Skip to content
Electrical systemPart report

2001 Toyota RAV4 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
60about this part
Share
19%of 309 total for the year
Median mileage
104,095miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 60 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Toyota RAV4, 19% of the 309 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 104,095 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“My wife was driving car and it started doing strange changes with the transmission, such as slipping between gear changes and jerking movements. At one point, she told me getting on freway on ramp was a hazard, because of irratic behavior of transmission!!”

NHTSA complaint #10970991, filed 2017-04, 135,000 miles

“October 11, 2012. On or about october 8 2012 I began having hesitation and jumping into gear as I am driving my 2001 RAV4. This happens mainly when accelerating from a stop sign/light. I am aware there has been a recall on many 2001 RAV4 vehicles. I bought my RAV4 from carmax in north attleboro mass on april 19 2012. So, I have not even had my vehicle for 5 months yet. …”

NHTSA complaint #10479841, filed 2012-10, 114,800 miles

“My 2001 Toyota RAV4 was jerking forward while driving causing me to almost cause a major accident while my 3 year old was in the car. The car would do this intermittently then it became worse. I was very scared to drive the car and had no choice but to borrow money so I could take the car in for repair costing me approx. 1800.00 to replace the ECM.”

NHTSA complaint #10325602, filed 2010-04, 103,690 miles

“On 10/13/2012 we purchased this vehicle. We headed south on a busy freeway and had the driver's side window down as we proceeded up the entrance ramp gaining speed to safely move on the freeway we attempted to close the power window by pulling up on the designated switch and experienced this window as soon as it closed would instantly go back down. Repeated attempts same outcome. …”

NHTSA complaint #10484982, filed 2012-11, 111,000 miles

“In our 2001 Toyota RAV4 we recently began experiencing difficulty transitioning between gears. The car jerks and takes a moment to shift. We took it into the dealership and were told that the computer and transmission needed to be replace. Upon researching this I have found hundreds on cases of the same thing happening to 2001-2003 RAV4 owners.”

NHTSA complaint #10302881, filed 2010-01, 114,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20251618%
20243218%
20234326%
20224027%
20214712%
202011919%
201910312%
201813039%
201710835%
20165925%
20158528%
20146935%
20137529%
20123012%
2011197%
2010154%
2009196%
2008275%
2007768%
2006426%
200564%
2004106%
20034213%
20029217%
20016019%
200013%
1999610%
199834%
199736%
199624%

Other parts of the 2001 Toyota RAV4

Transmission and drivetrain
190 complaintsEngine cooling
28 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsEngine
9 complaintsElectronic stability control
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsFuel 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 28, 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