Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2001)

309 consumer complaints on file.

#10190789May 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ON THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE FUEL-OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THE SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186752April 2, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 AT 65 MPH (WITH 80000 FAILURE MILEAGE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLINKING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SLUDGE BUILD UP, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186033March 23, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE DROVE THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 TO WORK THIS MORNING. IT WAS A 5 MILE DRIVE. AFTER PARKING THE CAR A FELLOW EMPLOYEE TOLD HER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE INSPECTOR LOCATED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE, ALONG THE FIREWALL DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALL, BUT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE SAID NO ACCELERANT WAS USED, AND THAT THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY THE RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL-LINE OR SOME OTHER FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. WE NOTICED NO FLUIDS LEAKED ONTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME. I AM POSTING THIS IN CASE ANY ONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181201January 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 [XXX] THE ENGINE TYPE IS A 1AZFE. I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT A TOYOTA OIL GEL PROBLEM WITH ENGINE TYPE 5S-FE. THE MOTOR MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT MY STORY IS THE SAME. THIS IS A WORK VEHICLE THAT WAS MAINTAINED. IN SEPT 2006 I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE $2800 REPAIR DUE TO WHAT THEY HAD CALLED "OIL GEL". THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS CALL IS [XXX]. AT THE TIME I WAS UNAWARE OF THE LAW SUIT IN PROCESS FOR SOME TOYOTA ENGINES DUE TO THIS EXACT THING! JAN 19TH 2007, WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND 30 SECONDS LATER THERE WAS A PLUME OF BLUE SMOKE ( THE BARTOW FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AS I WAS ON I-75 IN GEORGIA AND SOMEONE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE). THERE WAS NO FIRE, JUST SMOKE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD THROWN A ROD. THEY CLAIM THE TWO ARE UNRELATED OCCURRENCES. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON WEB SITES, THEY SEEM VERY RELATED TO ME. THE REPAIR IN SEPT WAS COSTLY, TO HAVE THE ROD THROWN 4 MONTHS LATER MAKES ME THINK THE 1AZFE ENGINE MAY HAVE SOME DEFECT AS WELL. THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A TOTALLY NEW ENGINE. WE CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IN SEPT 06 AND THE TOW IN JAN 07, AS I AM CONVINCED THIS IS A DEFECT. I CAN PROVIDE ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS AS THIS HAS BEEN A WORK VEHICLE FOR ME. I WONDER IF OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND REPORTED. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA HAVE BOTH CLAIMED THIS ENGINE IS NOT INVOLVED. I DISAGREE. HAD I NOT PULLED OVER I AM CERTAIN A FIRE WOULD HAVE BEGUN WITH ALL THE ENGINE OIL ON THE MOTOR. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179511January 23, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIE ROD FAILED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD THREADING WAS STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE.THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *AK UPDATED 03/01/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177224December 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
2001 RAV4 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - THE GEAR SHIFT STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN THE 5TH GEAR POSITION WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED/RELEASED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. WENT TO BALISE TOYOTA IN WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL BEHAVIOR (EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE CAR STARTED "POPPING" OUT OF 5TH GEAR. BALISE THEN ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND "REPAIRED" THE PROBLEM (THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM). WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK, THE GEARSHIFT DID NOT MOVE WHEN IN 5TH GEAR. IT IS NOW DECEMBER AND THE GEARSHIFT IS ONCE AGAIN MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN 5TH GEAR AND BALISE TOYOTA IS TELLING ME IT IS NORMAL AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHILE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS HAVING A CAR DROP OUT OF GEAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN IT WOULD BE MOST APT TO HAPPEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156706May 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLIED THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154365April 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A DEALER RESET IT AND SAID IT WAS THE GAS WE USED. EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH THE SAME THING WHEN WE PURCHASE CHEAP (NO-NAME BRAND) GAS AND HAD TO BE RESET BY A GARAGE OR DEALER. NOW WE RUN A TANK OR TWO OF BETTER (NAME BRAND) GAS AND THE LIGHT MAY GO OFF. I KNOW THAT THIS HAPPENS TO OTHER TOYOTAS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149983February 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE BAFFLE UNDER THE OIL CAP BROKE OFF. AS A RESULT METAL PIECES WENT INTO THE TIMING CHAIN, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A TSB WHICH REFERENCED THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139656October 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING IN THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE THIRD TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER PLANNED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE FUTURE. CURRENTLY THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY URGED THE CONSUMER TO WORK WITH THE DEALER, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD HELP HER WITH THE COST. *AK (11/21/05) THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHER SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEARS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114457March 22, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 ( 31000 TOTAL MILEAGE ), WITH THE HEATER MOTOR ON HIGH, I HEARD ALOUD WHIRLING NOISE. AFTER A SHORT TIME ( 5 OR 10 MINUTES ) THE HEATER FAN STOPPED WORKING AND THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING FILLED THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE FAN SWITCH OFF. A WISP OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASH VENT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUSE BOX SHOWED THAT THE FUSE FOR THE FAN HAD NOT BLOWN. I BELIEVE THAT IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE FAN OFF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VEHICLE FIRE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THE DASHBOARD WAS COVERED WITH FINE PARTICLES OF AN UNDETERMINED ORIGIN WHICH I ASSUMED CAME OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112422March 2, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EQUIPMENT
TOYOTA RAV 4 2001, HEADLIGHTS FOG UP AFTER ONE YEAR. THEY ARE A SEALED UNIT. I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED 3 TIME NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT CRACKED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. THE HEADLIGHTS JUST FOGG UP AFTER ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS. THE COST OF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE $500 AND TO INSTALL THEM IT'S $180. AFTER THEY FOGG UP, THE LIGHT IS DIMMER ON THE NIGHT HEADLIGHTS AND CAN'T SEE VERY GOOD WHEN THE LIGHT IS SO DIM. I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP THAT THIS HAPPENS TO THE HEADLIGHTS ALL THE TIME. ALSO ON THE LEXUS MODEL THAT THEY ALSO MAKE. HE TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED. HE JUST KNOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE HE REPLACES THEM ALL THE TIME. THAT IS UNEXCEPTIBLE, THE HEAD SHOULD NOT BE FOGGING UP LIKE THAT. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA MFG. DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM???? PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT. PLEASEEEEEE. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088311August 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HESITATES FREQUENTLY WHEN ENGINE COLD. WILL NOT ACCELERATE EVEN WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. HESITATION LAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE ONE IS NEVER SURE IF VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE NORMALLY OR LIMP ALONG FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086322August 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM COX TOYOTA IN BURLINGTON, NC IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. THE VEHICLE HAD 28 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IN MAY OF 2001 I HAD MY 15,000 MILE SERVICE DONE AT COX TOYOTA AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IN JULY OF 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THAT DAY,7/16/01, I WENT TO COX TOYOTA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE O2 SENSORS AND I DIDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT. BEING THAT I HAVE A DEGREE IN ENGLISH AND NOT AUTO MECHANICS, AND I WAS DEALING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I TOOK THEIR WORD AND LEFT IT ALONE. THEY WERE ABLE TO TURN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING. LATER IN 2001, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I WENT TO TOYOTA OF DURHAM TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WENT TO THEM TWICE ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT ITSELF. SO THE LIGHT JUST STAYED ON, AND SINCE I WAS TOLD TO BASICALLY IGNORE THE LIGHT BY TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THAT'S WHAT I DID. NOW I AM HAVING A PROBLEM PASSING THE NC VEHICLE INSPECTION, BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC TOLD ME IN MAY OF 2004 THAT IT'LL COST 1,945.00 TO FIX MY CAR IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION, AND THE O2 SENSORS ARE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. MY CAR ISN'T PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD AND IT MAY HAVE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE. I AM WORKING WITH A MECHANIC IN ELON, NC TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. HE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN WHAT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS, SO IT CAN PASS INSPECTION. IF COX TOYOTA HAD FIXED MY CAR WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THEM IN JULY 2001, I WOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS NOW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071914April 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063799March 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2001 RAV4 CATALYST SYSTEM FAIL. MANY OWNERS FOR 2001-2002 ARE HAVING PROBLEM GETTING ENGINE ERROR CODE PO420/430 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD) I HAD THIS ERROR SINCE NEW. THEY CHANGED CONVERTER AND REBOOTED SOFTWARE, BUT NEVER GOT FIXED. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS TSB EG010-02. IT SHOWS SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED 4 TIMES. "MISPROGAMMED FUEL MAP". I WENT TO DEALER WITH COPY OF TSB. I SPENT $80 FOR SOFT UPDATE BECAUSE OVER WARRANTY. IT CAME BACK 2 DAYS LATER. I CHECKED "WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM" EVERYBODY TALKING ABOUT SAME ISSUE AND THEY ARE SAYING CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ON BACK ORDER ABOUT 2500. DEALER TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU CAN GET. SOME HAVE WAITED 2 MO.THE COST IS MORE THAN $2000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057545March 11, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGERS SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FIRE. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK SMOKE HAD COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059368February 19, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON MANY OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WANDERED WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE WIND PUSHING THE VEHICLE AROUND. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING PERFECTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056562February 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHT ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. REPAIRED 2ND TIME ON WARRANTY FOR $1500 FOR CATALYTIC CONV, 4 EGR SENSORS ETC. I FEAR I WILL PAY NEXT TIME OUT OF WARRANTY. BOUGHT NEW. WELL MAINTAINED, BY THE BOOK.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053331January 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, BUT WOULD RESTART WITHIN SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR STOPPING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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