2002 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE. ALSO, HE RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SHIFTING. ALL OF THE GEARS WERE AFFECTED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,830. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TOYOTA RAV4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT CRAZY AND CAR STARTED LUNGING FORWARD AND THEN NOT GOING WHEN IT SHOULD. IT CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT SOME TIME AGO, BUT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE AND WE HAVE NOT FELT SAFE ENOUGH TO EVEN KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. IF PEOPLE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS US TO HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, IT COULD VERY WELL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUSINESS WITH THEM. OURS ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED TO US AND FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET THERE IS MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN. *TR

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

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

TOYOTA RAV4 2002 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES WITH A PERFECT MAINTENANCE. SINCE TWO DAYS AGO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN. I SEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND TOYOTA KNEW THE PROBLEM SINCE 2006 WITHOUT TELLING THE OWNERS, NOW TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION COULD COST AROUND 5,000 AND ITS SUPPOSE TO BE THE COMPUTER. *TR

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

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

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

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

STARTING THE END OF APRIL 2010 MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTING GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR IT DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND REALLY SLUGGISH AND WOULD JERK. I WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD REAR END ME. I KEPT UP ALL MY MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE MARCH 2008. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. I HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA VEHICLES SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FWD FM OWNER OF A 2002 RAV4, 2002 COROLLA AND A 2007 TOYOTA PRIUS *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NONE OF THE 2002 VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HER OTHER TWO VEHICLES, WHICH ARE MUCH NEWER WERE NOT RECALLED EITHER AND COULD POTENTIALLY ACCELERATE AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. THE CONSUMER ALSO ADDRESSED QUESTIONS IN HER COMPLAINT. *JB UPDATED 05/24/10

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

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

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

2002 TOYOTA RAV4, WHILE PUTTING IN DRIVE THE CAR STALLS FOR A SECOND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR...I HAD ECM WORK DONE FOR 1300.00 DOLLARS AND THE CAR STILL JERKS INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO POWER...I AM WORRIED THAT MY WIFE WILL BE IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR