Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota RAV4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train190
- Electrical system60
- Engine and engine cooling28
- Vehicle speed control22
- Service brakes, hydraulic19
- Air bags13
- Unknown or other12
- Engine9
- Visibility8
- Electronic stability control (esc)8
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 26 2001 RAV4 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Toyota RAV4 failed the safety check 1.61% of the time — 20% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 152,423 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2001 Toyota RAV4 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 1.8 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 471 |
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 197 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
697 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 45% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €29,966.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde360
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk228
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse193
- Band onvoldoende profiel167
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm165
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen144
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld130
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt128
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,289 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,037 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,095 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 60% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.3% | 19.3% |
| Suspension | 8.2% | 15.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.1% | 6.8% |
| Brakes | 5.3% | 13.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.9% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 3.0% | 7.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
97 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 321,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1,059 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 56% arrived as used imports, 43% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 10.9 L/100 km (about 22 mpg US), CO₂ 251 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 9.6 | 10.9 |
| RAV4 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.0 | 9.5 | 10.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2001 Toyota RAV4.
| 2021723 24 Nov 2021 | Electrical Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicl… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2001 Toyota RAV4.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Toyota told its dealers about the 2001 Toyota RAV4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634045 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CALIBRATION UPDATE - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0420 OR P0430 AND ENHANCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *TT |
| 634014 | SPECIAL SERVICE TOOLS - THE NEW IMMOBILIZER RESET FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE REGISTRATION OF A NEW MASTER KEY EVEN IF ALL ORIGINAL MASTER KEYS ARE LOST. *TT |
| 631928 | SUBJECT REGARDING IMPROVEMENT TO THE REAR WIPER WASHER NOZZLE. *SLC |
| 628678 | INFORMATION ON NOISE FROM TOP OF DASH. *TT |
| 628677 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A RATTLE OR BUZZ SOUND FROM THE ROOF RACK ASSEMBLY WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROUGH ROADS. *TT |
| 627416 | SUBJECT REGARDING TICK NOISE AT BASE OF WINDSHIELD. *YD |
| 627397 | SQUEAK AND RATTLE SERVICE TIPS. *YD |
| 627202 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR BRAKE SQUEAL NOISE. *YD |
| 622975 | SUBJECT REGARDING BRANICK SPRING ADAPTER. *ET |
| 622728 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *JB |
| 622294 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO BRAKE PADS, ON REDUCING NOISE.*JB |
| 621997 | ELECTRONIC MESSAGE REGARDING FRONT BRAKE GROAN NOISE. *TT |
| 621993 | ELECTRONIC MESSAGE REGARDING PROGRAMMING OF OEM WIRELESS DOOR LOCK REMOTE TRANSMITTERS. *TT |
| 621982 | THIS BULLETIN CLARIFIES INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE REPAIR MANUAL REGARDING THE PROGRAMMING OF OEM WIRELESS REMOTES ON CERTAIN 2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *TT |
| 619099 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING HEADLAMP SERVICEABILITY. *TT |
| 619098 | ECU (ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT) FLASH REPROGRAMMING PROCESS. *TT |
| 616112 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT LICENSE PLATE INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 616109 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPARE WHEEL COVER INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 616108 | ROOF RACK CROSS BAR INSTALLATION DURING PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE. *TT |
| 616077 | FRONT LICENSE PLATE INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 616072 | SUBJECT REGARDING SPARE WHEEL COVER INSTALLATION DURING PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE. *TT |
| 616053 | ROOF RACK CROSS BAR INSTALLATION DURING PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE. *TT |
| 614210 | TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING CUT FUSE INSTALLATION DURING PREDELIVERY SERVICE (PDS). *TT |
| 11007445 | The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation |
| 11007444 | To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)