2003 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2003 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2003 Toyota RAV4. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
315 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Toyota RAV4 have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,457 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 90 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 depre”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2023 · Power train
“The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 16, 2023 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 2WD, RAV4 4WD, RAV4 EV). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–78 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–87 / 25–69 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Toyota RAV4 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 47 |
| 1997 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 54 |
| 1998 Toyota RAV4 | 4 | 77 |
| 1999 Toyota RAV4 | 4 | 62 |
| 2000 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 30 |
| 2001 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 309 |
| 2002 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 527 |
| 2003 Toyota RAV4 | 0 | 315 |
| 2004 Toyota RAV4 | 2 | 154 |
| 2005 Toyota RAV4 | 5 | 141 |
| 2006 Toyota RAV4 | 11 | 705 |
| 2007 Toyota RAV4 | 14 | 1,004 |
| 2008 Toyota RAV4 | 14 | 575 |
| 2009 Toyota RAV4 | 15 | 327 |
| 2010 Toyota RAV4 | 14 | 400 |
| 2011 Toyota RAV4 | 11 | 287 |
| 2012 Toyota RAV4 | 5 | 260 |
| 2013 Toyota RAV4 | 2 | 257 |
| 2014 Toyota RAV4 | 4 | 197 |
| 2015 Toyota RAV4 | 4 | 305 |
| 2016 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 240 |
| 2017 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 307 |
| 2018 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 331 |
| 2019 Toyota RAV4 | 7 | 879 |
| 2020 Toyota RAV4 | 6 | 635 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 | 1 | 387 |
| 2022 Toyota RAV4 | 1 | 147 |
| 2023 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 157 |
| 2024 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 176 |
| 2025 Toyota RAV4 | 3 | 88 |
Checking a specific 2003 Toyota RAV4
How do I know if my 2003 Toyota RAV4 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
- 4Runner4,860 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.