Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2001)

309 consumer complaints on file.

#10393078March 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER THE CONTACT ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390481March 17, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FRONT ENGINE CROSS MEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND FORWARDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO SAFETY RISKS. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389740March 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAULTY SHIFTING IN 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 RELATED TO THE ECM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND ALMOST COME TO A STOP WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAULTY SHIFTING STILL OCCURS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE NOW NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, IT HAS LESS THAN 130,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO THE ECM AND ITS POOR DESIGN DESPITE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FROM RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389746March 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384358February 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BEGINNING IN JAN. 2010 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY BEGAN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. JUST AFTER ENTERING I-35 IT DOWNSHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO I'M GUESSING SECOND GEAR. THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION NEARLY GOT ME REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK. IT ALSO DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. I AM ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM THAT CAUSED IT MUST NOW BE REPLACED, @ A COST OF $4200. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS SO ERRATIC YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GO INTO GEAR AND IF IT DOES, WHAT GEAR AND IT SHIFTS SO ERRATICALLY IT'S LIKE RIDING A BUCKING HORSE. JUST GETTING IT THE THREE MILES TO THE SHOP WAS TAKING MY LIFE IN MY HANDS. THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. BEING OF LIMITED MEANS, I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE CAR YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383869February 21, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FIRST FAILED & WAS REPLACED 6/6/06. ECM REPLACED 2ND TIME UNDER OPEN RECALL 10/25/07. UNDER ENHANCED WARRANTY PROGRAM, ECM & TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3RD TIME AFTER 3 MONTH REPAIR TIME 12/21/10. VEHICLE TRAVELED 300 MILES WHEN ECM & TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP FOR 4TH REPAIR TO ECM & TRANSMISSION ON 12/21/10. TO DATE (2/22/11) VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AWAITING PARTS TO REPAIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUR OF SERVICE APPROACHING 5 MONTHS. WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE TOYOTA CAN SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR VEHICLE. SAFETY ISSUE ARISES WHEN HARSH SHIFT CONDITION OCCURS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AS IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, CREATING POSSIBILITY OF REAR-END COLLISION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381527February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND INTO INAPPROPRIATE GEARS. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING INTO A HIGHER GEAR AS IT NORMALLY DID. NOW IT HESITATES BETWEEN GEARS (NEUTRAL) AND THEN RANDOMLY SHIFTS INTO A LOWER OR HIGHER GEAR OFTEN JUMPING FROM GEAR TO GEAR UNTIL SETTLING INTO THE PROPER GEAR. THIS BEHAVIOR JUST BEGAN WITH 112K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381932February 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FRONT DISK BRAKE ROTOR BROKE WHERE IT MOUNTS TO STEEL WHEEL RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL. UPON TAKING TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, FRONT DISK ROTOR WAS REMOVED AND SHOWED STRESS FRACTURES AND SEPARATION FROM ROTOR ASSEMBLY. THIS 2001 VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS WHICH TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON IN 2000. THE FRONT DISK ROTORS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAD NEVER BEEN MACHINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376760January 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE ECM IS TOYOTAS 2001-2003 RAV4 CAUSES ROUGH SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THIS MEANS THE CAR CAN AND WILL COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW THE TRANNY IS NO GOOD AT ALL. THIS IS ALL AFTER RECEIVING A FEW LETTERS FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND BRINGING IT IN FOR SERVICE ON THE ECM AFTER I'D ALREADY PAID $1400 TO TOYOTA FOR THE SAME SERVICE. THEY NEVER CHANGED ANYTHING , JUST "REPROGRAMMED " IT. NOW , EVEN WITH TOYOTA SAYING PUBLICLY THAT THEY WILL STAND BY THE VEHICLE ,AFTER CATCHING SO MUCH HEAT FROM THE PUBLIC , THEY STILL DENY ME COVERAGE AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY EVEN CHARGED ME A STORAGE AND DIAGNOSTIC FEE! THIS ECM PROBLEM HAS BEEN A WELL KNOWN DEFECT SINCE 2006 AND TOYOTA WAS AND FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. YOUR CAR SUDDENLY STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DANGERS ONE CAN FACE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.JUST TO BE CLEAR , THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STOPPED ON ME WAS IN 2006. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ACTED AS IF I WAS OUT OF MY MIND. I PAID , THE $1400 TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW ECM. 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. THE SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. 6 WEEKS AFTER THAT , ( STILL IN 2006) TOYOTA SENT A SERVICE LETTER DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM I'D PAID FOR BUT I GOT NO REFUND. A MONTH LATER , YUP YOU GUESSED IT.I PAID AGAIN AND EVERYTHING WAS OK AT BEST UNTIL JANUARY 2009 WHEN IT STOPPED YET AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY LIKE THIS FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS ENTIRELY TOYOTAS FAULT AND OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE. PLEASE PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373686January 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TOYOTA RAV4 2001 SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND THROTTLE SURGE... NO WAY TO STOP CAR WITH BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362607October 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENTERING HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID BEING HIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362121October 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 RAV4- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING GEARS AND HAVING PROBLEMS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION A WEEK AGO. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BLINKING TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND "THINK IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER". WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, SURE ENOUGH THE CAR STARTS JERKING BACK AND FORTH. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS THE ECM (SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE LOOKED INTO), BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT AS IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND THE CAR CAME FROM JAPAN TO CANADA THEN TO THE UNITED STATES (SERIOUSLY?). I GUESS TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361715October 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STUTTER AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF UPDATED 10/12/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359074October 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MAY OF 2009. PAID OUT OF POCKET. REPLACEMENT WAS A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BY DEALER (VICTORY TOYOTA IN CANTON, MI) SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 17,000 MILES. PAID OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. NO HELP FROM DEALER OR TOYOTA CORPORATE. FOUND OUT THAT DEALER JUST SWAPPED TRANS, DID NOT ACTUALLY REBUILD TRANS. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP. INDEPENDENT DISCOVERED A WASHER MISSING THAT CAUSED THIRD GEAR TO STRIP (DEFECT IN SECOND TRANS). TRANS REPAIRED, BUT THEN GOT A HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STOPPING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND P0420 P0430 CODES. INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP CLEARED CODES, AND TOLD ME THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO HAVE DEALER RE-FLASH ECM. WORKED OK FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS, THEN GOT THE HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WILL SUBMIT FOR RE-IMBURSEMENT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR SECOND TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE FIRST ECM AND TRANS FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358164September 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
POSSIBLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10356190September 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM IN 2007 BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF UPDATED 12/29/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352501August 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 06/05/10, MY PERSONAL VEHICLE (2001 TOYOTA RAV4) BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHICH DEVELOPED INTO "HARSH SHIFTING"; THIS PROBLEM WORSENED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS BUT, DUE TO THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS FAILURE (FROM A KNOWN MALFUNCTION WHICH TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF BUT FAILED TO EVER NOTIFY ME ABOUT) THIS WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSMISSION-RELATED ISSUE. UPON FINALLY REACHING DANGEROUS LEVELS OF JERKING AND DECELERATING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS, ETC., I FINALLY TOOK THE RAV4 TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME OF AN ECM "RECALL" RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION -- OF WHICH I HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION. THE REPROGRAMMING DID NOT WORK AND THE HARSH SHIFTING WORSENED. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER, AT WHICH POINT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. I DID SO, ONLY TO RECEIVE A NOTICE 3 WEEKS LATER FROM TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS STATING THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT A "HARSH SHIFT" MALFUNCTION RELATED TO THE ECM IN 2001-2003 RAV4 MODELS. HOWEVER, ALL TOYOTA DID WAS EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 150,000 (MY REPAIR WAS DONE AT 154,000) RATHER THAN ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS UTTERLY LUDICROUS, AS MY CAR HAD THE POTENTIAL TO JUST SUDDENLY STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THE ISSUE APPARENTLY DEVELOPED AROUND 06/05/10 AND LED TO THE VEHICLE NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AS OF 08/21/10. THE HARSH SHIFTING TOOK PLACE OVER SEVERAL WEEKS BETWEEN THOSE DATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352517August 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A USED TOYOTA RAV4 IN 2007. LAST WEEK MY ECM (TRANSMISSION) COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. I GOT THE CAR FIXED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER, BUT FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE 3RD ECM COMPUTER REPLACED. MY CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AND IF THE SHIFT IS BUMPED THE SHIFTER WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER RGEAR. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW. WHAT IF IT COMPLETELY STALLS. I COULD SEE ONE COMPUTER BUT 3!!! I WILL NOT BUY TOYOTA AGAIN. AFTER FINDING ARTICLES ON THIS ON THE INTERNET-SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA STILL HAS NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX IT. AND NOW THE QUESTION REMAINS-HOW GOOD IS MY TRANSMISSION AT THIS POINT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350782August 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2001 RAV4 AND IT DECIDES NOT TO SHIFT IN TO GEAR, LEAVING ME TO PULL OVER BARELY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347143August 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY RAV4 2001 MOTOR 2.0 HAS HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH IS PARK. I DO NOT USE BECAUSE ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MI TWO KIDS AND MI WIFE, PLEASE HELP ME I NEED TO REPAIR AND IT COST 1200 DOLLARS. IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. PLEASE STOP BEFORE WILL BE TO LATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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