2003 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems
109 complaints about transmission have been filed for the 2003 Toyota RAV4, which is 28% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 109 28% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 95,000 miles 99 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When transmission problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 39 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 21 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 14 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 99 transmission complaints that report mileage, the median is about 95,000 miles, and 2% were reported before 60,000 miles.
None of the transmission complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.
What owners wrote
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.
2003 toyota rav4. With no warning or check engine light, car began bucking between 1st and 2nd gears - but then smoothed out in the higher gears and also as the car warmed up. No other cars around so no danger to myself or others. Thought the transmission needed fluid, so I tried that. Seemed to improve somewhat for two days - then the slipping became very bad and the check engine light came on. That same afternoon I brought car into my mechanic, whose computer diagnosed a defective solonoid.
Other problems reported for the 2003 Toyota RAV4
- Drivetrain & axles 100 complaints
- Engine 47 complaints
- Electrical system 42 complaints
- Cruise control 29 complaints