2003 Toyota RAV4
No clear pattern 1.5% of complaints about the 2003 Toyota RAV4 arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2003 vehicle, but with only 344 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is power train (181 complaints), typically at 8.1 yr or about 98,000 miles.
- Complaints
- 344
- Median age at failure
- 8.3 yr
- Median mileage
- 95,000 n=306
- Crash / fire / tow
- 7% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 0
Engine cooling mileage not reported 10 mo in service
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
Engine cooling 22,000 mi 2.2 yr in service
WHILE DRIVING TO SAN ANTONIO ON 11-26 2004 MY TOYOTA RAV4 JUST LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-37 I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOTHING WRONG COULD BE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE.ON 11-28-04 ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM SAN ANTONIO IT DID IT AGAIN ONCE AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS TAKING THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY.*AK
Engine cooling 68,000 mi 3.8 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH OIL HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE A WEEK BEFORE. THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Speed control 404 mi 1.1 yr in service
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