2001 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

ON NOVEMBER 8, WHILE TRAVELING TO WORCESTER TO SEE A FRIEND RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS MEDICAL NEXT I CALLED TWO OF THE MAJOR TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS IN THE AREA; COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN NORTHAMPTON AND THE TRANNY SHOP IN PALMER, WHERE BRIAN AND SCOTT TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA'S REPROGRAMMING DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT I'D NEED TO BUY A NEW MODULE OUT OF POCKET FOR $900-1100. THEY BOTH SAID THAT IF I CAUGHT IT EARLY, I WOULDN'T NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT UNWILLING TO PAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 TROUBLE CODE P0750. WHEN CONSULTING MECHANICS AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM EFFICIENTLY. I WAS TOLD REPLACING SHIFT SOLENOID A MIGHT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEN AGAIN UNKNOWINGLY COULD BE A ECM ISSUE OR EVEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT THE COSTUMERS BEST INTEREST, WITH AN IMPORTANCE OF SUCH MAGNITUDE EXPENSE IS AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED TO GUARANTEE SATISFACTION OF OUTCOME. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE OF THIS VEHICLE WITH MAKER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL YET HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

FALL '08 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE CHANGING GEARS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RPMS. SUDDEN JERKS AND HALTS OCCUR AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO GO. DIAGNOSTIC TEST CLAIMS SOLENOIDS BUT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SUGGESTS REPLACING ECM AND/OR TRANSMISSION. AN EXPENSE OF ABOUT $4500 WITHOUT GUARANTEE OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN HIGHWAY, KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC PACE SUDDENLY HALTS AND LOOSES POWER. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF THEN TOYOTA SENT SSC-601 IN MARCH OF 08 THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE ECM REPROGRAMMED WHICH I DID{TOOK TECH 2 TIMES TO GET IT RIGHT} NOW MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND SURE AS PIE THEY SAID ECM HAS FAILED AND THEY WANT 940.00 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN SEEN BY TOYOTA AND IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT THAT THEY EXPECT US THE CONSUMER TO EAT I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT RUNAROUND FROM BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE AND IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

2001 RAV 4 TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. DEALER AND ANOTHER GARAGE SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I GUESS THAT RAVS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THEY DO AND KEEP SELLING THEM AND PEOPLE KEEP GETTING RIPPED OFF. *TR

ACCELERATION FREQUENTLY HESITATES CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY GOTTEN WORSE AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS A BAD ECM IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 RECENTLY STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH. THE CAR WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THERE WERE LARGE HESITATIONS BEFORE THE NEXT GEAR WOULD CATCH. I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA PUT OUT TSB TC002-06 IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE ECM COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. OUR ECM DID NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS PART FOR FREE. TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, YET WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THE DAMAGES TO OUR CAR DUE TO THIS COMPUTER COULD HAVE COST IN EXCESS OF $5,000 TO REPAIR. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2001 CAR. ITS AN AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH 117,000 MILES ON IT. SUDDENLY ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO I STARTED FEELING THE HARSH SHIFTING / BUCKING / JERKING WHILE TAKING THE CAR. I THEN WENT TO A NEAR BY TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND WAS A FAULT CODE P0755 (HARSH SHIFT AND/OR M.I.L. ?ON? DTC P0750/P0753/P0755/P0758/P1760) WHICH IS BASICALLY RECOMMENDING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I THEN SEARCHED ABOUT THIS FAULT CODE ON THE INTERNET I ENDED UP ON A WEBSITE (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML) WHERE I COULD SEE NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA HAS MADE A FAULT ECM AND HAVE INSTALLED IN SO MANY RAV4 (B/W 2001 - 2003 MODEL YEAR), WHICH MADE SO MANY CUSTOMERS LIKE US TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF SERVICE EXPENSES. PLEASE DO THE NEEDFUL SO THAT TOYOTA MAKES A REIMBURSE THE EXPENSES FOR ALL THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAS GONE THROUGH SOME FINANCIAL BURDEN DUE TO THIS. *TR

I GAVE THE RAV 4 GAS THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN DRIVE TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD SINCE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE . I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $3700. *TR

MY 2001 RAV4 BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE ISSUES. I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES REGARDING A DEFECTIVE ECM BEING THE CAUSE OF THE SLIPPAGE. ALL THE SYMPTOMS THAT WERE DESCRIBED IN THE FORUM MATCHED MINE EXACTLY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE ONLY THING HE CAN DO IS DISCOUNT THE NEW ECM BY 10%. I NEED TO USE MY CAR SO I RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO THE REPAIRS. ONCE THE ECM IS REPLACED I AM HOPING THIS WILL FIX THE ISSUE. IF NOT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A REBUILT OR NEW TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS ISSUE IN 2006 BUT DECIDED NOT TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THE ISSUE BUT INSTEAD ONLY ISSUE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT AGAIN! *TR

MY '01 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN EXPERIENCE SHIFTING PROBLEMS IN AUG07, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AND WOULD SUDDENLY SLAM INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY ON AND OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, IT MADE IT VERY DANGEROUS TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAYS, AS I'M TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WON'T GO BEYOND 1ST GEAR, AND THEN ONCE I'M RUNNING, IT SLAMS INTO GEAR, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IN NOV07, BASED ON A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA, I SENT CAR TO DEALER TO GET ECM REPROGRAMMED. APPARENTLY THIS WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WELL, IT DID NOTHING. SO IN JUNE08, AS THE PROBLEM GOT EVEN WORSE, I SENT IT BACK TO DEALER. THEY SAID I NEEDED THE ECM REPLACED, THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO GET WORSE. SO A WEEK LATER, I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST TO GET TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR

I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED, BUT BELIEVE THE ISSUE WITH MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT ONLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR TOYOTA RAV4S THAT WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN THE YEARS 2001-2003. A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER PART IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, ULTIMATELY DESTROYING THEM IF NOT CAUGHT EARLY AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200! IN MANY CASES, THE TRANSMISSION STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ADDITIONAL COST OF AROUND $3500 OR MORE. IT IS SICKENING THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS TOYOTA WOULD NOT RECALL THIS PART AND COVER THE COST OF MALFUNCTIONS! IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW SEVERE THE LURCHING AND SKIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE. IT CAN COME OUT OF NOWHERE AND THAT CERTAINLY CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. I THINK THIS ISSUE IS ON THE RISE BECAUSE IT TENDS TO HAPPEN WITH HIGHER MILE VEHICLES. I TRULY HOPE MORE CONSUMERS WILL FILE COMPLAINTS SO THAT TOYOTA WILL BE FORCED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE HEARD OF NO REPORTED INJURIES AT THIS POINT-I HOPE THAT REMAINS THE CASE. *TR

JANUARY 2008 I HAD THE ECM REPROGRAMMED BY TOYOTA AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER TO COME IN FOR THIS. ON JUNE 3, 2008, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STUTTER FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WOULD HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING AND TOOK THE CARE IN. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE CODE INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TOYOTA TECH SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06) FROM 3//3/06 INDICATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ECM AND TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, R&R ECM WHICH WAS NOT DONE IN THE RECALL. *TR

FIRST MY 2001 RAV4 STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD (THE LOWER GEARS) AND I COULD SEE THE RPM GOING UP HIGH. AFTER A DAY OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS AT A GOOD LEVEL AND IT'S NICE AND PINK. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH UNTIL RECENTLY HAD BEEN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD PURCHASE. IN DECEMBER 2007, WE RECEIVED A LETTER INSTRUCTING US TO BRING OUR VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR) REPROGRAMMED WHICH WE HAD DONE IN JANUARY 2008. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2008, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STUTTER FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LIKE WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE A MUFFLED BACKFIRE MIGHT SOUND LIKE. THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WOULD HESITATE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I MADE IT TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THAT AFTERNOON. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM AND MY TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD COST $4900! HE EXPLAINED THAT I COULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING; THAT THE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN FOLLOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED FINE. HE ADDED THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ECM WITHOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE SERVICE CODES INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I OBTAINED A COPY OF THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06) FROM MARCH 3, 2006 WHICH INDICATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ECM AND TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, R&R ECM, WHICH WAS NOT DONE IN MY CASE..SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION UNTIL DECEMBER 2007, THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXPOSED TO A FAULTY ECM THAT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED ITS FAILURE. THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO WHICH I HAVE CONFIRMED BY SPEAKING TO ASE CERTIFIED TOYOTA AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MECHANICS. *TR

MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING MY RAV 4 THIS PAST SATURDAY. THE CAR HAS 4 COPPER DISCOVERER TIRES (DOT# UTDAC5T0704) THAT WERE PURCHASED IN EARLY 2006. THEY WERE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. ONE OF THE TIRES COMPLETELY CAME APART, LEAVING ONLY SOME RAGGED SIDEWALLS ON THE WHEEL. THERE WERE (MIRACULOUSLY) NO INJURIES AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

AS DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHERS THAT OWN A TOYOTA RAV-4 (2001) , MY CAR EXPERIENCED MAJOR PROBLEMS SHIFTING. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS DESCRIBED IN A SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY TOYOTA. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DEMANDED THAT THEY REPLACE THE ECM INSTEAD OF SIMPLY RESETTING IT AS THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED TO DATE, BUT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OTHERS (ON VARIOUS WEBSITES), I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO MAKE THIS REQUEST. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE SPECIFIED MILEAGE AND THAT THE COSTS WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *TR

COST OF REPAIR: 2684.47 & CAR WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR APP. 1 MONTH TOTAL. MY RAV4 STARTED OCCASIONALLY SHIFTING HARD AND WOULD NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY WENT INTO THE NEXT GEAR IT FELT LIKE A SUDDEN JUMP. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT REACHED A POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH SERVICE ADVISOR ,HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. A SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06 89661-42650) INSTRUCTED IN CASES SUCH AS MINE THE ECM WAS TO BE REPLACED. AND HE ALSO STRONGLY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT SHOW ANY NEED TO BE, BUT HE AND THE MASTER MECHANIC FELT IT WOULD BE NEEDED. THE ORIGINAL QUOTE FOR THE ABOVE WAS OVER $1500. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT I DIDN?T FEEL IT WAS RIGHT THAT I SHOULD PAY WHEN IT WAS A KNOWN BAD ECM THE PRICE DROPPED FOR ?CUSTOMER LOYALTY, BLAH, BLAH?. THEY FELT THEY DID ME A FAVOR AND ONLY CHARGED ME $740.47 . TWO DAYS AFTER I GOT IT OUT OF THE SHOP IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING. I HAD BEEN VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED, THE NOT RETURNING OF PHONE CALLS, ETC. THE LAST PLACE I WANTED TO GO WAS BACK TO THE DEALER. ON OR ABOUT MAY 2, 2008 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT HAD BEGUN TO FLICKER. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO OIL GELATION AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WENT FOR A RIDE WITH SERVICE ADVISOR TOM DRUZYNSKI AND WE QUICKLY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THE TRANSAXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE REBUILT. SERVICE ADV TOLD ME REPAIRS WOULD COST $7000. I UNSUCCESSFULLY COMPLAINED TO CORPORATE TOYOTA 2 TIMES. REPAIR COST WENT FROM 7000 TO 1800.THE A/C HASN'T WORKED SINCE. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING SLIPPING, AND DELAYED SHIFTING. *TR

TOYOTA 2001 RAV4 HESITATING TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE AND METAL IS GRINDING. STARTED ALL OF THE SUDDEN. DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR FROM FIRST TO SECOND, ETC. DESCRIPTION OF EXACT PROBLEM IS HERE: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/#MORE-23445. *TR

PAINT DEFECT ON HOOD AND R/F FENDER. CLEAR COAT PEELNG OFF. *TR

I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR INJURIES TO WHAT MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT. I PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DRIVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AND RECENTLY STARTED HAVING SHIFTING ISSUES. I STARTED TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE CALLED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY CAME OUT WITH A TSB IN 2006. WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN GO TO DRIVE THE CAR FORWARD THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY THEREFORE COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. PLEASE VISIT THIS WEBSITE AND SEE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND I LIKE MANY OTHERS FEEL THERE IS A DEFECTIVE ECM IN THESE VEHICLES SENDING FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, ITS SPORADIC AND EVEN THE DEALER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM. I HOPE MORE PEOPLE MAKE COMPLAINTS AND I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW MANY HAVE. THANKS! *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BULLETIN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 80,000. CONSUMER NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. COMPUTER WENT BAD AT 87,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND CONSUMER CURRENTLY GOING ROUND AND ROUND OVER WHETHER TOYOTA OR CONSUMER MUST PAY FOR COMPUTER REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION MAY NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM RAV4 OWNERS AND IN MANY CASES THE SHIFT PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION WHICH TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR. *TR

OWN 01 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT HAS FAULTY COMPUTER, TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THESE MODELS ARE FAULTY. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACING COMPUTER CAN ALSO MAKE TRANSMISSION GO OUT. A VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE BY TOYOTA AT MY COST. I PAID 12,400 FOR THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 YRS AGO. IT IS SHIFTING SO HARD THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WISH I HAD READ CAR COMPLAINTS.COM BEFORE I PURCHASED IT, THERE ARE TONS OF OWNERS WITH 01-02 RAV'S WITH SAME PROBLEM. I THINK TOYOTA NEED TO CORRECT AT THEIR COST. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA BUT WILL BE MY LAST!!!! *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV 4 4WD 2001 MODEL. AT 47,000 MILES I HAD AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT DONE BY LYNCH TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY. 25,000 MILES LATER VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CRACKED FLEX PLATE. REPAIR WAS DONE BY AAMCO AND IN THEIR WRITTEN REPORT THEY STATE THAT DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT DOWEL THAT WAS CUT OFF WHEN LYNCH REPLACED THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE BECAME MISALIGNED AND THE FLEX PLATE CRACKED. IN ADDITION THE TORQUE CONVERTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPORTS WERE HANDED TO LYNCH AND THEIR SERVICE MANAGER DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND REPORTED THAT THE CRACKED FLEX PLATE WAS MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO POOR MATERIALS. I STILL HAVE THE FLEX PLATE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED TO FIND OUT IF INDEED IT WAS MADE FROM POOR MATERIALS. AAMCO DON'T APPEAR TO BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE CASE. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 2001 MODEL - STANDARD TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED AT ABOUT 74,000 MILES.

FAILED ECM RESULTS IN THE CAR STARTING IN THE WRONG GEAR AND HESITATING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS ECM FAILURE CAUSES VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN LESS THAN 100 MILES OF DRIVING AND MAKES THE DRIVER UNABLE TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CAR WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN NECESSARY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON LEFT TURNS IN HIGHLY TRAFFICKED AREAS. ONE DEALERSHIP (COBB COUNTY TOYOTA, KENNESAW, GA) REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ECM EVEN THOUGH A TSB ISSUED BY TOYOTA STATED IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHEN THESE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. TOYOTA USA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE FAILING COMPUTER WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION. *CN

I HAVE TOYOTA RAV4 2001 . I BOUGHT IT IN 2007 FROM TOYOTA DEALER AND 5 MONTH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP.THE CAR IS ABOUT 80,000 MILES RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COUD DO . *TR

ROUGH SHIFT IN LOW GEARS CAUSING ENGINE TO REV BUT CAR DOES NOT MOVE. HAD SOLENOIDS REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOLD ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT OTHER OWNERS SAID THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CAR REVS BUT GOES NO WHERE AND CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY IN DENSE TRAFFIC WITH BIG TRUCKS. *TR

CIRCUIT BOARD FOR TRANSMISSION FAILED AND VALVE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT, I WAS DRIVING A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. AI WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND MISSED THE DEER, HOWEVER I HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, OVERCOMPENCIATED ACROSS ROAD STRAIGHT UP A BANK, APPROX 20 FT. THE ACR TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED OVER TWICE DOWN THE BANK. SINCE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I SUFFERED A DEEP LACERATION TO RIGHT SIDE OF HEAD AND THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED 4-7 RIBS. THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER NEARBY WHO SAW THE WHOLE THING, HE STATED HE CLOCKED ME AT 35MPH, AND STATED ALSO IN THE POLICE REPORT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN THIS MATTER I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL. RESPECTFULLY--BILLY JACK HARRELL *TR

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

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

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

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

MY 2001 RAV4, WITH JUST OVER 80K ON IT, WENT BELLY-UP. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED USED), THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, DISABLING THE CAR 2 HOURS FROM HOME. THE DEALER IT WAS TOWED TO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, PUT IN 3/4 QT OF TRANNY FLUID, CALLED IT GOOD. IN FEBRUARY, AFTER IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT ONCE AGAIN DIED ON A TRIP, AGAIN 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. THE DEALER I HAD IT TOWED TO THIS TIME SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CODE WAS P0770 FOR SOLENOID MALFUNCTION. AFTER LONG NEGOTIATIONS WITH TOYOTA THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

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)

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.

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.

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

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

I BELIEVE THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR ON THE TOYOTA RAV 4 2001 AND PERHAPS OTHER YEARS IS INADEQUATE. A WHILE BACK MY FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS AND I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. A SMALL ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED BY THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO PEDALS.. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

FRONTAL CRASH TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *CB

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