Toyota · RAV4 · 2003
2003 Toyota RAV4
0
Recalls
314
Complaints
N/A
NCAP overall
The 2003 Toyota RAV4 has no recalls and 314 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most frequent stored component label: power train (158 reports).
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2003 Toyota RAV4 4-DR. NCAP Vehicle ID: 4884
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
For 2003 Toyota RAV4 problems, start with the powertrain complaint category, then read individual reports and the available recall status for context.
Source: NHTSA Public Records
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
- Complaints
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Recalls
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Safety ratings
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Investigations
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Manufacturer communications
- Separate successful check not recorded.
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.
Research Context
The 2003 Toyota RAV4 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most frequent complete stored component label is power train with 158 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to see whether the 2003 Toyota RAV4 reports cluster around one repeated symptom or spread across multiple systems.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- Check the linked investigations for extra ODI context if you want to see whether owner complaints escalated into formal defect review.
Key Takeaways
- The 2003 Toyota RAV4 currently shows no active NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 314 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows 1 NHTSA investigation linked to this page.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows no overall NHTSA safety rating in our current dataset.
- The most frequent complete stored component labels on this page are power train (158), engine and engine cooling (17), vehicle speed control (17).
Recommended Reading For This Search
If this page matches the question you searched for, these guides usually make the next step clearer before you compare nearby years or decide what to check on a specific vehicle.
- Vehicle
- 2003 Toyota RAV4
- Recalls
- 0
- Complaints
- 314
- Stored Configuration Overall Rating
- Not available in this dataset
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
A large powertrain complaint category does not establish one repair or a failure rate. For an older vehicle, maintenance history, mileage, and inspection findings also matter.
NHTSA Configuration Test Results
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2003 Toyota RAV4 4-DR. NCAP Vehicle ID: 4884
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
No overall score is available in our current dataset. The individual results below are not a combined safety rating; compare vehicles within the same test program and model year.
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
No rollover risk estimate available in this dataset
Safety Features
ESC: NoForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: No
Investigations
1 totalDPClosed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMOpened: Jan 27, 2023Closed: Aug 7, 2023Related recall: 22V063000
Owner Complaints
314 totalPOWER TRAIN
Jun 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would ...
Preview excerpt
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Jan 2, 2023
The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks
POWER TRAIN
Jun 10, 2020
I DRIVE AND THE SLEEP WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE CAN NOT CHANGE CORRECTLY THE GEAR. *TR
ENGINE
Feb 14, 2020
THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED AND ONLY 84000 MILES ON IT. AND THE CAR WONT SHIFT. IT JOLTS ME OR REVS EXTREMELY HIGH AND ALSO ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT AS IT ALMOST SHUT DOWN ON POWER WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN INTERSECTION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OF...
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POWER TRAIN
Nov 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE RPMS WOULD REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. T...
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POWER TRAIN
Oct 10, 2019
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED RAVING UP AND SHIFTING ALL CRAZY AND TAKEN TO SCAN TO SHOW A SHIFT SELINOID B TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP WHO SAYS IT'S COMPUTER AND SEE SEVERAL POST ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I AM A GRANDMA AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE HIM AROUND DON'T FEEL SAFE. IT WAS DRIVING ...
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POWER TRAIN
Feb 28, 2019
I JUST BOUGHT A ONE OWNER USED 2003 RAVA4 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR ALMOST 4MONTHS NOW AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, SOMETIMES IT JUMPS/BOUNCES. I LOOKED IT UP AND AM SEEING THAT ALOT OF PEOPL...
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ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Feb 13, 2019
ECM FAILED. ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE HAS 50,991 MI. ON IT . 16 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA AWARE OF PROBLEM-- EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS./150000. MI. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. SERVICE, STATED THAT I'M OUT OF LUCK. ORIGINAL PART CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE...
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AIR BAGS
CRASH1 injuryOct 16, 2018
MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY OCT /16/2018 A CHEVY VAN SEVERELY CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY 2003 RAV4 ,AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED .SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?WHAT SHOULD I DO?
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jul 19, 2018
TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ON MY WAY HOME LATE AFTERNOON...AUTO STARTED TO JERK AND FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS PULLING AT IT...IT SLOWED UP THEN JERKED AGAIN...IT CONTINUED ON...I WAS DRIVING AT 45 SPEED LIMIT...AS I WAS TURNING THE SHIFTING WAS SOUNDING LIKE IT ...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 314 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Toyota models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Toyota RAV4 Years
2004 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.2r152c2002 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.529c2005 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.5r141c2001 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.309c2006 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.11r2i704c2000 Toyota RAV4Compare this year against 2003 for complaint and recall shifts.3r30c
More 2003 Toyota Models
2003 Toyota CamryAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.1r3i815c2003 Toyota CorollaAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.13r4i755c2003 Toyota 4RunnerAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.3r2i695c2003 Toyota SequoiaAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.7r5i670c2003 Toyota TundraAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.10r4i398c2003 Toyota TacomaAnother 2003 Toyota option for same-year comparison.5r359c
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems are reported for the 2003 Toyota RAV4?
Powertrain concerns appear in the NHTSA owner reports on this page, alongside engine and vehicle-speed-control categories. Complaints are not recalls and do not establish one confirmed cause. An empty recall list in this dataset is not proof that a specific VIN has no outstanding safety action.
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota RAV4 have?
The 2003 Toyota RAV4 has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2003 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has received 314 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Toyota RAV4.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2003 Toyota RAV4?
An overall NHTSA safety rating is not available in our current dataset for the 2003 Toyota RAV4. Individual crash-test results may still be available.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota RAV4?
The most frequent complete stored component labels for the 2003 Toyota RAV4 are power train (158 reports), engine and engine cooling (17 reports), vehicle speed control (17 reports). These are exact-label counts, not broader component-group totals or confirmed defects.
Does the 2003 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2003 Toyota RAV4. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.