There are 4 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Toyota RAV4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ON THE SUBJECT DATE I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WITH CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME. THERE WAS A CURB AND AN ISLAND, WITH A TREE IN IT, IN FRONT OF ME. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE; I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT IT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT THE TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS BUT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION BASED ON PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR. I AM SEEKING, AT THE VERY LEAST, REPAIR OF MY CAR. BASED ON THE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR CAR, I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE WHICH THE NHTSA CAN GIVE ME REGARDING HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY BEING EXAMINED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOYOTA COMPANY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE WHICH YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE K-FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE K-FRAME AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SQUEAKING/CRUNCHING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF. MY MECHANIC HAS PUT PACKING BEHIND MY RADIO AND IN THE VICINITY AND FOR THE FIRST DAY THE NOISE IS GONE BUT IT ALWAYS RETURNS. IT IS HORRIBLE IN THE WINTER IN THE MIDWEST WHEN EVERYTHING IS COLD AND STIFF BUT GETS A LITTLE MORE TOLERABLE WHEN ITS HOT AND HUMID. *TR
CRUNCHING NOISE IN DASH BOARD ALTHOUGH REPAIRED 4 TIMES BY DEALER NOISE IS STILL EVIDENT. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026