2002 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

VERY UNSAFE TRANSMISSION TOYOTA 2002 RAV 4 SHAKES DOESN'T GO INTO GEAR.CALLED TOYOTA WILL PAY ONLY IF ONE OF THREE CODES COME UP ON DEALER ONLY TEST CHARGED 140 RIP OFF. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION BAD BUT NO CODE. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER . DEALER AND TOYOTA ACT LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS UNTIL YOU LET THEM KNOW YOU READ ABOUT IT. PROBLEM SHIFTING OUT OF THE BLUE. *TR

THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING & MISSING GEARS HAD SOME SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION IN 2011 OCTOBER,BUT TO DO A FULL REBUILD STARTS AT $1700.THEN GOES $$$UP. *TR

HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING, PARTICULARILY 1ST & 2ND GEAR SLOW TO ACCELERATE LAUNCHING AND BUCKING HARD ENGAGEMENT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE REVS UP FROM 2 TO 3 - 4 RPMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIRS COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TOYOTA 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN SWITCHING INTO FIRST / SECOND GEAR, CAR WILL HICCUP, AND OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. AAMCO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS CONFIRMED DEFECTIVE ECM MODULE FAILURE, AND REQUIRE A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILT. TOYOTA APPARANTY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE ADVISORY, BUT NO RECALL. PROBLEM CAN RESURFACE ANY ANYTIME, VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS AS CAR WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE OR JUST STALL WHEN ENTERING INTERSECTIONS AND OR FREEWAYS.

WHILE ON AN ONRAMP, GOING INTO THICK, FAST TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY (95) OUR RAV4 HAD WHAT I GUESS IS CALLED A "HARSH SHIFT" AND STALLED IN NEWTON, MA. WE THINK THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM OR TRANSMISSION (WE ALREADY HAD THE ECM REPLACED ONCE, IN PASADENA, CA AT THE END OF 2008, AND IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET TOYOTA TO DO IT!) I CAN'T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, AGAIN!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED! A QUICK SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS (CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS 3 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE!) AND A LOVELY NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WRITTEN ON JULY 13, 2010 BY CHRISTOPHER JENSEN ABOUT TOYOTA EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ECM'S TELLS ME THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

COMPUTER FAILS. *TR

I WAS GOING NORTH ON MOLLY LANE AND GOING TO TURN RIGHT ON US HWY 92 GOING EAST. I PULLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR STALLED AND IT ACTED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. I DROVE AND PICKED UP A PIZZA ON TOWNLAKE PARKWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF PAPA JOHNS. I KNEW THERE WAS A BAD PROBLEM AT THAT POINT. I WAS GOING TO DRIVE IT HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO TOYOTA. UPON TURNING ONTO THE ENTRANCE RAMP IT STALLED AGAIN AND HAD NO POWER. THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE BLOWING THEIR HORNS. AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP IT REVVED AND THEN SURGED. I DROVE IT HOME AND HAD IT TOWED. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THE ECM IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEN THEY CAN CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 - 2003 RAV4'S. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE ECM BOARDS.

MY TOYOTA 2002 RAV 4 SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN MORE GAS IS GIVEN THEREBY BEING MORE DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY FOR POSSIBLY BEING HIT BY TRAFFIC BEHIND. SUCH A SUDDEN CHANGE IN SHIFTING POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION MAL-FUNCTIONING HAPPENS ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED. *TR

I EXPERIENCED SPUTTERING AND HESITATION WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE FRIDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY. THE CAR HAS AROUND 72,800 MILES ON IT. OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THE CAR WAS FINE. THE NEXT WEEK I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR AT A LIGHT AND THEN ACCELERATED, THE CAR WOULD LURCH AND SPUTTER. I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC OR I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I STOPPED DRIVING IT. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS (NON-TOYOTA) HAVE TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I THEN TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AFTER CALLING THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER, MENTIONED IN A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE FROM AUGUST 2009. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM WHICH THE DEALER WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WAS UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPLACING. SO FAR THE CAR IS STILL AT A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UNDERGOING "DIAGNOSIS". *TR

THE ECM FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TRANSMISSION (2ND GEAR SPECIALLY). ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HAD DECREASED POWER; GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND THE CAR WERE JERK FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOYOTA APPARENTLY WAS AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150K MILES. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, I AM NOT COVERED. IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A FAULT, WHY DIDN'T THEY DO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM?

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY SKIPPING/JERKING AND BEING STUCK IN GEAR. I TOOK IT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THE FIRST ONE INFORMED ME OF A FACTORY WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE ECU FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON THEY CANNOT GET ANY CODES, THE SECOND DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS WELL AS THE TOYOTA COMPANY. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 10YRS OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I HAVE 70,000 MILES AND IT WILL BE 10YRS THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF, ASAP BECAUSE OF THE 10YR WARRANTY THAT WILL NO LONGER COVER ME FOR THIS? *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN SHIFT ERRATICALLY 2 DAYS AGO. NOT SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR THE FINALLY JUMPING INTO GEAR. 102,000 MILES. SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA SHOULD OWN UP TO AND MAKE RIGHT. DEALER IS ASKING FOR $4000 TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

MY TOYOTA RAV4, 2002, BEGAN SHIFTING HARD, CLUNKING INTO GEAR, AND ACCELERATING PRIOR TO SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT COVERED FOR ALL VIN NUMBERS OF RAV4'S SOLD. WE SHALL SEE IF HE IS CORRECT AS I TOLD HIM THAT THE ARTICLE FROM THE NY TIMES SURE LOOKS LIKE IT COVERS ALL RAV4'S BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ELETRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE ISSUE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED NOT BY A CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT, BUT BY NEARING BEING SMASHED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO SHIFT AS I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS SUDDEN AND I WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THROUGH RESEARCH, I'VE COME TO LEARN THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE MARCH 2006. I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF SITUATION BY TOYOTA TO DATE. I REALLY FEEL A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *LN

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SUBSEQUENTLY AS I DROVE THE CAR, IT BEGAN TO LURCH AND I LOST CONTROL OF IT SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER THEN AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ECM UNIT AS A "POSSIBLE FIX." THEY SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION AND TOOK THE CAR TO A SPECIALIST. HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM EITHER. AFTER A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT NOT ONLY WAS THIS IMMINENT PROBLEM WELL-DOCUMENTED, BUT TOYOTA DEALERS HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT IN 2006! T WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA LAST WEEK, THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD BEEN INFORMED, BUT COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR FREE OF CHARGE AS I HAVE 180+K MILES ON IT. HAD TOYOTA NOTIFIED ME ABOUT THE ISSUE IN 2006, I WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE MODULE THEN. NOW THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNDRIVABLE AND CANNOT EVEN BE SOLD. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4. STARTED A MONTH AGO HARSH SHIFTING FROM LOWEST GEAR TO THE NEXT, HESITATION THEN ABRUPT SHIFTING OR NO SHIFTING AT ALL BY TRANSMISSION, EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT OVERDRIVE APPLIED. REPLACED OXYGEN SENSORS AND ECM, OKAY FOR A WEEK BUT BACK AGAIN. REPEATS THE SAME PROBLEM FROM COMPLETE STOP THEN SLOW ACCELERATION, GEAR SHIFTING IS NOT TIMELY AND SUDDEN UNEXPECTEDLY CREATING A JERKY MOTION. *TR

DURING A SNOW STORM, MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION STARTED REVVING UP TO 5000 RPMS WITHOUT SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. I THOUGHT MY TIRES WERE SLIPPING BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, BUT OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS AS MY CAR WOULD HEAT UP, IT WOULD CONTINUE. I HAD A REPAIR SHOP LOOK AT IT AND THEY ADVISED ME TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA SUGGESTED I BRING IT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND TO REPLACE THE ECM/ECU - WHICH COSTS $900 AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE IT'LL FIX MY PROBLEM. I'M NOT RECEIVING ANY ASSISTANCE FROM TOYOTA HQ OR THE DEALERSHIP AS FAR AS RECEIVING A GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX MY ISSUE, AND THEY WON'T PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO IF THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. *TR

FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY FOR THE ECM ON 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S PALM SPRINGS TOYOTA FAILED TO NOTIFY OR ADVISE THAT THIS MUCH NEEDED REPAIR NEEDED TO BE DONE, HOWEVER DID NOTIFY AND REPAIR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF OTHER REPAIRS IN THE OPEN AVAILABLE AND ALLOTTED TIME FRAME THAT THIS ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

EITHER THE ECU OR THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN USUALLY CHANGE BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR BUT IT USUALLY CANNOT CHANGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. THE ENGINE USUALLY REVS AS THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. IF WE EASE UP ON THE ACCELERATOR OR SOMETIMES WE TO PUMP IT A LITTLE, THEN THE TRANSMISSION CHANGES GEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE THE ENGINE REVS AND THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES ON ITS OWN BUT THIS IS CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WHEN WE DO NOT EXPECT IT TO. THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING RECENTLY. WE HAD NOTICED FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CHANGE A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL, BUT NOT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO SAFETY REASON. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNCONTROLLABLY AND CAUSES A SUDDEN SURGE IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAKES DRIVING IT NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT A LIABILITY TO ME. TOYOTA SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THIS, CONSIDERING THEIR RECENT PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT THROUGH A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHICH MAKES IT ALL THE WORSE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY KNOWINGLY PASSED THIS CAR THROUGH THEIR INSPECTION PROCESS AND DID NOT DO A [XXX] THING. TELL TOYOTA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2002 RAV 4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 96,000 MILES; WHEN THE CODE WAS CHECKED IT RELATED IT TO THE CATALYST SYSTEM, BUT I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ECM HAD TO BE UPDATED AS PART OF A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND I NEEDED TO TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER; DOING THIS WOULD CAUSE THE FAULTY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO BE RESET. THEY PERFORMED THE SERVICE, AND NOW 3 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRAMATICALLY DECREASE UNPREDICTABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DANGEROUS!!! ALTHOUGH AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERING COUNTLESS OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, TOYOTA HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS; THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY-TO-FIX PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY IN 2006 TOYOTA REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECM, (WHICH COULD APPARENTLY DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION). INSTEAD OF LETTING CONSUMERS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS THEY REALIZED, THEY SENT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIPS AND SERVICE AREAS, BUT FAILED TO LET THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS KNOW. ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY STARTS AROUND 90,000 MILES. *TR

AUTO: 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ISSUE: ECU OR ECM COMPLAINT: TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR ANY TRANSMISSION DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY COMPUTER PART. DESCRIPTION: WHEN PRESSING THE GAS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. JERKY MOVEMENTS IN THE LOWEST GEARS AND REVERSE; SLUGGISH WHEN PEDAL FULLY PRESSED. CURRENT RESOLVE: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE ECM, THOUGH THE PART WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS DUE TO HIGH DEMANDS. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER TRANSMISSION DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY PART. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 AND ITS COMPUTER BROKE. WE TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURE AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS FREE TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY CHARGE US REPAIR COST AROUND $700. IS IT LEGAL TO CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR FOR ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY? *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR RAV 4 WITH MY SON ABOARD. THE CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE ACCELERATING, CAR WOULD HESITATE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THAT POINT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS VEHICLE TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. II TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND SURE ENOUGH THE CAR SHOWED THE P0755 OBD II CODE WHICH INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ECM. F LEFT UNATTENDED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $4000 - $5000. I TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID A REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER A CUSTOMER SUPPORT WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM (*CASE # 1010011845). HOWEVER, NOW I TALK TO FITZGERALD TOYOTA IN GAITHERSBURG (JUDITH) AND THEY INDICATE THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD OF THIS PROGRAM. *TR

2002 RAV4 ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES VEHICLES NOT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA. TOYOTA HAS NOT REACHED OUT TO RAV4 OWNERS TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN REVERSE - BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP - ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED - SPENT $4,997.42 TO REPLACE. INVESTIGATION DONE NOW ON RECURRENCE SHOWED THIS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE AND TOYOTA WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY US (WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED), AND REIMBURSE. THEY NOW REFUSE TO REIMBURSE NOR ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN. JULY 2014 SAME ISSUE -BUT WORSE RECURRING WITH REPLACEMENT ECM AND TRANSMISSION FROM DEALER. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM WHEN CONTACTED. CONCERN THIS IS APPEARING VERY COMMON IN INTERNET SEARCHES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

OUR 2002 TOYOTA RAV-4 HAS ABOUT 120,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO ACT UP BEGINNING ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. IT HAS GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE, AND IN INVESTIGATING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE BEEN STUNNED TO READ ABOUT THE MANY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED RE: 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV-4S, WHICH WERE THOUGHT TO BE TRANSMISSION ISSUES EXCLUSIVELY, AND TURNED OUT TO BE FAULTY ECMS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT WE DRIVE THIS CAR, AND WE NOW REFUSE TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF OUR DIFFICULTY IN GETTING IT TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE RPMS BEING SO HIGH THAT WE KNOW IT'S DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE. *TR

I WAS CLIMBING A STEEP HILL WHEN MY TOYOTA RAV4 JUST SEEMED TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO UNDERTAKE SPECIAL MEASURES TO TURN AROUND WITHOUT ENGINE POWER AND COAST DOWN THE HILL. IT WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE ECU HAD DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD COST $4500 TO REPAIR. I HAD IT TOWED BACK HOME. I SINCE FOUND THAT MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA RAV4. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. SO MUCH FOR BEING A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER. HELP! PLEASE. ITS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4. AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION I TOOK OFF AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE IN HIGH GEAR, THEN IT JERKED AND THE ENGINE RACED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED. THIS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES WITHIN 10 MILES. THE ECM UNIT HAD FAILED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN 2008 ON THIS VEHICLE BUT WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY OF 2007 AND DID NOT HAVE ANY REPAIRS DONE. *TR

2002 RAV4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND MIS SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM THE COMPLETE STOP THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER 00504 RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

DURING ACCELERATION TOYOTA RAV4 WOULD SHIFT HARD, AND SLIP BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW GEARS RAPIDLY CAUSE CAR TO BUCK AND SLOW ABRUPTLY. ISSUE BEGAN ALL AT ONCE AND HAS CONTINUED. CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW. IT ONLY HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND I AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED. IT WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED MAKING NOISE WHILE I AM DRIVING. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS HAVING DIFFICULTY AND IS EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING TO SECOND GEAR. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 W/5 SPEED STANDARD TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING SUDDEN DECELERATION AND ENGINE REVVING IF USING CRUISE CONTROL. IF I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR BEHIND ME COMES CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING ME BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON. THIS FIRST HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 2006 WITH 60757 MILES ON THE CAR. AT 757 MILES PAST THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TALK THEM INTO REPAIRING IT FOR FREE. IN JULY 2010 AT 123965 MILES THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL IT POPPED OUT 5TH GEAR AND REFUSED TO GO BACK IN. AGAIN I SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT LUCKILY WAS ALMOST BY MYSELF ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA OWNER WITH A 1995 CAMRY AND A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I NOTICED THE TERRIBLE JERKING THAT STARTED WHILE DRIVING THE RAV4 ON MY WAY TO WORK. I COULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO SPEED UP WHEN NECESSARY AND ONCE I DID, THE CAR JERKED SO MUCH, I HAD TO PULL OVER AND EVENTUALLY GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM SO WE PAID TO REPLACE IT AND RESOLVE THAT ISSUE. NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER, I HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS GOING HOME FROM WORK. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND NOW IT'S THE ECM THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT REPLACED SINCE I JUST PAID FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO RESET THE ECM BUT THAT DID NOT HELP AT ALL. NOW WE ARE DOWN TO THE 95 CAMRY AND CROSSING OUR FINGERS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES WITH OUR "OLD RELIABLE". *TR

I'VE HAD MY '02 TOYOTA RAV4 SINCE 2003 AND A FEW DAYS AGO MY CAR STARTED HESITATING AND JERKING OUT OF THE BLUE. AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHTS, I NOTICED THAT AT FIRST I HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING, CAR WOULD HESITATE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD JUMPING TO 3000-4000 RPMS. I WAS AFRAID THAT I WOULD GET REAR-ENDED AND THEN I ALMOST SLAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SLOW ACCELERATING AND THEN SUDDEN JERKING AND SPEED. I'M TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO GET THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT GIVEN THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ISSUED IN 2006 INVOLVING FAULTY ECMS (TC002-06). ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS JUST EXPERIENCING THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS MALFUNCTION, THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE WITH AN EXTREMELY SLOW DELAY IN THE POWER RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS SCHEDULED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SCHEDULED REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THAT WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCING TROUBLE ACCELERATING IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY PAUSE BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED HAVING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPLACED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE ECM WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE... WAS ALMOST KILLED AND HAD TO DRIVE IN EMERGENCY LAND BEFORE BUILDING UP SPEED..... THE PROBLEM IS THE ECM IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN THIRD GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO THAT THEY COULD DETERMINE WHETHER THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,954. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,850.

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED JERKING AND SHAKING,, THEN SLOWING DOWN AT 111K MILES AT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CONCERNED FOR SAFETY, HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THAT IT COULD BE ECM, WHICH IS $1500, BUT NO GUARANTEES IT WOULD WORK. RESEARCHED ISSUE, AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2006, BUT TOYOTA DIDN'T NOTIFY OWNERS. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD A FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE (ECU), I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CAME UP FREQUENTLY FOR RAV 4S OF YEARS 2002 AND 2003 AND THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SINCE 2006 ' BUT NEVER RECALLED THE CARS! AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME MATTER FILED IN 2009. THE REPLACEMENT COST ME $758.50 TO REPLACE (WITH A REFURBISHED ONE) AND I HAD TO RENT A CAR DURING THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS ' WHICH COST ME $131.32 ' THEREFORE A TOTAL OF $889.82. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SINCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER BACK IN 2002. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 202,000. MILES MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE FREEWAY AND BE EXPOSED TO YOUR TIRES LOCKING UP. AND/OR YOUR CAR NOT GO IN GEAR AT A LIGHT EXPOSING YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE ECM PROBLEM. THE ENGINE REVS AND SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT ALSO LUNGES FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS CRIMINAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AND THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *TR

DRIVING NORMALLY NEARING A STOP SIGN/LIGHT/POTENTIAL NEED TO STOP. APPLY BRAKES, VEHICLE JERKS. BEGINNING TO RELEASE BRAKE AND CONTINUE DRIVING ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON PANEL LIGHT UP. SHIFT GEAR NORMALLY INTO PARK, START ENGINE, IT TURNS OVER, SHIFT GEAR INTO DRIVE AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. TRY SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, 1ST GEAR AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IF CAR SITS FOR A WHILE (NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME IT VARIES) IT MAY START. HAS HAPPENED AT INTERSECTIONS AND AM PLACED IN THE CENTER OF AN INTERSECTION TRYING TO GET STARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER WHERE IT IS NOW FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THEY PLACED A COMPUTER ON THE COMPUTER TO GET A READING AND IT DID NOT DISPLAY ANYTHING. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD THOUSANDS IN REPAIR COSTS. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ECM IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY MECHANIC AND SANPORT AUTO BROKEN ARROW, OK FOUND THE BULLETIN AND ADVISED ME MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE 96 MONTHS 80, 000 MILES. SHE EVEN CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM AND ADVISED THEM OF THE ISSUE. SHE SPOKE WITH KYLE AT JIM NORTON TOYOTA HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE BULLETIN SO MY MECHANIC MADE A COPY AND PUT IT ON MY SEAT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. KYLE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND LET ME KNOW. IF SOMEONE COULD CALL JIM NORTON TOYOTA AND LEAN AND BIT ON THEM THAT WOULD BE GREAT. HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS NOT SURE THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT THERE IS DOCUMENTATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PROBLEM SO I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY COULD NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY MECHANIC AT SANPORT AUTO SAID IF I NEED ANY HELP TO LET HER KNOW. SHE SAID IT IS DEFINITELY THE ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. THANK GOODNESS FOR GOOD HONEST MECHANICS LIKE SANPORT AUTO IN BROKEN ARROW, OK. THEY DID THE RIGHT THING AND WILL ALWAYS GET MY BUSINESS. LET'S HOPE JIM NORTON DOES THE RIGHT THING. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED EXCELLENTLY WITH ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED AT TOYOTA DEALERS OR AUTHORIZED FACILITIES. IN 2009, TOYOTA SENT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT A "FAULTY ECM" (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THIS SERVICE, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND AS OF JUNE 26, 2010, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITH 118,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THE ECM CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IS REFUSING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LACK OF INTEGRITY AND FOR PUTTING CONSUMERS AT RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY, DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 2002 RAV4'S, CAMRY'S AND COROLLAS. GOOGLE THIS INFORMATION TO SEE THAT THIS IS BECOMING MORE COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR, NOW THAT THEY ARE REACHING 100,000 MILES. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 2002- 50MPH ON A ROAD WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE HAD TO GO AROUND ME- AFTER THE VEHICLE PASSED, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO 3RD GEAR- CARS WERE ACCELERATING PAST ME CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER ALONG WITH THE CAR JERKING AND PULLING- TOYOTA ISSUED A "SERVICE BULL." FOR THIS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE FAULTY ECM- AND NOW THERE IS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE- VERY DANGEROUS AS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE- THIS IS A INTERMITTENT ISSUE- MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET- NO RECALL AS OF YET-. *TR