What's Wrong with the 2nd Generation (2001–2005) RAV4?

RAV4 owners have made 918 complaints about the 2001–2005 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 75th out of 81 Toyota generations in overall reliability, with real transmission and engine concerns.

Compare With Other RAV4 Generations

Common 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Some of the worst issues 2nd generation RAV4 owners have to deal with.

  1. RAV4 ECM Transmission Failure

    There are a ton of vehicles out there eligible for the title of 'worst transmission on the road' and the 2001-2003 RAV4 is in the mix. Harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear, sluggish acceleration and ultimately transmission failure are …

    Continue reading article "RAV4 ECM Transmission Failure"

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

2nd Generation (2001–2005) RAV4 Key Numbers

  1. 5 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 918 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 75th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 81 eligible generations.

Recent 2nd Generation (2001–2005) RAV4 News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.