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BrakesPart report

2001 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems

Complaints
24about this part
Share
8%of 309 total for the year
Median mileage
103,400miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Toyota RAV4, 8% of the 309 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 103,400 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My 2001 rav 4 rear ended a car in front of me, and it was due to a major unintended acceleration of the engine. I am an experienced driver with no prior accidents and my foot was not on the wrong pedal when I was slowing down - applying my brake pedal when I was approaching a bumper to bumper congested intersection (around 5pm). …”

NHTSA complaint #11182047, filed 2019-02, 111,219 miles

“Vehicle accelerated by itself while driving at 45mph. I had to use both brakes to stop the car and experienced a harsh shift condition while trying to shift to park. Dealership checked it out and stated that the ECM has been reprogrammed in 2007 and they were unable to duplicate anything at this time because no warning light came on during the incident even though I reminded them about the class action lawsuit for 2001-2003 model year rav4s.”

NHTSA complaint #10627223, filed 2014-08, 177,882 miles

“I was traveling on a highway to work and it had been raining when I pressed my brakes to stop ( I barely pressed them) and my brakes locked and I couldn't stop. I tried to press a couple of times and even pumped them. I tried to get onto the shoulder and my steering locked. I was traveling 55 MPH before I tried stopping, and was never able to stop, and when I hit the car in front of me my airbags never deployed. My front end was smashed end and my vehicle was totaled. The lady I hit had just a dent in her bumper. I didn't have major injuries but I had some bruising and a knot on my knee. …”

NHTSA complaint #10313278, filed 2010-02, 90,000 miles

“Front disk brake rotor broke where it mounts to steel wheel resulting in the loss of braking action on that wheel. Upon taking to local Toyota dealer, front disk rotor was removed and showed stress fractures and separation from rotor assembly. This 2001 vehicle is equipped with steel wheels which Toyota did a recall on in 2000. The front disk rotors were original equipment and had never been machined.”

NHTSA complaint #10381932, filed 2011-02, 93,722 miles

“2001 Toyota Rav4 was sold at Auction, to a used car dealership. I purchased this car from the used car dealer on August 5, 2023. Unfortunately, the dealer tampered with the brakes. I witnessed their mechanic working on the rear brake system in person on August 4, 2023. The owner told me that because there was a noise coming from the rear, they were fixing it . Upon buying this car and driving it to a gas station, filled it up, much to my horror, gas spilled out. The gas tank has a leak in it. Also, upon driving it home the engine warning light suddenly illuminated. …”

NHTSA complaint #11553634, filed 2023-11

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202589%
2024169%
20231811%
202285%
2021215%
2020203%
2019364%
2018309%
20173812%
20164619%
20153110%
2014168%
2013239%
20123915%
20114817%
2010349%
2009319%
2008346%
2007475%
2006325%
2005118%
200485%
200331%
200251%
2001248%
200013%
199958%
19981621%
199759%
19961123%

Other parts of the 2001 Toyota RAV4

Transmission and drivetrain
190 complaints
Electrical system
60 complaints
Engine cooling
28 complaints
Vehicle speed control
22 complaints
Air bags
13 complaints
Other or unknown
12 complaints
Engine
9 complaints
Electronic stability control
8 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Steering
6 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2001 Toyota RAV4

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology