2003 Toyota RAV4 consumer reviews

I love this car, however I'm having some problems.. After I have driven it a few hours and shut it off it won't start. I have had it checked put on a computer they can't find anything wrong. I just got stuck again, drove around doing errands took the kids to Dunkin Donuts went inside a few minutes came out and it wouldn't start. You have to leave it a few hours before you can start it...

Bought this car almost two years ago for my daughter. Great until transmission problems popped up. Understand it's a common problem with this generation of RAV4. Ours is a 2003. We'll see how the dealership handles this, but I've read that Toyota won't be of much help.

I don't know what the reviews below are all about, but I bought this car in 2003 and it has been a gem.

There is a structual defect where the threads in the aluminum block become stripped and this has resulted in the head bolts being unable to stay in, spread the word... i just paid this car off, 5 years old, and it is now worthless! Toyota will not act on this, as of yet.

Once I bought my Rav, I felt like I had found the perfect size SUV for me. I love the body style, it has excellent handling, and is the right fit for a single person or family, it's just how you view yourself in the car. During the first few weeks of driving my Rav, I was saying to myself, "if anything happens to this car, I want another one, nothing else." It's a wonderful driving experience.

Well, I purchased this car new back in 2003 and I now have 42,500 miles on it. The only problems I've had so far are as follows: 1) sunroof started leaking about two months after purchase - took it into Toyota and they gave me a brand new sunroof at no cost and have not had a problem again 2) my remote starter that Toyota installed for me has been giving me continuous problems, for some reason it stops and simply needs to be reset. Toyota refuses to reset it for me saying I must have did something to it. So I go to my local car audio workshop and they reset it for free and it takes 10 minutes. Personally, I think Toyota should just give me a new remote starter, but oh well. Besides that, I have had simply no other problems at all. The car is easy to drive, easy to park, and rides beautifully. With 4wd, it also easily xxxxxxthrough all the New England snow we get very nicely. Of course, now that my hubby and I are thinking about starting a family, I'm looking for a bigger car, as the RAV4, just with just us and our big 90 pound black lab is getting tight by the time we pack to go away on vacations. I have my eye on the Traiblazer!!!!!! :) But I do hate to trade in my Rav4, knowing how much warranty I have left (7 years, 70,000 miles) and knowing that there is simply nothing wrong with it, just that it's getting too small for us. Also want to mention, it's is GREAT on gas!!!!!! $22 bucks fills it for a week and a half for me (gas here is $2.97 right now). So all in all, I highly recommend this car for couples/singles with pets and maybe just one child. If you have more htan one child/one dog, I think the Rav4 is going to get too small for you, as it is for me.

I've had my eyes on the RAV4 for the past 2 years, and was always very curious about the very small suv. I've been very pleased w/ my purchase. Buying it as certified used on the toyota dealership, the price of the car included a 7 yr/100,000 mile warranty, you can't beat that. Very happy!!! And with the reliability that toyota cars, trucks, and suv's offer, I don't think I'll have many problems.