2003 Toyota RAV4

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after …

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. …

TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle assembly replacement. Incorrect torque converter bolts or missing washers can cause damage to the torque converter assembly.

TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.

The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly

This bulletin contains general vehicle pulling diagnosis and repair procedures along with specific information to help correct pulling complaints.

TOYOTA: CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (CSP ZTL) WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR SPECIFIC MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) ON DIAGNOSTIC CODE AND/OR HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *PE

See attached document for complaint

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH and at various speeds, the transmission slipped out of the intended gear. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine would rev before the transmission would jolt into gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Electronic Control Module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks

I DRIVE AND THE SLEEP WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE CAN NOT CHANGE CORRECTLY THE GEAR. *TR

THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED AND ONLY 84000 MILES ON IT. AND THE CAR WONT SHIFT. IT JOLTS ME OR REVS EXTREMELY HIGH AND ALSO ALMOST CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT AS IT ALMOST SHUT DOWN ON POWER WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN INTERSECTION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. IT'S ONLY WHILE GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD OR SHIFTING DOWN FROM 2 TO 1ST. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE ECU TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE FOR FREE AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 150 JUST TO EXAMINE IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE RPMS WOULD REV; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT *DL *JS

MY TRANSMISSION STARTED RAVING UP AND SHIFTING ALL CRAZY AND TAKEN TO SCAN TO SHOW A SHIFT SELINOID B TOOK TO TRANNY SHOP WHO SAYS IT'S COMPUTER AND SEE SEVERAL POST ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. I AM A GRANDMA AND I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE HIM AROUND DON'T FEEL SAFE. IT WAS DRIVING DURING THIS TIME IN THE CITY STREETS

I JUST BOUGHT A ONE OWNER USED 2003 RAVA4 WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR ALMOST 4MONTHS NOW AND ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND GEAR, SOMETIMES IT JUMPS/BOUNCES. I LOOKED IT UP AND AM SEEING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SOME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SAYING IT'S THE EMC. WONDERING IF ANYONE WAS ABLE TO GET ANY HELP AT ALL OUT TOYOTA. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S WHERE EVER MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION & HAVE NO WAY TO CONTACT THEM. THINK IT'S PRETTY CRAZY TO HAVE TO PAY A BUNCH OF MONEY WHEN THERE IS SUCH LOW MILAGE WOULD THINK TOYOTA WOULD FIX IT.

ECM FAILED. ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE HAS 50,991 MI. ON IT . 16 YEARS OLD. TOYOTA AWARE OF PROBLEM-- EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS./150000. MI. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. SERVICE, STATED THAT I'M OUT OF LUCK. ORIGINAL PART CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE. COST WILL BE $2000.00 OR MORE. VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN EXPERIENCED UNCONTROLLED SHIFTING IN TRANSMISSION. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE.

MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY OCT /16/2018 A CHEVY VAN SEVERELY CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY 2003 RAV4 ,AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED .SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?WHAT SHOULD I DO?

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND WHEN ACCERATING

TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ON MY WAY HOME LATE AFTERNOON...AUTO STARTED TO JERK AND FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS PULLING AT IT...IT SLOWED UP THEN JERKED AGAIN...IT CONTINUED ON...I WAS DRIVING AT 45 SPEED LIMIT...AS I WAS TURNING THE SHIFTING WAS SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS STICKING...I PARKED IT AT HOME AND NEXT MORNING I HAD IT CHECKED AND DIAGNOSED AS SOLENOID PROBLEM CAUSING TRANSMISSION BURNOUT...ALSO TOYOTA REVEALED PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 187,000.

MY RAV4 HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD MAKING ME FEEL UNSAFE AS WELL AS PUTTING ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS AND IN TOWN. NOW HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR PAST 3WKS NOW LEAVING ME STRANDED WHILE THEY REPLACED THE ECM AND AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REFURBISHED ONE AND THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SHA INGS IN TRANSMISSION AMONG OTHER THINGS AND IT'S GUNNA COST OVER $5700.00 POSSIBLY MORE THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. IT'S STILL NOT FIXED YET AND STILL. I DON'T HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY CUZ I CAN'T AFFORD IT.. AND ALSO MY SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FRAYING AWAY TO WHERE I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH THAT NEITHER.

TAKATA RECALL

LONG STORY SHORT, BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS" FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2017, DID NOT KNOW OF THE TRANSMISSION/ECM PROBLEM UNTIL NOVEMBER 2017 (YES THAT FAST). GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE CODE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE NOW IN JANUARY 2018, I GOT THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 2,714 RIGHT? OKAY, TODAY JANUARY 16TH 2018, I PICKED UP MY CAR, DROVE IT AROUND, BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK WITHIN 45 MINUTES. MY CAR WAS STILL DOING A HARD SHIFT. I GOT IN THE CAR WITH THE MECHANIC TO DRIVE UP THE HIGHWAY, HE FELT THE SHIFT IMMEDIATELY AND INFORMED ME HE WAS THE ONE THAT PUT THE PART IN. OKAY, AT THIS POINT WE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE ALL THE MANAGERS WERE IN A MEETING. I GET A CALL AROUND 3:30PM SAYING THAT THE ECM IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE! I JUST SPENT 5,000 SO FAR BUYING THE CAR AND 2,700 DOLLARS TO FIX THE CAR. SHE TOLD ME THAT AN ECM WOULD COST FROM 1,500 DOLLARS TO 2,000 TO REPLACE, ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? OF COURSE THE WARRANTY THAT TOYOTA "EXTENDED" IS NO LONGER IN AFFECT, SO ALL OF THIS MONEY HAS TO COME OUT OF POCKET. TO SAY I HAVEN'T HAD MY CAR OR DRIVEN MY CAR FOR LONG AT ALL I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NIGHTMARE. I AM A SENIOR IN COLLEGE NOW, I ONLY BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE MY OTHER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY A DRIVER WHO RAN A STOP SIGN AND STATE FARM AWARDED ME ONLY 2,800 FOR MY PREVIOUS CAR. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE, NO ONE BUT GOD WILL HELP YOU IN THE END THIS IS SAD AND RIDICULOUS. IT'S NOT RIGHT TO GET OVER ON PEOPLE IN THIS WAY.

MARCH THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING AND WAS NO PULLING OUT CORRECTLY AT STOP SIGN AND RED LIGHTS. THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT SO YOU WERE TRYING TO PULL OUT IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE PULLING A HOUSE. I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HARDLY GO... IT CAUSED THREE VEHICLES TO BOW UP AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT IN THE ROADWAY MOVING AT LESS THAN 1 MILE PER HOUR. I NEVER PULLED OUT ON TO THE HIGHWAY AFTER THAT. I ALWAYS PULL OUT ONTO THE SHOULD OF THE ROAD IN CASE THE VEHICLE DONE THAT AGAIN. SO THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT MARCH 2017. AFTER ABOUT 36 MILES WAS DRIVEN ON IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN. I PULED OUT FINE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AS EASED OVER INTO THE SOUTH BOUND LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED TO FIRST IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME IN THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE. I LOOKED TO MAKE SURER. THEN IT SWITCHED TO 2ND GEAR AND JERKED ME DO HARD THAT I PULLED OVER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAVING IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. SO, BACK TO GET THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT I HAVE A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THEY TOOK IT APART AND LOOKED AT IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT WAS THE EC MODULE. SO IT STAYED PARKED UNTIL I COULD SAVE SOME MONEY TO GET THAT FIXED. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA JUNE 7TH 2017 THEY REPLACED THE EC MODULE AND I TOOK IT HOME THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. IT DROVE FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED DOING THE EXACT SAME THING

MY RAVE4 STARTING HAVING PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO BUT WE PARK IT BECAUSE MY MOM PASSED AWAY AND I RECEIVED HER CAR, BUT I WANT TO GET IT FIX AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT AGAIN WITH ONLY SHIFT PROBLEMS IN FIRST GEAR!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT SHOULDER STRAP STARTED TO SHRED AND PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WHAT I HAVE A 2003 RAV4 THAT DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AS A SLOW ACCELERATION AND BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND IT'LL SLIP AND REV HIGH ON THE RPM THEN TALK INTO GEAR AND SAME BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO DRIVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

2003 RAV 4 85,401 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MISS SHIFT, ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF POWER. FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOYOTA TECH ADVISES THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION , A $6,000 EXPENSE. MIND YOU THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 13 YEARS OLD BUT HAS ONLY 85,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. TOYOTA ADVISES NO WARRANTY EFFECT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A MAIN HIGHWAY ( SUNRISE HIGHWAY LONG ISLAND) WHEN MALFUNCTION OCCURRED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED VERY SLOWLY TO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAILED OR THERE WAS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,650.

HARSH SHIFTING, JUMPING FROM GEAR-TO-GEAR, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND TRANSMISSION/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. CALLED TOYOTA REGARDING THE EXTENDED WARRENTY. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DESPITE NOT PROVIDING NOTICE TO THE CORRECT ADDRESS.

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

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLES RPMS CUT OUT AND THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HWY IN LAWTON OKLAHOMA. IT TOOK ME 2 AND A HALF HOURS TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME IN RYAN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE I HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL ALL WHILE COASTING AND LET IT DIE THEN TURN IT OFF AND TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STAY STARTED AND EVEN THEN IT WOULD ONLY REVIEW TO 2000 RPMS AND DIE. I HAD TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY SEVERAL TIMES AND LET IT SET FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD DRIVE AT AROUND 60 MPH FOR ONLY 2 TO 3 MINUTES. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND WHILE THE RPMS CUT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP AND GO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AND ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A VERY HARD SHIFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITH A REVING ENGINE NOISE AND AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW IN 2003 TO ACCOMODATE MY DISABILITY NEEDS AND ONLY HAVE 82,000 MILES.I CHECKED WITH MY MECHANIC TODAY AND HE LOOKED UP THE TOYOTA RECALL ON THESE RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND NOT ONCE DID TOYOTA INFORM ME ABOUT THE RECALL. HOW IS DISABLED INDIVIDUAL ON FIXED INCOME TO AFFORD $3000.00 FOR A TRANSMISSION ON A WELL MAINTAINED TOYOTA WITH ONLY 82,000 MILES. I WISH TOYOTA WOULD SHOW SOME EMPATHY TO ACCOMMODATE AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE OF A BRAND NEW RAV4 WOULD FULFILL HIS DAILY PHYSICAL CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND NOW LEFT WITH A TOYOTA WITH 82,000 MILES IN NEED OF A TRANSMISSION. THIS RAV4 IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE DRIVEN GIVEN ITS NATURE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SMELLED BAD ODOR. MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN 2012, AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MAPLEWOOD TOYOA, MN 55109, IN 2012 AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS SERIOUS ISSUE OF SAFETY WITH THE ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A HARSH SHIFT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

THE TRANSMISSION ACTED UP. IT WOULD WORK WELL, THEN IT WAS LIKE IF IT WAS IN THE WRONG GEAR.

MY 2003 RAV 4 STARTING SHIFTING GEARS ERRATICALLY, STARTING IN 3RD INTEAD OF 1ST GEAR, VERY SLUGGISH TO GET MOVING AFTER STOPPING. TOYOTA ISSUED A WARNING REGARDING A FAULTY ECM IN THIS MODEL AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150000MILES. UNFORTUANTETLY MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND 95,000 MILES AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS FIXED MY CAR WAS TURNING LEFT INTO 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STALLED AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, A CAR NEARLY T-BONED ME BUT HE WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE AND CORRECT ALL CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY.

ECM FAILED CAUSING HARSH SHIFT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS

HAD THIS CAR FOR ONLY 10 MONTHS (MY DAUGHTER WORKED 2 JOBS TO BUY IT) AND IT STARTED CLUNKING WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE AND THEN NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AND IT WOULD BE MINIMUM OF $1000 TO FIX IT. IT HAS 170,000 MILES WHICH FOR A TOYOTA IS NOT A LOT. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NEVER A RECALL AND IT IS NOW PAST THE WARRENTY. I LOVE MY TOYOTAS BUT THIS IS NOT OK THAT THEY WON'T OWN UP AND PAY TO FIX IT!!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTER DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR

MY TOYOTA 2003 RAV 4 BEGAN HAVING TRANSMIISION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. AT TIMES WHEN IN MOTION THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT ALSO HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND PUT US IN A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE RESEARCHED AND DIAGNOSED THE SITUATION. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC, HE FOUND ERROR CODE PO750. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION.. HE ALSO FOUND BULLETINS SENT OUT BY TOYOTA THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NO RECALLS WERE FOUND. I HAD TO PAY $2091.63 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPT.

SINCE LAST SUMMER OF 2015, MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FRAYING. THE FRAY IS OVER A FOOT LONG AND A 1/2" INCH OF SEATBELT IS FRAYED. I WILL ATTEMPT TO SEND PICS ALONG WITH THIS FORM. IT IS A HABIT WITH ME TO ALWAYS WEAR MY SEATBELT, AND OF ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I DO HOPE THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY BE AN UNUSUAL ISSUE, I TRUST YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND ONE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PROMPTLY, FOR IT DOES CAUSE ME TO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS EACH TIME I DRIVE WITH THIS FRAYED SEATBELT ON. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER. SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY WITH ME, AS I AM SURE IT IS WITH YOU AS WELL. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PROMPT ATTENTION. FYI: IF MY 2 PICTURES JUST SO HAPPEN TO NOT BE WITH THIS FORM, PLEASE CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL AND I WILL TRY TO SENT THEM TO YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED AND SPEEDED UP. I WAS IN FEAR OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION TO REPAIR THIS CAR THAT WAS IN MINT CONDITION TO THIS POINT. THE 2003 RAV 4 MODULE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83559 MILES, WHICH IS LOW MILEAGE FOR A TOYOTA. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP LOST A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT, AND AGREED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION AND MODULE REPLACEMENT OF THE 2001 TO 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV'S 4 THAT FAILED WITHIN 150,000 MILE USAGE OR 10 YEAR USE. MY CAR HAD ONLY 83,559 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE DUE TO THE FAULTY ORIGINAL MODULE THAT CAUSED THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2006 TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1046 WITH REFERENCE TO 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION: U14OF, U241E. SUBJECT:2-3 BLIND UP/HARSH 2-3 PO755, BURNT (C2, CLUTCH, HARSH REV. ENGAGEMENT, WRONG GEAR STARTS....SAYING THAT THE FAULTY PCM IN THE TOYOA RAV4'S CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT MY CAR EXPERIENCED..........(I HAVE A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT FOR REFERENCE, IF NECESSARY) THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY RAV4 WITH ONLY 83559 MILES WAS A DURABILITY ISSUE; TOYOTA SOLD THE CAR WITH A FAULTY MODULE, DID NOT REPLACE IT WHEN THEY ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL COSTS INCURRED.

THE CAR JERKS WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA RECCOMMENDS THAT I REPLACE THE ECM AND BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 101,000 AND IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD I AM NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM). I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR 3 WEEKS AGO. THIS SHOULD BE AN ONGOING WARRANTY OFFERRED TO ALL 2003 RAV 4 OWNERS. THE OUT OF POCKET COST FOR ECM IS $1590.00 AND $3750.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK AND DRIVE A CAR OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTED ECMS AND THE DAMAGING AFFECTS IT HAS ON THE TRANSMISSION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLES EXPERIENCED A HARSH SHIFT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,225.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS FRAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

ELECTRIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS BAD, CAUSING HARSH SHIFTING, FAILURE TO ACCELERATE CORRECTLY, AND RPM'S TO JUMP. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. THE PART IS $800+ OR $1100 FROM DEALER.

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE ECM AND THEN IF THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FOUND OUT TOYOTA HAD FAULTY ECM'S IN SOME RAV4S. REPLACING THE ECM & THE TRANSMISSION IF ITS DAMAGED COSTS $4,000.00 OR MORE. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T BUY THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION PERIOD HAD PASSED & THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED.

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AT TIMES. AFTER DOING SOME CHECKING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA HAD PUT FAULTY ECM'S IN SOME RAV 4S. THE ECM CONTROLS THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION. YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ECM & THE TRANSMISSION IF ITS DAMAGED AT A COST OF $4,000.00 OR MORE. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS & EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES ON THESE VEHICLES 10 YEARS. UNFORTUNATLEY WE DIDN'T BUY THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY TIME PERIOD HAD PASSED & THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STILL STAND BEHIND IT BUT THEY WOULD NOT. NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR FAULTY JUNK. DON'T THINK I'LL BE BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM UNIT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO "BUCK" AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I INITIALLY TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLACE IT. TOLD THEM TO TAKE IT TO KRAUSE TOYOTA. WAS THEN TOLD BY KRAUSE IT NEEDED A NEW ECM BUT THEY WERE TOO BUSY AND COULDN'T LOOK AT THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS SINCE I WASN'T A "REGULAR" CUSTOMER. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO BENNETT TOYOTA - CLASS OUTFIT. THEY REPLACED THE ECM IMMEDIATELY - WHICH WASN'T CHEAP. COST ME $1200. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM ON MY YEAR RAV4 WHICH I WASN'T EVER NOTIFIED OF. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD PICK UP THIS TAB. I HAVE LOW MILEAGE FOR A 2003 CAR, AND HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT PROPERLY.

WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY IN MY RAV4, IT RANDOMLY BOGS DOWN OR STALLS OUT COMPLETELY. YOU HAVE TO STEER OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT LOSES POWER AND THE GAUGES GO WHACKY ON YOU. SOMETIMES IT SHUTS OFF AND SOMETIMES IT JUST LOSES POWER AND WHEN YOU PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, IT WILL EVENTUALLY "GO AGAIN". YOU CAN BE DRIVING 55 ONE SECOND AND IT STALLS OUT TO 3 MPH THE NEXT SECOND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. TOYOTA SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE ECM IF IT WAS BEFORE 150,000 MILES, WHICH IT WAS NOT. THEY TOLD ME THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING AFTER 150,000 MILES, NOT EVEN MEET ME HALF WAY TO PAY TO REPLACE IT. ITS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM IF THEY SENT A LETTER OUT. I'VE HAD IT TO THREE REPAIR (INCLUDING A TOYOTA DEALER) SHOPS AND NONE OF THEIR 'COMPUTER CHECKS' SHOW ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. HOW DO YOU FIX SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT? THEY HAVE DONE TUNE UPS, REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO NO HELP. I'VE SPENT OVER $1,000 IN REPAIRS FOR "NOTHING" -OR MAYBE THIS IS IT. I DRIVE 2-LANE HIGHWAYS AND IT IS GOING TO STRAND ME SOMEPLACE, IF I DON'T GET REAR-ENDED BY A SEMI-TRUCK BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND I AM AFRAID TO LET MY TEENAGERS DRIVE IT. THE CAR IS STILL IN BEAUTIFUL SHAPE, HAS BEEN GARAGED MOST OF ITS LIFE, HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, ETC. AND BASICALLY ITS WORTHLESS TO ME. I CAN'T SELL IT OUTRIGHT WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT NO ONE CAN FIND BECAUSE I COULDN'T HANDLE IF SOMEONE GOT HURT

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4! ON JULY 21, 2015 MY VEHICLE STARTED HARSH JERKING AND SLOW PERFORMANCE WHEN COMING FROM A STOP AND RED LIGHT! I ACCELERATED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STILL WERE PERFORMING SLOW! I COULD HAVE GOT HIT SINCE IT WOULDN'T MOVE ANY FASTER! ON JULY 22, 2015 I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO LOVING LINCOLN-MERCURY. THEY PERFORM A TEST AND TOLD ME THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA HAD A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE MALFUNCTION ECM! I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND INFORMED THEM THE PROBLEMS I WAS EXPERIENCING WITH MY VEHICLE! I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT WAS REPLACING THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FOR FREE HAD EXPIRED ON MY VEHICLE! I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM WAS FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS OR 150,000.00 MILES WHICHEVER CAME FIRST! I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE EXPIRED IN 2013! I ASKED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER WHY I DIDN'T RECEIVE A LETTER STATING THAT THE ECM AND POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACE IN MY VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CHECK TO SEE IF A LETTER HAD BEEN MAILED! I HAVE BEEN LIVING AT MY ADDRESS FOR 30 YEARS AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING INFORMING ME ABOUT REPLACING ANYTHING ON MY VEHICLE! NOW I'M FACING $5,551.60 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE! I'M ON A FIXED INCOME OF SOCIAL SECURITY MONTHLY AND I CAN'T HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THIS EXPENSE! THEY DIDN'T MAIL ME A LE