2001 Toyota RAV4 complaints

MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING IN AUG. 2009. THE CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ALMOST STALL OUT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE CODES SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR BRING IT BACK WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I LEFT THE LOT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE P0755 WAS THE CODE USED TO REPAIR THE CAR. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. I CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT HELP FIX THE ISSUE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND NEEDED TO GO TO WORK I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS ALONG WITH THE CURRENT ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE RECALL MODELS NOW. JUST BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED FROM THIS ISSUE DOES NOT MEAN NO ONE WILL, IF THE OWNER DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE CAR WITH THEM. *TR

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BOUGHT RAV USED JULY 2007 WITH 109,230 MI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (HAS REMAINED ON) BUT WAS DIAGNOSED AS O2 SENSOR & RAV OPERATED PERFECTLY (LIVE WHERE EMISSIONS CHECK NOT REQUIRED). MAY 2009 TRANNY STARTED ALTERNATING BETWEEN WORKING GOOD, SHIFTING ROUGH, SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, AND NOT DOWNSHIFTING AT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. HAD MECHANIC WITH OVER 15 YRS EXPERIENCE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHECK IT (AFTER HOURS). HE WAS UNAWARE OF CONNECTION TO FAULTY ECM SO WE THOUGHT TRANY WAS BAD & HE FLUSHED TRANNY. THAT REDUCED FREQUENCY OF SYMPTOMS BUT DID NOT STOP THEM. WE STILL THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL & TRANNY REBUILD/REPLACE WAS INEVITABLE & I DROVE IT LONGER TO SAVE UP MONEY FOR REPAIRS. I LIVE ON A SEMI-RURAL OHIO STATE ROUTE WITH 55MPH POSTED LIMIT & 65MPH AVERAGE SPEED. I HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY THEN SLIPPED, HESITATED, OR REFUSED TO SHIFT. MY 18YR OLD SON DROVE THE RAV IN DEC & PULLED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER RIG WITH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE DISTANCE EXCEPT THAT THE RAV DECIDED NOT TO ACCELERATE. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO PASS, BUT HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW ENOUGH IN TIME. INTERMITTENT SYMPTOMS CONTINUED UNTIL 12/14/09 WHEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR BURNED OUT & I DROVE HOME 20 MILES IN 1ST. JUST PARTS THRU TOYOTA WILL COST $2000 FOR REBUILT TRANNY PLUS $1000 FOR ECM. INDEPENDENT REPAIR

I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2004. IN JULY 2009, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAN IT WOULD TO JUST PAY IT OFF. I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AS I DO A LOT OF COMMUTING. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. I HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECALL ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AS PERTINENT AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR. I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT THEY HAD A REPUTATION FOR SAFE, WELL-MADE VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS PUT ON THE LINE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THAT CONTRAPTION, AND I EXPECT THAT IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO ENSURE A COMPENSATION OR EXTENDED WARRANTY OF SOME KIND, TOYOTA WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS( AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS, I'M SURE.). MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYTIME ANYONE WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH A TOYOTA RAV 4 GETS IN THE CAR, THEY ARE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS CHEAP, FAULTY, UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE WHEN REVIEWING TOYOTA'S LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR DRIVER'S SAFETY. I AM SURE THAT SOME BIGWIG IS SITTING IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, PROFITING FROM THE MONEY THAT TOYOTA SAVED BY USING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

IN OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WE RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GEARS. THE CAR JERKS AND TAKES A MOMENT TO SHIFT. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS. *CN

MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 RAV4 DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER. *TR

I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2001 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED THE HARD SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THEN IT STARTED TO LURCH AND STALL. IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. THEN WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME EVERY INSTANCE YOU DROVE IT THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK TWO TIMES BEFORE MY MECHANIC SAW THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND A NEW COMPUTER THAT TALKS TO THE TRANSMISSION(ECM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WHICH THEY INSTALLED. *TR

HARSH SHIFTING IN 2001 RAV4. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMAL. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FAILURE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10*JB

I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD ANY PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S A BIG ONE. I USE THIS VEHICLE DAILY TO DROP MY KID AT SCHOOL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS A SAFETY CONCERN. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD BE TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AS WELL. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. [XXX], CA. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC

1. TRANSMISSION FAILED DESPITE TOYOTA DEALER HAVING REPLACED THE ECM ON THE 2001 RAV4. 2. CAR NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED (IN 2007) ECM. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 3. TOYOTA REPLACED THE PART IN 2007, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THEY RETOOLED THIS PART 3 TIMES SINCE 2007, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE NEW PART WAS JUST AS FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND THE NEW PART ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. *TR

EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (JERKING & SLIPPING) WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. TOOK IT THE NORTHWAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN LATHAM, NY. WAS TOLD THAT ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($1300) AND POTENTIALLY A TRANSMISSION ($3400). TAXES AND LABOR ARE TO BE ADDED. GOOGLED DCT (ERROR CODE) P0755 OBTAINED DURING THE CHECKUP AND FOUND TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 FROM MARCH 3RD, 2006 DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM AND INDICATING THE NEED TO REPLACE ECM. THIS REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER TOYOTA FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY (96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES). WHY TOYOTA DID NOT CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN ALMOST 4 YEARS MAKING ME TO PAY ALMOST $5000 FOR THEIR MISTAKE? *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED AND JERKED, COASTED THEN LURCHED AGAIN, SUDDENLY LOSING SPEED, THEN STALLED. ENGINE REVVED AND TRANSMISSION KEPT JERKING, WOULD NOT ENGAGE FULLY. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY TRUCK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. EVENTUALLY, MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AT REDUCED SPEED ON BACK ROADS. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER CHIP, $1,000 BILL. TOYOTA NOTIFIED DEALERS IN 2006 OF FAULTY CHIP, NOT ME. NOW, 12-11-09, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. BEGAN HESITATING IN TRAFFIC, AS IF CUTTING OUT. *TR

THE ECM ON MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 STOPPED WORKING AT 76K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT BECAUSE I STOPPED DRIVING IT AND GOT IT FIXED QUICKLY WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF THE FAILED TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS - LURCHING AND JERKING AND LACK OF POWER IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND REALIZE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND AM HOPING IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN, TOYOTA WILL OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM OF A MAJOR DEFECTIVE PART. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND, SINCE THE WARRANTY ON MY ECM EXPIRED AS OF MARCH THIS YEAR, THEY ALSO CLAIM IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

GOING AT BELOW 40MPH CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN TO JERK REPEATEDLY UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AS I FELT THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OUT OF MY CONTROL AND HIT THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME! IT WOULD STOP IF OVER 40 COULD BE MAINTAINED. A FEW DAYS PRIOR I EXPERIENCED THIS 2 SINGLE JERKS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND MAY POSSIBLY NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS SOME YEARS AGO BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE JERKING REPRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY AND CONSUMER LIABILITY AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECOURSE FOR PREVENTION. *TR

AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE CROSS TRAFFIC DID NOT STOP, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH AND MY FAMILY AND I CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A PRETTY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED, SO I DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO UTILIZE LITTLE USED ROADS AND HOPE THAT I CAN GET A LITTLE MORE LIFE OUT OF MY CURRENT TRANSMISSION! *TR

1 & 2. RECENTLY I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT ON MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (E.C.M.), WHICH TELLS THE TRANSMISSION WHAT TO DO, APPARENTLY IS FAULTY (A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED BUT FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT) WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO ESSENTIALLY SELF DESTRUCT. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND MY CAR DRAMATICALLY SLOWED DOWN. AFTER PULLING OVER AND PUTTING IT INTO PARK, I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE IN BOTH SITUATIONS AND FEEL THAT THIS PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY FAULTY. 3. MY TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT FOR APPROXIMATELY $3,500, BUT IF TOYOTA HAD NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EARLIER THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE ECM BEFORE IT CAUSED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND ENDANGERED MY LIFE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR LOST ITS ABILITY TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ECM FOR THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. IT COST ABOUT 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE CAR STILL DOESN'T SOUND OR DRIVE LIKE IT USED TO. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL IN BAD WEATHER OR ON A HILL AND I WILL HURT PEOPLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT OTHER CARS WITH THIS ECM PROBLEM LATER DO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND CALLS TO TOYOTA ARE NOT FRUITFUL. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. THE POWER TRAIN SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR LIKE THIS IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES NOT 60,000 MILES. THIS CAR AND THE OTHER TOYOTAS I AM READING ABOUT SHOULD BE RECALLED THEY ARE DANGEROUS. *TR

AFTER NOT HAVING PROBLEMS FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS, THE CIL CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD-SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE ECM CODE WAS FOR AN O2 SENSOR HEATER. CHANGED THE SENSOR, LIGHT CAME BACK ON CALLING OUT A GEAR AND THE SHIFTING WAS WORSE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FLUSHED THE OIL AND FLASHED THE ECM PER TSB. RAN FINE FOR ONE DAY. CIL CAME BACK ON AND HARD SHIFTED HORRIBLY WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY HOME. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FLUIDS. ALL FLUIDS LOOKED CLEAN AND WERE AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS. HEADED FOR DEALERSHIP AGAIN. GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND LOW GEAR HARD-SHIFT WENT AWAY, BUT SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AT 60 MPH! CAR REGAINED POWER AND SHIFTED FINE IN LOW GEARS BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT ABOVE 3RD. DROVE REST OF THE WAY TO DEALER AT 35 MPH AND DROPPED IT OFF FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $2K IN DIAGNOSES, PARTS, AND LABOR AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. NOW, WE NEARLY WERE KILLED ON A MAJOR FREEWAY! THIS IS DANGEROUS! THIS PROBLEM MANIFESTED IN SEPTEMBER AND PEAKED YESTERDAY (11/17/09). WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE DEFECT. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON 2001 RAV4 (AUG 09) AND THEN IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE AGAIN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING (NOV 09). I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM. WHICH I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS EVEN A PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURE. HAVE PAID FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION & ECM UNIT. *TR

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 SHIFTS GEARS ERRATICALLY AND STALLS WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IT STARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE BY SUDDENLY SURGING WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70MPH. NOW IT OCCURS DAILY WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR EVEN WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BUT THIS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM AND I'VE BEEN GETTING ESTIMATES IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE COMPUTER IN MY RAV4 FAILED. IT WAS GIVING MY TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT COMMANDS TO DRIVE IN THE WRONG GEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, MY MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE TIMES THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY IN 2 GEARS AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR BUCKED AND ALMOST STALLED AS I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOP. ONCE IT STARTED HAPPENING I DROVE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC I COULD FIND AND ONLY MADE RIGHT TURNS BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE CAR WOULD DO. IT BURNED UP THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN THE COMPUTER WAS RESET (AS WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED) THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMALLY FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN THE ECM WOULD BEGIN GIVING THE WRONG COMMANDS AGAIN. THE MECHANIC HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER TO GET THE ECM REPAIRED AND HE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A SCARY RIDE, WHICH IT WAS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE THE REP DENIED THAT THE RAV4 HAS A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND HAD FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH MY PROBLEM HE STATED THAT ANYONE COULD CREATE FAKE INTERNET POSTINGS, INCLUDING MYSELF. PLEASE, PLEASE RESEARCH THIS. TOYOTA TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND I WORRY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. MY CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT I DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID. I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE THEIR CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE MINE DID. IT COMES ON VERY SUDDENLY, IT IS NOT THE CASE OF A SMALL PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECOMIN

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. ALSO WHEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER MONITOR WAS REPAIRED .HOWEVER BECAUSE OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,700.

2001 RAV4 TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED TODAY. READ ANYTIMES ARTICLE ABOUT ECM PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THAT ECM PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR AT THE VERY LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE TRULY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS NEED TO BE MADE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I HAVE HAD WITH MY CAR THAT TOYOTA FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF IN TIME TO CORRECT. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY BECAME STUCK FULL OPEN AT A SLOW SPEED. WAS ABLE TO BRING CAR TO STOP BY RIDING BRAKES AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. HAPPENED ONE TIME. CAR SEEMED FINE AFTER RESTARTING. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT BECAUSE NEVER COULD FIGURE OUT CAUSE AND HAS NEVER REPEATED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I TRIED TOACCELARATE BUT MY WAS STUCK AND THERE WAS A HEAVY TRAFFIC I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE I CHANGED IT BUT TWO DAY AFTER IT GAVE ME THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY I STARTED LOOKING FOR ANSWER AND FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THE 2001 RAV 4 ECU CAME OUT WITH A PROBLEM BUT NEVER GOT A RECALL NOW THE TOYOTA COMPANY ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PRO THANK YOU THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING BOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT ITHTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2001/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 2WD 4 CYLINDER. THE TRANSMISSION IS STALLS AT TAKE OFF, I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, LEAVING OUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE THERE WAS ON GOING TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL BACK AND FOURTH AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95000.

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WOULD NOT SHIFT WHEN I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS AS I PULLED ONTO THE INTERSTATE, IT SEEMS THAT SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I NEVER GOT IT AND NOW TOYOTA WONT FIX IT, I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR DAILY. *TR

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY THIS MORNING. IN REVERSE IT STARTED JERKING. I ALSO NOTICED SOME HESITATION IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME AND TOOK A RIDE TO WORK. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO SCHOOL TO PICK UP THE KIDS AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND SHE GOT ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING MY WIFE ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SUV. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON AFTER 2 MINUTES AND STARTED DRIVING IT WAS FINE. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. I JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME SOME ONE NEVER TOOK ANY ACTION INCLUDING TOYOTA. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THEY ADVISE ME TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED AND THE ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN 14 CARS IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS TO ALL PERSONS NEARBY. TOYOTA ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ALL SERVICE INSTRUCTING THEM TO REPLACE THE TCM TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM TAKING PLACE. TOYOTA DOES NOT WARN THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SIMPLY WAITS FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AND BY THEN THE TCM CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA WOULD OPERATE THIS WAY AFTER BUILDING A REPUTATION OF BEING A QUALITY AUTO MAKER. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A DISCOUNTED RATE OF $ 3500.00 TO REPAIR MY CAR BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS ROBBERY. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS, DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR DRIVER AT COLLEGE IN ST. LOUIS. IN RESEARCH, HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RE 2002 RAV4S AND IT APPEARS IT IS FAULTY ENGINEERING. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, HE EXPERIENCED GEAR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97335.

MY 2001 RAV4 HAD BEEN EXHIBITING A HARSH SHIFT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE,VERY POOR ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION,LOSS OF POWER,UNUSUAL SOUNDS AND FINALLY A P0758 TROUBLE CODE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO STONECREST TOYOTA 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD ON 9/28/09 THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, I'VE HAD A TUNE UP,OIL CHANGE,A NEW BATTERY AND A COMPUTERIZED ENGINE DIAGNOSIS. THE PROBLEMS OCCUR QUITE OFTEN AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC POSES AN INJURY RISK AS THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE,CANNOT BE CONTROLLED AND OTHER MOTORISTS ARE UNAWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM VEHICLE BESIDE,IN BACK OF OR IN FRONT OF THEM. SINCE THE REQUIRED REPAIRS ARE SO EXPENSIVE, I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT TYPICAL CITY SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD CLANKING SOUND AND THE CAR STATED STUTTERING INTERMITTENTLY. OFTEN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE CAR HAD TROUBLE FINDING A GEAR AND DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO ACCELERATION. THIS CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THE FIX WAS A NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). FORTUNATELY, THE MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS MATTER. *TR

THE ECM COMPUTER ON MY 2001 RAV4 IS FAILING, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO STALL DURING AUTOMATIC SHIFT CHANGE. THIS OCCURS EACH TIME YOU START IN 1ST, MOVING TO SECOND GEAR AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS LASTS SEVERAL SECONDS AND CAN REPEAT IN SECOND GEAR. TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU CAN EASILY RUN INTO YOU AND IF YOU ARE ENTERING A FREEWAY, YOU CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY TRANSMISSION FAILING OR STALLING AS A RESULT. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB IN 2006 TO DEALERS YET DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC AND ONE DEALER I TALKED TO INDICATE THAT THE ECM COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5000. MY MECHANIC INDICATED HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 VEHICLES ON THIS AT HIS BUSINESS ALONE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OVER 8 YRS OLD AND 115K MILEAGE, THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHY DID TOYOTA NOTIFY ITS DEALERS IN MARCH 2006 OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS. WHY HAVE YOU NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE BY ASKING TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. IF THE COMPUTER FAILS COMPLETELY, THE CAR WILL MORE THAN LIKELY STOP IN TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC INDICATES THAT A NEW COMPUTER MUST BE PUT IN AND THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE RE BUILT. THIS STARTED ON FRIDAY, SEPT 18TH, ABOUT 4PM AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED AND THIS WAS THE DETERMINATION. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR SINCE AND CANNOT DRIVE IT UNTIL REPAI

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 UTILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE ECU, REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AND TRANSMISSION. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ONLY OFFERED A $300.00 DISCOUNT TOWARD FUTURE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,473. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,426. BL

COMPLAINT REGARDING ECM ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. ECM CAUSES SHIFTING ISSUES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN UNSAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ECM AT A MINIMUM. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 - MANUFACTURER-PROGRAMMED ECM FAILURE LEADING TO HARD SHIFTING, PROBLEMS ACCELERATING, AND MISFIRING. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA IS ONLY COVERING THE REPAIR COST IF UNDER 80,000 MILES. APPEARS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE IS AND SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THIS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER. I HAD TO PAY OVER $1300 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 4WD CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY THE CAR WILL LOOSE ITS POWER. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS, AND ENGINE SPEEDS UP WITHOUT CAR PROPERLY ACCELERATING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, CAN?T GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES ONCE THE CAR ENTERS AN INTERSECTION, OR COULD GET REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES. I CAN DRIVE THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT THE PROBLEM SHOWING UP. HAD IT IN TO MY MECHANIC TWICE AND THEY CAN?T REPRODUCE IT TO FIX IT. NO PROBLEMS SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER CHECK. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT MIGHT ONLY HAPPEN ONCE WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND THEN BE FINE FOR MANY DAYS OR MILES. I CANNOT MAKE IT DO IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I HAVE LEARNED IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE ECM MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED MARCH 6, 2006. THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

RAV4 2001 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION WENT AT ONLY 100,000 MILES, DEALER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CHARGED ME $3,600 THIS INCLUDE THE NEW ECM THEY INSTALLED REQUIRED BY WARRANTY IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE MAKE NOTE IF THERE IS MORE VEHICLES(RAV4 2001) WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

CAR HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON; MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON SYSTEM- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AFTER CAR PICKUP, CAR GRADUALLY STARTED SHIFTING ABNORMALLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR- 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. *TR

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

FAULT ECM CAUSES TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. NO SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED TO OWNERS. *TR

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

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

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN ACTING UP AND WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. IT WOULD SHIFT VERY HARD, AND WOULD OFTEN HESITATE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM MONITOR TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, AS THEY WERE VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE RAV4'S AND ALSO BECAUSE METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND CONTINUES TO TRY AND AVOID THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THESE VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2006, TOYOTA SENT DEALERS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WARNING THEM THAT SOME CONSUMERS MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT HARSH SHIFTING. IT SAID IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE COMPUTER ?MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING.? IT THEN TOLD THE DEALERS TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. BUT CONSUMERS OWNING THE VEHICLES WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA ALSO REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING IS THE VEHICLES MILEAGE IS OVER THE 80,000 WARRANTY PERIOD, AND LUCKY FOR THEM, MOST VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL THEY ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

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