2002 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT. OCCASIONALLY IT SHIFT BY ITSELF, HESITATION IN SHIFTING. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RAV4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/. *TR

SLUGGISH TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND. *TR

WRITTEN IN EARLY MAY TO PLANETFEEDBACK.COM: MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2002 RAV4 NEW AT PENN TOYOTA IN GREENVALE, NY AND IT NOW HAS 97,981 MILES ON IT. IN LATE APRIL IT STARTED JERKING/JUMPING WHEN TRYING TO UPSHIFT AND WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AT PENN TOYOTA. ONCE THERE THE SERVICE CENTER ADVISED US TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS FLUSHED AND REFILLED, WHICH WE DID. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO AN UPDATE TO THE ECM, WHICH THEY ALSO DID. WHILE DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME (AFTER THE REPAIRS), THE CAR WAS JUMPING/JERKING WORSE THAN WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN. WE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT BACK WHERE IT WAS RE-EVALUATED AND WE WERE NOW TOLD THAT ECM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1589.00. MY WIFE AND I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ARE FINDING THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN SEVERAL OF THE SAME TYPE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND TOYOTA ITSELF HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PRODUCT TO 96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. WE FALL OUT OF THAT RANGE, BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT (WHICH IS WHY TOYOTA PUT OUT THE NOTICE AND EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY) AND WE WOULD LIKE FIXED AS "IN WARRANTY". THERE IS NO REASON FOR A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED TO HAVE A FAILURE OF THIS KIND BEFORE 100,000 MILES. UPDATE (6/9/08): PENN TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE ECM AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE BUT WE STILL ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH JERKING/JUMPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AS WELL AS WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THEY HAVE SAID THAT WE COULD REPLACE THE FAULTY ECM PROBABLY CAUSED

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 - TRANSMISSION JERKING SEVERELY. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEN VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. WHY TAKE IT TO A DEALER, RIGHT? HE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $2500.00. HE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T SHIFT. HE TALKED TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THE ECM HAVING BAD COMPUTER CODE AND THAT'S WHAT WAS TEARING UP TRANSMISSIONS. BUT SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION PLACE, TOYOTA WILL NOT EVEN LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINT. *TR

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4, THERE WAS A RECALL AND I HAD THE ECM RECALIBRATED. I UNDERSTAND THIS CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I HAVE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO THE TUNE OF $4900. I HAVE GOGGLED THIS PROBLEM AND NOTE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM - THE CAR STUTTERS ALMOST TO A STALL IN TRAFFIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DX AS ECM FAILURE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NOT PREVENTABLE BY CONSUMER. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE AT AUTOBEEF.COM. *TR

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING GREAT. ONE DAY 1ST & 2ND GEAR BEGAN TO SLIP. THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE THEN JUST STOP UNTIL 1ST GEAR CATCHES ABRUPTLY JOLT. THE TRANSMISSION IS AUTOMATIC. THE CAR HAS JUST OVER 87,000 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING I SAW THERE WERE SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID PUT OUT AN ALERT STATING THAT THERE ARE COMPUTER PROBLEMS BUT THOSE FORMS WERE NOT SENT TO THE OWNERS ONLY TO THE SERVICE CENTERS. NOW I HAVE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN HAVE SOLENOIDS CHANGED AND POSSIBLY THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS LISTED IN THE ALERT SENT OUT. IF TOYOTA KNOWS 2002 RAV 4'S ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS. I ALSO MUST SAY THAT IT IS UNJUST THAT WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON PARTS AND LABOR FOR WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. I'VE ADDED A LINK WHERE ONE CAN VIEW SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR

MY TOYOTA RAV IV WAS RECALLED TO HAVE THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE IT REPROGRAMMED, THE PROBLEMS WHERE FIXED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT THEN THEY CAME BACK. THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A WHILE WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THEN IT JUMPS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND RESTARTS RUNNING IN 2ND GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, SPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE CARS BEHIND, I ALMOST WAS HIT BY CARS GOING BEHIND ME AT LEAST TWICE. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO, AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS OK, IT IS JUST A COMPUTER PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE ENTIRE PROBLEM WITH THE ECM. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THEIR TRANSMISSION JUST FOR THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR, OTHERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AT THEIR OWN COST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL OWNERS, THERE ARE MANY BLOGS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR

MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP IN MARCH 2008. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN APRIL AND GOT THE CAR BACK STILL ACTING UP! I AM TRYING TO GO BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME AND GET THEIR MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT AND HE IS TOO BUSY WHEN IT IS MESSING UP. IT ONLY DOES IT SOMETIMES NOW BUT IT SEEMS TO GET MORE FREQUENT. THE TSB I READ MENTIONED THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION GOING BAD SO IS THAT MY NEXT COSTLY EXPENSE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AT THE COST OF $1,225.69, WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S APPROVAL. THE REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN HER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY REFERRED HER BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA TC002-6 WHICH SAID THAT A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WILL CAUSE HARSH SHIFTING. TOYOTA DID NOT COMMUNICATE THIS PROBLEM TO ME BACK IN MARCH 2006. IF TOYOTA WOULD HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS DEFECT, I COULD HAVE HAD THE ECM CHECKED AND PROBABLY SAVED MY TRANSMISSION. *TR

CES LIGHT CAME ON. TRANS STARTED SLIPPING. TOOK TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED KNOWN ECM PROBLEM. PERFORMED TOYOTA RECOMMENDED ECM UPDATE, BUT SAID TRANS WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT DUE TO DAMAGED ALREADY CAUSED. HAD TRANS REBUILT. DEVELOPED SAME SLIPPING PROBLEM. SAID IT WOULD RUIN TRANS AGAIN UNLESS ECM WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM THAT THEY NEED TO FIX. *TR

NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO ERRATIC SHIFTING PROBLEM OF RAV4 2002. APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE ECM. THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY SLUGGISH START FROM A STANDSTILL AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON. ATTEMPTING TO TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOYOTA DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AWARE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR

I BOUGHT IN 2002 A TOYOTA RAV 4 BRAND NEW, I HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER, JUST ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS AGO (MAY 2008) AND WITH 87,000 MILES IT STARTED TO HAUL WHILE DRIVING, I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC WHO RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC GIVING A SIGNAL THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE DAMAGE, WHEN HE TOOK IT APART THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS FILLED WITH METAL PARTICLES AND WHEN HE DISMANTLE IT THE PLANETARIUM WAS BROKEN. I WAS IN SHOCK TO FIND OUT THAT A 6 YEAR OLD CAR AND SPECIALLY A TOYOTA COULD HAVE A BAD TRANSMISSION, THE MECHANIC SPOKE TO TOYOTA TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD HIM THE CAR WAS COVERED UP TO 80,000 AND SINCE MINE WAS 87,000 IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY WELL OVER $2,000.00 UNBELIEVABLE, COULD YOU TELL ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HAVE TOYOTA COVER FOR THE DAMAGE BECAUSE I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 L; AUTO TRANSMISSION; ODI 82,200 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN HAVING HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM. SHIFTS ERRATICALLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND, SLUGGISH FROM START. I FEEL IT'S BECOME VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATED, AND THEN WOULD SHIFT VERY HARD. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NEED AT THE LEAST A NEW ECM, AND POSSIBLY EVEN A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR THE ECM $1300, AND PERHAPS THE TRANSMISSION $4000. THAT'S $5,300!!!! HOW COULD I EVEN FIND THAT KINDA MONEY. I AM JUST A STUDENT WHO TRIES TO MAKE IT THROUGH DAY BY DAY, SUPPORTING MYSELF THROUGH SCHOOL WHILE WORKING FULL-TIME. I CAN BARELY PAY MY RENTS OR EVEN TUITION. AND I AM SOLELY DEEPENING ON MY CAR TO MAKE IT TO WORK AND SCHOOL; WITHOUT IT I WOULD BE IN A BIG MESS. CERTAINLY, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIX IT AND I REALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. IF TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD REPAIR OR RECALL ALL ECM'S BEFORE MORE PEOPLE END UP SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY. I'D LIKE TO ALSO REFER TO MY OTHER FOLLOWING RAV4 DRIVERS LIKE ME WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR

PURCHASED USED 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IN OCT 2004. BOTH VISORS WERE ALREADY SAGGING A BIT AND WERE A HAZARD TO DRIVING WITHIN 8 MONTHS. I PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT VISORS FROM THE DEALER IN JULY 2005 FOR A TOTAL OF $131.27. THEY TOLD ME THE ORIGINAL OWNER MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CAREFUL AND I NEEDED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING THE VISORS. I TOOK THEIR WORD AND WAS GENTLE WHEN I PUT THE VISORS UP AND DOWN. LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER AND I ALREADY NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN!! I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO ONLY SIT IN THE BACK SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER VISOR DOESN'T GET USED VERY OFTEN AND IT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR THAT GETS USED EVERY DAY. I HAD MY LAST VEHICLE FOR 13 YEARS AND BOTH VISORS WERE STILL IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS ONE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOYOTA MODELS. I CAN'T FIND ANY SOLUTIONS AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT ALL I CAN DO IS PURCHASE ANOTHER SET - WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T BREAK AGAIN. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY RV4 FAILED AT 111,649 MILEAGE. HOWEVER, THE MILEAGE IS THE PROBLEM, AAMCO TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ; LEXUS EX 300, LEXUS RX300, RV4, TOYOTA CAMRY AND TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH BAD TRANSMISSIONS U140F AND U140E. THOSE TRANSMISSIONS ARE MADE FOR FAILURE. TOYOTA COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO EITHER REPAIR IT OR REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS. IT COST ME 2,760.58 DOLLARS TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. ALSO WITHIN TWO MONTHS, THE COMPUTER ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED FOR 1,403.53 DOLLARS. ONCE AGAIN, THAT WAS ANOTHER MATTER TOYOTA HAD TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. THE SAME MODEL HAD A RECALL IN MARCH 2007 AND NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FROM A STOP CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR, CHANGED TRANSMISSION OIL AS PART OF 75,000 MAINTENANCE. NEXT DAY CAR BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY WITH MY SIX YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN CAR. DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $4000. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I STARTED READING ON-LINE COMPLAINTS THAT I LEARNED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 RAV-4 AND CAN BE FIXED WITH A NEW ECM FOR $$1,200. THEY DO HOWEVER HAVE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION TO THE FAULTY ECM? *TR

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT I FEEL COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I JUST FINISHED HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED, AND I KNOW THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET REFUSES TO RECALL THE MODEL. THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE, WHICH IS CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN SHIFT VERY HARD. I MYSELF, WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR, WENT TO PULL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MY RAV4 DECIDED TO PRESENT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALMOST HIT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR, AND TOYOTA HAS EVEN PUT OUT A MECHANICS STATEMENT WHICH SHOWS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN: OTHERS WHO DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB, AND PULL OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THEIR TOYOTA DECIDES TO MALFUNCTION. JUST AS AN FYI--EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION, I HAD TO PAY $1300 FOR A NEW ECM, AND IF MY TRANSMISSION WAS ULTIMATELY DAMAGED WILL HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR THAT AS WELL FOR A COST OF ANOTHER $3,600. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4, I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ TOYOTA FOUND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ECM. BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 80,000 MINE WHEN AT 88,000. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BUT THE VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND CAN DAMAGE A NEW TRANSMISSION IF NOT DONE. NO NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS I HAD TO FIND THIS OUT ON THE WEB. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE ECM COST $1200 AND TOYOTA IS NOT OFFERING ANY DISCOUNTS EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND DAMAGES THAT MAY OCCUR. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FROM A STOP CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD. INDEPENDENT GARAGE TOLD US THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. TRANSMISSION WAS COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY SO WE TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY ADVISED US THAT ISSUE WAS ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) ISSUE AND NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN I ASKED IF TOYOTA WOULD COVER I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT AS THIS ISSUE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALL? THEY DID HOWEVER HAVE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSED THE TRANSMISSION HESITATION TO THE FAULTY ECM? I REPLACED THE ECM ($1612) AND IT APPEARS THAT IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON TO THE 2002 RAV4 MODEL ONLY IN THE TOYOTA FAMILY OF SUVS. IS THIS A DESIGN DEFECT? *TR

CAR STARTED TO HESITATE AND JERK INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AT INTERSECTIONS , GOING AROUND CORNERS AND TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID NEEDED TO REPLACE AN ECM MODULE IN THE TRANSMISSION HOPING THIS WILL FIX IT (COST 1350) IF IT DOESN'T I WILL NEED A TRANSMISSION (3500). FOUND 38 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON EXACT SAME THING ON INTERNET. WHY AREN'T WE MADE AWARE AND WHY NOT A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE ENGINE LIGHT. A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT FOUND. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-50 MPH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES OR WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,411.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (SHIFTING) WITH MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV-4, ALTHOUGH IT HAS AUTO TRANSMISSION IT WONT GO INTO GEAR AFTER A STOP AND I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE I DRIVE MOSTLY ON THE FREEWAY AND FOR LONG DISTANCES AND TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS AND ISSUE TO AND FROM WORK. *TR

CAR TRIES TO STALLS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE AND WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DAMAGED BECAUSE THE ECM TOYOTA INSTALLED IN 2002 RAV 4 HAD PROGRAMMING LOGIC ISSUES. *TR

MY 2002 RAV4 HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS HAVING ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND NEEDS TOTAL REPLACEMENT. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BETWEEN 3,000 - 4,000 MILES. *TR

FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IT HAS FAILED AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AS WELL. AFTER $4K REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AGAIN. TRANSMISSION MISSES GEARS AND HAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT. DEALERSHIP IS STATING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION FIRST THEN COME BACK TO FIX COMPUTER. FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE SEE: WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFITING.SHTML *TR

HARD SHIFT PROB FROM 2/3RD GEAR WITH TOYOTA 2002 RAV4 TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 9-17-2007. RECALL FOR EMISSION PROBLEM CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. I DESCRIBED PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. DEALER SAID ANY OTHER PROBLEMS SHOULD SHOW ON COMPUTER. PICKED CAR UP ASKED ABOUT SHIFT PROB. THEY SAID NOTHING CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ( I LATER LEARNED THAT THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM) AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY SAID TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT. I ASKED FOR COST AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW LONG IT TOOK TO FIND PROBLEM. I TOOK CAR TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY HOOKED CAR UP TO COMPUTER AND SAID INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NEED TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I HAD THIS REPAR DONE AT COST OF 2,639.81. CALLED ME AFTER TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY RESEARCHED DATABASE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN PUT OUT BY TOYOTA ON MARCH 3, 2006. POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT CAUSES A SHIFT PROBLEM IN 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S. IT EXPLAINS THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM IN DETAIL AND STATES THAT THE ECM MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM INFORMED THAT IN ORDER FOR MY TRANSMISSION TO WORK NEED TO HAVE ECM REPLACED. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THEM THEY COULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM THEN AND SAVED ME $2,639.81. I PAID DEALER TO HAVE THE ECM REPLACED FOR $1003.81. PART TO ME FOR A WHOLESALE PRICE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR AND THEN WENT SHIFTED BACK ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE CONTINUED DURING THE DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM AND IT WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY RECHECKED THE ECM. THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE ECM WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED IT FROM THE MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE ECM WAS FAULTY AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THERE IS A TSB FOR THE ECM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,059. UPDATED 02-13-08 *BF UPDATED 02/13/08 *TR

REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, ECM THAT HAVE COST IN EXCESS OF $4000 AND STILL THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT SOMEONE WILL SOON BE KILLED FROM THIS PROBLEM. WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND THEY SHOULD BE ACCELERATING, THESE CARS STALL. THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT AND NO ONE RESPONDS FROM HERE OR FROM TOYOTA!!! *TR

I STARTED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH MY TOYOTA 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSION; CONCERNING HARD SHIFTING AND LOSE OF POWER DURING ACCELERATION. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I REQUIRE A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM, & RAV4WORLD.COM) I WAS ABLE TO FIND QUITE A FEW INSTANCES OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR 2002 RAV4. EACH STORY ENDS UP WITH THE INDIVIDUALS PAYING AN AVERAGE OF $4500 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THEN HAVING TO GO BACK AND HAVE THE ECU REPLACED ($1000). AFTER ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH TOYOTA THEY FEEL THERE IS NO ISSUE AND DO NOT PLAN ON INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL IS REQUIRED. I JUST HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE. I AM IN THE PROCESS WITH MY LOCAL AMOCO TRANSMISSION CO. TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME WITHOUT NOTICE DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED CONDITION OR DURING NORMAL DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD PUT THE DRIVER IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. *TR

THIS IS MY THIRD TOYOTA. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A TOYOTA THAT SMOKES. I PARK MY TOYOTA RAV 4 FOR A WHILE, AND CRANK IT UP IT AND SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH ONLY 61, 000 MILES. I AM TOTALLY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS TOYOTA, AND DISGRUNTLED WITH THE POOR QUALITY OF MANUFACTURING OF TOYOTA'S VEHICLES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS WILL POSSIBLY BE MY LAST. *TR

DURING HEAVY RAIN STORM PASSENGER SIDE WIPER LINKAGE/MECHANISM BROKE. LUCKILY, THIS WAS WHILE THE BLADE WAS ON THE DOWN STROKE, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLADE. WAS TOLD ENTIRE MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF ABOUT $450. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAID NYLON GEAR ON CAMSHAFT HAD DAMAGED TEETH, ALLOWING TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP BACK AND FORTH, AND THEREBY CHANGING IGNITION TIMING. COST OF REPAIR WAS $1,600. *JB

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING OR SHIFTING INAPPROPRIATELY NEARLY CAUSING CRASHES AS DRIVERS PULL INTO TRAFFIC OR DRIVE IN TRAFFIC.

ECU OR ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THIS COMPUTER IS BAD. WHEN SHIFTING .THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE COMPUTER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT IN. THIS IS SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD START IN LETS SAY 2ND GEAR THEN BANG BACK TO 1ST GEAR. WHAT A JOLT FOR YOU AND THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU. *JB

OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY ON THE CAR. OIL AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND STATED THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE CAR. DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE, THEN OIL LIGHTS CAME ON, AS I PULLED OVER THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, AND EVERY THING FROZE. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED (FOR $6000). *NM

NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT. 63,000 MILES, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, 50K MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER JAN 2006. VIN HAS ZEROS AND LETTER O WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE. TRY BOTH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE DRIVER AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ENCOUNTERED SLUDGE IN THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SLUDGE WAS FROM POOR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY SERVICE DEALERS. UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM

VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED IN TO A CHARGER, CHARGING NORMALLY. DRIVER RETURNED TO THE CAR, AND NEGLECTED TO REMOVE THE CHARGING CABLE. DRIVER TURNED THE KEY, AND SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE CHARGING STATION AND DAMAGED THE CABLE AND THE CHARGING STATION, DISABLING THE CHARGING STATION UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED (AT A COST OF $1200 TO $1500). VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN CONNECTED TO A CHARGING STATION. (DATE IS APPROXIMATE.) *NM

CAR SMOKES EARLY IN THE MORNING, I TOOK CAR IN BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AT THE BEGINNING CAR WOULD ONLY SMOKE EARLY IN THE MORNINGS AND NOT ALL THE TIME. LATER AS THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE MORE REGULARLY THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NOW SMOKING DRASTICALLY, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE SMOKING IS A COMMON SITUATION (DEFECT) WITH RAV4'S OF 2002. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT OTHER CARS HAD BEEN BROUGHT IT AND HAD BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

THE CAR SUFFERED MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE FRONT END BAR WAS BROKEN, WHEN FRONT END BAR BROKE IT LOST DIRECTION AND HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO TAKE THE ACCIDENT REPORT. WE WERE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FREEWAY NUMBER 405. I HAVE CALLED MY AUTO INSURANCE AND I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE FULL COVER. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM MY AUTO INSURANCE TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE CONTATED TOYOTA AND I ALSO HAVE A CASE WITH THEM. THE CASE NUMBER IS 200603011457. I HAVE TOYOTA AND THE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE IS CHRISTY. CHRISTY HAVE SAID TO WAIT AT LEAST 60 DAYS. I CAN'T WAIT 60 DAYS. I NEED MY CAR. THE AUTO INSURANCE HAS NOT GIVEN ME A RENTAL. I HAVE COMPLAINT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF AUTO INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA. THEY WILL CONDUCT AND INVESTIGATION. THE CASE NUMBER WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE IS 10000148757. MY AUTO INSURANCE CARRIER IS INFINITY. WHAT I WANT IS TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY CAR. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THIS BROKEN BAR SHOULD BE RECALL.*AK

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY OIL LIGHT TURNED ON AN SECONDS LATER WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINE THAT THE RADIATOR HAD CRACKED DUE TO THE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. TOLD THEM I HAD A 100,000 MILE 5 YEAR WARRANTY. MY CAR HAD ABOUT 85,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY DOUBTED THAT THE WARRANTY PEOPLE WOULD COVER THAT AND THEY RARELY SAW PEOPLE GET COVERAGE FOR SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. REPORTED TO WARRANTY PEOPLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS "VERY POORLY MAINTAINED" AND BECAUSE I DID NOT CHANGE OIL OR MAINTAIN MY CAR THEY WOULD NOT COVER. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD CHANGED MY OIL SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. THEY SAID I NEED ALL RECEIPTS. I HAD A FEW RECEIPTS BUT NOT ALL. TOOK MY CAR TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND GOT REBUILT ENGINE. STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET CAR OUT BECAUSE I AM FINANCIALLY STRAPPED. IT COSTS 3500.00. TOYOTA SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 8000.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE AND 5000.00 FOR A USED ENGINE. HAD TO RENT CAR THAT HAS COST ME 1100.00. MUST TAKE CAR BACK BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD IT. WON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. I AM DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS I BOUGHT A TOYOTA WAS BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION FOR MANUFACTURING DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CARS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND HAVE SO MUCH ON MY PLATE TO WORRY ABOUT BROKEN DOWN CARS. *NM

THE BOLTS IN THE ROOF RACK FALL OUT. WE HAVE NEVER USED THE ROOF RACK. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, WE HAVE LOST 4 BOLTS. FORTUNATELY, THE LOSS OF THE BOLT CAUSES RATTLING. OTHERWISE, OVER TIME, IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF! *NM

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHANGES OF OIL AND FILTER. TWICE THEY SUGGESTED A WYNNS SYSTEM ENGINE CLEANING WHICH WE PAID FOR. THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON APRIL 2005. LAST OCTOBER 7, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO OUR HOUSE AND THE NEXT DAY WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ADRIEL TOYOTA IN RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THEY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE MOTOR STALLED AND THE WARRANTY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY SINCE I HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THEM FOR THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I REMINDED THEM THAT JUST NINE MONTHS EARLIER A WYNNS MOTOR ENGINE CLEANING HAD BE DONE BY THEM AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MOTOR OF THE CAR TO HAVE SLUDGE IF THEY HAD DONE THE JOB CORRECTLY. THE TOYOTA COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO CALLED TO TELL ME THE SAME THING. I MADE A COMPLAINT AT THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS IN PUERTO , I AM WAITING FOR A DECISION. TODAY I SHOWED THE PICTURES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT WHO STATES THAT THE MOTOR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OIL CHANGES AND THE WORST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BE CLEANED. THE DEALERS STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY MOTOR SLUDGING ON ANY RAV 4 IN PUERTO RICO BUT CONSUMER REPORT STATES THAT TOYOTA HAS THIS PROBLEM MOST COMMONLY WITH CAMRY'S . TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT RAV 4 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE CAMRY'S HAVE. AM I SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHATEVER PROBLEM TOYOTAS ENGINES HAVE?

WHILE DRIVING A CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING FAILED TO TURN PROPERLY, AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HER OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PASSING LANE GOING AT A RATE OF 56-57 MPH WHEN THE CLICK WAS HEARD, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GLIDE TO THE LEFT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING BUT THE WHEEL CONTINUED TO GO AROUND. THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AN PINION SNAPPED. *SC *JB

I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES THEN GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AT THAT TIME, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FINALLY, I GOT OFF THAT ROAD AND DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES BUT I AGAIN NOTICED THE BURNING SMELL. I CHECKED THE PANEL AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. NEXT, A SMALL CURL OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. THEN SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENT. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. THEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED. FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK