EXPENSE. MIND YOU THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD BUT HAS ONLY 85,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. TOYOTA ADVISES NO WARRANTY EFFECT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A MAIN HIGHWAY ( SUNRISE HIGHWAY LONG ISLAND) WHEN MALFUNCTION OCCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906455September 14, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED VERY SLOWLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAILED OR THERE WAS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,650.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906740September 14, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HARSH SHIFTING, JUMPING FROM GEAR-TO-GEAR, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. CALLED TOYOTA REGARDING THE EXTENDED WARRENTY. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DESPITE NOT PROVIDING NOTICE TO THE CORRECT ADDRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904983September 9, 2016
POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10899682August 31, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLES RPMS CUT OUT AND THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY IN LAWTON OKLAHOMA. IT TOOK ME 2 AND A HALF HOURS TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME IN RYAN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALL WHILE COASTING AND LET IT DIE THEN TURN IT OFF AND TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STAY STARTED AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD ONLY REVIEW TO 2000 RPMS AND DIE. I HAD TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY SEVERAL TIMES AND LET IT SET FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD DRIVE AT AROUND 60 MPH FOR ONLY 2 TO 3 MINUTES. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHILE THE RPMS CUT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP AND GO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10899810August 31, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898405August 25, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD SHIFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITH A REVING ENGINE NOISE AND AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW IN 2003 TO ACCOMODATE MY DISABILITY NEEDS AND ONLY HAVE 82,000 MILES.I CHECKED WITH MY MECHANIC TODAY AND HE LOOKED UP THE TOYOTA RECALL ON THESE RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND NOT ONCE DID TOYOTA INFORM ME ABOUT THE RECALL. HOW IS DISABLED INDIVIDUAL ON FIXED INCOME TO AFFORD $3000.00 FOR A TRANSMISSION ON A WELL MAINTAINED TOYOTA WITH ONLY 82,000 MILES. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD SHOW SOME EMPATHY TO ACCOMMODATE AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE OF A BRAND NEW RAV4 WOULD FULFILL HIS DAILY PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND NOW LEFT WITH A TOYOTA WITH 82,000 MILES IN NEED OF A TRANSMISSION. THIS RAV4 IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE DRIVEN GIVEN ITS NATURE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897451August 21, 2016
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897446August 21, 2016
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888167July 25, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A HARSH SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10884349July 12, 2016
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION ACTED UP. IT WOULD WORK WELL, THEN IT WAS LIKE IF IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875545June 21, 2016
POWER TRAIN
MY 2003 RAV 4 STARTING SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, STARTING IN 3RD INTEAD OF 1ST GEAR, VERY SLUGGISH TO GET MOVING AFTER STOPPING. TOYOTA ISSUED A WARNING REGARDING A FAULTY ECM IN THIS MODEL AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150000MILES. UNFORTUANTETLY MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND 95,000 MILES AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED MY CAR WAS TURNING LEFT INTO 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STALLED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, A CAR NEARLY T-BONED ME BUT HE WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND CORRECT ALL CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10873677June 10, 2016
POWER TRAIN
ECM FAILED CAUSING HARSH SHIFT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10871084May 26, 2016
POWER TRAIN
HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 10 MONTHS (MY DAUGHTER WORKED 2 JOBS TO BUY IT) AND IT STARTED CLUNKING WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND IT WOULD BE MINIMUM OF $1000 TO FIX IT. IT HAS 170,000 MILES WHICH FOR A TOYOTA IS NOT A LOT. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NEVER A RECALL AND IT IS NOW PAST THE WARRENTY. I LOVE MY TOYOTAS BUT THIS IS NOT OK THAT THEY WON'T OWN UP AND PAY TO FIX IT!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10860330April 19, 2016
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTER DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853186April 3, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837938February 24, 2016
POWER TRAIN
MY TOYOTA 2003 RAV 4 BEGAN HAVING TRANSMIISION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. AT TIMES WHEN IN MOTION THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUT US IN A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE RESEARCHED AND DIAGNOSED THE SITUATION. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC, HE FOUND ERROR CODE PO750. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION.. HE ALSO FOUND BULLETINS SENT OUT BY TOYOTA THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. I HAD TO PAY $2091.63 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820796January 18, 2016
SEAT BELTS
SINCE LAST SUMMER OF 2015, MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FRAYING. THE FRAY IS OVER A FOOT LONG AND A 1/2" INCH OF SEATBELT IS FRAYED. I WILL ATTEMPT TO SEND PICS ALONG WITH THIS FORM. IT IS A HABIT WITH ME TO ALWAYS WEAR MY SEATBELT, AND OF ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I DO HOPE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY BE AN UNUSUAL ISSUE, I TRUST YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PROMPTLY, FOR IT DOES CAUSE ME TO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS EACH TIME I DRIVE WITH THIS FRAYED SEATBELT ON. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER. SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY WITH ME, AS I AM SURE IT IS WITH YOU AS WELL. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PROMPT ATTENTION. FYI: IF MY 2 PICTURES JUST SO HAPPEN TO NOT BE WITH THIS FORM, PLEASE CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL AND I WILL TRY TO SENT THEM TO YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816219December 25, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED AND SPEEDED UP. I WAS IN FEAR OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO REPAIR THIS CAR THAT WAS IN MINT CONDITION TO THIS POINT. THE 2003 RAV 4 MODULE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83559 MILES, WHICH IS LOW MILEAGE FOR A TOYOTA. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP LOST A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, AND AGREED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND MODULE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2001 TO 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV'S 4 THAT FAILED WITHIN 150,000 MILE USAGE OR 10 YEAR USE. MY CAR HAD ONLY 83,559 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE DUE TO THE FAULTY ORIGINAL MODULE THAT CAUSED THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2006 TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1046 WITH REFERENCE TO 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION: U14OF, U241E. SUBJECT:2-3 BLIND UP/HARSH 2-3 PO755, BURNT (C2, CLUTCH, HARSH REV. ENGAGEMENT, WRONG GEAR STARTS....SAYING THAT THE FAULTY PCM IN THE TOYOA RAV4'S CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT MY CAR EXPERIENCED..........(I HAVE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT FOR REFERENCE, IF NECESSARY) THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY RAV4 WITH ONLY 83559 MILES WAS A DURABILITY ISSUE; TOYOTA SOLD THE CAR WITH A FAULTY MODULE, DID NOT REPLACE IT WHEN THEY ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL COSTS INCURRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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