Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota RAV4. While driving in reverse, the vehicle began to hesitate. The contact lightly engaged the brake pedal and the vehicle continued to hesitate. The contact also applied pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerated in reverse at a higher speed. The failure caused the contact to crash into a vehicle, a tree, and a pole which also caused the passenger side window to shatter. The shattered glass was lodged in the contact's nose and he was taken to the emergency room. The contact cannot confirm if the floor mats caused the failure to occur. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine if it was destroyed. The current and failure mileage were 73,000. Updated 03/07/11 updated 11/17/11
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
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota RAV4. The driver was traveling in a parking lot at about 8 MPH. The driver stated that she engaged the brakes and her vehicle immediately accelerated up to 35 MPH. The driver stated that she crashed into a guard rail, into an embankment, and into an office building. She has mailed a letter to the dealer and she has also called them. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 37,000.
Harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear, sluggish acceleration and transmission/electronic control module failure. Called Toyota regarding the extended warrenty. They refused to honor the extended warranty despite not providing notice to the correct address.
The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks
I have a Toyota RAV4 2003. My car is running so weird and I am afraid that it will cause an accident and put my life at risk. I am driving on a freeway (65-70 MPH ' 36miles everyday) a dangerous failure to speed up and suddenly slowing down and choking. We took my car at the dealer twice and tell them what happened. At first they told us the problem, that we need to replace/change/repair the air filter/air pilometer, we replaced it. But then same thing happened the next day (everyday), failure speed up and suddenly slowing down and chocking while I am driving'. We brought it again at the dealer and they just told us that they already diagnosed it (twice) but their computer cannot locate the 'code' thing from the computer, which tells them if the car has a problem or not. I asked them that if they diagnosed it how come they cannot locate the problem? …
Pulled up to an intersection on a highway where speed limit is 80 km/h. Stopped. Light goes green and I step on the gas only to have my vehicle lurch forward slowly and the car would jump in short spurts. I managed to pull off to the side as traffic came flying from behind. After a few minutes of sitting, I hit the gas again and got going like normal. Parked the car for four hours and then headed back home. Was making a turn at an intersection on the way home and problem happens again. Can't get going and the car jumps like it's stuck between neutral and drive. I shift it into second gear and the problem goes away. I shift it back to drive with no problems. Just as I drive up a hill close to my apartment, the problem happens again. This time I try shifting to both second and first gear but it makes no difference. I pull off to the side, shut off the car and wait five minutes. …
I own a 2003 rav 4 purchased used two years ago this April 2010. The car has 80,188 miles the VIN # is [redacted] my wife and I along with my 1 year old boy in the back seat (car seat) were driving into a parking lot of the local gym. When the car suddenly lunged forward almost causing her to run over a pedestrian. (I really mean run over, not just hit). I had a mechanic look at the car... He mentioned that this make and model are known for this issue... The engine control module (ECM) makes the car shift irregular in and out of 1st and 2nd gear ( my rav 4 is automatic). Better said... When the car is put into drive the car actually starts moving in second gear... Which makes it very sluggish.. When the driver presses the gas pedal to compensate, the car then unsuspectingly and suddenly downshifts into first gear causing the car to lunge forward out of control. …
Hi I own a Toyota RAV4 2003 since 2009 this is a serious safety issue. I am asking the NHTSA to order a recall to have Toyota fix this problem before someone gets killed or seriously injured. The problem is that the car often does not accelerate as it should. When headed up and accelerating from a stop, the car sputters before jerking into gear and accelerating. And then about 5-8 seconds later the car would jolt into gear. Also, when already moving and going up even a slight hill, when I press the accelerator to maintain speed, the car sputters as it shifts from second to third gear before jerking into third gear. Through the internet,I almost got hit a few times. …
On 9/30/2014 was trying to pull out of a parking lot to turn left and my car would not accelerate. I almost got hit by approaching cars that I would have ordinarily had plenty of time to clear. I was able to steer into the left turn lane and stop to avoid collision but had trouble after that picking up enough speed to get to the right lane. I took my car in immediately for inspection and it was noted that the transmission and ECM needed replaced. I have since found information on a recall I never received for defective ECM's that cause transmission failure. Apparently a 10 year or 150,000 extended warranty was issued in 2010, but I was also never informed of that. My mileage qualifies but I bought my car in dec 2002 so I am past the time limit. Since repairs exceed the blue book value of my car, it has no trade in value. …
Acceleration complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2003 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2003 Toyota RAV4, 9% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2003 Toyota RAV4. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.