Most common 2001 Toyota RAV4 problems
Share of the 309 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota RAV4 complaints by model year
Best RAV4 years: 2014. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025. Compare all years →
What 2001 Toyota RAV4 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 190 →
My 2001 silver Toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when I was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. I was applying brake pressure from 20 MPH, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 MPH, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a matter of 3, or 4-5 seconds (the engine/RPM sounded similar one would hear when you would be accelerating entering a freeway via the entrance ramp). My rav 4 shot forward so fast like it was on some rocket launching pad. My foot was on my brake pedal almost to the car floor and I could not stop the car from moving into the back - and rear ending the car in front of me which was about 10-15 feet in front of me, that was stopped waiting for the light to turn green at the already congested stop light intersection. …
My rav 4 2001 has about 140,000 miles on it and has developed a serious problem. To clarify, a massive acceleration problem is occurring when I've been driving the car for 15 to 20 minutes, then suddenly - while I'm at a stop light, the SUV's engine races wildly loud like what you hear at the indy 500... It jerked and felt like it internally controlled my accelerator foot pad! I had to apply a massive amount of pressure on the brake pad before I had a chance to quickly shift my car into park to prevent running over pedestrians and hitting cars in front of me at the stop light! My rav 4 engine was still racing loudly wanting to shoot forward like a rocket! I have had the faulty ECM replacement recall done when Toyota issued a warning to have the RAV4 ECU unit replaced several years ago. Now I'm experiencing this engine racing/acceleration problem with my rav 4. …
Electrical system all 60 →
My wife drove the 2001 Toyota rav 4 to work this morning. It was a 5 mile drive. After parking the car a fellow employee told her the car was on fire. The fire department responded and put the fire out. But the car was a total loss. The fire inspector located the origin of the fire, along the firewall directly in the middle of the wall, but said he was unable to determine the cause. He said no accelerant was used, and that the fire was probably the result of a cracked fuel-line or some other fluid leaking onto the engine. We noticed no fluids leaked onto the driveway at home. I am posting this in case any one else had a similar situation.
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!!
Engine & cooling all 37 →
My 2001 silver Toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when I was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. I was applying brake pressure from 20 MPH, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 MPH, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a matter of 3, or 4-5 seconds (the engine/RPM sounded similar one would hear when you would be accelerating entering a freeway via the entrance ramp). My rav 4 shot forward so fast like it was on some rocket launching pad. My foot was on my brake pedal almost to the car floor and I could not stop the car from moving into the back - and rear ending the car in front of me which was about 10-15 feet in front of me, that was stopped waiting for the light to turn green at the already congested stop light intersection. …
When I change gear or press accelerator to give gas, my car doesn't pick up race and doesn't shift the gear. It will do on its own. The engine light keeps coming turned on, even though thisngs have been replaced.
2001 Toyota RAV4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 2WD | 81 / 64 / 72 MPGe | 88 mi | |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 26 / 23 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Toyota RAV4 a good car?
Based on 309 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 RAV4 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the RAV4 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Toyota RAV4?
The transmission & drivetrain — 190 complaints, 61% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (60) and engine & cooling (37).
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Toyota RAV4. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota RAV4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025. See the full Toyota RAV4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Toyota RAV4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 8% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.