Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2002)

527 consumer complaints on file.

#10286327October 5, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ERRATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION, E.G. SEVERE SLIPPING AND IMPROPER DOWNSHIFTING WHICH CAUSES RAPID DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION TO FOLLOWING DRIVERS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTED FROM FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THIS CAR'S ECU WAS RECENTLY REPROGRAMMED BY TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSB EG010-02. THIS TSB ADDRESSES SPURIOUS CATALYTIC CONVERTER ERROR CODES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286182October 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
YESTERDAY, 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND HESITATE JEOPARDIZING PASSENGER SAFETY. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA ISSUED TSB 00206 BUT CHOSE NOT TO RECALL OR OTHERWISE INFORM CUSTOMERS. FURTHER I UNDERSTAND REPLACEMENT ECM IS OVER $1,000 AND A TRANSMISSION REBUILD MAY COST NEARLY $4,500. TOYOTA EVIDENTLY IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT OR OTHERWISE OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286196October 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 RAV 4 WITH 60K MILES AND THE ECM IS FAULTY AND IS CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO SLIP, FLARE UP, AND ALMOST GOT ME KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT AD MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC UNTIL IT FINALLY GRABBED AND WENT FORWARD. NOW, I HAVE TO SPEND $4000 TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FIXED AT 60K MILES. I AM OUTRAGED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS FAULTY COMPUTER ECM. IT'S DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I WILL BE CONTACTING AN ATTORNEY AS 1000'S OF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND DISCUSS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286092October 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN
ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. THE GEARS SHIFTED REALLY HARD AND IT STARTED SLIPPING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SLIPPING KEPT ME IN AN INTERSECTION FOR TOO LONG. *TR IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/ I CALLED YOU YESTERDAY, AND WAS TOLD TO CALL TOYOTA. INDEED, THEY SENT ME TO A DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO SPEND $1546 TO REPLACE A COMPUTER IN CHARGE OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE THAT WAS REPLACED, THEY COULD TELL ME IF THE TRANSMISSION HAS OTHER PROBLEMS. A GOOGLE SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS RECOGNIZED PREVIOUSLY. PLEASE HURRY WITH THIS INVESTIGATION, AS SOMEONE MAY GET KILLED IF YOU GO TOO SLOW. THESE COMPUTERS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, AND KEEP AMERICANS SAFE BY RECALLING THESE CARS FOR REPAIR OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285963October 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH TRANSMISSION/ECM PROBLEMS. MY ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT TO ALL OF TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IT IS AS FOLLOWS: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IS: TC002-06, REVISED MARCH 3, 2006: "SOME 2001 ? 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A HARSH SHIFT CONDITION AND/OR M.I.L. ?ON? WITH DTC P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, AND/OR P1760 STORED. IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) (SAE TERM: POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING. USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE" IT GOES ON TO SAY REPLACE THE ECM/ECU AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA DID NOT NOTIFY ANY CONSUMER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOW THAT MANY OF US ARE JUST NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND AFTER RESEARCHING IT LEARNING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND IT IS HAPPENING WITH MANY OF THE SAME MODEL CAR- MAINLY THE 2002. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR MY CAR WOULD BE A COSTLY $9,000.00. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA INTENTIONALLY KEPT FROM CONSUMERS TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS TO THEMSELVES. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED I WOULD HAVE HAD THE ECU/ECM REPLACE IN 2006 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE 121 COMPLAINTS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THIS JUST STARTED WITH MY CAR 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO GEAR ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 20 MPH AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 40 MPH...THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 6000 RPM'S AND JUST SAT THERE IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS CAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. I AM VERY UPSET AND FEEL I WAS NOT DEALT A FAIR HAND WITH THIS CAR - TOYOTA WOULD ONLY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BASED ON A CUSTOMERS SPECIFIC COMPLAINT UNDER 80K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285994October 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN
TOYOTA RAV4 MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS. I WAS JUST AT A LIGHT, AND IT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. I ALMOST GOT HIT. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285659September 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. AFTER EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON (THE SAME EVENING THAT I EXPERIENCED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM). I TOOK IT INTO AN AUTO CENTER AND THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS CODE # P0755 - STORED IN SYSTEM SOLENOID B MALFUNCTION. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ECM. THEY TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND THAT TOYOTA SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES OR EIGHT YEARS FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR HAS ALMOST 97,000 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS NOT COVERED. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ARTICLE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/?SCP=1&SQ=RAV4%20OWNERS%20FUME%20OVER%20TOYOTA%E2%80%99S%20HANDLING%20OF%20TRANSMISSION%20GLITCH&ST=CSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285500September 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 92,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. PUT OVER $3,400 INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED. PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER $1,000 TO GET COMPUTER REPLACED. STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR NOT OFFERING ANY KIND OF FIX TO THIS SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284833September 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO "ROUGHLY" SHIFT. ALMOST LOST POWER ON FREEWAY. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY. NO WARNING OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS WORKING PERFECTLY EARLIER IN THE DAY. DROVE HOME IN SLOW LANE WITH HAZARDS ON. AFRAID ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN ON FREEWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284894September 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY BOGGING DOWN AND HARD JERKY SHIFTING. I'M UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE CAR LOOSES FORWARD MOMENTUM. I ENCOUNTERED A CLOSE CALL WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THE RAV4 BOGGED DOWN, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I NARROWLY MISSED BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I LIVE IN A LOW TRAFFIC AREA. MY MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AND BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY MODULE THERE MAY BE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM STATING MY RAV4 IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILES ( I HAVE ABOUT 118,000 MILES) AND TIME. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284599September 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A SAFETY PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED ENGAGED THE GEARS CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OR TRYING TO TURN WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING AND NOT KNOWING IF OR WHEN THE CAR WOULD MOVE OR ENGAGE GEARS WAS FRIGHTENING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OVERNIGHT. WITH 47,717 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS BECAUSE TOYOTA HAS PUT A FAULTY COMPUTER INTO THE 2002 RAV4 THAT MAKES THE PARTS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAIL. TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR ISSUE A RECALL. PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL WHEN SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED? TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER BUT TOYOTA REPLACED THE COMPUTER WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN THERE BY THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WHY WOULD TOYOTA REPLACE THE COMPUTER IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM? PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEEDED REPAIRS SO THAT THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE! THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284110September 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, THE CAR BEGIN SHIFTING HARD INTO REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR. AT SOME TIMES THE SHIFTING WOULD STALL, I.E. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR RIGHT AWAY AND WHEN IT WOULD, IT WOULD SHIFT HARD. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND LEARNED ABOUT THE ECM/ECU PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING 01-04 TOYOTA RAV 4S TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES ON THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY TESTED THE ECM AND SAID IT WAS FINE AND TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $4,100. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION CARE CENTER. I HAD THE SOLENOID B REPLACED FOR $560 BECAUSE THIS WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, SO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED FOR A TOTAL OF $3,100. THE TECH STATED THERE WAS ABOUT 200,000 MILES WORTH OF WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR ITSELF ONLY HAS 90,000. THERE WERE VARIOUS PIECES THAT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY DUE TO WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION; THESE WERE REPLACED. THE CAR IS STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING-THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE ECM/ECU MALFUNCTIONING. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHERE THEY ARE TOLD THE ECM/ECU IS FINE, HAVE THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THEN THE CAR STILL MALFUNCTIONS AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE ECM/ECU REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284218September 16, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR HESITATING AND JERKING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY FIX THIS FAULTY ECM IF THE CAR IN UNDER 80,000 MILES, MINE HAD 80,800. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283925September 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESISTATED 30 TO 45 SECONDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR AND ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. THE DEALER FLUSHED OUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACED IT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSUME THE REPAIR COSTS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS A DEFECT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283822September 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BECAUSE THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SENSOR SYSTEMS THAT CAUSING IT TO STALL. AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I ALMOST GOT REAR-END TWICE. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FIXED AT A COST OF $3000 WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A RECALL WAS DONE. BECAUSE THE STALLING OUT SCARED ME SO BAD. I HAVE IT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283641September 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/08/09.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283043September 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4L. MY PROBLEMS STARTED YESTERDAY. THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT STALLS AS IF THE CAR WERE PUT INTO NEUTRAL AT 20MPH AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 40MPH. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS WAS PUSHED IT JUST REVVED THE ENGINE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I PURCHASED IT IN DEC OF 2006 AND AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ I HAVE THE SAME TYPE ISSUE AS MOST OTHERS- THE ECM. THIS IS UNSAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FESS UP. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN EARLY 2006 BECAUSE A TSB WAS SENT OUT TO ALL TOYOTA DEALERS. IF WE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR IN 2006 THE 2002 WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY STILL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY KEPT IT QUIET UNTIL NOW AND PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON. I HAVE SENT A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AND AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO IN THIS CASE. I AM WILLING TO TAKE IT AS FAR AS I NEED TO GO TO MAKE THEM REPAIR THE CAR AT NO COSTS TO ME. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THE CAR THAT WHAT THE VALUE OF THE CAR ACTUALLY IS AT THIS POINT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DECEPTION AND THE INCONVENIENCE AND LACK OF CONCERN OF THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER FROM TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283015September 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AROUND THE 1ST OF JULY MY TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTING JERKING AND REFUSED TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR. THE RAV 4 HAS HAD ALL OF THE REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM WERE GOING OUT. I HAD MY 16 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DID NOT REALIZED THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR AROUND 3 YEARS UNTIL I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY IMMEDIATELY. I AM JUST NOW LEARNING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED TOYOTA CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE BUT OF COURSE THE TOYOTA COMPANY WILL NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. IF MY GRANDSON AND I HAD BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY I DO FEEL THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DEVASTATING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282747September 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ON AUGUST 22ND, 2009 I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND PICK UP SPEED. ONCE IT DID GET MOVING, THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY PICK UP SPEED. EVERYTIME I WOULD COME TO A STOPLIGHT, I WOULD BE DEATHLY AFRAID THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START UP AGAIN AND THAT I WOULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD SLOW DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THEN JERK VIOLENTLY FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED EVERYTIME I DROVE. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED A SHOP. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP GETTING REBUILT AT A COST OF $3,000+ I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION BUT WOULD SEND IT TO BE REMANUFACTURED AT A COST OF NO LESS THAN $5,000. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH 2002 RAV4 OWNERS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THIS FOR A WHILE BUT DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. APPARENTLY THE ISSUES IS WITH A FAULTY ECM THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT, MOST OF THE CARS ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE COST IS LEFT UP TO THE CONSUMER. MY FEAR IS THAT EVEN WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ECM, IT IS GOING TO RE-OCCUR AND I AM GOING TO INCUR ANOTHER STAGGERING REPAIR BILL. I CALLED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE NUMBER AND SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER CARE REP WHO ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AT THE TIME ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THAT I COULD NOT SPEAK TO HIS MANAGER AS THEY DO NOT TALK TO CONSUMERS. I WANT TOYOTA TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. HAD THEY NOTIFIED THEIR BUYERS TO REPLACE THEIR ECM'S AHEAD OF TIME, THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THESE COSTLY REPAIRS DOWN THE LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282462August 31, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR JUST BEGAN JERKING AFTER I PUT GAS IN ONE DAY. I WAITED A WEEK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT GOT WORSE. THE DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULD BARELY DRIVE. IT WOULD HESITATE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY 150 MILES BEFORE THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ECU AND IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM MASKED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE O2 SENSOR, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER 2 DAYS. SO I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota RAV4