2001 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 418 complaints about the 2001 Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 45.7% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of electrical system at 14.4%.
Complaints418
Crashes28
Fires2
Injuries17
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Power train 45.7% · 191
Electrical system 14.4% · 60
Engine and engine cooling 6.7% · 28
Vehicle speed control 5.5% · 23
Service brakes, hydraulic 5.0% · 21
Air bags 3.1% · 13
Visibility 2.9% · 12
Unknown or other 2.9% · 12
Severity
Of those complaints, 28 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire, 17 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Toyota RAV4 in this data, 2001 sits 10th by complaint volume. 2007 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 19 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 104,568 miles.
In owners' own words
2001 Toyota RAV4 - manufacturer-programmed ecm failure leading to hard shifting, problems accelerating, and misfiring. Unfortunately, Toyota is only covering the repair cost if under 80,000 miles. Appears this is happening to many people no matter what the mileage is and since this is a safety issue, a recall should be made to repair this free of charge to the owner. I had to pay over $1300 to get this fixed. Power train · reported at 114,250 miles
The transmission will not accelerate and then something suddenly "kicks in" and the truck will go- nearly been rear-ended numerous times- this is a big safety issue- told it's going to be a $4,000 transmission replacement- only 102k miles, like new. Also, at traffic lights, won't accelerate and people get ticked and need to pass and can't- numerous online complaints- add this. Unacceptable for Toyota. Power train · reported at 102,000 miles
I have an automatic 2001 RAV4. While driving we noticed the hard shifting into different gears. Then it started to lurch and stall. It happened sporadically. Then within a week's time every instance you drove it this happened. It took two times before my mechanic saw that it needed a new transmission, and a new computer that talks to the transmission(ecm engine control module) which they installed. Power train · reported at 68,860 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…