2003 Toyota RAV4: sudden loss of power

9 of the 315 complaints about the 2003 Toyota RAV4 describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints: 9
of this car's complaints: 3%
typical mileage: 84,072
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

2025
2
2024
2
2023
1
2022
5
2021
2
2020
9
2019
12
2018
14
2017
4
2016
4
2015
10
2014
6
2013
7
2012
4
2011
2
2010
3
2009
4
2008
4
2007
11
2006
5
2005
1
2004
1
2003
9
2002
11
2001
10
1999
1
1996
1

What owners say

Filed Sep 15, 2016 · Fuel system · 84,072 miles · NY

2003 rav 4 85,401 miles. The transmission began to miss shift, engine would speed up and there would be a loss of power. From a stopped position the engine would rev and not shift into gear. Toyota tech advises that the vehicle requires new computer and transmission , a $6,000 expense. Mind you that this vehicle is 13 years old but has only 85,000 original miles and has been maintained. Toyota advises no warranty effect for the vehicle. The vehicle was being driven on a main highway ( sunrise highway long island) when malfunction occurred.

Filed Aug 21, 2016 · Engine · MN

While driving engine light started blinking, the vehicle lost power and smelled bad odor. My first complaint was filed with the federal safety agency in 2012, and I took my vehicle to maplewood toyoa, mn 55109, in 2012 and they did not fix it. It is serious issue of safety with the engine / transmission

Filed Aug 21, 2016 · Engine · 90,831 miles · MN

While driving engine light started blinking, the vehicle lost power. And smelled bad odor. My first complaint was filed with the federal safety agency in 2012, and I took my vehicle to maplewood toyota, mn 55109, in 2012 and they did not fix it. It is serious issue of safety with the engine / transmission

Filed Apr 5, 2012 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · MN

My car lost power. I could not drive more than 10 miles an hour. Intermittent loss of power happened several times last years and this years. Just recently on 04/04/2012 at 4:55pm I was driving with my wife and her sister and I had to pull on shoulder and turned on hazard warning light and drive in lower gear ( 2nd gear ).

Filed Jul 1, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 86,000 miles · ME

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 30 MPH when the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. When the contact shifted into reverse gear, the vehicle began to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the electronic control module and the transmission had failed. The manufacturer stated that the warranty was no longer valid; therefore, they would not provide any assistance with the repair repair cost. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileage was 86,000.

Filed Mar 3, 2010 · Transmission · 65,050 miles · AR

1. Jerking transmission at low speed 2. Loss of power 3. Dealer replaced ECM to transmission (warranty) in accordance with tsb.

Filed Aug 5, 2009 · Transmission · 94,395 miles · VA

Transmission is hesitating, jerking, stalling, loss of power, and RPM's racing in lower gears of my 2003 rav4 - automatic transmission.

Filed Sep 9, 2008 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. Whenever the vehicle is at a complete stop, it lost power. If the air conditioning were to be on, the vehicle would not lose power. While driving when the vehicle changed gears there wasn't a smooth transition and the vehicle would jerk. He took the vehicle to aamco transmission and the mechanic stated that the vehicle has a worn clutch. Also, the second and third gears failed. The contact was informed that the cause for the transmission failure was due to a faulty power train control module. The dealer stated that there was no recall; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The dealer also stated that the vehicle would have to have less than 80,000 miles for the warranty to be in effect. The current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Nov 29, 2004 · Engine · 22,000 miles · TX

While driving to san antonio on 11-26 2004 my toyota rav4 just lost power and shut off while in heavy traffic on I-37 I pulled over and it started right up.I've taken the vehicle in on three other occasions and have been told that nothing wrong could be found with the vehicle.on 11-28-04 about two blocks from my home on the return trip from san antonio it did it again once again I pulled over and it started right up. I feel that this could be very dangerous and life threatening and I don't think that the toyota company is taking this problem seriously.