2003 Toyota RAV4 complaints

HARSH SHIFTING, JUMPING FROM GEAR-TO-GEAR, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND ULTIMATELY TRANSMISSION FAILURE

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 1, 2014, WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO HESITATION, NO NOISE. I HAD PRESSED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION AND MIDWAY THROUGH THE ENGINE DIED. I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR, AND WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY ROUTE TO WORK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT THOROUGHLY BUT FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE WHICH HE SAID WAS DIRTY. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND WHILE THE ENGINE HASN'T STALLED AGAIN, THERE'S SOME OCCASIONAL HESITATION - WHICH I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED BEFORE. IT WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY BEFORE IT STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. I'M NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, OIL CHANGES EVERY 3K MILES, TOYOTA REPLACED ECM IN JUNE 2013; WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR,AND 02 SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I'VE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND UNSUCCESSFUL AND EXPENSIVE ATTEMPTS TO TRY TO CORRECT IT.

THE ECM IS MAKING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES .THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

ON THE SUBJECT DATE I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WITH CARS ON BOTH SIDES OF ME. THERE WAS A CURB AND AN ISLAND, WITH A TREE IN IT, IN FRONT OF ME. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE; I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND WAS ABOUT TO PUT IT INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT THE TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS BUT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION BASED ON PREVIOUS INCIDENTS WITH THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL CAR. I AM SEEKING, AT THE VERY LEAST, REPAIR OF MY CAR. BASED ON THE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR CAR, I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE WHICH THE NHTSA CAN GIVE ME REGARDING HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS MATTER. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY BEING EXAMINED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TOYOTA COMPANY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE WHICH YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER. *TR

BOUGHT CAR USED AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE SHIFT PROBLEM TIL LATER.SHIFTS HARD FROM 2 TO 3RD GEAR. MANY PEOPLE HAVE ISSUE WITH THIS MOSTLY BEING THE ECM GOING BAD THEN DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH ARE EXPENSIVE FIXES AND BOTH ARE DANGEROUS LEADING TO ACCIDENTS. *TR

I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TO GET INTO TRAFFIC, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE INSTANTLY AS IT ALWAYS HAD DONE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, SLOWLY GETTING INTO GEAR, AND THEN ONLY GRADUALLY CAUGHT, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET HIT IN THE INTERIM BY AT LEAST ONE CAR AND A TRACTOR TRAILER. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL FOR TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS, HE SAID I SHOULD GO ONLINE AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. SURE ENOUGH, TOYOTA HAD, UNDER DURESS OF A LAW SUIT, ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, AND HAD ISSUED AN EXPANSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. ON THE ONLINE DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSMISSION/EMC PROBLEM, IT WAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM USUALLY STARTED AROUND 80,000 MILES, WHICH IS WHAT MY 2003 RAV 4 HAS ON IT. AFTER FIRST CALLING TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS (TORRANCE, CA) TO GET THEM TO INCLUDE MY CAR UNDER THAT EXTENSION, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS TOO LATE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN SENT THEM A REGISTERED LETTER BEGGING THEM TO HELP ME, AS THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY A DEATH TRAP WITH THE SLIPPAGE INTO THE FIRST TWO GEARS, AND THEY RESPONDED WITH A LETTER TELLING ME TO CALL THEM BACK. THIS WAS FRUITLESS, AS THE REITERATED EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME. I ASKED THEM TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE, WHICH THE REP SAID HE WOULD DO. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM SINCE THAT CALL LAST WEEK. I TOLD HIM I DID NOT GET ANY

THE CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARSHLY AND WITH A VERY STRONG SHAKING LIKE A SHIMMY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERS REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS RATHER THAN CONTINUE DRIVING. THE TECHNICIAN SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION ECU AND POSSIBLE A NEW TRANSMISSION. ECU COST $1300.00 AND TRANSMISSION, IF NEEDED, IS $4,000.00.NO ONE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA PAID TO HAVE THESE FIXED BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN CALIFORNIA. THAT WARRANTY HAS NOW ELAPSED YET MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

EXPERIENCING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTING GEARS (AUTO TRANS). TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING ODDLY - HARSH SHIFT CONDITION . IT WAS NOT A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND NO ENGINE LIGHT AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE CONNECTED TO HIS COMPUTER AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERY TIME I MOVE FROM A STOP. FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA PUT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN EARLY 2006 AFTER DEFECTS STARTED SURFACING STATING TO REPLACE THE CAR'S COMPUTER ECM/ECU AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION.. THE COMPANY DID NOT INFORM OWNERS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WHICH IS NOW SURFACING AND DID NOT RECALL DUE TO COST OF REPLACING THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION IT DESTROYS. THE DEFECTIVE ECU BURNS UP THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION

CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. TOOK EMERGENCY BRAKE OFF, STEPPED ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN REVERSE. CAR GAVE A VIOLENT JERK BACKWARDS. BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR. CAR JERKED FORWARD A LITTLE, ENGINE REVVED UP, SLOW ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR. HAD TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR TO GAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO PULL FORWARD. STOPPED AT STOP SIGN, TRIED TO ACCELERATE, CAR JERKED FORWARD A LITTLE, ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR RESULTED IN AN ADEQUATE SPEED TO PULL FORWARD. SAME SERIES OF EVENTS AFTER STOPPING AND/OR SLOWING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SAME HARD JERK WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE FOR ANY REASON FOLLOWED BY FORWARD JERK, ENGINE REV AND SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA SERVICE ON 11-26-14. PROBLEM WITH ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE). MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. COST TO ME WAS $1590.63, INCLUDING TAX. DUE TO MY IN SERVICE DATE, TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED MY CAR WAS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED ME THE VERY BEST THEY COULD DO WAS TO OFFER ME $500 TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA, BUT NOT TOWARDS REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT ONLY HAD 13 MILES ON IT IN AUGUST 2003. IN AUGUST OF 2014, I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARSH WHEN CHANGING. THE CAR WOULD STRAIN TO CHANGE GEARS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. NO LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INSPECTED AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THIS WAS THE FIRST THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS WARRANTY. TOYOTA NEVER CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE WARRANTY. AFTER INSPECTING MY RAV4, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ECM AND IF THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I WOULD NEED A TRANSMISSION. I FEEL LIKE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM SOONER. (BEFORE ALL THAT TIME HAD GONE BY.) I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME. I SEE FROM THIS WEBSITE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

LAST WEEK, ON THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, THEN "BUCKED" AND "RACED". I NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME - A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. THEN, DRIVING CITY STREETS - TO THE MECHANIC - THE SAME EXPERIENCE - STALLED THEN RACED AHEAD. AFTER REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER ($400), THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED REPLACING THE ECM ($928.46 PLUS LABOR). THIS IS A SERIOUS FINANCIAL STRAIN ON ME. I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE EVERY 5K MILES AND IT IS WAY BELOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY MILEAGE OF 150K, HOWEVER, IT IS NOW 11 YEARS OLD. I NEVER, EVER, RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA! I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE REPAIRS SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE THE FAILED ECM CAUSES. *TR

PART 2 OF 3 THIS WAS AT MY COST AND AT THAT TIME I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN THAT IT WAS AN OLDER CAR AND WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRING, WHAT WAS HIS OPINION ON TRADING. HE DIDN'T SHOW ANY REAL INTEREST BUT DID STATE SOME HAVE HAD GREAT LONGEVITY AND OTHERS NOT SO MUCH. AFTER LEAVING THAT VISIT MY CAR STILL DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND WAS STILL HARSH IN REVERSE.WITHIN A MONTH OR SO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. WHILE I WAS EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO LOVE LEXUS I DID. I EXPRESSED MY COMPLAINT ONCE AGAIN ABOUT IT NOT BEING QUITE RIGHT AND REQUESTED THEY TAKE IT OUT ON THE FOUR LANE SO THAT IT COULD BE DRIVEN UP PAST 55MPH. HE DIAGNOSTICS RAN AGAIN AND INFORMED ME THAT MY FUEL CAP WASN''T ON TIGHT ENOUGH. I LEFT EMBARRASSED; HOWEVER, MY CAR STILL WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT.I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUES FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND IN OCTOBER 2013 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A & E SERVICE CENTER.THEY CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND STATED IN SMELLED BURNT, THEIR DIAGNOSTICS STATED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND THE ONLY THING THEY COULD RECOMMEND IN LIEU OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION WAS TO FLUSH IT AND REPLACE THE FILTER AND FLUID. THEY STATED THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF METAL SHAVINGS THEY FOUND WHICH THEY SHOWED ME, THIS WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF PUTTING A BANDAID ON A BROKEN BONE.THIS ONLY LASTED ABOUT A MONTH AND ON 11-12-13 I HAD IT TOWED TO AAMCO. THE ESTIMATE WAS $2767.19. DUE TO ME BEING IN A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP MY PARENTS GAVE

PART 3 OF 3THE SALESMAN ENCOURAGED MY PARENTS TO KEEP IT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T GET MUCH OF A TRADE IN, SO I HAD MY RAV TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I CALLED THE SM OF LOVE LEXUS TO INFORM HIM OF MY PROBLEM, TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECOURSE FROM HIM AND TO ALSO EXPRESS THAT I WAS COMPLETELY UNSATISFIED.I REMINDED HIM THAT I HAD REQUESTED THAT THEY TEST DRIVE ON THE FOUR LANE SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND MY COMPLAINT OF THE HESITATION OF GOING IN GEAR.HE STATED ON THE PHONE HE DID NOT RECALL, HOWEVER THEY DID DRIVE IT ON THE BACK LOT. I ASKED HIM CAN YOU OBTAIN A SPEED OF 55MPH IN YOUR LOT, HIS RESPONSE WAS ?NO?. AT THAT POINT I DECIDED I WOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH THAT SERVICE DEPARTMENT ANY LONGER.IN 2/2014 I BEGAN INVESTIGATING HOW TO GET RID OF MY RAV AND STUMBLED UPON THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS DESCRIBED ABOVE.I HAVE ONLY RECEIVED 50% OF THE BENEFITS AWARDED TO ME BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE WHOLE THING.I DIDN'T GET A NOTICE FROM THE CORPORATION OF THIS PROBLEM, LOVE LEXUS ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE MY RIGHTS TO HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ECM UNDER THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

PRIMARY COMPLAINT: PURPOSEFUL DECEPTION REGARDING FULL BENEFITS OF EXTENDED WARRANTY OF ECM AND/OR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT UNDER CLASS ACTION MILLIGAN VTOYOTA.THE EVENTS LEADING TO MY TRANSMISSION ISSUES BEGAN IN 7/ 2012. I HAD PROBLEM GETTING OUT OF MY PARENTS STEEP DRIVEWAY SO I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE THAT HAD BEEN CHANGING MY OIL IN SISSONVILLE WV. UPON DIAGNOSTICS THEY REPORTED TO ME A SOLENOID CODE WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS REFERRED TO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN RESET AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET ANY CODES. AFTER BEING TOLD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE SOMETHING WITH MY EXHAUST AS WELL, I WAS REFERRED TO QUALITY EXHAUSTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE SEEN. THEN PROCEEDED BARKER'S IN DUNBAR. AFTER TEST DRIVING AND EVALUATING HE STATED I HAD BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT 7/18/12. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN PLACED MY CAR ON THE RACK HE STATED HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG BUT IT WAS NOT MOTOR MOUNTS AND WITH THE SYMPTOMS IT WAS HAVING I SHOULD HAVE MY TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT. I HAD IT TOWED TO LOVE LEXUS IN SAINT ALBANS.THERE I WAS TOLD MY ECM WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT.HE EXPLAINED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD DUE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. HE WENT ON TO SAY THE RAVS HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THESE COMPUTERS AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PLACED AND APPLIED TO THEM.THE HARSH SHIFTING HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED. IN 9/12 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON.I TOOK IT BACK TO LOVE LEXUS AND EXPLAINED THE CONDI

ON 9/30/2014 WAS TRYING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO TURN LEFT AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY APPROACHING CARS THAT I WOULD HAVE ORDINARILY HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO CLEAR. I WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE AND STOP TO AVOID COLLISION BUT HAD TROUBLE AFTER THAT PICKING UP ENOUGH SPEED TO GET TO THE RIGHT LANE. I TOOK MY CAR IN IMMEDIATELY FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND INFORMATION ON A RECALL I NEVER RECEIVED FOR DEFECTIVE ECM'S THAT CAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. APPARENTLY A 10 YEAR OR 150,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED IN 2010, BUT I WAS ALSO NEVER INFORMED OF THAT. MY MILEAGE QUALIFIES BUT I BOUGHT MY CAR IN DEC 2002 SO I AM PAST THE TIME LIMIT. SINCE REPAIRS EXCEED THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF MY CAR, IT HAS NO TRADE IN VALUE. THIS WAS AN UNSAFE SITUATION (THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE ON THE FREEWAY)' AND AN UNFAIR OUTCOME FOR ME FINANCIALLY. *TR

HARSH SHIFTING; AUTOMATIC SHIFTING ERRATIC; LURCHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. LOCAL GARAGE SAYS TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT ($3100).

THIS LETTER IS IN REFERENCE TO AN ISSUE, NAMELY, HARSH SHIFT CONDITION, ON OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, THE VEHICLE PRESENTLY SHOWS APPROXIMATELY 119, 600 MILES. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN NO. POL 10-03, DATED 07/09/10, PAGE 1, TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS THAT CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A HARSH SHIFT CONDITION IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE AND/OR THE VEHICLE MAY BEGIN TO SHIFT HARSHLY. THIS WARRANTY IS BEING OFFERED FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES PLEASE VERIFY VIN APPLICABILITY FOR THIS CSP BY PERFORMING A VIN INQUIRY BEFORE COMPLETING THE REPAIR. ON PAGE 2 WE CHECKED THE APPLICABLE VIN RANGES AND OBSERVED THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THIS CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (CSP).OUR RESPECTFUL REQUEST IS THAT TOYOTA HONOR THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR OUR RAV4. BASED ON A TELEPHONE CALL TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER IN TORRANCE CA, THE COMPANY REP. SAID TOYOTA WOULD NOT HONOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE PART (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 150,00 MILES BUT JUST OVER THE TEN YEAR LIMIT. THANK YOU. *TR

THIS IS A GENERAL CONCERN QUESTION RE THE ETHICS OF THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON WITH THE RESULT BEING O2 SENSOR PROBLEMS. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN WITH APPROXIMATELY 8 CHANGES (I HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE RECORDS. IN 2010, I RECEIVED NOTICE OF PROBLEMS WITH "HARSH SHIFTING". I CALLED TOYOTA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS, AND I WAS ASSURED I WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM OR I "WOULD KNOW IT". AT THIS SAME TIME, I WAS HAVING YET ANOTHER ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM WITH O2 SENSOR CODES AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN.. THE O2 SENSOR REPLACEMENTS WENT ON CONTINUOUSLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE...EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE SENDING THE SENSOR IN TO THE "MAIN OFFICE". UNFORTUNATELY, LAST WEEK MY CAR TOTALLY FAILED, AND THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT IS FAILURE OF THE ECM AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL! I RECENTLY REVIEWED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ECM AND THAT TOYOTA ACTUALLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. IT WAS THEN I LEARNED THAT THE O2 SENSORS HAVE A DEFINITE IMPACT ON THE ECM, ETC. AT NO TIME WHATSOEVER DID THEY EVER CHECK THIS OR INFORM ME. THAT THESE MAY BE RELATED,SO I AM WONDERING IF THEY "PUT OFF" CHECKING THIS POSSIBILITY UNTIL MY CAR PASSED THE 10YR/150,000 MILE EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS COMPONENT SO THAT I WOULD THEN NOT BE ELIGIBLE??? *TR

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2003 RAV4, PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN 2011. LAST WEEK, I EXPERIENCED A TIME LAPSE OF MY CAR SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR, IN MY OPINION, A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND BEGAN SEARCHING THE WEB FOR ANY RECALLS FOR A 2003 RAV4, THERE ARE NONE. HOWEVER, ON THIS SITE, I DISCOVERED THAT I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE THIS COMPLAINT, AND THAT WE ,THE CONSUMER, ALL SHARE THE SAME RESULTS FROM TOYOTA. YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE. IT WAS ON THIS NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE THAT I LEARNED OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THE ECM DEFECT WITH MY RAV4 (SEE WWW.RV4ECMSETTLEMENT.COM), THE LETTER WAS SUPPOSEDLY SENT TO ALL WHO OWN A 2003 RAV4. I NEVER RECEIVED THIS LETTER. NOR DID I RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF NOTIFICATION FROM TOYOTA RE: AN EXTENDED WARRANTY,OR FOR THAT MATTER ANY TYPE OF TIME SENSITIVE DATES TO CAPTURE ANY TYPE OF RECOVERY FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY WORK WITH A COMPANY WHO GATHERS OWNERS INFORMATION FROM THE DMV. TOYOTA CALLS THIS ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY INTO GEAR, A "CUSTOMER MALFUNCTION SUPPORT PROGRAM"...AND THE CATCH IS THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 10 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE TO NOTIFY THEM OF YOUR "MALFUNCTION"...MY CAR MISSED THE DEADLINE BY 6 MONTHS AND AGAIN, LET ME REITERATE THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY ANYONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, NOR IS THIS ISSUE TERMED A RECALL ITEM. MY QUESTION IS WHY NOT? WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL, WHEN THIS SITUATION IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU ARE IN A CAR THAT WILL NOT MOVE INTO FIRST

VEHICLE DRIVEN BY ELDERLY WIDOWED MOTHER (JOSEPHINE BEASLEY, AGE 70) NO MORE THAN 6,200 MILES PER YEAR AND BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFT IN TRANSMISSION IN MARCH 2014. AAMCO INFORMED US THAT A MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MODULE (ECM) CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. AAMCO TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED US THAT THE ECM REPAIR CLAIMS ARE COVERED UNDER A TOYOTA SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (WWW.RAV4ECMSETTLEMENT.COM). REPAIR COST FOR TRANSMISSION $2,890 AND ECM PART $1,227.91 PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. THE RAV4 WAS PURCHASED FROM CARMAX ON APRIL 18, 2009; ELDERLY MOTHER DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS OR UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNET. SHE DID NOT REALIZE THAT SHE HAD TO REGISTER THE VEHICLE WITH TOYOTA IN ORDER TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO HER VEHICLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIR AS THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 10 YEAR IN SERVICE WARRANTY PERIOD EVEN THOUGH IT IS WITHIN 150,000 MILES LIMIT. WHEN SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE CARMAX LOT IT HAD 44,213 MILES ON ODOMETER AND ON AUGUST 7, 2014, ODOMETER READING IS 75,374. SAD THAT THE ELDERLY ARE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE K-FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE K-FRAME AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

THE VEHICLE WITH 71,000 MILES AND PERFECT SERVICE RECORD HAD A ENGINE FAILURE, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO INSPECT THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING BADLY. I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CAME OUT WITH THE DIAGNOSE THAT THE "ENGINE THREW A ROD" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT ENGINE OIL AND LAST OIL CHANGE WAS DONE 4500 MILES BEFORE. BASICALLY, ENGINE AT THIS POINT IS BEYOND REPAIR AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. BESIDE THE FINANCIAL LOSE, NOW I EXTREMELY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE ENGINE OR ANY OTHER PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE FACT THAT I HAD 10 YEARS OLD BOY IN THE CAR WITH ME WHO THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO DIE THAT DAY AND CRYING HYSTERICALLY MAKE IT ALL THE MORE BOTHERSOME. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM, THEY BASICALLY DISMISSED ME AS ROUTINE PROBLEM AND NOT TOYOTA'S PROBLEM. THEY SEEM DISINTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHY ENGINE WITH SO FEW MILES GOT BUSTED FOR NO REASON AND PERFECT MAINTENANCE RECORD. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE (1AZ-FE). I HOPE GOVT INVESTIGATE THIS CASE AND I AM WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN WHICHEVER WAY I CAN TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR MY FELLOW RIDERS. *TR

MY 2003 RAV4 DEVELOPED A VERY HARSH SHIFT TAKING OFF BETWEEN FIRST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (BERGLUND OAK RIDGE TOYOTA> LYNCHBURG, VA) AND THEY CONFIRMED A DIAGNOSED STORED TROUBLE CODE P0755-SHIFT "B" MALFUNCTION. THEY QUOTED ABOUT $4700.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM AND PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. NO FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 2001-2003 RAV4'S. TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY A FEW YEARS AGO TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS A DOCUMENTED AND EXPECTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AT 1-800-331-4331 AND ASK THEM TO CONSIDER COVERING ALL OR PART OF THE COST. THE VEHICLE HAS A VALUE OF $7500.00 PER KBB. I CALLED AND GOT CASE # 1403130959. I SPOKE TO RASHINE . IT TOOK A FEW DAYS BUT THEY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE 10 YEAR WINDOW (2003-2013) THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COSTS. I PLEADED THAT I HAVE WELL UNDER THE 150,000 MILE MARK AND THAT THEY READILY SAY 80% OF ALL TOYOTA'S ARE ON THE ROAD FOR 20 YEARS. THIS HAS ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO GO. THEY KNOW THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A FACTORY DESIGN FAULT PER ALL THE RECORDED PROBLEMS. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $4700.00 IN REPAIRS FOR THEIR DESIGN FAILURE. IN THEIR 1.2 BILLION $ RECENT SETTLEMENT,THEY SAID" PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST", "WANT TO EARN OUR TRUST", "SERVE CUSTOMERS" "TAKE RESPONSIB

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND UPON ACCELERATION MY VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMED TO "JUMP" INTO GEAR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN IT WOULD ALMOST DO THE SAME THING, BEING SLUGGISH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MY VEHICLE, BUT I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THEM HAD BEEN RECALLED.

ECM FAIL. HEADING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 53 AND MADE A TURN TO GO SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 53 CAR SEEM TO APPLY BRAKES AND GEARS WAS HUNTING WHICH GEAR TO GO IN ALL THE TIME I GIVING IT GAS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING CARS,, MADE IT HOME, NEXT DAY DROVE CAR AND AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN SAME THING AGAIN WENT BACK HOME AND CALL TOYOTA DEALER THEY SAID IT SOUND LIKE THE TRANMISSION WAS FAILING, GOT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THE ECM HAD FAIL ON THE CAR, I CALL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $1400 AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT PAY OR DISCOUNT ANY OF IT EVEN THEY HAD KNOW ABOUT THE FAIL OF THE UNIT SINCE THE BEGINNING, I PULL THE ECM UNIT MYSELF SENT IT TO BE REPAIR GOT IT BACK AND REINSTALL IT AND CAR WOULD NOT CRANK HAD IT TOW TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID A WIRE HAD TO BE REPLACE, AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP IT RUN GOOD BUT FRONT POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK, I CAN LIVE WITHOUT THOSE 2 SYSTEM FOR NOW SINCE I DON:T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THE CAR RIGHT NOW. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE REPLACE THIS SINCE THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO FAIL AT SOME TIME WITH THE 2003 RAV4 BUT NO THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, NO HELP FORM THEM. NO MORE TOYOTAS FOR ME OR MY FAMILY, I AM GOING BACK TO A HONDA FOR SURE. TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $833.05 NOT COUNTING WITHOUT THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS.

2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON MAY 14, 2013, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION COMPUTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ECM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 0 - 5 MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74500. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A FAULTY ECM AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT VERY ERRATICALLY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS FAULTY PART AND THERE WAS NOT A PUBLIC RECALL; THEY REPLACED PARTS AS THEY FAILED AND EXTENDED THAT WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. NOW THE WARRANTY IS 10 YRS/150,000. SO I AM OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY BY MAYBE A YEAR AND NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE MILEAGE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO INFORM THEM THAT MY ECM HAD FAILED HOPING THEY WOULD AT LEAST APOLOGIZE (REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE WELCOME TOO) BUT THE LADY I TALKED TO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO MY VIN NUMBER, WHICH I KNOW TO BE A LIE! TOYOTA PUT OUT A FAULTY PART AND MUST BE MADE TO REPLACE ANY THAT FAIL NO MATTER THE MILEAGE OR LENGTH OF TIME! THIS FAULTY PART HAS ALSO DAMAGED SOME TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY MUST BE MADE TO REPLACE/REIMBURSE FOR THOSE AS WELL. MY ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED AND I AM NOT SURE BUT AM AFRAID I AM ONE OF THE ONES WITH A DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RAV4, ENTERING A HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN I ACCELERATED. IT HESITATED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN FINALLY LURCHED FORWARD. I WAS VERY NEARLY STRUCK BY A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. NOW THE RAV FREQUENTLY BEHAVES ODDLY WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIMES REFUSING TO UPSHIFT, SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE DEALER ADVISES THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AS COVERED IN A TSB. FROM RESEARCH RECENTLY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS ECM DEFECT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BEGINNING IN 2006. I AM AMAZED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL TO REPAIR THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOW IT APPEARS I WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE ECM REPLACEMENT. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER REGULARLY FOR MAINTENANCE, THEY NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. YET WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS BEHAVIOR WITH ONE OF THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISORS YESTERDAY, HE SEEMED QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE CALL FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,597.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TR

TOYOTA HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT ITS ECM UNIT WOULD ULTIMATELY FAIL. THIS FAILURE HAS CAUSED TRANSMISSIONS TO FAIL AS WELL. PULLING OUT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION IN 3 RD GEAR, AS THEY ARE PRONE TO DO COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE. MY VEHICLE IS EXACTLY 3 MONTHS TOO OLD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *TR

HI I OWN A TOYOTA RAV4 2003 SINCE 2009 THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO ORDER A RECALL TO HAVE TOYOTA FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR OFTEN DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. WHEN HEADED UP AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR SPUTTERS BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATING. AND THEN ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS LATER THE CAR WOULD JOLT INTO GEAR. ALSO, WHEN ALREADY MOVING AND GOING UP EVEN A SLIGHT HILL, WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED, THE CAR SPUTTERS AS IT SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR BEFORE JERKING INTO THIRD GEAR. THROUGH THE INTERNET,I ALMOST GOT HIT A FEW TIMES. I LEARNED THAT THE ECM IS A COMPUTER (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPONENTS, THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ECM MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON 2001 TO 2003 RAV4S NOW I HAVE TO SPEND LOTS OF MONEY THAT IT WASN'T IN MY BUDGET,..THE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHY THEY NEVER HAD A RECALL? CAN SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN JUNE 2003. THE CAR NOW HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT. IT RECENTLY BEGAN TO HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. ASIDE FROM THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS TO THE CUSTOMER, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO ORDER A RECALL TO HAVE TOYOTA FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR OFTEN DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. WHEN HEADED UP EVEN A SLIGHT HILL AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR SPUTTERS BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATING. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THAT SITUATION AND ALMOST GOT BROADSIDED WHEN MY CAR SPUTTERED AND AN ONCOMING CAR BARELY SLOWED DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING ME. ALSO, WHEN ALREADY MOVING AND GOING UP EVEN A SLIGHT HILL, WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED, THE CAR SPUTTERS AS IT SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR BEFORE JERKING INTO THIRD GEAR. THE TOYOTA DEALER TO WHOM I TOOK THE CAR SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE ECM AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS ABOUT $1,000. THROUGH THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THE ECM IS A COMPUTER (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPONENTS, THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ECM MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON 2001 TO 2003 RAV4S SINCE AT LEAST 2006, THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS TO ITS DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THAT TOYOTA HAS EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES TO COVER THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHO

EXPERIENCE A HARD SHIFT JERKING MOTION WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AND ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE DUE TO THE CAR JERKING AND IMMEDIATELY SLOWING DOWN. I TOOK IT IN TO KENDALL TOYOTA OF ANCHORAGE RIGHT AWAY AND THEN READ ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND ENHANCED WARRANTY OF 2001-2003 TOYOTAS BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! TOYOTA KENDALL SAID IT WOULD BE $6,000 TO REPLACE BOTH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION AND THAT TOYOTA WOULD ONLY PAY HALF BECAUSE THE CAR WAS 10 YEARS OLD. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENHANCED WARRANTY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TWICE DUE TO COMPLAINTS WITH THE COURT. I DID NOT GET MY CAR FIXED BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD PAY THE FULL 6K TO FIX IT. I'M AMAZED AT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA FIRST ISSUED A RECALL AND WAS SUED IN COURT BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUS MALFUNCTION OF THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

INSPECT AND REPLACE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT ON FEB 2009, ENGINE ISSUE AGAIN FEB 2012 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON/FLASHING - ESTIMATE $955.98+TAX - FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT $69.95+TAX TECH ROAD TESTED AND FOUND FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS ARE WORN/LOOSE $435.82+TAX (REPAIRS COMPLETED) FEB 2012 BRAKE NOISE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES NOISE WHEN BRAKING ~|~FRONT AND REAR BRAKE INSPECTION DONE AT THIS TIME ~|~INSPECTION ONLY NO CONCERNS FOUND AT THIS TIME (ANOTHER MECHANIC REPLACED ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES SHORTLY AFTER AS THEY WERE FOUND HIGHLY DAMAGED) TRANSMISSION SERVICE ~|~CUSTOMER REQUESTS TRANSMISSION SERVICE W/DIFFERENTIALS ~|~MAINTENANCE ~|~DRAINED AND REFILLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID W/TRANSFER CASE AND DIFFERENTIALS AS NEEDED (LESS THAN YEAR LATER HAD TRANS FLUID AGAIN REPLACED AS CONTINUED ISSUES) NOW IS SEEMINGLY WORSE AND MORE OFTEN. STEP ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THEN JERKS FORWARD, LOUD THUNKING SOUND, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS UNKNOWN WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. HAVE NOT BEEN USING VEHICLE VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF IT. IF THIS ISSUE WAS KNOWN ABOUT IN 2006 WHY WAS THIS NEVER REPAIRED BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT IT OR NOTIFY ME OF WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS? *TR

2003 RAV4 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THERE SEEMED TO BE HARDLY ANY POWER WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, AND THEN ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS LATER THE CAR WOULD JOLT INTO GEAR. THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN ALSO WHEN INCREASING SPEED, OR ANY TIME THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER (I NEVER TRY TO ACCELERATE TOO QUICKLY), AND THIS TRUSTY TOYOTA HASN'T EVER HAD ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS... EVER! THERE ARE LESS THAN 77,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED THE RAV4 IN LATE JULY, 2013. THE RAV4 HAD 78,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I PAID $9,000+ FOR THE RAV4. AT 80,000 MILES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS SUCH AS JERKING BETWEEN GEARS, VERY SLUGGISH RESPONSE DURING ACCELERATION AND HORRENDOUS GAS MILEAGE. I GET ABOUT 8 MILES PER GALLON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON MY CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEMS FALL "WITHIN THE PARAMETERS" OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TC-10-034 EXCEPT THE "IN SERVICE" DATE OF MY VEHICLE WAS MARCH 8, 2003 THEREBY MAKING ME INELIGIBLE FOR THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY BY 4 MONTHS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! THIS IS A TOYOTA SCREWUP AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROAD CONDITIONS OR OWNER NEGLECT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR SO MY DAUGHTER CAN CONTINUE HER DAYCARE. SHE SHUTTLES PRE-SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO VARIOUS RECREATION FACILITIES AND MY WIFE, WHO HAS TERMINAL CANCER, OFTEN ACCOMPANIES HER SO SHE CAN SPEND AS MUCH QUALITY TIME WITH HER BEFORE THE EVENTUALITY. NOW I'M READING THAT THIS PARTICULAR RAV4 PROBLEM CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF TOYOTA "CARES FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS", HOW CAN THIS BE A SERVICE BULLETIN AND NOT A RECALL. THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR DATE OF SERVICE. I JUST SPENT OVER $9,000 FOR A 10 YEAR OLD CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A TOYOTA. "IT'LL LAST FOREVER". I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER COMPLAINT PHONE NUMBER AND ALL I GOT WAS CONTEMPT. HER NAME WAS [XXX] AND HER ARGUMENT WAS "TOYOTA WAS VERY KIND IN EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR YOU", IT'S YOUR FAU

BASICALLY TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY ECM BECAUSE I NOTIFIED THEM 10 AFTER THEIR "EXTENSION" HAD EXPIRED. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I SPENT A WEEK FROM MECHANIC TO MECHANIC, GETTING ESTIMATES. FINALLY SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL AND SUGGESTED I REACH OUT TO TOYOTA. THEY REFUSED TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE THE DELIVERY DATE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS 8/31/2003. THEY EVEN HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNER ON THEIR DATABASE. MY DAUGHTER PLEADED WITH THE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO AND SHE REFUSED TO EVEN REVIEW THIS AGAIN WITH HIM. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS DECISION AND NEED GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT IS LEGAL. THE DEFECTIVE COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED BY THEM AND SOLD TO THE CONSUMER WITH THIS PROBLEM. SHOULDN'T THEY BE RESPONSIBLE REGARDLESS OF THE TIMEFRAME THEY SET ON THEIR OWN? IT IS ABSURD TO HAVE THEM ADMIT IT WAS PART OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES THAT WERE THEIR FAULT, BUT SINCE I CALLED A WEEK LATER, THEY GOT OFF SCOTT FREE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER AND THE POWER TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,900.

OFTEN (AND UNPREDICTABLY), VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FROM STOP. IT CREEPS FORWARD AS TACK JUMPS, THEN WITH A LOUD "CLUNK" IT JERKS INTO 2ND (OR 3RD) GEAR AND SUDDENLY LEAPS FORWARD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALER MORE THAN ONCE AND TOLD "NO PROBLEM FOUND." WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS FINALLY DEMONSTRATED, THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT SOLENOID B IS FAULTY AND ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED STARTING AT $4600. NOW I READ THAT MANY OWNERS OF 2001-3 RAV4S HAVE EXACT PROBLEM CAUSED BY A FAULTY EMC THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN TOYOTA ORIGINALLY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM IN 2006. INSTEAD THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE HAS PROGRESSED TO A REPAIR 4 TIMES THAT AMOUNT. I HAVE FOUND NO REASONABLE REPAIR RATE SO FAR. *TR

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM ON 7/2/13. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THAT DATE. ON 7/10/13 THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED AND FREQUENT. WHEN PROCEEDING FORWARD FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO ADVANCE, THEN SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. IT HAS RESULTED IN NEAR MISS REAREND AND SIDE CRASHES. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC FOR 7/15/13. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SHOWED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER. RESEARCH TURNED UP A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 015610) DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO REPAIRS UNTIL THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF. *TR

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN NO GAS, TURNED DOWN HILL IN SNOW CAR ACCELERATED GOING STRAIGHT INTO DOWNED TREE. MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND HAS HAD STICKING ACCELERATOR, REAR END CLUNKING NOISE AND POWER STEERING HAS MADE IT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. MY SERVICE ANIMAL HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT SHATTERED WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES AT ANOTHER TIME. I'VE HAD OTHER NEAR MISSES AND TWO LEFT OF CENTER TICKETS WITH POWER STEERING ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN INTO TOYOTA FOR STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN WRITE SERVICE TICKET. THEY FILLED POWER STEERING FLUID SAID NO PROBLEM. THEY KEEP RESETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STATING ITS GAS CAP. THIS CAR IS A LEMON, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, COMPUTER. THIS IS THE FIRST NEW VEHICLE I EVER BOUGHT AND WISH I WOULD HAVE STUCK WITH USED. *TR

THE CAR WOULD ENGAGE 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING TEMPORARY LOCK UP OF THE REAR WHEELS AND LOSS OF CONTROL. FOUND OUT ABOUT A TSB AND CLASS ACTION SUITE REGARDING THIS ISSUE AFFECTING THE ECU WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA REGARDING THE ISSUE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY 2003 RAV4 WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PUT IN SERVICE JUNE OF 2003. I AM APPALLED THIS IS NOT A RECALL AS IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE IF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD BE FATAL IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO ON A SLIPPERY ROAD OR GOING AROUND A CORNER. *TR

ON OR ABOUT MAY 5, 2013 I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO HARD SHIFT, THOUGH I WAS DRIVING AS USUAL. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS OFF AND ON AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT OR DRIVE THRU AT A RESTAURANT. THE SHIFT JOLT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN NEEDING TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFTING INTO DRIVE--IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE. THE SHIFT JOLT SOMETIMES IS ACCOMPANIED BY A THUD NOISE. ON MAY 7, 2013 I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND DISCUSS THIS WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT 1-800-331-4331. SHE TRANSFERRED ME TO A RUDE AND CANTANKEROUS WOMAN WHO SEEMED TO HAVE HEARD THE STORY BEFORE. SHE STATED I NEED TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP AND GET A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH COSTS $100 IN MY AREA. SHE THEN STATED THAT IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CODES APPEAR: CODES: P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758 OR P0760 THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ECM MODULE FIRST, IF STILL PROBLEM THE FAULTY MODULE COULD'VE MESSED UP THE TRANSMISSION. SHE CONCEDED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A BULLETIN TO THE DEALERSHIPS AND APPARENTLY IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. AT SOME POINT I RECEIVED A TOYOTA INTERNAL CASE NUMBER. SHE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO FOR ME AS I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE 188,000+ MILES ON MY CAR AND APPARENTLY IF IT IS NOT UNDER 150,000 MILE WARRANTY. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND IT IS NOT MY FAULT THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR WITHIN A RANDOMLY SELECTED MILEAGE THEY CHOSE. TOYOTA ADMITTED THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE LIABLE FOR ANY MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OF THE ECM/TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED MY VEH IN JAN 2003.NEXT DAY, I NOTICED MY VEH WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE UPHILL. AT 50K MILES IN 2010, I WENT TO DEALER WITH A RECALL LETTER. MY COMPLAINT:CUST HAVING DIFFICULTY DRIVING UPHILL-WON'T ACCEL-GET STUCK AT 45-50 MPH. VEH IS SHIFTING HARSH & CUST STATED THAT SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANS.CUST THINKS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE ZTL LETTER SHE GOT IN MAIL. THEIR RESPONSE WAS:TEST DROVE VEH & DUPLICATED THE LACK OF POWER FOUND VEH HAD 3 FLOOR MATS UNDER THE ACCEL PEDAL NOT ALLOWING FULL TRAVEL REMOVED MATS & VEH RAN & SHIFTED FINE. I LEFT DISAPPOINTED & THEY CHARGED ME. PROBLEM GREW & MY CAR STARTED ACTING STRANGE EVEN THOUGH I WAS KEEPING UP WITH MAINTANENCE. IN MARCH 2013, MY CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START & I THOUGHT IT MUST BE THE BATTERY, & GOT IT TOWED & HAD BATTERY REPLACED.WHEN I WAS DRIVING, IT STARTED SHAKING. IT WAS STRANGE BUT I DIDN'T READ INTO IT UNTIL LATE APRIL 2013, I WAS WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE L TURN & MY CAR RESISTED & PULLED BACK HARSHLY. SINCE THEN I WAS SCARED OF DRIVING MY VEH. ONE DAY IT WAS FINE MOSTLY BUT ANOTHER DAY SIMILAR ISSUE, STOPPING & DRIVING WAS SCARY & IT COULDN'T GO HIGHER THAN 20 MPH. THE LAST TIME I DROVE, I COULD HARDLY PUT MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. MY CAR HAS 65K MILES & THEY TOLD ME ECU HAS TO BE REPLACED & IF DOESN'T WORK, I SHOULD PAY FOR A NEW TRANS. I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THEY WILL PAY FOR THE ECU BUT NOT FOR TRANSMISSION (IF NECESSARY) NOR FOR LABOR COST. I'M