2002 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

TOYOTA RAV 4 4X4 HAS GEAR CHANGING PROBLEMS IN FIRST AND SECOND. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SOLENOID THEN SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. DID OBD DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH SHOWED SOLENOID BUT IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR ECM. WE REPLACED IT WITH THREE USED COMPUTERS WHICH EVIDENTLY HAD SAME DEFECT AND IN PROCESS OF DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THE TRANS WAS RUINED. YOU MUST STOP DRIVING CAR GET BRAND NEW ECM COMPUTER OF THE NEW SERIES BECAUSE THE SERIAL NUMBER HAS CHANGED THREE TIMES UNTIL TOYOTA FIXED IT FINALLY. I HAD TO REPAIR TRANS, PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER ALL OF WHICH COST ME $5,000.00. TOYOTA NEVER ISSUED A PUBLIC BULLETIN, THE BULLETIN WAS ONLY ISSUED TO CAR DEALERS WHILE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS KEPT IN THE DARK. *TR

DRIVING MY RAV4 SOUTH ON HAMILTON ROAD, A BUSY THRUWAY, WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO TURN LEFT MY TRANNY SLIPS AND HESITATES SO BAD THAT AS I PULLED INTO THE INTERSECTION IN THE WAY OF ONCOMING CARS MY CAR COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. FORTUNATELY NO CRASHES. MAYBE NEXT TIME. *TR

I AM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY TOYOTA RAV4 L 2002 WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD,THE TRANNY BEGAN SLIPPING,HESITATINGAND JERKING. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED YET. I AM CONCERNING SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL HIT BEHIND ME DURING DRIVING DUE TO SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T KEEP ON SPEED LIMITED. I GET ONLINE WWW.CARSCOMPLAINTS.COM AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I FOUND OUT MOST OF THE TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS DESCRIBING SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT CAN DAMAGE THE TRANNY. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ECM THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THE MAKE MODEL AND YR OF MY VEHICLE RAV4 2002/I DROVE HOME AND TOLD MY BOYFRIEND THAT THE ECM REPLACEMENT IS 1600 DOLLARS. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING TO TOYOTA TO HAVE FIXED AND MY CAR WOULD NPT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD STOP AND GO AND I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION.. I WAS AT 83,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. OF COURSE I HAD TO ABSORB THE COST.. *TR

ENGINE SEIZE AT 162K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-5K MILES. APPARENTLY OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND TOOK THE ENGINE WITH IT. OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAD 7 MILES ON IT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PUT IN REMAN. JASPER ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT $7,000.00 THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE MECHANIC SAID I COULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY'D "FLASH" IT TO GET IT TO GO OFF, BUT IT WOULD COST ME A FEW HUNDRED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ABOUT 28K MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THAT AND THEY JUST UNDO THE BATTERY AND PUT IT BACK ON. THAT "RESETS" IT. WITHIN 100 MILES IT GOES BACK ON. I JUST LEAVE IT AND IF THE CAR BLOWS UP I'LL LEAVE IT WHERE IT DIES THIS TIME. I PAID 28K FOR THE CAR IN 2002, 8 YRS AGO. 28K+7K(ENGINE)=$35,000.00 $35,000.00/8(YRS)=4375(PER YEAR TO OWN.MINIMUM) 4375.00/12(MOS)=364.58 PER MONTH. VERY EXPENSIVE TO OWN AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISN'T EVEN INCLUDED..... TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT IN SEPT. 2006. NOTICED SOMETIMES A SLIPPAGE BUT IT DID NOT OCCUR REGULARLY SO I IGNORED IT. WENT TO GET INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY FIXED THE ECM OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE MARCH 2009 BECAUSE I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM STILL PAYING $380 A MONTH PLUS INSURANCE ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I CANNOT DRIVE AND I SEE WHERE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE VERY SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS DEFECT? I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE PAYING $500 A MONTH FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE AND DEFINITELY CANNOT HAVE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $5000!!! PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN IT STARTED "BUCKING" AND I EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND RESULTED IN THE OTHER CAR BEING FORCED TO STOP TO LET ME PASS. FROM A STOP, CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STARTING IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. VERY DANGEROUS! LIMPED TO LOCAL SHOP AND CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BAD SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS REPLACED, DROVE THREE MILES HOME AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE NEXT DAY. SAME CODE APPEARED DURING DIAGNOSIS AND THIS INDICATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL COST $1200 TO REPLACE. POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION MAY BE NEEDED AS WELL AT A COST OF $3500. AFTER A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER RAV OWNERS. MY CAR HAS 86K MILES AND WAS JUST OVER THE 80K MILE WINDOW FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006, ACCORDING TO TSB ISSUED. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *TR

IN 2007 A RECALL 601 WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULES IN RAV4S. I TOOK MY 2002 IN & THEY RECALIBRATED THE MODULE. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME IT SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE GEAR SHIFT. 18 MOS. LATER, FEB. 2009, MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING & JUMPING IN & OUT OF GEAR. I'VE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR 30 YEARS & THIS WAS MOST UNUSUAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO S.F. TOYOTA. THEY HAD A VERY HARD TIME PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS SPORADIC. FIRST THEY SAID SOLENOID, THEN THEY FINALLY SAID REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FOR $4800. AND THAT IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF IT WERE, IT WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY, OTHERWISE, NOT. I DON'T FEEL A TRANSMISSION SHOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT AFTER 78,000 WITH NO WARNING. ESPECIALLY ON A TOYOTA. I ALMOST HAD A VERY BAD ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY & WOULDN'T REENGAGE. I THINK IT'S DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR THIS YEAR & MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AND I THINK TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM. *TR

HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR OF 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AFTER 100,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. *TR

AUTO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHERE THE CAR SHUDDERS AND SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY AND OFTEN SHIFTS VERY LATE POSING VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM CAME ON INSTANTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING , SO AS I STARTED RESEARCHING IT, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE AN ECU MALFUNCTION WHERE THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SEND THE RIGHT COMMANDS TO THE TRANSMISSION FOR WHEN TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T AT LEAST INFORM RAV4 OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE REPLACED THE ECU AND WHICH IS AN EASY REPAIR COSTING ONLY ABOUT $1200 OR THERE IS ALSO A SHOP ONLINE THAT FIXES THE ECU FOR $400 BUT NOW I HAVE TO FIX THE ECU AND REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THANKS TO TOYOTA'S NEGLIGENCE NOW THE REPAIR BILL IS IN THE $4000-$6000 PRICE RANGE. MANY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AREN'T AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE ECU IS AT FAULT AND ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL FINALLY PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM AND REPLACING THE ECU ALSO. THE SAME NEARLY HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I TOOK IT TO BOTH OF MY MECHANICS AND THEY DIDN'T FORESEE THE ECU TO BE AT FAULT AND WANTED TO REPLACE ONLY THE TRANSMISSION. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE DAY 1 AND IT HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED IT'S SAD TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO IT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 92,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. PUT OVER $3,400 INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED. PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER $1,000 TO GET COMPUTER REPLACED. STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR NOT OFFERING ANY KIND OF FIX TO THIS SOLUTION. *TR

MY CAR STARTED TO REV WITHOUT ANY FORWARD GAIN IN DISTANCE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS JUST NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO METAL IN IT. TWO DAYS LATER I TOOK MY CAR BACK IN FOR THE SAME REVVING AND BUCKING PROBLEM. THE TEAM MANAGER CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION OUT AGAIN AND. REASSURED ME THAT ALL WAS FINE AND ASKED ME TO RIDE WITH HIM TO PROVE IT. THE CAR DID NOT BUCK. I WAS GIVEN A STORY ABOUT HOW THE COMPUTER RESETS WHEN THE CAR IS WORKED ON, AND THAT IT WAS SET FOR A MORE AGGRESSIVE DRIVER. TODAY, I BARELY MADE IT HOME FROM THE MOUNTAINS. MY RAV CRAWLED OVER THE PASS AND KEPT JERKING FROM 30-60 RPMS WITH NOISE BUT NO ACCELERATION GAIN. I CANNOT COUNT ON THE CAR TO TAKE ME TO WORK UNTIL IT IS FIXED PROPERLY. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DAUGHTER. HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS AND ONCE IT HIT 90,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR FROM STOP POSITION. AFTER TOWING TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANNY $3290.27 AND ECM $1211.13 . TOYOTA HAS MONOPOLY ON ECM/PROGRAMMING AND IT MUST BE CHANGED WITH REBUILT/NEW TRANNY. WENT TO WEBSITE AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS STANDARD FOR 2002 RAV4'S. MANUFACTURER SAYS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE AND WON'T HELP IN ANY WAY! *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO BUCK. 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. *TR

HARSH SHIFT. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED, COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. *TR

I WAS COMING HOME AND WAITING FOR MY GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (EVEN THOUGH I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) AND CRASHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GARAGE DOOR SIDE-SWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO GET FIXED AND ALSO TOOK IT TO A SERVICE SHOP, AND NEITHER PLACE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED ON A FEW RARE OCCASIONS THAT, UPON SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A SUDDEN JERKING ACTION. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THIS ALL MY BE RELATED TO THE ECM TRANSMISSION MODULE THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT LATELY. *TR

STARTED CAR 2 WEEKS AGO (DECEMBER 8TH) DROVE FOR 10 MINUTES AT SLOW SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR STARTED BUCKING AND HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. WAS ALMOST RARE ENDED DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION. RPM WOULD INCREASE BUT CAR WOULD STRUGGLE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATING. BROUGHT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THEY THOROUGHLY CHECKED TRANSMISSION AND COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. DRAINED FLUID AND REPLACED FILTER. COST $170. THREE DAYS LATER STARTED BUCKING AGAIN. TROUBLE SHIFTING. BROUGHT TO DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO STATES NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. REQUESTING REBUILT FROM TOYOTA. COST OVER $2000, CAR ONLY HAS 94,000 MILES ON ENGINE. TOYOTA SAYS THAT IF IT IS OVER 60,000 MILES IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I BROUGHT MY RAV BRAND NEW IN 200. HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT UP UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. IT WAS RUNNING JUST FINE BUT THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD JERK WHEN I SHIFTED IN/OUT OF REVERSE. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IT HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING AND WOULD JERK FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE VIA WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM....THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD AND I AM SCARED OF DRIVING ANYWHERE BECAUSE IM SCARED OF PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC FOR THE FEAR THAT THE CAR WONT MOVE AND I MAY GET HIT.....THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED....*TR

MY 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSION WENT BAD (SHIFTING IMPROPERLY) OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES FROM TOYOTA. *TR

IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD ON ANY LONG TRIP THEN WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. SOMETIMES CANNOT GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CANNOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE MECHANIC STATES EVERYTHING IS FINE. DUE TO SEMI-FUNCTIONAL CRUISE, THE MILEAGE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP HAS DECREASED FROM 30-32 MPG TO 24-26MPG.REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2009 AND GIVEN A CASE # WHICH I HAVE MISPLACED. THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED OR ADMIT THEY HAD A PROBLEM. EXTENDED WARRANTY (TO 100,000 MILES) WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THERE IS INDEED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE GOING ON, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CARE. IN SEARCHING I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED COMMENTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND COULD NOT PICK UP SPEED ON HIGHWAY. ALMOST GOT INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH MY DAUGHTER (20 MONTH OLD) ON BOARD. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TOYOTA NEED TO FIX THIS MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND NOT STICK THE CONSUMER WITH THE BILL (AVERAGE FIX $3,000 DOLLARS FIX PER VEHICLE AT BEST WORTH$7,000). *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM MY DEALER, RICH TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON, WV IN SPRING 2002'IT WAS HIS DEMO CAR, VIN#[XXX] ; MODEL #4416A. AT 107,00 MILES, OUT OF THE CLEAR-BLUE, THE RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, THEN WENT OUT, BUT THEN SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC. I HAVE SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND EXPECTED TO GET ANOTHER 100,000 MORE MILES, BUT, MY DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE PURCHASE, SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1,200 FOR THE ECC/ECM (ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE), AND EVEN IF I REPLACE JUST THE ECC/ECM, IT STILL MAY NOT WORK WITH THE OLD TRANSMISSION, SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TOO FOR ANOTHER $3,500 BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE ECC MAY HAVE DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR-FUEL SENSOR FOR A TOTAL OF $5,189.00 IN REPAIRS BEFORE TAXES. I HAD NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE WERE EVER ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE TOYOTA PRODUCT LINE UNTIL I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHAT AN EYE-OPENER!!! THERE WERE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED WITH MANY OF TOYOTA'S PRODUCTS! CONSIDERING THAT THIS RAV4 WAS A $22,000 VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT, DOESN'T IT SEEM STRANGE THAT AFTER JUST 6 YEARS IT IS INOPERABLE AND EVEN DANGEROUS! AFTER E-MAILING AND SENDING A LETTER TO TOYOTA USA IN TORRENCE CALIFORNIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-331-4331 AND TALKED WITH A REAL PERSON. PLUS, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER, WHICH GOES INTO THEIR DATABASE AND LOGS THE ISSUE SHOULD THEY HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A RECALL OR OTHER REMEDY. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND DEFECTIVE ECU AT A COST OF ABOUT $4,500. AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR COMPLAINT FILES ON THIS RAV4 ISSUE, WHY HASN'T NHTSA DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT WITH TOYOTA!!!!???? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE IN AN INTENSE JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A FREE REMEDY UNDER THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE PROGRAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

HARSH SHIFTING/SLIPPING IN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. NO SPECIAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE; JUST STARTED IN ABOUT 123,000 MILES. PROBLEM NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ONLY AN OBD II SCAN HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS, THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86936.

I WAS DRIVING MY FATHERS 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 AWD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN THE DRIVE LINE LOCKED-UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY. A CAR FOLLOWING ME TRIED TO STOP BUT "TAPPED" MY REAR BUMPER. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD VEHICLE COMPUTER AND NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. COSTS WERE $4500. *TR

CAR HAD VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION ONTO HIGHWAY AFTER ECU FAILED AND TRANSMISSION IS SLOW TO GET INTO GEAR. HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AS THE VEHICLE COULD NOT GET UP TO INTERSTATE SPEED. *TR

SUDDENLY, MY CAR STARTING SHIFTING VERY ROUGHLY INTO REVERSE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. I WAS TOLD THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS THE SAME ECM THAT HAD A FACTORY RECALL ISSUED THAT I HAD SERVICED LAST YEAR. *TR

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA RAV4 2002 AT THE DEALER "TOYOTA OF ALAHAMBRA" AND I BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM TO MANY TIMES WITH THE COMPUTER ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. WHEN I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY TURNED OFF THE LIGHT AND SAID AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK, THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. RECENTLY I HAD PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE COMPUTER ENGINE AND THEY CHARGED $1,200.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS MY FAULT THAT I WAS TAKING OFF IN 2ND GEAR BUT I NEVER USE THE 2ND GEAR. WHAT I KNOW THIS CARS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE NAME OF THE DEALER IS "TOYOTA-SCION OF GLENDALE" 1260 S. BRAND BLVD. GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 91204. AS I KNOW WE HAVE 170 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS RAV4 TOYOTA CARS. FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT ANY PROBLEM WITH DEATH, OR FIRE, OR CRASH, BUT I AM WORRY ABOUT THIS COMPUTER PROBLEMS, WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING ANY MORE, CAN YOU TELL ME THAT CAN I DO ABOUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR POWER LOCK FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH AUTO LOCK BUTTON. HAS TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED BY HAND. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK ALSO STARTING TO FAIL. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAVE 4, I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT STILL DOES AND I CAN REPRODUCE IT EVERY TIME ON THE SAME ROAD. I ALSO HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT STEPING ON THE BREAKES AND THE CAR NOT WANTING TO STOP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "IT WAS IN MY HEAD, AND THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT." I WAS ACTUALLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON MY WAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I REPORTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THEM AN I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2005.

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION - TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN SHIFTING. ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 2/3 GEAR. HAD TO FIND INFORMATION ON FEDERAL 8YEAR/80K MILE MANDATED FREE REPROGRAMMING TO TRY TO FIX THIS. BUT READING ACCOUNTS THIS MAY NOT WORK AND EVEN THEN THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE DAMAGED ALREADY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL REGARDLESS OF MILES DRIVEN AS THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR/MODEL. THANK GOODNESS I WAS LOW MILEAGE BUT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THIS IS A TOYOTA DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV 4 2002. IT HAS 64,000 MILES. IT HAS HAD ALL IT'S RECOMMENDED SERVICES, NEW TIRES AND IS CLEAN. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING AND POSSIBLY THE COMPUTER. TOYOTA WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND IT COSTS $3500.00 TO REPLACE THE PARTS. ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THERE ARE 120 COMPLAINTS RE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 2002 RAV4. PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LAW SUIT. THEY HAVE SAID THAT I DESPITE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IT STILL NEEDED REPAIRS. *TR

OUR RAV4 BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER. FIRST VISIT RESULTED IN TUNE-UP ITEMS. DEALERSHIP TREATED IT AS AN ENGINE-RELATED PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE CAME BACK ON AGAIN THE SAME AFTERNOON. ON SECOND VISIT, DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR OVERNIGHT TO DRIVE IT WHILE IT WAS COLD. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE ANY FURTHER DIAGNOSIS COULD OCCUR. THE CC WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, ALREADY HAVING BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAD ALREADY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. PER A TOYOTA SERVICE CAMPAIGN. AFTER THE CC REPLACEMENT, CAR IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, AND IS GETTING WORSE. DEALERSHIP ADVISED US THAT WE NEED AN ECM REPLACEMENT, AT A COST OF $1300. AFTER THE FACT, WE FOUND TOYOTA TSB TC002-06, WHICH DESCRIBES THE EXACT ISSUES OUR RAV4 IS HAVING. TOYOTA ADMITS IN THE TSB THAT THE ECM OF THE '01 THROUGH '03 RAV4'S CAN CAUSE THE HARSH SHIFTING THAT WE ARE SEEING, AND THAT TOYOTA MADE CHANGES TO THE "MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING". THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM. IT CANNOT BE REPROGRAMMED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. THE RESULT OF THIS ECM FAILURE IS THAT THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE, AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AT ALL, AND IT CONSTANTLY LOOSES TENSION ON ITS CLUTCH PACK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE ROAD. THE CONDITION GETS WORSE OVER A SHORT TIME. IN ONLY TWO WEEKS, THE CAR WILL NOT STAY IN ANY SINGLE GEAR WHEN DRIVING. A SEARCH OF THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. OFTEN, THE ECM FAILURE CAUSES PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY DIAGNOSIS, NOR WILL THEY MAKE TOYOTA HONOR THE WARRANTY, WHICH IS 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. WE ARE UNDER THE YEARS, BUT OVER BY 8,000 MILES. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE TREATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE? IS IT NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH WHEN YOUR CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR IN TRAFFIC UNEXPECTEDLY? *TR

CAR BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY A SHOP THAT THE ECM IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT OFTEN FAILS IN INTERSECTIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESISTATED 30 TO 45 SECONDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR AND ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. THE DEALER FLUSHED OUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACED IT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSUME THE REPAIR COSTS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS A DEFECT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

I PURCHASED MY USED 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ON 12/10/05 FROM SOUTH COAST TOYOTA OF COSTA MESA. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT, I RECEIVED SOME KIND OF "ADJUSTMENT NOTICE" ASKING ME TO BRING THE CAR IN, WHICH I DID. I ASKED WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT DIRECTLY ANSWER MY QUESTION AND SAID IT "WAS NOTHING, JUST A MINOR ADJUSTMENT." IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008, SHORTLY AFTER MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND MY CAR WAS JUST OVER 83,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, AND THEN IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND I WOULD SUDDENLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR SO I HAD TO STOP, AND THEN TRY TO GET IT IN GEAR, OR DRIVE HOME IN 1ST. I HAD TO DRIVE FROM 1ST GEAR OR 4TH. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY TO GET TO WORK, AND HAD TO STOP DRIVING IT ALL TOGETHER ON THE STREET. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE PRICE HE QUOTED ME TO "REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND ECU" WAS AROUND $4,500. I WAS FURIOUS, AS THE REASON I PURCHASED TOYOTAS WAS BECAUSE THEY DROVE 200,000 MILES AS LONG AS YOU PROPERLY MAINTAINED THEM, WHICH I ALWAYS DID. I WENT AND HAD TO PAY $2,593.00 AT IRVINE TRANSMISSION CENTER IN IRVINE, CA ON 9/24/08. AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND TEST DRIVING IT, IT WAS READY FOR PICKUP. WHEN THEY GOT IN THE CAR TO DRIVE IT UP TO ME, SUDDENLY THE NEW TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. SO, THEY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THE COMPUTER (ECU) APPARENTLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO, AND THEY HAD DISCOVERED THROUGH ONLINE SITES THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $500 TO REPLACE THE ECU. THE DEALER SOLD ME A RAV4 THEY KNEW WAS HAVING TRANSMISSION AND ECU FAILURE. I WROTE TOYOTA A COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE MONEY I AM OUT, AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I REQUEST YOU TAKE ACTION! *TR

I BROUGHT MY RAV BRAND NEW IN 2002. HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT UP UNTIL A FEW A YEAR AGO WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENT. EVERY TIME I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO GET CHECKED IT WOULD GO OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY PRESENT DUTY STATION I WAS DEPLOYED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF MY DEPLOYMENT MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME MOVING AND COULD HEAR THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. ONLY 52000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD MY WIFE THAT THERE COULD BE A TSB OUT ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, PART THAT TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT GEARS, "ECM"AND THERE WAS SEVERAL THAT PERTAINED THE PROBLEM AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BEING IN ITALY SHE CONTACTED THE STATES REP FOR TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T LOCATE OUR CAR BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT FROM A LICENSED DEALER "AMERICAN SPEC VEHICLE" FROM GERMANY. SHE THEN CONTACT THE AGENCY THAT IS AUTHORIZED TO SELL "AMERICAN SPEC CARS" AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FELL UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THAT THEY "AMERICAN TOYOTA" SHOULD PAY FOR IT BASED ON AN AMERICAN TSB. CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN AND NOTHING. WHEN I CAME HOME, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS AN AMERICAN TSB THEY WOULD CONSIDER THE REPLACEMENT. IN THE MEAN TIME THEY ASSURED US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND BEING OUR ONLY VEHICLE MY WIFE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE IT. TOYOTA "ROME" OKED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM, THE ACTUAL FAULT OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THE RESULT OF THE FAULTY PART. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND LOOKING ON LINE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT TO REPLACE A PRODUCT THAT IS THE RESULT OF TOYOTA'S ENGINEERING FLAWS. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REPLACEMENT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUESTED. *TR

THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A FAULTY ECM AND HAS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT THE OTHER DAY. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT DO A RECALL. HERE IS A LIST OF THE SAME PROBLEM OWNERS HAD: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED THUMPING/JERKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE, DESPITE HAVING FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WITHIN A MONTH, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR. ENGINE RACES AT 4,000+ RMP AND DOES NOT SHIFT TO OTHER GEARS. *TR

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 JUST STOPS, IT DOESN'T SHIFT 2ND AND 3RD GEAR , THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS AND SOME TIMES IT WORK CORRECTLY WITH NO PROBLEM BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE THE RAV4 IT JUST STOP JERKING ALMOST TO A DEAD STOP. DEALER SAID "YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST YOU $4,989.00 DOLLARS." *TR

ACCELERATING AND SHIFT FAILURE IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION -TOYOTA ISSUED TSB ON MARCH 2006 TO CHANGE ECM WHICH CONTROLS SHIFT SEQUENCING. DEFECTIVE ECM COULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AS A TOYOTA OWNER I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. MY OPINION IS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD THREE TIMES. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD THREE TIMES AGAIN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148,000.

AIR BAG ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED A TRUCK MY SPEED WAS 40-45 MILE PER HOUR. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE AIRBAG WAS NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY UNLESS I WAS IN DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY. "A FRACTURED STERNUM IS NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR IT TO DEPLOY." *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 2002, 98367 MILES, TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL ON ECM REPROGRAM, AFTER DONE THE RECALL BY TOYOTA DEALER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY ERRATICALLY. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO LOSS OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

MY TOYOTA RAV4 2002, HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT !!! TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA 2002 RAV4. IT IS EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JERKS AND HESITATES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO PROCEED FORWARD OR NOT. PULLING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS. *TR

ACTUATOR FOR DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED TO WORK WITH IN CAR ELECTRONIC BUTTON .ALL OTHER LOCKS WORK CORRECTLY. *TR

I DROVE MY CAR SATURDAY 8-1-08 AND NOTICED THAT FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD. I HAD THE TRANNY DRAINED AND FILLED AND ADDITIVE PLACED. THE SHIFTING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT I CALLED AROUND AND DID INTERNET RESEARCH. AFTER READING HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?S=EEC4529E47F582CEC0A62327B81DBE0C&SHOWTOPIC=28020&PID=308037&ST=450&#ENTRY308037 IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF MALFUNCTION EXISTS WITH THIS TOYTOA TRANSMISSION. I HAVE THUS FAR HAD THE DRAIN AND FILL PERFORMED AND AM GOING TO SEE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. I WORRY THAT MY CAR WILL HAVE THE SHIFTING AND JERKING AND FAILURES DURING THE TRAVEL, AS IS DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE. BECAUSE OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS AND INABILITY TO PAY FOR $4,000 IN REPAIRS, I INTEND TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCE A HARDSHIP AS A RESULT. *TR