2003 Toyota RAV4 drivetrain & axles problems
100 complaints about drivetrain & axles have been filed for the 2003 Toyota RAV4, which is 25% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 100 25% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 91 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When drivetrain & axles problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 23 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 10 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 91 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 100,000 miles, and 9% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury.
What owners wrote
I backed up in reverse and then put 2003 rav 4 into drive expecting to go forward when motor began to race and car flew backward over 12-foot high embankment into woods while engine continued racing. Car did not roll over but swung around 130 degrees in a flat area and came to a stop facing a tree 4 feet straight ahead. A second or two later the car then leaped forward into the tree with engine roaring, car continued to race at high rpms with front bumper wrapped around tree.
The vehicle jerks, misses gears. When trying to pull out..it doesn't move then suddenly takes off. I did some research and this seems to be a problem in 02/03 & 04 rav 4's also says the ECM is a problem. Had the vehicle checked, replaced the filter & transmission fluid only to have it still acting the same way...we were told the transmission is shot. My research indicated toyota knows of the problem & extended the warranty to 10 years or 150,00 miles. When we contacted freedom toyota in hamburg, pa.
Other problems reported for the 2003 Toyota RAV4
- Transmission 109 complaints
- Engine 47 complaints
- Electrical system 42 complaints
- Cruise control 29 complaints