Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2002)

527 consumer complaints on file.

#10322122March 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD TC002-06 PERFORMED ON IT IN JANUARY 2007. THE RECALL WAS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 85,000. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A LOGIC UPDATE WAS PERFORMED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THE ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOT UPDATED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE ECM CARRIES AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ECM NOT BEING REPLACED. ALL MAJOR SERVICE WORK ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE AGENT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AND THE ECM REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $4200. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND A ROUGH ESTIAMTE FOR THIS REPAIR IS $5000-$6000. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ASKED ABOUT THIS TSB, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS SIMPLY A MANUAL ADDENDUM AND NOTHING ELSE. THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AT ALL. IT IS SERIOUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT ACCERLERATE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE ONTO A MAJOR ROAD FROM BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321768March 24, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HARSH SHIFTING FROM 1ST - 3RD GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321824March 24, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 AUTOMATIC IS HAVING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT FIND THE SECOND GEAR, AND WHEN IT DOES, LURCHES FORWARD IF THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE PRIOR TO IT SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, IT STARTS OUT SLOW, AND YOU MUST APPLY THE ACCELERATOR MORE THAN USUAL TO GET MOVING. IT HAS ALSO LOST THE GEAR WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS, A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE FOR SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING MY ISSUE, (AND HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILTERS REPLACED) I FEEL LIKE I HAVE NO RECOURSE. TOYOTA INITIATED A RECALL TO RE-FLASH THE CONTROL MODULE IN 2007, WHICH I HAD DONE. THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN ACTUAL ERROR IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MODULE, JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT ELIMINATE A PROBLEM OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AROUND 60K. MY MODULE TESTS OUT FINE TODAY, YET IT APPARENTLY RUINED MY TRANSMISSION, AND NOW I HAVE LEARNED SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE, AND SOME THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION, ONLY TO BE REVISITED BY THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE REPAIRS WILL COST MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE AUTO. HOW CAN I SELL THIS VEHICLE WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE KNOWING ALL OF THIS? PLEASE CONSIDER THIS FOR RECALL, TOYOTA WITHHELD INFORMATION FROM ITS CUSTOMERS WHEN INITIATING THIS RECALL IN 2007 (THE FLASH RESET), AND CAUSED MANY OF US DANGER AND GREAT EXPENSE AS A RESULT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BRENDA KING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321849March 24, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 63K I BOUGHT IT USED 4 YEARS AGO WITH WARRANTY I NOW HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2 GEAR TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSE, I HAD PREVIOSLY TOOK MY CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO THE DEALER WERE IT WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE THE ECM HAD TO BE REPLACED/RESET ANYWAY I DID A RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ECM FOR 96 MONTHS OR 80K WHICH EVER COMES FIRST MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED BECAUSE WARRANTY STARTS FROM ORIGINAL OWNER(DATE FIRST USE) TO REPLACE THE ECM IS GOING TO COST ME $1300 I THINK I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THIS AMOUNT DUE TO TOYOTA RAV4 ECM PROBLEM BACK IN 2006 I SHOULD STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ECM WARRANTY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN FEB. 2006. I HOPE THE NEXT STEP IS NOT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH TOYOTA CARS OR THERE SERVICES .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321137March 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN
HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RELATED TO THE ECM. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION HESITATES, MAKES NOISES, DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THERE IS A TOYOTA TECH. SERVICE BULL. (TC-002-06) ISSUED IN 2006. TOYOTA NEVER NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFORE OWNERS HAVE DRIVEN PAST WARRANTY TIME FRAMES. (WHICH IS MY CASE BY 1 MONTH) AS THERE IS ONLY 73000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD OF CONTACTED OWNERS ONCE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321060March 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 RAV 4 WITH 139K MILES ON IT. LATELY MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. I NOTICED IT WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY. BUT THERE WOULD BE DAYS WHEN IT WOULD ACT NORMAL AND IT WAS FINE AND SOME DAYS IT HAD ITS PROBLEMS. WITHIN THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS BECOME WORSE. NOW WHEN MY CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRIES TO SHIFT IT WOULD HESITATE, JERK, SHIFT AGAIN AND BECOME ALMOST IDOL AND THEN GO. THIS WOULD MAKE ME NOT WANT TO STOP AT ALL WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL JUST DIE ON ME. I WOULD GET REALLY AFRAID IF I WOULD GET REAR ENDED FOR MY CAR HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED WHICH COSTS OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002 RAV 4 BECAUSE OF ITS FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH. I COULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR BUT THAT'S NOT MY FAULT AND TOYOTA ALREADY KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321119March 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 . THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP DUE TO THE ECM VALVE NOT ALLOWING GEARS TO CHANGE . SLIPPING GEARS & NO POWER AT TAKE OFF FROM STOPS. IT HAS 103000 MILES ON IT.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN 2004. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. IT IS TO COSTLY AND THE CAR ISN'T PAID OFF YET. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. CAR HAS BEEN PARKED WE ARE AFRAID TO LET OUR DAUGHTER DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319843March 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AS THE VEHICLE'S SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC; STARTING FROM STOP IN 3RD GEAR, THEN DOWNSHIFTING TO SECOND. MERGING WITH TRAFFIC DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS AT BEST. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THEIR ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVER $4000. I HAVE SINCE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER TOYOTA RAV OWNERS. AND I FOUND THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW OVER 7 YEARS AGO, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MAJOR CONSUMER PRODUCT ISSUE. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY (97K MILES) THE COSTS TO REPAIR MY CAR ARE ALMOST EQUAL TO ITS VALUE. I DON'T KNOW AT THIS DATE IF I WILL FIX IT AS LOAN PAYMENTS REMAIN. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OVER TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES I WHOLEHEARTEDLY REQUEST YOUR AGENCY REVIEW THIS SITUATION CLOSELY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO FOR HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318926March 11, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE SITTING IDLE, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THERE WAS AN ATYPICAL SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS OF UP TO 4,000. THE VEHICLE THEN ATTEMPTED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, HOWEVER SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS AND ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DECREASE VEHICLE SPEED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ADVISED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE ENCOUNTERED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,900 AND THE CURRENT WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318933March 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN
I OWN A TOYOTA RAV4 2002.....IT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY TOYOTA THAT THIS MODEL HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ITS ECU.....WHICH MAKES THE CAR SHIFT AT THE WRONG REVS\TIMES, AT TIMES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR MERGING INTO HIGHWAYS THE CAR COMPLETELY LOOSES POWER, SOMETIMES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS IT COMPLETELY STALLS LEAVING YOU COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO OTHER CARS....IT SOMETIMES TO REVS TO OVER 4000 REVS AND THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES INTO GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THIS MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN ACTON, MA THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY 4500 DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR OWN DESIGN FLAW, WHICH POPESTROUS. THERE ARE SOO MANY BLOGS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, TYPE "RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM" ON GOOGLE. YOU ARE BOUND TO FIND THOUSANDS OF BLOGS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS GOVERNMENT DOES INDEED TAKE CARE OF ITS PEOPLE\ LOOKING OUT FOR THEM AND FIGHTING FOR THEM IN BATTLES THEY CAN NOT WIN ALONE. ALL I ASK FOR IS FOR TOYOTA TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FLAWS. THEY HAVE PUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN SERIOUS RISK, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OVERLOOKED, ESPECIALLY AFTER DISCOVERY OF THEIR FAULTY ACCELERATION PEDALS. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR TRYING TO CUT COST AND THEN MAKING THE CONSUMERS PAY FOR THIS MISTAKE. ITS HIGH TIME TOYOTA CAME CLEAN ABOUT THEIR SHADY DESIGNS. EVERYONE AND I MEAN EVERYONE SHOULD BOYCOTT TOYOTA PRODUCTS UNTIL THEY ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE TRUSTWORTHY AND RELIABLE COMPANY IT ONCE WAS -DO NOT BUY THE COFFIN CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317836March 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED HESITATING ON INITIAL ACCELERATION AND BOLTING WHEN THE GEAR CAUGHT 2ND. WAS PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION AND NEARLY T-BONED BY FORD EXPEDITION. BROUGHT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO CODE. READ ABOUT POTENTIAL ECM PROBLEM. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA AND SPENT $1400.00 TO REPLACE ECM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317902March 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON FEBRUARY 25TH 2010, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER 105 FREEWAY, MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 REFUSED TO ACCELERATE, ALMOST RESULTING IN MY CAR BEEN REAR-ENDED. THIS PROGRESSED INTO ERRATIC SHIFTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317177March 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 RAV4 AND HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT 5PM ONE FRIDAY, MY CAR WOULD HARD-SHIFT INTO FIRST AND STRUGGLE EVEN MORE TO GET TO SECOND, ETC. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD. THEY CONTACTED ME THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER. COME TO FIND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2006 THAT ONLY TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THAT RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS WHEN I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY TOYOTA IN 2007. THE TOTAL COST TO ME WOULD BE $4800 WITHOUT TAX, WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD. SINCE I NEEDED MY CAR FOR WORK AND I TAKE CARE OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER, I SCROUNGED TOGETHER THE NEARLY $2000 FOR THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT (THE IDIOT LIGHT CODE SAID IT HAD A LOOSE WIRE, AND NOT TOTAL REPLACEMENT!). I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A VERY SHORT TIME, AND THEY SUGGESTED I PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR VERY SOON. THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH ME, THE CLIENT. THEY KNEW ABOUT AND KEPT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM FROM ME AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS A COSTLY ONE TO REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MY COSTS TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS RAV4 PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG AND CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR 2002 RAV4 OWNERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER (OR ECM) WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM HOPING THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED THIS EXPENSIVE (FOR ME) TOYOTA BECAUSE IT WAS SAID TO LAST LONGER THAN OTHER VEHICLES. I TRULY THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE LIGHT AND INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317236March 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN 2003 WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. IN 2007, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 56,000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST $7,000 BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER GATHERING ALL OUR MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND MUCH DELIBERATION TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR ($2500); WE AGREED. AFTER THEY DID THE WORK, WE HEARD A SOFT CONSTANT BEATING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK, WE WERE TOLD THAT SOUND WAS NORMAL WHEN A NEW ENGINE IS INSTALLED AND IT WILL GO AWAY -- IT DIDN'T. 18 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. BAFFLED AT HOW TWO SEPARATE ENGINES CAN DIE WE TOOK IT TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED, BUT REBUILT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP US. SO DID TOYOTA CORP. THEY HAVE A SETTLEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINES FOR THE SAME GENERATION ENGINES (1997-2002) FOR ALMOST EVERY MODEL. EXCEPT THE RAV4. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE WAS I WAS TOLD I WAS GETTING A NEW ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD FOUND ME A USED ENGINE (12,000 MI) FOR 2300 INCLUDING INSTALLATION. HAD I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO REBUILD IT, I WOULD HAVE WENT WITH THAT OPTION. SO THEY SCREWED ME OUT OF 2500, A CAR, AND A CHANCE AT ACTUALLY FIXING THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316775March 4, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HESITATION ACCELERATING FROM STOP. LACK OF POWER GOING UP A STEEP INCLINE. IMPROPER SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER.VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE 03/01/2010. PCM/ECM MODULE DEFECTIVE- NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 1693.41. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316853March 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD ON ANY LONG TRIP THEN WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. SOMETIMES CANNOT GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CANNOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE MECHANIC STATES EVERYTHING IS FINE. DUE TO SEMI-FUNCTIONAL CRUISE, THE MILEAGE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP HAS DECREASED FROM 30-32 MPG TO 24-26MPG.REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2009 AND GIVEN A CASE # WHICH I HAVE MISPLACED. THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED OR ADMIT THEY HAD A PROBLEM. EXTENDED WARRANTY (TO 100,000 MILES) WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THERE IS INDEED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE GOING ON, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CARE. IN SEARCHING I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED COMMENTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315454March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS THE GEARS WILL DOWNSHIFT AND THE ENGINE REVS FAST. NOW DURING NORMAL DRIVING, IT GETS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR THEN WILL BANG INTO 3RD. I'VE ALSO NOTICED SOMETIMES WHEN I TRY TO PULL ONTO A HIGHWAY, THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315488March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WEEK OF 2/23/10 SNOW DAY DRIVING HOME AND MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH OUT WARNING. THE NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE UN NOTICEABLE. WEEK OF 3/1/10 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH OUT WARNING. THIS TIME IT WAS SEVERE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I DROVE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR PROBLEM. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF TOYOTA CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT ONLY COVERS IT IF FOUND UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD IF THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF. BUT AFTER THAT TOYOTA PLACE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE KNOWN PROBLEMS FOUND BETWEEN THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION. MILEAGE ON DAY OF INCIDENT IS APROX 97,000 MILES. IT SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA'S UNSAID MOTTO IS LETS SELL VEHICLES WITH KNOWN DEFECTS, DON'T TELL OUT CUSTOMERS, AND DO NOTING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS BUYING A ROCK SOLID CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOYOTA. WITH ME HAVING TO BARE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A KNOWN PROBLEM TELLS ME THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT AND WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCTS.. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 11/12/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315698March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM MY DEALER, RICH TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON, WV IN SPRING 2002'IT WAS HIS DEMO CAR, VIN#[XXX] ; MODEL #4416A. AT 107,00 MILES, OUT OF THE CLEAR-BLUE, THE RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, THEN WENT OUT, BUT THEN SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC. I HAVE SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND EXPECTED TO GET ANOTHER 100,000 MORE MILES, BUT, MY DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE PURCHASE, SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1,200 FOR THE ECC/ECM (ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE), AND EVEN IF I REPLACE JUST THE ECC/ECM, IT STILL MAY NOT WORK WITH THE OLD TRANSMISSION, SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TOO FOR ANOTHER $3,500 BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE ECC MAY HAVE DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR-FUEL SENSOR FOR A TOTAL OF $5,189.00 IN REPAIRS BEFORE TAXES. I HAD NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE WERE EVER ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE TOYOTA PRODUCT LINE UNTIL I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHAT AN EYE-OPENER!!! THERE WERE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED WITH MANY OF TOYOTA'S PRODUCTS! CONSIDERING THAT THIS RAV4 WAS A $22,000 VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT, DOESN'T IT SEEM STRANGE THAT AFTER JUST 6 YEARS IT IS INOPERABLE AND EVEN DANGEROUS! AFTER E-MAILING AND SENDING A LETTER TO TOYOTA USA IN TORRENCE CALIFORNIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-331-4331 AND TALKED WITH A REAL PERSON. PLUS, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER, WHICH GOES INTO THEIR DATABASE AND LOGS THE ISSUE SHOULD THEY HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A RECALL OR OTHER REMEDY. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND DEFECTIVE ECU AT A COST OF ABOUT $4,500. AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR COMPLAINT FILES ON THIS RAV4 ISSUE, WHY HASN'T NHTSA DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT WITH TOYOTA!!!!???? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315956March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 RAV4 LAST WEEK, SHE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND OUR 2002 RAV4 STARTED JERKING AND THEN SLOWED TO A SUDDEN STOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER A "SCARY MOMENT", IT STARTED DRIVING NORMALLY AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, IT WAS ABOUT DUE . WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS PROBABLY "SHOT". WHILE SHOPPING ON-LINE FOR A REPLACEMENT, I CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS WEB SITES WITH HUNDREDS OF RAV4 CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! TURNS OUT HE PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED, BY TOYOTA THEMSELVES A FEW YEARS AGO, AS A MALFUNCTIONING ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) CAUSING THE FAILURES OF THE TRANSMISSIONS WITHIN 50 MILES OF DRIVING. TOYOTA NOTIFIED THEIR SERVICE TECHS, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY IT'S CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM. WE MAINTAIN OUR VEHICLES ROUTINELY AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV. BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF NOT DEADLY. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR YEARS, AND THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS OF SUCH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND TO REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE ANY MALFUNCTIONING PARTS IN THEIR CUSTOMERS CARS THAT COULD CAUSE SUCH A SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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