Skip to content
Vehicle speed controlPart report

2003 Toyota RAV4 Vehicle speed control Problems

Complaints
29about this part
Share
9%of 315 total for the year
Median mileage
103,150miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 29 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Toyota RAV4, 9% of the 315 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 103,150 miles. 3 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.

“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 was sticking...I parked it at home and next morning I had it checked and diagnosed as solenoid problem causing transmission burnout...also Toyota revealed problems with the ECM and transmission failure”

NHTSA complaint #11119009, filed 2018-08, 79,279 miles

“Pulling into parking space, vehicle suddenly accelerated. Had I not already had my foot on brake pedal to stop, damage to other vehicle would have been much worse. Witness' said vehicle lurched upward just before acceleration. I slammed it into park and cut engine to make it stop. Afterwards, trying to get it home, when I took foot off gas pedal, the car would shutter and almost die, causing me to have to put it into neutral and rev engine to keep it from dying.”

NHTSA complaint #10424676, filed 2011-09, 138,000 miles

“Experience a hard shift jerking motion when driving my car and almost got hit twice due to the car jerking and immediately slowing down. I took it in to kendall Toyota of anchorage right away and then read online that there was a class action lawsuit and enhanced warranty of 2001-2003 toyotas because of the malfunction of the ECM and transmission. This car is not safe to drive! Toyota kendall said it would be $6,000 to replace both the ECM and transmission and that Toyota would only pay half because the car was 10 years old. …”

NHTSA complaint #10551328, filed 2013-11, 65,507 miles

“2003 RAV4 with automatic transmission started having trouble accelerating from a stop. There seemed to be hardly any power when the gas pedal was pressed, and then about 5-8 seconds later the car would jolt into gear. This problem would happen also when increasing speed, or any time the gas pedal was pressed down. The car was taken to an auto shop where they said the transmission was broken and needed to be replaced. I am a very conservative driver (I never try to accelerate too quickly), and this trusty Toyota hasn't ever had any engine problems... Ever! …”

NHTSA complaint #10548647, filed 2013-10, 76,970 miles

“The car would engage 2nd and 3rd gears at the same time causing temporary lock up of the rear wheels and loss of control. Found out about a TSB and class action suite regarding this issue affecting the ecu while researching the problem. Contacted Toyota regarding the issue and they informed me that my 2003 RAV4 was not covered because it had been put in service june of 2003. I am appalled this is not a recall as it is clearly a safety issue if loss of control of the vehicle is possible. This could be fatal if it were to happen to on a slippery road or going around a corner.”

NHTSA complaint #10522762, filed 2013-07, 127,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Vehicle speed control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202578%
2024127%
202374%
202275%
202162%
2020152%
2019303%
2018206%
2017134%
2016125%
2015217%
201474%
2013177%
20124919%
20116924%
20108321%
20099930%
20089216%
200710110%
20067411%
2005139%
20042013%
2003299%
2002367%
2001227%
2000723%
19991423%
19981216%
1997713%
199612%

Other parts of the 2003 Toyota RAV4

Transmission and drivetrain
209 complaints
Electrical system
42 complaints
Engine cooling
26 complaints
Engine
21 complaints
Other or unknown
15 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints
Electronic stability control
7 complaints
Seat belts
7 complaints
Body and structure
6 complaints
Fuel system
5 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Steering
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 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