ShifteratiToyota RAV4 · 2nd gen (2001–2005)
2003 Toyota RAV4
This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.
Learn
What changed
- An optional sport package.1
What it came with
Colors
Interiors
Compare with another year
Buy
Watch out for
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
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Hard shifting and hesitation 2001–2003
What to check: Drive it from cold through every gear, and feel for jerks, slurred shifts and hesitation.
CarComplaints.com logs more complaints for the 2002 than for any other RAV4 year, most about shifting, jerking and hesitation, and puts the shifting problems down to a faulty engine control module.
Recalls
No recalls are listed for this year.
Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.
What buyers say
Reputation: what owners and the press report
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Avoid: 2001 to 2003 2001–2003 Less sought after One source so far
SlashGear says these years had a hard time, with transmission complaints at their worst in 2002.8
Before you pay
Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.