Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2002)

527 consumer complaints on file.

#10282358August 31, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AS I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HESITATED AND WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA ON DIXIE HIGHWAY, LOUISVILLE, KY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT FOR EVERY SERVICE. THEY PUT SOME TYPE OF FLUID SAID THAT THIS MAY FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO GET IT AND ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT RUN. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE BACK TO SEE THEM. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $4,000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282431August 31, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ECM FAILED ON 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUSING ERRATIC AUTO TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND CAR SPEED TO VARY WIDELY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WARNING. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY WARNING. I HAD TO PAY A REPAIR BILL OF $5358.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282087August 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 THAT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE IT WOULD JERK AND JOLT THIS IS HOW IT STARTED. THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT STARTED DOING THIS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND SO ON. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS OF THIS I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT IT. THEY CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY SAYING THAT THEY THOUGHT I NEEDED NEW ENGINE MOUNTS. THAT THEY WERE CAUSING CAR TO JERK WHEN IT CHANGED GEARS. HE SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ORDERED AND THAT THEY NEEDED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. SO THE NEXT DAY GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING THAT THEY DROVE THE CAR SOME MORE AND REALIZED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS IT. THIS WOULD COST ME $5200.00. I CALLED A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 30 YEARS AND HE CALLED A FRIEND OF HIS WHO WORKS PARTS AT TOYOTA. THE PERSON WHO WORKS FOR TOYOTA TOLD MY FRIEND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV AND THAT IT IS ONLY THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT, NOT THE TRANSMISSION. SO, HE SOLD US THE PART AND MY FRIEND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER. NOW MY CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY. SO, I INSTEAD SPENT ONLY $1100.00 AS OPPOSED TO THE $5200.00 THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME WHEN IT WAS NOT MY TRANSMISSION AT ALL. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALER SHOWING WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO REPLACE AND SPEND. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AN ACCREDITED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO HAVE ME SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING WHEN IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY CAR THERE AND I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED THERE EVER SINCE- 7 YEARS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282175August 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 RAV4 THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM ON - DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. REPAIR COST $5,000. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THERE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN, AS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WAS MERGING ONTO A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THESE CARS ARE A DEATHTRAP AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282192August 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
DURING A RECENT RAIN I WAS TRANSPORTING MY GRANDKIDS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CAR SEEMED TO SLIP AND JOLT FORWARD EACH TIME I ACCELERATED. EACH TIME THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND THE SLIPPING AND JOLTING WAS SIGNIFICANT. I WAS AFRAID THAT MY CAR WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY GLAD TO GET MY GRANDKIDS HOME SAFELY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ECU AT A COST OF OVER $6,000! I WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE YEAR BEFORE AND DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE "ENGINE" TROUBLE LIGHT WHICH KEPT COMING ON. EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT EITHER AN ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ALSO CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL HEADQUARTERS AGAIN. I FELT LIKE A PING-PONG BALL. IN THE END NO ONE COULD OR WOULD HELP ME. I ENDED UP GOING TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE JUST THE ECU REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500. THE CAR STILL JOLTS WHENEVER I ACCELERATE, HOWEVER I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD $4000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282197August 28, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ECM THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THE MAKE MODEL AND YR OF MY VEHICLE RAV4 2002/I DROVE HOME AND TOLD MY BOYFRIEND THAT THE ECM REPLACEMENT IS 1600 DOLLARS. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING TO TOYOTA TO HAVE FIXED AND MY CAR WOULD NPT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD STOP AND GO AND I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION.. I WAS AT 83,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. OF COURSE I HAD TO ABSORB THE COST.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282212August 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY TOYOTA RAV4 L 2002 WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD,THE TRANNY BEGAN SLIPPING,HESITATINGAND JERKING. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED YET. I AM CONCERNING SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL HIT BEHIND ME DURING DRIVING DUE TO SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T KEEP ON SPEED LIMITED. I GET ONLINE WWW.CARSCOMPLAINTS.COM AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I FOUND OUT MOST OF THE TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS DESCRIBING SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT CAN DAMAGE THE TRANNY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281962August 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON; I WOULD CARRY IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD RE-SET. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN TWICE. FINALLY, WHAT I THOUGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW, BUT FOUND OUT LATER THAT IS JUST SOUNDED AND REACTED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. BUT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH HAD FAILED. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY WAS OFF AND AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA I GET NO ASSISTANCE. THIS IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION I FOUND OUT: ) THAT TOYOTA HQ HAS BEEN AWARE FOR AT LEAST A FEW (2,3?) YEARS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ECM INSTALLED IN 2001/2002 TOYOTA RAV4?S > > 2) THAT THE DEFECT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING MECHANISM > > 3) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS ARE NOT DUE TO ?NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR? OF THE VEHICLES. THEY ARE CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE DEFECT IN THE ECM. > > 4) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY. (A CASUAL READ OF OWNER COMPLAINTS SUGGESTS MANY OF THEM HAVE SPENT ANYWHERE BETWEEN $3000 AND $5000). > > 5) THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR COSTS OF FIXING THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THEY WERE AWARE OF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND A ENGINE IN THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281970August 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DAUGHTER. HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS AND ONCE IT HIT 90,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR FROM STOP POSITION. AFTER TOWING TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANNY $3290.27 AND ECM $1211.13 . TOYOTA HAS MONOPOLY ON ECM/PROGRAMMING AND IT MUST BE CHANGED WITH REBUILT/NEW TRANNY. WENT TO WEBSITE AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS STANDARD FOR 2002 RAV4'S. MANUFACTURER SAYS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE AND WON'T HELP IN ANY WAY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281996August 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. TOYOTA 2002 RAV 4 STARTING JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AT 80,300 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT AROUND 60 MPH. 2. TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY AND TOYOTA DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE WHICH WAS MAKING THE TRANSMISSION JERK. 3. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND STUCK US WITH THE BILL SINCE OUR CAR WAS 300 MILES OVER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH WE HAD BROUGHT IT IN 4 TIMES PRIOR FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282008August 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I HAD A TOYOTA RV4 2002, THAT WAS GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE CAR STAR SHAKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY IN VARIOUS OCCASION, THAT REALLY SCARED ME, AND MY CHILD, I HAD TO PAID 3462.52 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA REPLACED THE ECM, ANOTHER 1, 200 DOLLARS. I'M VERY UNHAPPY BECAUSE LATER I FOUND OUT, THAT TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T NOT NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER, I'M A SINGLE MOTHER, AND FOR ME THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY TO PAID WITH MY CREDIT CARDS... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281602August 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR JERKS AND LOSES ACCELERATION, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280746August 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR JERKS/TRANSMISSION JERKS AND REMAINS AT A SLOW SPEED, RESPONDING MUCH LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING OR SIMPLY DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER FROM A MAJOR TOYOTA DEALER. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, IT SEEMED FINE. THE DEALER APPARENTLY, DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS APPARENTLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OBVIOUSLY A FALSEHOOD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OVER - THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM - A DEADLY ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280543August 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 RAV4 JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280384August 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IN WHICH I RECENTLY REPLACED THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOPLIGHT, THEN WOULD JERK FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR--A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GAIN SPEED ON A HIGHWAY. AFTER I REPLACED THE COMPUTER, THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT BACK ON AND IT IS STARTING TO JERK AGAIN AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP TO WHICH I TOOK THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IF THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENT, AT A COST OF ABOUT $1300, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF ABOUT $4,000. I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS, YOU CAN FORCE TOYOTA TO RECALL THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279826August 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER REGULAR SERVICE, CAR BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY THIS WEEK WITH JUST OVER 85K MILES WITH NO INITIAL INDICATION OF PROBLEM INCLUDING HARD CLUNKING/SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS.. I HAVE HAD NEAR REAR-END ACCIDENTS THIS WEEK AS A RESULT OF THE INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHOM DIAGNOSED THEN UN-DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION/ECM FAILURE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LARGE COMMUNITY OF USERS REPORTING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279839August 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEARS. THE CAR STALLS UPON TAKEOFF AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY SON IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TAKE OFF. WE WERE ALMOST HIT IN THE SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279845August 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 TOYOTA RAV4, 4WD,AT TRANSMISSION JERKING AND HASHING, REPORTING CODE P0750, P0755... I CALLED TOYOTA DEALER IN PORTLAND, OR AND SPEAK TO MASTER TECHNICIAN. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MASTER TECH THAT RAV4 2001-02 AND 2003 RAV4 NEEDS A NEW UPDATED ECM FOR ABOUT $800.00 + LABOR. HE WARNED ME THAT WITHOUT REPLACING THE NEW UPDATED ECM, MY RAV4 TRANSMISSION WILL BE DAMAGE AND IT COULD COST ABOUT $5,500.00 PARTS + LABOR. TOYOTA WARRANTY ONLY 8 YRS OR 80K MILES SINCE THIS IS THEIR FLAW SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING AND WHY DON'T THEY DO A RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM. INSTEAD THEY ONLY NOTIFY THEIR SERVICE CENTER OF THEIR DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP RAV4 OWNERS.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279255August 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ECM IS FAULTY. CAUSING VEHICLE TO "MISSHIFT" FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE MISSHIFTING CAUSES CAR TO STALL FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL SHIFTING IS COMPLETED, CAUSING POTENTIAL REAR-END OR SIDE-HIT(AT INTERSECTIONS) ACCIDENTS. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE. SUGGESTED BY DEALERSHIP TO "REFLASH" ECMA; COMPLETED; NO CHANGE. NOW SUGGESTED TO REPLACE PART (ESTIMATED COST OF + LABOR) RESEARCHED ON INTERNET, THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT HAVE CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA WITH NO SOLUTION (SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0C40D0/573) CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION BECAUSE A THERE WASN'T A "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN" AKA RECALL. ADVISED ME TO SEEK OUTSIDE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279269August 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE BOTH WITH THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TO AND WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER AND THIS IS KNOWN TO BE A $6,000 PROBLEM TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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