2002 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION/SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS ACTED UP. IT WASN'T A SMALL, NAGGING ISSUE THAT BUILT UP, IT WAS PRETTY SUDDEN. ONE WEEK IT WAS FINE AND THEN I HAD 2 SMALL SHIFTING INCIDENTS (SHAKING) IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD, AND THEN THE NEXT WEEK, AFTER ABOUT 5-8 DAYS OF MORE LOCAL 'STOP AND GO' DRIVING, MY LOWER GEAR'S SHIFTING WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY - EVERY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND WAS DELAYED AND HARSH. MY 2002 RAV4 HAS 98K ON IT. I MAY NEED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AND/OR ECM AND I DON'T THINK TOYOTA WILL COVER ANY OF THE COSTS OF EITHER. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT TRADING IT IN SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, BUT I DO LIKE MY RAV 4. I AM HOPING (AFTER DOING ALL THE ONLINE RESEARCH AND MAKING SOME OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS TO CR, BBB AND OTHER SAFETY GROUPS) THAT MAYBE TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE (OR BE FORCED TO PROVIDE) PAYMENTS OR COVERAGE IN SOME WAY FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE (ESSENTIALLY "STALLING" IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, WHEN NEEDING THE ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION.) WHEN SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA SERVICE AND HAVING HAD THEM PERFORM THEIR $100 COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS (BEFORE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON - THE LIGHT HAS SINCE COME ON AND REMAINS ON- OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW) I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD "MOST LIKELY' NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT FOR 3 WEEKS AFTER FIRST NOTICING THE PROBLEM AND REALLY ONLY 1 SINCE THE TROUBLE WAS CONTINUOUS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HOPE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY EITHER HAVING THE ECM REBUILT ($500) OR PURCHASING A NEW ONE ($1000). HOPEFULLY, L DIDN'T DRIVE IT TOO MUCH BEFORE THE ECM RUINED MY TRANSMISSION ($5000). SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY WORTH ABOUT $6000 TOTAL ANYWAY. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS TOYOTA CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT WRITING YOU WOULD BE MY BEST BET. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) AND COSTS ABOUT $1200 TO REPLACE. DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS IS ALSO HURTS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN LEAD TO AN ADDITIONAL $4000 TO FIX. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT OR IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. THANKS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4,STARTED DRIVING ERRATIC,WHILE FOOT ON GAS PEDAL,CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN,THEN SPEED UP WITH BANGING SOUND. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS COMPUTER BAD REPLACING IT,WHICH INCLUDED A TOW IS$ 1,440.00 .CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 91,000 MILES. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT CAUSE THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DISINTEGRATE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THEN 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR YET THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,178 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,515.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. REPORT 1006100118 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS SINCE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,680.

TOYOTA RAV4 (2002) JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO TRAFFIC WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY BOULEVARD. CARS SCREECHED TO A HALT. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. RAV4 HAS FAULTY COMPUTER (ECM) THAT TOYOTA DID NOT RECALL AND HOLDS CONSUMERS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING (APPX$1400). FAULTY COMPUTER OFTEN DESTROYS TRANSMISSION ALSO. I AM FACING $5500 IN REPAIRS AND TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR AND PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES. I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 WHICH IT ALMOST HAD MY FAMILY LIFE TAKEN. LAST WEEKEND WE WERE GETTING IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DIDN'T SPEED UP A ROLLBACK MANEUVER HIS WAY OUT LUCKILY THE DRIVER ACTED QUICK AT SCENE. MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAIL TO PROCEED, IT WOULDN'T SPEED UP. WE WERE LIKE BAITS FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC NOT KNOWING IF TO GET OUT OF CAR OR GET HIT. WE WERE TERRIFIED SO WE ALL SCREAM. LATER THE TRANSMISSION REP UP. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE TO RELAX. NOW I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPEN, WHAT WENT WRONG? BUT NOW I NOW I KNOW IS THE FREAKING CAR. MY QUESTION IS WHY TOYOTA DID NOT GAVE US A WARNING ABOUT THE DEFECTS OF THE VEHICLE? I HOPE FOR OTHERS FAMILIES NOT TO GO THROUGH THIS TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. PLEASE INFORMS TO OTHERS TO TAKE ACTION WITH THIS VEHICLE OR IT MAY BE TO LATE. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO NOW WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'M NOT DRIVING IT AND PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK AGAIN!!!. BE CAREFUL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. BUT PLEASE LE ME KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. SHOULD I JUNKED THE CAR OR GO TO THE DEALER AND DEAL WITH THEM. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE AWAY TO TO HER . THAT WILL BE LIKE GIVEN THEM A TICKET TO THE CEMETERY. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. VEHICLE SHUDDERS LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STOP RUNNING, THEN RPM'S JUMPED UP TO ABOUT 4,000 AND SLAMMO! SLAMS INTO GEAR. ALMOST GOT HIT BY A LARGE TRUCK BEHIND ME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON . TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY WITHOUT ERROR CODES THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HAD A RECALL ON ECM A COUPLE OF YRS. AGO. HAD IT DONE(RE-FLASHED) AT DEALERSHIP. NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD,GOING INTO REVERSE FROM PARK WITH A HUGE CLUNK. ALSO, SLIPPING AT TIMES. WHEN MAKING A LEFT/RIGHT TURN FROM A ROAD TO ANOTHER, CAR WOULD SLUGGISHLY MOVE-VERY DANGEROUS. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD A NEW COMPUTER WAS NEEDED TO VERIFY IF THE PROBLEM WAS ECU RELATED OR THE TRANNY..I ASKED WHY A NEW COMPUTER WASN'T AVAILABLE TO TEST WHETHER IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR TRANNY."WE DON'T STOCK COMPUTERS". I WAS QUOTED $1200.00 FOR "NEW" ECU TO SEE IF IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEN A "NEW" TRANNY FOR 4000.00 TO 5000.00 WOULD BE REQUIRED. THIS IS A 2002 2WD WITH 99K MILES WORTH ABOUT $5000.00(IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE). ALSO LEARNED THAT THE ECU TENDS TO THROW CODES UNRELATED TO THE TRANNY ISSUE. WHEN I BROUGHT MY RAV4 IN I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY ISSUES WITH THE TRANNY AND THAT THERE WAS A TSB TO INSTALL NEW SOFTWARE TO TRY TO FIX THE ISSUE. I WAS THEN TOLD NO, YOU NEED TO TRY A NEW ECU FOR $1200.00. WHY NOT THROW A "NEW" ECU IN TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM? WHY DON'T THEY ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT INSTEAD OF EASTER EGGING AT MY EXPENSE? CHARGE ME $1200.00 FOR AN ECU(OR ANY PART) THAT MAY OR MAY NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE IS CRIMINAL AND TO HEAR THAT THE ECU PROBLEM EATS THE TRANNY IS ALSO CRIMINAL QUICK TO TAKE YOUR CASH BUT TO DENY A VERY COMMON PART DEFECT (ECU) THAT ULTIMATELY DESTROYS ANOTHER EXPENSIVE NEEDED COMPONENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE MADE LEFT/RIGHT TURNS AND THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES TO BUCK/HESITATE AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS EXPECTING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE APPROPRIATELY. *TR

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 RAV4 TO TOYOTA ON A FEW OCCASIONS. EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN AN OXYGEN SENSOR OR FUEL SENSOR. WE HAD THESE REPLACED AND NOW TOYOTA IS TELLING US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1000). THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12

MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED A USED 2002 RAV4 AS HER FIRST CAR IN 2010. IT HAD ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASING. SHE ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR OR IT WOULD ACT SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING ON THE CALIFORNIA FREEWAYS. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR A YOUNG DRIVER. WE LEARNED OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS ISSUE AND GOT ON BOARD WITH IT. UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST, AS WE KNEW WE WOULD, SINCE TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO STAND BEHIND ITS WARRANTIES OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. WE PAID FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT SO SHE COULD SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE TSB CLEARLY STATES THAT ANY PRIOR OUT-OF-POCKET REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. EVEN THOUGH WE EVENTUALLY HAD THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT THEIR EXPENSE, SHE WAS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PRIOR WORK DONE BUT WAS NOT. WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA PRODUCT. TOO MANY RECALLS AND ISSUES. AND THEY DO. NOT. HONOR. THEIR. AGREEMENTS. I KNOW WE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES....THERE ARE LEGIONS OF DISSATISFIED CONSUMERS. SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. NEVER HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH FORD OR PONTIAC VEHICLES. *TR

THE MAIN COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BEGIN SHIFTING ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED THE LAST WEEKEND IN MAY, 2010. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW, IT IS CURRENTLY WAITING REPAIR. TOTAL COST THUS FAR $1,586.00 TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER SO THAT THE COMPUTER CAN TELL THEM WHAT OTHER DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE A FUNCTIONAL USED COMPUTER FOR REPAIR. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION JAMMED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. TOLD IT WAS ECM PROBLEM AND REPAIR COST WAS $1440.94. *TR

ON MAY 25TH, MY WIFE WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A LOCAL BYPASS (SPEED LIMIT 55 MPH). AS SHE BEGAN TO MERGE, OUR 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HESITATED AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. MY WIFE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDED NEW FLUID. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND IT WAS OK SO I PICKED IT UP AND BROUGHT IT HOME. BY THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS HESITATING AGAIN SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE PROBLEM. I THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY REPAIR PERSON STATING THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT BUT ALL WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED. I THEN FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSIONS BUT HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THE BUYERS OR HAD A RECALL DUE TO EXPENSE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK OR A REPAIR BILL FOR $5,000 PLUS. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DEPENDABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT COST TO ME SINCE I HAVE NO MORE WARRANTY COVERAGE. I'M NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR SINCE I'M NOT PUTTING $5,000 INTO AN 8 YEAR OLD ONE. DO I HAVE ANY LEGAL ALTERNATIVES SINCE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT SAID NOTHING? *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULDN'T SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. TO OK IN IMMEDIATELY INTO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. SAID IT WAS THE ECM. IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN IN FOR RECALL AND IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION OF SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU DRIVE IT WILL RUIN YOUR TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ONLY SAID TO CALL TOYOTA. I HAVE DONE THAT AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND 220,000 TOYOTA VEHICLE HAVE ISSUES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD STILL BE COVERED BUT THEY STOP AT 8 YEARS. I AM 25 DAYS PAST WARRANTY. DUE TO THEM KNOWING AND ALREADY RECALLING THEM THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV-4. I HAVE TAKEN PROPER CAR OF THE CAR, LIKE OIL CHANGES, TUNE-UPS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. EXCEPT RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAS FAILED. IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ISSUE HAS COME ABOUT. I AM ALMOST AT 102K MILES ON MY CAR. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER SUV DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND ARTICLES BY USA TODAY AND CBS5 STATING HOW OWNERS OF TOYOTA RAV-4'S 2001-2003 MODELS HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 I PURCHASED USED IN MAY 2010 FOR $9,000. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. ALMOST HAD NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GET OUT OF 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD GEAR. HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED/REBUILT FOR $3,500, THE ECM FLASHED FOR $265, 3 NEW OXYGEN SENSORS PUT IN FOR $900. NOW THE CAR IS STILL DOING WHAT IT DID EVEN AFTER ALL THAT MONEY SPENT. LOOKING UP ON THE WEB, FOUND MANY OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALMOST ALL HAD TO REPLACE THE ECM. I AM NOW TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A TOYOTA DEALER TO GET THIS DONE. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND BEGAN DECELERATING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY BOTH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,450. UPDATED 07/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/03/10*JB

WHIPLASH AND CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF TOYOTA RAV 4 2002 TRANSMISSION AND ECM PROBLEMS. AROUND 4/20/10 I TOOK MY TOYOTA TO THIS DEALERSHIP DUE TO ONGOING JERKING AND FORWARD THRUST WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY KEPT MY TOYOTA FROM 4/19/10 TILL 4/21/10. RESET THE ENGINE STATING THAT IT IS O2 SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED IT. ALSO DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP PERSONA,L" I DON'T WANT TO STAMP YOUR CAR AS CONDEMNED, TAKE IT BACK AND WHEN PROBLEM GETS WORSE BRING IT BACK" HE DID NOT WARN ME THAT IF I DID NOT GET IT CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY, I CAN BE JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE PAPERWORK THEY HANDED ME THAT THEY HAD DIAGNOSED A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED IT RIGHT AWAY. AROUND MIDDLE OF MAY THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOT WORSE, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR STALLED COMPLETELY WHILE GOING AT 30 MPH AND THEN SEVERELY THRUST FORWARD AGAIN. IN ANOTHER 3-4 DAYS I STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS AND HEADACHES. SINCE THEN I HAD BEEN TO ER, RECEIVED CT AND MRI SHOWING DISC PROLAPSE AND TEAR OF MY 2 VERTEBRAL DISCS. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PHYSICAL THERAPY, CERVICAL TRACTION, PAIN MEDICATION, CERVICAL COLLAR, AND AM SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE AN EPIDURAL INJECTION IN 2 WEEKS. I HAVE SEEN MY PCP TWICE, A NEUROLOGIST, 2 NEURO SURGEONS AND HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS MEDICATION, SOME WITH SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THESE VISITS. I AM A PHYSICIAN AND DUE TO THIS PROBLEM HAVE MISSED DAYS AT WORK JEOPARDIZING MY CLINICAL CARE. YESTERDAY ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, THIS INCIDENT MADE ME REALIZE I CAN HURT OTHER PEOPLE IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY ARE GOING TO RUN A DIAGNOSIS ON IT AGAIN, AND IT MIGHT COST ME 6,000 DOLLARS. PLEASE HELP.*TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM GEAR TO GEAR AND HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS VERY COMMON ON 2001-2004 RAV4'S PER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS PUT OUT BY TOYOTA IN MARCH OF 2006 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE ECU. THE BULLETIN PROVES TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE ECU. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO BUY A TRANSMISSION ALSO AFTER THE FAULTY ECU DESTROYS THEIRS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SUCH AS DRIVING ONTO A FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION STALLING WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ENTERING A BUSY HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WITHIN MOMENTS, THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019667). THE DEALER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT WENT OFF A FEW DAYS LATER, BUT MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ECU (COMPUTER) FAILED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING, AND IT STARTED BUCKING ON THE HIGHWAY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THERE WAS A TOYOTA INTERNAL MEMO WRITTEN IN 2006 ADMITTING THE DEFECT. MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. THE CAR HAS ONLY 60,000. MILES ON IT. WE CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY (WE ARE THREE MONTHS OVER THE WARRANTY) AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO, AND TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS GAVE US A CASE NUMBER, AND REFERRED US BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS. WE ALSO BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A COMPANY IS PUTTING ITS CUSTOMERS AT RISK WITH A DEFECTIVE PART, AND THEN HIDING IT FROM THE VEHICLE OWNER. WE NEVER RECEIVED A MEMO ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED IN ORDER FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED? TOYOTA SHOULD BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT IT WILLFULLY SOLD TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND THEN TRIED TO COVER IT UP! *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS AT ODD TIMES. ESPECIALLY THOUGH, WHEN TRYING TO MERGE OR PASS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO GAIN SPEED AND WOULD SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV BEGAN SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD. TOOK IT TO TRUSTED GARAGE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN RESEARCHING THE VEHICLE AND THE MODEL'S SERVICE HISTORY FOR RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INVOLVED WAS ONLY USED FOR 16 MONTHS BY TOYOTA BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF POOR PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY ISSUES. THE ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. (TOYOTA TSB TC002-06). TOYOTA DEEMED NOT TO ALERT VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS CONDITION OR TO OFFER ANY PREVENTIVE ACTION TO BE PURSUED TO PREVENT THE ULTIMATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT. WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION NOT VALID IF THE ECM UNIT IS NOT ALSO REPLACED. TOTAL COST = $5,000. ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 119,000 MILES IN 90 MONTHS OF USE. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE VEHICLE PARTS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4'S TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS EVEN THOUGH I AM PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT JUST SLOWLY MOVES DURING THOSE SECONDS. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN I ATTEMPT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SOMETIME IT FEELS LIKE THE TURN WILL NOT COMPLETE BEFORE ON COMING TRAFFIC APPROACHES. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $3500. *TR

I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE A 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC, NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2010 MY VEHICLE STARTING JERKING, I LOOK AT MY GAS GAUGE AND THOUGHT I MUST BE LOWER ON GAS THEN THE GAUGE IS SHOWING. I GOT GAS AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. I GOT GAS AND THE SITUATION STOPPED. SPORADICALLY, IN THE 2 WEEK TIME FRAME MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. I DID TAKE MY CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAD THE CAR AND DID TEST DRIVES WITH NO PROBLEMS. AGAIN, IN APRIL THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN AND THE CAR WHEN TO MY MECHANIC AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. ON APRIL 22, 2010 UPON LEAVING WORK I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE JERKING, SHAKING AND AT TIMES SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME (1 MILE AWAY) WITH THE TIRES BARELY ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY, THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND AS WE WERE DOING A TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE BEGAN THE JERKING, SHAKING AND LOST POWER, THE CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE ANY LONGER. THE DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION BURNT AND NEW ECM (MY THIRD IN THIS VEHICLE). THE VEHICLES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NEVER CAME ON OR ANY OTHER SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ECM WAS TESTED IT DID NOT DISPLAY ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO BRING IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT DOES NOT RUN AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND WOULD THESE (I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED WITH AN EXPENSE OF ANYWHERE FROM $250 TO $300.00, A HOURS DRIVE AWAY) EXPENSES BE COVERED. RESPONSE "WARRANTY EXPIRED 60 DAYS AGO." AFTER MANY DAYS OF AN AGONIZING DECISION, I ADVISED MY MECHANIC TO GO AHEAD AND FIX THE CAR AT THE TUNE OF $3500.00, REPLACING THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL HAVE IT BACK NEXT WEEK. *TR

WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ON AN INTERSTATE, THE RAV4 WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WOULD HANG FOR A MOMENT. EMERGENCY MANEUVERS HAD TO BE MADE TO AVOID GETTING RAMMED BY A SEMI-TRUCK. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE CAR, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOW A CEL, IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. DRIVING HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WITHOUT A PROPERLY SHIFTING CAR, I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP. THAT IS WHEN MY MECHANIC PULLED UP TSB NUMBER: TC002-06 FROM TOYOTA WHICH STATES THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS TSB OR ANY OTHER NOTICES FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH MY 2002 RAV4 IS UNDER THE "AGE LIMIT" FOR THE WARRANTY, I AM OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT WHICH MEANS THAT TOYOTA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM. IT CURRENTLY SITS UNFIXED UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE TSB. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 JERKING AND LUNGING INTO GEAR FROM A STOP. CAR DROPS INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING A SUDDEN SLOW DOWN AND DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR CARS BEHIND ME WHO HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY FOR ME. 70,000 MILES, TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP THIS A.M. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD TRY RE-PROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER AND THEN IF THAT DID NOT WORK THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPUTER FOR $1,100 AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3,000-$4,000. LEFT DEALERSHIP AFTER "RE-PROGRAMMING" THE COMPUTER AND IMMEDIATELY CAR STARTED LUNGING INTO GEAR, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, THUMPING INTO GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *TR

WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4: ECM COMPUTER PROBLEM CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT. THE ECM HAS A DESIGN BLUNDER WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE ITS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE SOLENOIDS. THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED QUITE SUDDENLY. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING IN APRIL 2010. IT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND WASN'T CAUSE FOR CONCERN UNTIL MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MAY 2010. THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE ARE THAT IT STALLS, HESITATES, AND HAS A STOP / GO (JERKING) TYPE OF ACTION WHILE DRIVING IT. AT THAT TIME, I TOOK IT TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED BOTH OF MY TOYOTAS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ECM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST AROUND 1,300 DOLLARS. MIND YOU, I HAD TO PAY 75 DOLLARS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I TOOK MY RAV4 TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, HAD IT DIAGNOSED FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE ECM UNIT WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST ME YET, ANOTHER 75 DOLLARS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. HE ALSO INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT COULD POSSIBLY HARM THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE DOING SO, I HAVE BEEN DOWN TO ONE CAR FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC, OR TRYING TO MOVE FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, AS YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR OR NOT. TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, NOR HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I AM DISGUSTED THAT IN 2006 TOYOTA REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECM, WHICH COULD RUIN 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 AND CAUSES CONSIDERABLE DANGER WITH JERKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY STARTS AROUND 90,000 MILES AND CAUSES CONSIDERABLE DANGER WITH JERKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. *TR

HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 I WAS DRIVING NEAR HOME - BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON AREA HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED A JOLT OR HARD SHIFT WHILE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BETWEEN APPROX. 25-30 MPH. CAUSED CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY. CONSIDER MYSELF BLESSED CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND NO ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME AS WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED TO TAKE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DUE TO A FAULTY ECM COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY STILL SITTING THERE WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA ON HOW THEY WILL REMEDY. *TR

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS 103K MILES. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, 2010, AS I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO VISIT A FRIEND, I NOTICED AN ABRUPT OCCURRENCE OF TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE FROM 1ST -2ND GEARS. THERE WAS A FEELING OF DOWNSHIFTING THAT EVENED OFF AT 3RD GEAR. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED AFTER A STOP, GOING UP A HILL. THERE WAS A CLUNK SOUND WHEN THE CARE WAS PUT IN REVERSE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING SINCE THIS CAME ABOUT OVERNIGHT. NO WARNING LIGHTS HAVE EVER COME ON, EVEN NOW. MY BOYFRIEND SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $5100. I AM UNEMPLOYED AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW BLOCKS, TO MY BOYFRIEND'S, AS THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE SLIPPAGE. I CAN NOT ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH AFTER A STOP, AND OTHER CARS COME BOUNDING DOWN ON ME, HONKING AND SWITCHING LANES AT THE LAST MINUTE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME, RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ON THIS ISSUE. THEN I FIND OUT ABOUT TC002-06, IN WHICH CONSUMERS WERE NOT MADE PRIVY TO. THIS IS DELIBERATE CONSUMER FRAUD, COSTING TRUSTING CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR DEFECTS THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF, BUT REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THEIR DEFECT. THIS SEEMS TO ME, JUST AS ILLEGAL AS INSIDER TRADING, KNOWING SOMETHING, MAKING A PROFIT, AND NOT TELLING HOW THEY KNOW. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN SUDDENLY JERKING WHEN I SLOWED DOWN THEN WOULD LAG WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. IT HAD LESS THAN 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4800. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR AN EXTENTION OF THE WARRANTY, HAVING BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY ANY LONGER. I GOT ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT AT 67,000 MILES THIS WAS NOT COVERED. I HAD TO GET RID OF THE CAR WHEN I DIDN'T WANT TO AND AM ASKING FOR RESTITUTION.

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!

MY CAR HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE AFTER STOPS AND IN LOW SPEEDS. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. TWO OXYGEN SENSORS WERE CHANGED BUT THE JERKING DID NOT STOP. I PAID $853.00 FOR THIS SERVICE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT TWO ADDITIONAL SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I PAID ADDITIONAL $600 (DISCOUNTED) FOR THIS REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ECM ON THE CAR IS BAD AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY IN LOW GEAR. AFTER I HAD SPENT OVER $1400 TO FIX THE OXYGEN SENSORS, I WAS TOLD TO SPEND ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO $6,000 TO FIX THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY DID NOT RECALL THE CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED: 2001-2003 RAV4. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION. *TR

HARSH SHIFTING FROM 1ST - 3RD GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED BY TOYOTA IN 2007. IT CONCERNS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06). AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR THIRTY MINUTES, THE CAR WOULD THEN START TO SHIFT HARSHLY/DELAYED SHIFT CAUSING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE IN 2007 AND THEN LAST MONTH HAD TO HAVE THE ECM REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

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

HAVING ISSUES WITH TOYOTA RAV 4 GEAR SHIFTING TRANSMISSION ISSUE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT INDICATES P0750 FAILURE TOYOTA RELEASE A TSB IN MARCH 06 AND YET MY DEALER DID NOTHING TO REPLACE THE ECM EVEN IN MY SERVICE DONE IN 2008 I AM NOW AT 101K MILES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ON MARCH 14, 2010, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM STARTED TO OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,747. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,800.

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

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

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.

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

RAV 4 2002 OWNER. I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH SHIFTING ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RAV 4. WHEN STARTING OUT TO DRIVE, IT DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. IT FEELS LIKE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS ON (IT ISN'T) THEN IT "JUMPS" OR SURGES FORWARD. FINALLY, AFTER A WEEK OR TWO OF THIS THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON AND THE CAR WILL L NOT SHIFT THRU ALL THE GEARS. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF RAV 4'S (2001 THRU 2003, BUT APPARENTLY ESPECIALLY 2002) HAVE DESCRIBED MY EXACT EXPERIENCE. THE PART REQUIRED COSTS $1,000 ( AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR!). THEN, ONCE IT IS PUT IN, YOU GET TO LEARN IF YOUR GEAR BOX HAS BEEN DESTROYED! IF SO, ANOTHER $5,000 TO $7,000 REPAIR! AND TOYOTA KNEW!!!!! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! *TR

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 .