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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2001 Toyota RAV4Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 314 owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota RAV4. Most complaints involve power train (190) and electrical system (60). The EPA rates it 22–72 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22–72mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
0campaigns
NHTSA
Owner complaints
314
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$1,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

NHTSA campaigns for this model year
0 recalls found in NHTSA data for the 2001 Toyota RAV4 as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

314 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2000 – Jan 2024
  1. Power train190
  2. Electrical system60
  3. Engine and engine cooling29
  4. Vehicle speed control22
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  6. Air bags14
  7. Engine9
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)8
  9. Visibility8

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each RAV4 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199647
199757
199885
199963
200040
2001314
2002555
2003327
2004154
2005141
2006704
20071,003
2008575
2009327
2010400
2011287
2012266
2013261
2014207
2015305
2016239
2017307
2018333
2019884
2020639
2021389
2022149
2023164
2024176
202594
Crashes reported
19
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
12
Deaths reported
4
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

190 reports2 crashes
“MY2001RAV4 WITH 125000 STARTED JUMPING INTO GEAR ALSO THE RPM REVS UP BUT VECHICLE LOSSES POWER VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERK INTO GEARS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2021Power train, Electrical systemODI 11399628

Electrical system

60 reports2 fires
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED DOING STRANGE CHANGES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SUCH AS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND JERKING MOVEMENTS. AT ONE POINT, SHE TOLD ME GETTING ON FREWAY ON RAMP WAS A HAZARD, BECAUSE OF IRRATIC BEHAVIOR OF TRANSMISSION!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2017Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10970991

Engine and engine cooling

29 reports
“JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 WITH ONLY 95,000 MILES. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SO IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600. THEN TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE O2 SENSOR, THAT BILL WAS NEARLY $350. NOW FOR THE ICING ON THE CAKE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT REPAIR, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT IN TO GEAR, LUNGED FORWARD AND I NEARLY RAN OVER SOME CHILDREN AT A BUS STOP! THE DEALER SAID THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ECM AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE ECM WAS REPLACED AT NEARLY $1100 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS! DEALER SAID NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THAT COST IS $5700 AND I CAN'T AFFORD IT. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHY CAN'T THE GOVERNMENT MANDATE THAT TOYOTA HAS TO STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM? CHILDREN WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WILL NOT DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT IT. VERY SAD. *TR *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10551642
All 2001 RAV4 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
Electric motor · 2.0L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
2-Wheel Drive · Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity · Regular Gasoline
EV range
88 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
RAV4 EV
· 2-Wheel Drive
816472$1,050—
RAV4 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
222824$2,700370
RAV4 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212623$2,800386
RAV4 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900404
RAV4 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900404
  • RAV4 EV
    81 city · 64 hwy · $1,050/yr
    72
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    22 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    21 city · 26 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    20 city · 25 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    20 city · 25 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Toyota RAV4 as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4242
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2001 RAV4 questions

How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota RAV4 have?

0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Oct 27, 2026.

What are the most common 2001 Toyota RAV4 problems?

Owners filed 314 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (190), electrical system (60), engine and engine cooling (29). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2001 Toyota RAV4 get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Toyota RAV4 at 22–72 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026