2001 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT CHUGS AND SINCE THE CHANGING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS GETTING BETWEEN 12 AND 14 MPG. IT IS GOING IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 010504 FOR THE 4TH TIME. IN NOV. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THAT IS WHEN THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR AND SOME SENSORS. SINCE THE REPLACING OF THE ITEMS IS WHEN THE GAS MILEAGE HAS DECREASED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALSO HAD THE CHUGGING PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

THE CUSTOMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *AK *SCC *NLM

THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF I CAN SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ,AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CLEAR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER'S MEMORY, AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CLEARED UP. NOTHING WAS SAID ON HOW OR WHY THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT. THE DAY AFTER THE CLEARING OF THE MEMORY THE VEHICLE DID THIS AGAIN. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CLEARING OF MEMORY. WHAT MEASURES CAN I TAKE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? I CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BRING THIS IN EVERY WEEK. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

A CONSTANT RATTLE/SQUEAK IN FRONT DASH. THE REAR TIRE MOUNT RATTLES/SQUEAKS TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO REMOVE THE TIRE MOUNT. *AK

OUR RAV4 2001 ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AFTER WE CAME TO A STOP AND RESULTED IN US CRASHING HEAD ON INTO A BRICK BUILDING WITHOUT THE AIRBAGS OPENING CAUSING TREMENDEOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING BOTH AUTOS ON EACH SIDE AND OF COURSE OUR CAR. TWO DAYS BEFORE, IT ACCELERATED AGAIN AFTER WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WAITING IN LINE FOR GAS JUST MISSING US CRASHING INTO A TRUCK.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING BETWEEN 30-40MPH. CONSUMER STATED THAT OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATED THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AT 15MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION.*AK

WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS THERE IS A GRINDING AND A HOWLING NOISE, ALSO EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM.*AK *TT

THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE GOING 65MPH ON A STRAIGHT PATH, THE VEHICLE WAS RAPIDLY THROWN TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT SEVERAL TIMES AFTER IT ROLLED OVER 8-10 TIMES.

TIRES PROVIDE EXTREMELY POOR TRACTION IN RAIN OR SNOW. AT THE RECOMMENDED PSI, THE TIRES SPIN WHEN ACCELERATING AND SKID WHEN STOPPING ON WET PAVEMENT AT ANYTHING OTHER THAN EXTREMELY SLOW SPEEDS. WITH ANY SNOWCOVER ON PAVEMENT, THE VEHICLE IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PREVENT FROM SLIDING OR SKIDDING AT VIRTUALLY ANY SPEED. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AT ALL DURING THE WINTER WAS TO REDUCE THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES DRAMATICALLY ... AND EVEN THEN I WAS TAKING MY LIFE IN MY HANDS EVERYTIME I DROVE ON EVEN LIGHTLY SNOW DUSTED PAVEMENT. I HAVE DRIVEN IN SNOW FOR 30 YEARS AND THESE ARE THE WORST TIRES I '*AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R16)

CONVERTER, REPLACED AT 19,000 MILES, WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT BURNT OUT MY SENSORS AND HAD TO PAY FOR THEM. THIS MADE IT THE SECOND CONVERTER FOR THIS VEHICLE REPLACING THE ORIGINAL. 50,000 MILES REPLACED AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY AND HE SENSORS BLEW WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM. NEXT ONE WENT AT 80,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. THIS MADE FOUR IN THIS CAR!! I WAS TOLD ONCE I PURCHASED ONE THE PART WOULD BE COVERED FOR THE REST OF THE TIME I OWNED THE VEHICLE. AGAIN HAD TO PAY FOR THE SENSORS. GUESS WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I DIDN'T PAY FOR THE CONVERTER ?!?!?!? TRANSMISSION WENT AT 105,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT WAS ONE YEAR BEFORE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AND I PAID $5000. FOR TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE NO NOTICE WENT AROUND SAYING THEY WOULD REIMBURSE IF YOU PAID FOR IT, ONLY FOUND THAT OUT WHEN I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER CONVERTER AT 130,000 MILES PLUS SENSORS! WHEN I CALLED OF COURSE THEY SAID THAT CONVERTER IS ONLY GOOD FOR ONE YEAR! I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS COVERED FOR LIFETIME! THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME A COPY OF THE TRANSCRIPT AT THE TIME NOR NOW. I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT BY TOYOTA AS THEY CHARGE DOUBLE!! I FOUGHT FOR TWO WEEKS ON THE PHONE WITH THEM AND FINALLY THEY TOLD ME I WAS RIGHT THAT IT WAS LIFETIME AND THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALER. WELL THEY CALLED THE DEALER AND CALLED ME BACK IN HALF HOUR AND SAID IT WASN'T AGAIN! THEN I WAS TOLD WHEN I DEMANDED A SUPERVISOR THERE IS NO MANAGER ON DUTY AT THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THEY WOULD 'OUT OF GOOD FAITH' GIVE ME ONE WITH ONE YEAR WARRANTY BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT AND I WOULD GET REIMBURSED!! GOOD FAITH?! I HAVE PUT THIRTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO THIS VEHICLE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS! EVEN OTHER MECHANICS HAVE SAID THAT!! WHERE ARE THE RECALLS ON THE CAT CONVERTERS?! *JS

WAS DRIVING DOWN A HILL WHEN THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND JUMPED SIDE WALK. VEHICLE HIT CONCRETE WALL AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH DOWN A HILL, HAD APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE JUMPED THE SIDEWALK, AND HIT A CEMENT WALL. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES.*AK

NOT EASY TO EXPLAIN, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON GOING MILDLY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS BUT EVERY TIME I WOULD BRING IT IN NOBODY COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM MOSTLY STARTING THE CAR AND THEN AFTER BRAKING IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE A CLOG. I WAS TOLD ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS THE CAT CONVERTER, HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $1000 AND IT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. I JUST BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE IT IS GETTING SO MUCH WORSE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY SPARK PLUGS AND CYLINDERS SO I HAD THAT REPAIRED AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WAS TOLD IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1300 DOLLARS. (WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW BEFORE I HAD THE CYLINDERS REPAIRED.) I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND AM TERRIFIED WHEN THE SNOW AND ICE BEGIN BECAUSE WHEN IN CLOGS OR BUCKS I AM OPEN TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

PREMATURE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS, MAKING VEHICLE HARD TO STOP. *AK THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE. AT FIRST THE DEALER TURNED PADS, SECOND THE DEALER INSTALLED UPDATED FRONT BRAKE PADS, THEN REPLACED BOTH REAR DRUMS BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNSOLVED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C FAN ON THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN DASH AREA. THE ROOF RACK SCREW WAS LOOSE AND FELL OUT. THE CENTER SEAT BELT WAS MISSING TRIM PIECE. THE REAR DOOR RATTLES WHILE CLOSING. *YH

VEHICLE DOES NOT RETURN THROTTLE TO IDLE POSITION WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE DOES NOT DECELERATE. WHEN PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PRESSED CLUTCH RPMS WOULD GO UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK

BRAKES WERE SQUEALING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD BRAKES REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.THERE WAS A TSB ON VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR, GOT IN AND PUT ON SEAT BELT, AND CLOSED THE DOOR. CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF SHATTERING GLASS, WHEN SHE LOOKED BEHIND HER SHE SAW A LRAGE GAPING HOLE IN THE WINDOW OF THE REAR DOOR. THE MANAGER AT RITE-WAY AUTO GLASS STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT THE ROBOT AT THE FACTORY PUT THE GLASS IN WRONG. *JG

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

BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED.*JB,...*AK

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

EVENT 1: 1. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR, NOTED ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR BY 700 TO 800 RPMS BETWEEN GEARS WHILE SHIFTING MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FOUND THIS HAPPENED BY JUST DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH WITHOUT SHIFTING EVEN WITH FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 2. THE REV SOARING HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT FOR AN UNPLEASANT DRIVING EXPERIENCE. 3. COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED BY THE DEALER FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR. REV JUMPS REDUCED TO ABOUT 400 RPM. A SECOND REPROGRAMMING REDUCED IT TO ABOUT 200 RPM. THIS BEHAVIOR STILL EXISTS. EVENT #2. 1. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, NOTED THAT WHEN CRUISING WITH RPMS ABOVE 2800 RPM IN 5TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND FOOT NOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR TO 3,200 RPM TO 3,500 RPMAND REMAIN THERE FOR PERIODS RANGING BETWEEN 5 SECONDS TO OVER A MINUTE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS COASTING AND SLOWING WHILE NOT UNDER POWER. 2. THIS BEHAVIOR FREQUENTLY OCCURRED UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT AS A PROFESSION ENGINEER AND FORMER SPORTS CAR RACING DRIVER, I KNEW THIS BEHAVIOR WAS NOT NORMAL. 3. BEHAVIOR EXAMINED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. MECHANIC HOOKED UP RECORDING BOX TO CAR, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR ON THIS OCCASION. DATA EXAMINED BY A TOYOTA ENGINEER WHO PRONOUNCED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. LATER, I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR. AFTER YET ANOTHER COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING, THIS BEHAVIOR OF REMAINING AT A HIGH RPM SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REVS STILL WILL SURGE TO ABOUT 3,400 RPM BEFORE DROPPING OFF. *TR

VEHICLE EXHIBITS INTERMITTENT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED.HESITATION HAS OCCURRED SINCE SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE, WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY DURING LAST 60-90 DAYS. HESITATION OCCURS BOTH WITH AIR CONDITIONONG ON AND OFF, AND WITH 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDIVE ON AND OFF. 2-3 OCCURRENCES PER WEEK ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED. MOST FREQUENT WHEN VEHICLE IS MAKING SLOW TURN (BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT) AND LASTS 5-10 SECONDS EVEN IF ACCELERATOR IS NEARLY FULLY DEPRESSED. HESITATION HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD FROM STOP OR FROM LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH) STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM OR OFFER A SOLUTION, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME BY DEALER'S SERVICE TECHNICIANS. DEALER INDICATES NO REPORT OF SIMILIAR PROBLEMS EITHER AT THIS DEALERSHIP OR TO TOYOTA USA ALTHOUGH I KNOW OF OTHER 2001 RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED A HESITATION PROBLEM TO THEIR DEALERS AND HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. WHILE THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, THIS IS,IN SOME WAYS, WORSE THAN IF IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO PEDICT THE EVENT AND COMPENSATE FOR IT.*AK

WHILE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP BY PRESSING ABS BRAKES, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A STONEWALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN PHOTOGRAPHS OF VEHICLE/ WALL AND GROUND, SHOWING NO TIRE MARKS.*AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND STILL RUNNING, VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A HUGE CLANKING NOISE AND WOULD SPEED FORWARD WITH UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, VEHICLE RECEIVED BODY DAMAGE, DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *TT

SQUEALING, HOWLING BRAKES. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN NOV, 2000, AND IT IS THE 2001 RAV4 L MODEL, I HAVE GONE BACK 3-4 TIMES, AND NOTHING THEY DO HELPS THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THE CAR IS SAFE AND THAT SQUEALING IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SQUEAL, OR SCREECH, ITS MORE LIKE "HOWLING". *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTERD FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I AM EXPERIENCING A 5 TO 10 SECOND DEAD SPOT IN THE ACCELERATION OF MY NEW RAV4 SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. BASED ON INTERNET WEB PAGE FORUM POSTINGS, I HAVE FOUND OTHER NEW RAV4 OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT SLUGGISH ACCLERATION IS THE RESULT OF A NEW EMMISIONS CONTROL COMPUTER. THIS IS BEYOND SLUGGISH, THE CAR BARELY MOVES. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, ACCROSS STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS, I AM AT RISK AND NEVER KNOW IF THE CAR IS GOING TO MOVE OR NOT. A NEW EMMISIONS CONTROL COMPUTER HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN RAVS SINCE 4/01 SO THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE NEW. I'M NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH TOYOTA ON THIS, AND NEITHER ARE THE OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

FRONT BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON A CONSTANT BASIS, WINDSHIELD RATTLES AT LOW TEMPS LESS THAN 60 DEGRESS, REAR SUSPENSION CREAKS WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STOP

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

I PURCHASED THE RAV-4 IN MID-JUNE. IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT, SO I TOOK IT BACK INTO MOLLE TOYOTA TO HAVE IT ALIGNED. I MOVED UP TO THE CHICAGO AREA THE NEXT DAY AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT BY LOMBARD TOYOTA IN LOMBARD, IL. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE THE CAR WAS ALIGNED AGAIN. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, IT STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I CONTACTED LOMBARD TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. I HAVE CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT HAS TAKEN 6 WEEKS FOR THEM TO AGREE TO LOOK AT THE CAR AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP TO BE LOOKED AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES THAT WERE CAUSING THE PULL.*AK

TAKATA RECALL - I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 RAV 4 WITH 224,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY USED IN NEVADA IN THE RENO/LAKE TAHOE AREA AND ALSO IN SEATTLE WA. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLODING AIR BAG. PLEASE ADVISE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND HOW SOON THE AIR BAGS CAN BE REPLACED! FROM ALL I READ THESE CARS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY! PLEASE RESPOND SO I CAN PROTECT MY FAMILY.

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE UP AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT. DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED ONCE VEHICLE HAD STARTED UP. CONSUMER WAS PINNED TO SEAT AND COULDN'T GET OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS. DEALER INSPECTED AIRBAGS AND COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. AN AIRBAG SPECIALIST LOOKED AT VEHICLE TO DETERMINE FAULT. *AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO CONSUMER'S PATH WHICH RESULTED IN FRONT END OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDING WITH OTHER VEHICLE. PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED INTO BUCKLE, WHICH ALLOWED RESTRAINT BELT TO COME LOOSE. PASSENGER WAS THROWN AGAINST REAR VIEW MIRROR AS A RESULT OF RESTRAINT BELT RELEASING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

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

REAR BRAKE DRUMS MADE A NOISE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THEY GRAB AND PULL, MAKING VEHICLE JERK. ALSO, FRONT BRAKES WOULD GRIND, AND STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER CAN'T GET ADEQUATE INFORMATION.*AK

THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A SIGNIFICANT HESITATION PROBLEM UPON ACCERATION RESULTING IN, MY OPINION, AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE. AT RANDOM TIMES THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO POWER PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE FOR APPROX. 5-10 SECONDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE DEALER, ADMITTING THERE IS A PROBLEM, CLAIMS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSES IT, NOR DOES TOYOTA. I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED BEING HIT BY OTHER TRAFFIC WHEN I EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO SMOOTHLY ACCELERATE OUT OF HARMS WAY WHEN IT DID NOT.*AK

STEERING PROBLEMS; WHILE TRAVLING 45 MPH STEERING JERKED TO RIGHT SIDE, AND SHE COULD NOT GET BACK IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKE SHOE OR DRUM GRIND WHEN COMING TO FULL STOP EVERYTIME. BRAKE MIGHT NOT BE WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER KEPT SAYING NO PROBLEM, GRIND SOUND IS NORMAL.*AK

CONSUMER'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE PEDAL ONTO THROTTLE AND ALMOST RAN INTO SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOO SMALL. MANUFACTURER HAD NO PLANS OF CHANGING DESIGN. *AK

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THESE DATES FOR THE SA ME REPAIR FEB.9.2001,MARCH 12,MARCH 26,APRIL19 AND SEPT 14 AND INSTEAD OF FIXING IT THE NOISE IS WORSE . IT IS SO BAD THAT I TAKE NERVE PILLS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE . I HAVE TAKEN MY FAMILY DOCTOR FOR A RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD WORTE IN MY FILE THAT HE HAS HEARD ITAND IT VERY ANOYING IF I SHOULD TAKE SO MANY NERVE PILLS THAT I SHOULD HAVE A WRECK I WOULD HOPE THAT TOYOTA IS READY FOR A LAW SUIT MY ATTORNEY HAS ALSO HEARD THIS . I FILLED OUT THE LEMON LAW FORMS AND WAS DENIED AT THE ARBITRATION AS IT WAS A WENDY DAY AND THE ARBITRATOR EVEN SAID THAT HIS HEARING WAS NOT GOOD FROM WORKING IN FACTORIES . SO HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT HEAR THIS . I HAVE ALSO HAD A BODY SHOP RIDE IN THIS CAR AND THEY HAVE ALSO HEARD THE NOISE. I SURE HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I HAVE 2 GRANDCHILDREN AND MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS WITH ME THE OTHER DAY AND SAID MIMI WHAT IS THAT NOISE ? YOU NEED A NEW CAR . THAT IS PRETTY BAD WHEN A 3 YEAR OLD SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 4. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF RATTLE NOISE IN THE WINDSHIELD, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *TT

VIBRATION/RATTLE AT ALL SPEEDS FROM WINDSHIELD AREA OF VEHICLE. APPEARS TO BE FROM PLASTIC COWLING AROUND WINDSHIELD AND WIPERS. MAY BE DUE TO IMPROPER MOUNTING OF EITHER WINDSHIELD OR COWLING. MAY INTERFER WITH WIPER ACTION.*AK

THE WINDSHIELD AND REAR-VIEW MIRROR ARE NOT SET INTO THE WINDOW FRAME CAUSING VIBRATION AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING IT HARD TO SEE OUT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK

THE SQUEEZING / RATTLING TYPE OF NOISE AT DASH / INSTRUMENT AREA. I TOOK MY CAR TO MAITA TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR MORE THEN 6 TIMES AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT DONE RIGHT.I AM AWARE OF MANY OF 01 RAV4S HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.*AK

IS THE PLASTIC SUN ROOF SAFE? WILL IT SPLINTER IN A CRASH?*AK

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SLOWLY, POPS INTO REVERSE WHILE IN THE CAR WASH AND THE RPM GAUGE SHOWS HIGH RPM'S WHEN ACCELERATING IN THIRD GEAR. NLM

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSUMER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH AN ALLEGED LIFE THREATENING ISSUE RE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA RAV 4'S HAVE A TRANSMISSION GLITCH. *JB