2003 Toyota RAV4 complaints

I WAS ABOUT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. IT TERRIFIED ME BECAUSE THERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAILER TO MY LEFT THAT ALMOST HIT ME. AS I PRESSED HARDER ON THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD REVVING SOUND, AND THE CAR STARTED TO JERK FORWARD, IN THE SENSE THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE: SOMETIMES THE CAR ACCELERATED HARSHLY WHILE AT OTHER TIMES IT WAS LIKE IT WAS ON NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AS SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, NOR WAS THERE ANY HINT THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE OCCURS AT LOW SPEED, RIGHT AT THOSE CRUCIAL MOMENTS WHEN YOU NEED THE CAR TO ACCELERATE BECAUSE YOU ARE MERGING WITH TRAFFIC, OR ARE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AFTER HAVING STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. PEOPLE REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM), SO I HAD THAT FIXED, AND NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE. THE WORST THING IS THAT ONLINE PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED AN INTERNAL MEMO IN 2006 NOTIFYING DEALERS OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT NOTIFY THE OWNER, LET ALONE RECALL THE CARS AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA DID NOT FEEL THE PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH, THOUGH I AM CONVINCED THAT IT WAS ONLY LUCK THAT I SURVIVED THAT DAY ON THE HIGHWAY! *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH ONLY 63K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS TRYING TO INSTALL A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT THEY CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE YEAR AND MODEL TOYOTA I HAVE WAS KNOW TO HAVE A FAULTY COMPUTER THAT CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DEEMED THE COMPUTER FAULTY AND FIXED THE CAR FREE OF CHARGE. ONCE THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PUT IN THE NEW COMPUTER, THE TRANSMISSION STILL WOULDN'T WORK. IT IS BACK AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING TOYOTA TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS RESISTANCE WHEN HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS INCREASED INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY AT A SLOW SPEED THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE DEALER CHANGED THE OIL, THE FUEL FILTER AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE DEALER LATER STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE AND THAT IF THE ECM DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $5500.00. TOYOTA WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND STATED THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS NOT VALID THEY COULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 124,600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR REPAIR COST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON A 2003 RAV4 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IT STARTED AT 100,456 MILES. NEVER HAD PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BEFORE. IT STARTED TO OCCUR ONCE IN A WHILE IN FIRST GEAR, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GOT IT CHECK. CAME UP CODE PO755. NOW IS OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. LIGHT GOES OFF AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAY GOES ON AGAIN. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY SAID IT NEEDS A REMANUFACTURE TRANSMISSION AND THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE ECM. COST 5,995 THEY TOLD ME I'M BETTER OFF TRADING THE CAR. *TR

CAR JERKS, HARSH SHIFTING, STAYS STUCK IN GEAR, WILL NOT GO BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. HAVE DONE OIL CHANGE, TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH, LEFT AND RIGHT 02 SENSORS, STILL SHIFTING HARSH CONDITIONS, FEELS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NO WARNING WHEN TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM STOPPED TO FIRST. WOULD JERK THEN BE FINE. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH HAZARD LIGHTS ON. TOOK TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP & WAS QUOTED $3,200 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. NO MENTION OF THE ECM BEING THE CAUSE OR NEEDING REPAIRED. WILL HAVE TO TRADE IN. FAILURE 110,000. *TR

CAR SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEM, HESITATES FROM A START, VERY JERKY, THEN DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND AFTER TWENTY SECONDS OF THE VEHICLE MAINTAINING 25 MPH, IT ACCELERATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONNECTION FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK TO THE BODY EXHIBITED A BROKEN ELECTRICAL GROUND CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 68,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ

RAV4 TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. VERY UNSETTLING AND UNSAFE. NO "CHECK" LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY GAVE A LAME EXCUSE ABOUT MY HUSBAND DRIVING IT AND CONFUSING THE COMPUTER. SYMPTOMS NEVER STOPPED SO I TOOK IT TO A TRUSTED INDEPENDENT SHOP AND AM HAVING TO PAY $4000 FOR REPAIRS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EVEN ISSUED A TSB ON IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ONLY COVERS UP TO 80K MILES. PLEASE LEAN ON THEM TO MAKE THIS RIGHT! *TR

WAS SLIGHTLY SKIPPING GEARS. WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS THE ECM, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD HAVE COME ON, IT DID NOT. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, HARD TO BELIEVE AS THERE WERE NO NOISE EXCEPT THE RPMS. THEY RECOMMEND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTER EST. $5512,00 +TAX. 2003 RAV4 SHOULD OF AT LEAST GO BEYOND 10 YEARS WITHOUT ANY MAYOR REPAIRS. I TOLD THEM NO. DO NOT START WORK ON IT, I WILL PICK IT UP THIS EVENING. ABOUT 4:45PM I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE SUV AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS MUCH WORST THAN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS BEHIND ME TO SLOW TRAFFIC IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET OUR SUV BACK IN OUR GARAGE BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS ESPECIALLY DURING TRAFFIC HOURS. THE GEARS AND THE LOUD TRANSMISSION SHIFT COULD NOW BE HEARD. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN BEFORE THEN. GOING UP HILLS NOW IT TOOK ITS TIME. HAVE TO PUT IT REVERSE SO THAT I CAN GET IT IN STRAIGHT INTO THE GARAGE AND BOOM, THEN I HEARD LIKE COIL SPRINGS POPPING. I PUT IT BACK ON DRIVE AND WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE GARAGE. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM A LONG TIME AGO AND FAILED TO NOTIFY US. BENNET TOYOTA @2300 HANOVER AVENUE @ (610)437-6711, DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TALK TO ME. THEY MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I TOLD THEM NO. BECAUSE NOW IT IS 99% FAILING COMPARE TO WHEN I TOOK IT WHEN I NOTICED THE SAFETY HAZARDS/ AND THE NOISES WHEN I SHIFT GEAR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. NOW I HEAR BIG THUMPS WHEN I SHIFT AND COILS SPRINGING. THE RAV4 IS AU

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN PLUGGED INTO THE ELECTRIC CHARGING SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED IT CAN HAPPEN IF THE GEAR IS INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT SLOPE. *JB

MY TOYOTA RAV4 2003 HAS 85,200 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS GIVING ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS. IT'S JERKING THE FIRST AND SECOND SPEED AND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER(FINDLAY TOYOTA) THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO SPEND $1,600 BUYING A NEW COMPUTER AND IF THE PROBLEM PERSIST I WILL HAVE TO SPEND MONEY FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS FAILS(RAV4 2001-2003) BUT WAS SENT TO DEALERS AND NO TO OWNERS. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 IS SLIPPING, BUCKING, AND DRAGGING: TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, JUST LIKE ALL THE REST! WHAT MORE IS THERE TO SAY? BESIDES THE FACT THAT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT WITH MY 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN THERE, AND I HAVE NO MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND WOULD ABRUPTLY JERK WHEN DOING SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

MY 2003 RAV4, SUDDENLY BEGAN HAVING INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS - THE TRANSMISSION STICKS IN FIRST GEAR THEN BANGS INTO SECOND; JERKING SPORADICALLY - NOT MOVING, THEN LUNGING FORWARD. IT IS DANGEROUS. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TOYOTA AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS IT. $3,500. MY CAR HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. IT IS "YOUNG. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE NEW YORK TIMES DID AN ARTICLE IN AUGUST 2009. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE 2006. THE ARTICLE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A "BULLETIN" THAT SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM UP TO 80,000 MILES AND 8 YEARS. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND NOW MY CAR IS UNDER THE YEARS AND OVER THE MILES. AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM I FOUND A LOT OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS. MOST OF THE MILEAGE IS OVER 80,000. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE...THEY CAN'T HELP ME. BUT, IT WAS THEIR DEFECT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED EARLIER SO IT COULD BE REPLACED? THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE ISN'T A RECALL. IS THAT BECAUSE NO ONE DIED BECAUSE OF IT YET? *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/01/10 THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED IVOQ 10/08/10.

DRIVING MY RAV 4 2003 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAD NO POWER STRUGGLED TO SHIFT IT FELT LIKE I WAS RIDING A BULL. IT IS VERY SCARY. WHEN YOU HAVE NO POWER AND NEED TO ACCELERATE AT A LIGHT. PLEASE PROTECT THE PEOPLE. FORCE TOYOTA TO SO A RECALL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. DO NOT WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER.$3300. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP SO I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN# PLUS WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. IT DOES NOT SHOW ON THE COMPUTER THAT IT IS THE TRANSMISSION OR THE ECU. *TR

VEHICLE JERKS, SOMETIMES FAILS TO ACCELERATE OR IT WILL SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN WHILE IN MOTION AND THEN SUDDENLY SURGES FORWARD. IT IS REALLY A SCARY SITUATION EVERYTIME IT HAPPENS. *TR

OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS BEGUN TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD OR HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS INVESTIGATED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER NEEDED REPLACING AT A RIDICULOUS DOLLAR AMOUNT. THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS YET TO BE COMPLETED. MEANWHILE, WE'VE HAD TIME TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, ONLY TO FIND THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DANGEROUS LURCHING AND HESITATION OF THEIR VEHICLE. TOYOTA SAYS THAT OUR CAR IS EITHER TOO OLD OR HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED, AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS SERIOUS UNCONTROLLABLE PROBLEM. WE JUST FELT YOU SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION JERKS AND CHANGE GEARS FOR NO REASON ALL THE TIME VERY DANGEROUS! ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAS 91K MILES NOT REPAIRED YET (WAITING TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM) IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR RAV4. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. I SPENT 1400 TO GET IT FIXED LAST YEAR SO THAT I CAN PASS EMISSION BUT STILL FAILED AND HAD TO GET A WAIVER. ON DECEMBER OF 2009, A FRIEND OF MINE AND I WAS DRIVING AND IT STARTED TO LOSE ITS POWER AND STARTED JERKING. WE IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WE WAITED A LITTLE WHILE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET HELP SOMEWHERE BUT WE WERE IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T GET ANY CELL SIGNAL SO WE DECIDED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND AT LEAST TRY TO DRIVE TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET SIGNAL. CAR DROVE OK THAT DAY BUT SINCE THEN HAD JERKING OR SHIFTING PROBLEM SEVERAL HOURS AFTER FIRST USED IN THE DAY. I HAD THE ECU CHANGED THIS YEAR AND IT COST 1500. IT DRIVES BETTER NOW BUT NOW THE PROBLEM STARTS DURING THE FIRST USE OF THE CAR EACH DAY. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS ANNOYING AND MIGHT DAMAGE MY ENGINE MORE THAN THE OLD EMU HAD DAMAGE IT. ALSO THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER BACK SEAT DURING THE USE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS(IT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH USE BEFORE 2008) HAD STARTED SNAGGING TO THE POINT THAT IT HAS UNRAVELED. WE FOUND OUT THAT THE METAL LOOP THAT THE SEAT BELT GOES THOUGH IS VERY SHARP AND HAD CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO GET SHREDDED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 RAV 4 PURCHASED USED TWO YEARS AGO THIS APRIL 2010. THE CAR HAS 80,188 MILES THE VIN # IS XXXXX MY WIFE AND I ALONG WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD BOY IN THE BACK SEAT (CAR SEAT) WERE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT OF THE LOCAL GYM. WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING HER TO RUN OVER A PEDESTRIAN. (I REALLY MEAN RUN OVER, NOT JUST HIT). I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR... HE MENTIONED THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE... THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) MAKES THE CAR SHIFT IRREGULAR IN AND OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ( MY RAV 4 IS AUTOMATIC). BETTER SAID... WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS MOVING IN SECOND GEAR... WHICH MAKES IT VERY SLUGGISH.. WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL TO COMPENSATE, THE CAR THEN UNSUSPECTINGLY AND SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THIS TIME WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THINGS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DIFFERENT... WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. THE REPAIRS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC CAN RANGE FROM $1500 TO $7000. CHANGING THE ECM MAY FIX THE ISSUE BUT THERE NOW MAY BE DAMAGE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. WE WILL NOT KNOW TILL I HAVE THE ECM CHANGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WHILE RETURNING TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLLED THE TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; THE COMPUTER WAS ALSO REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AFTER SEVEN YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,911.

I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2003 ON OCTOBER 2007 WITH ABOUT 58,000 MILES. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE CHANGING GEARS. I HAD MY CAR PARKED AND WHEN I WANTED TO MOVE IT WAS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND MAKING A JUMP. AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IF I PRESS THE GAS. NOISE BEGAN TO BE LOUDER AND WHEN DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IT WAS NOT CHANGING GEARS. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT TIMES EVEN IF IT WAS ON DRIVING. PROBLEMS BECAME MORE SEVERE. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW COMPUTER TRANSMISSION AND THE COST WILL BE AROUND $1400+TAX+PART AND LABOR. I HAD BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT IS NOT COVERING ANY COSTS AT ALL. I HAD NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SENSORS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE FAILURE BUT WERE NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,400.

2003 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER REQUESTS RAMIFICATION TO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AS SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER A RED LIGHT AND IT WOULD SURGE WITH FORCE ONCE IT ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $664.87 FOR A SENSOR AND V-RIPPED BELT. ON MARCH 24, 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. UPON RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TSB FOR THE PCM AND ECM. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE SLIGHTEST ROAD BUMP AND HEARING A THUMP WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TO THE FAR RIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THE TSB'S REGARDING THE ECM/PCM. *JB

IN SEPTEMBER 2008, MY RAV4 SUDDENLY BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER AND IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AS OTHER VEHICLES WARE APPROACHING AND AS I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR JUST IDLED HIGH THEN IT JOLTED INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO THE NEXT DAY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY AAMCO, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE TSB TC002-06 ISSUED BY TOYOTA. AAMCO ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY COULD DETERMINE IF IT WAS IN FACT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH IT DID NEED A NEW ECM COMPUTER AS PER TC002-06. ALSO IN FEB 2009 I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ECM COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. MY RAV4 AT THE TIME HAD 80,300 MILES ON IT AND THE SLONE TOYOTA THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM WOULD NOT HONOR THE 80/8 WARRANTY. THEY DID HOWEVER GIVE ME 50/50 GOODWILL ASSISTANCE (IF YOU CAN EVEN CALL IT THAT SINCE IT STILL COST OVER $900 FOR THE COMPUTERS.) THE NEW TRANSMISSION COST $3,750 DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONED COMPUTER. NOW IN APRIL 2010, 18 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES LATER, I AM GOING THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 60 MPH AND THEN IT WENT TO 40 MPH. I COULD NOT GET IT ACCELERATE. I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS VERY SCARY FOR US AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING BEHIND US AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE LOCATION WERE I WAS DRIVING DID NOT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WITHOUT A POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS; HOWEVER, WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR POSITION THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

ON OCT. 5, 2002, I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM STAR TOYOTA OF BAYSIDE INC. AS OF THIS WRITING, THE AUTOMOBILES MILEAGE IS ONLY 15, 782 MILES. ON JULY 13, 2009 (8 MONTHS AGO), I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 FOR SERVICE IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CHECK ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, I STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD STALL AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A RED LIGHT, AND THAT IT WOULD SURGE WITH FORCE ONCE IT ACCELERATED; IT FELT LIKE A REAR-ENDED COLLISION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 12,894 MILES WHEN THE SUV WAS TAKEN IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I WAS CHARGED $664.87 FOR A SENSOR AND A V-RIPPED BELT. LAST WEEK, ON MAR. 24, 2010 AT 15,757 MILES, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN JUST 8 MONTHS OF PRIOR WORK RENDERED, AND AFTER ONLY 2,863 MILES. WHILE RESEARCHING THE INTERNET IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, I STUMBLED UPON HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH HARSH SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND, UNSAFE AND HARSH DRIVING CONDITIONS. AS I CONTINUED MY RESEARCH EFFORTS, I IMMEDIATELY LINKED INTO A FEW TOYOTA TSBS CONCERNING A DEFECTED ECM/PCM REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE TO THE FAILING COMPONENTS AS TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE & POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE W/THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. I HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND NEVER INFORMED OF ANY OF THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA TSBS. IT'S D

2003 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE SLOWLY, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, HE BELIEVED THE CARPET BECAME STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL. *JB UPDATED 06/02/10 *JB

TRANSMISSION UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES. HARD SHIFTING IN REVERSE. HESITATES AT 1ST GEAR...

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I WOULD BE ENTERING TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, ON HIGHWAYS. A NUMBER OF TIMES IT WOULD START ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOW DOWN OR LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS CAUSED MANY ANXIOUS MOMENTS AS OFTEN A CAR/TRUCK WOULD BE COMING UP BEHIND ME. I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE AND STEP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REALLY MOVE UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AND SUDDENLY START MOVING. THIS WAS SCARY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT GEARS, OR DROP GEARS WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD BE IN TRAFFIC AND WE WOULD BE MOVING ALONG WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND LITERALLY JUMP FORWARD SOMETIMES PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD A LITTLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, BOTH LOCAL ROADS AND ON HIGHWAYS THE CAR WOULD DROP GEARS AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND THEN SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. THE CAR HAS 95000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD BY A MECHANIC (WHO IS NOT FIXING THE CAR) THAT TOYOTA HAD ADVISED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER-THE ECM- IN THE RAV 4, THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO JUMP AND SHIFT GEARS AND POSSIBLY RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN DAMAGED AND ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *DT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN PARK. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 25MPH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTICE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND MAKE AND FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT FM OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN SHE TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO GET IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE, THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RAV4 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN IT REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION(COASTING BASICALLY) WITH A LINE OF UNHAPPY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME BEFORE IT SLAMMED VIOLENTLY INTO HIGH GEAR AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO THE OVERPASS WALLS. IT HAS SINCE THEN BEEN INTERMITTENT, BEING FINE FOR A DAY OR SO THEN DOING THE SAME THING, IN VARYING DEGREES OF SEVERITY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN TO TOYOTA FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THEY QUOTED ME $6800 TO REPLACE THE ECM COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS 119,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF TOYOTA THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL UNTIL THE COMPUTER IS REPLACED, AND THEN IT WILL NEED A TRANSMISSION SHORTLY AFTERWARD ACCORDING TO BOTH TOYOTA AND THE OTHER RAV4 OWNERS IN THIS SITUATION. IF THE COMPUTER HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM DEMONSTRATING ITSELF IN THE SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AT ALL. I THINK THAT TOYOTA IS TO BLAME FOR NOT ADVISING RAV4 DRIVERS OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THE RELATIVELY CHEAP REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE SAVED ME MUCH TIME AND MONEY. I NEED A CAR TO WORK, SO I EITHER PAY TOYOTA $6800 OR BUY A NEW CAR, AND IN THIS ECONOMY I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE FINANCING TO DO EITHER. *TR

IN 2009, WITHOUT NOTICE MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 WAS "JERKING AND GOING". THEN IT WOULD BARELY MOVE ONCE STOPPED. THEN WHEN IT WOULD MOVE, IT WOULD DRAG. IN AUGUST OF 2009, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY PALMER'S TOYOTA SUPERSTORE. THIS COST $1,721.93. *TR

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SPED UP QUICKLY AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT DID THAT ABOUT 4-8 TIMES BEFORE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA WOULDN'T FIX IT, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH AND TOYOTA'S RELUCTANCY TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP BY A FAULTY ECM. *TR

PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 80 KM/H. STOPPED. LIGHT GOES GREEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS ONLY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE LURCH FORWARD SLOWLY AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP IN SHORT SPURTS. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AS TRAFFIC CAME FLYING FROM BEHIND. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SITTING, I HIT THE GAS AGAIN AND GOT GOING LIKE NORMAL. PARKED THE CAR FOR FOUR HOURS AND THEN HEADED BACK HOME. WAS MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION ON THE WAY HOME AND PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. CAN'T GET GOING AND THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT'S STUCK BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. I SHIFT IT INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS. JUST AS I DRIVE UP A HILL CLOSE TO MY APARTMENT, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS TIME I TRY SHIFTING TO BOTH SECOND AND FIRST GEAR BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND WAIT FIVE MINUTES. I START THE CAR AND IT RUNS LIKE NORMAL. I MAKE IT BACK HOME AND PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET. IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE AND I OCCASIONALLY MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, I HAVE LEARNED IT IS PROBABLY THE ECM AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG RAV4'S BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FURTHER. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED INITIALLY, IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPEEDY HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO MOVE. *TR

1. JERKING TRANSMISSION AT LOW SPEED 2. LOSS OF POWER 3. DEALER REPLACED ECM TO TRANSMISSION (WARRANTY) IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSB. *TR

ACCELERATION INCREASES WHILE USING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP SLOW DOWN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT BEING APPLIED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 8 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND HER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED UP TO 35 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AND INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING. SHE HAS MAILED A LETTER TO THE DEALER AND SHE HAS ALSO CALLED THEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SAFETY ISSUES. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YRS AGO FROM A DEALER AND IT HAD 74,000 MILES. THANKFULLY WE DID GET A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT ONE THAT WILL COVER THIS PROBLEM. THIS LAST NOVEMBER OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WAS STUCK GOING UP A HILL AS THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. SHE WAS STRANDED ON THE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY UNTIL WE COULD COME GET HER. THANKFULLY SHE DID GET OFF THE ROAD, BUT IT SCARED US TO THINK THAT THIS CAR COULD OF DONE THIS IF SHE WAS AT A HIGH SPEED OR COULDN'T HAVE GOT OFF THE ROAD IN THE DARK MOUNTAIN TERRAIN. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE HAD ONLY PUT MAYBE 10,000 MILES ON IT SINCE PURCHASE. THE WARRANTY COVERED THE $4000 REPLACEMENT COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE IT SEEMED TO RUN OK BUT STILL HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT THE SPEED OF 20-30. A HARSH JERKING. OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND AGAIN IT STOPPED WORKING IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT. SO BACK TO THE SHOP. WELL NOW WE ARE STUMPED ON WHAT COULD BE WRONG. EVEN HAD 2 SENSORS REPLACED AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WE HAVE A TOYOTA, WHICH WE BOUGHT FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION OF BEING A GREAT VEHICLE, BUT NOW WORRIED WHAT IT WILL DO AS THEY ARE DRIVING IT. SO THE LATEST IS I DID SOME OF MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE CALLED RAV4W

HELLO, I JUST RECENTLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 THAT IS HAVING WIDE SPREAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM. I JUST SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT THE CONSUMERS ARE NOT. IT IS ONLY TAKEN CARE OF AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTS AND IF YOU TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO RUNS A SERVICE BULLETIN CHECK. THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING THE HUGE EXPENSE OF THIS, AND WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS MAIN COMPUTER (ECM). I JUST HOPE I CAN HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OF US. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE....BS! MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND I'M AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE CAR STOPS WORKING ON THE FREEWAY OR WHERE EVER IT MAY HAPPEN. WHO IS TO SAY THE NEW ECM IS EVEN GOOD. PLEASE GO TO ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM ON TC002-06 AND SEE COMPLAINTS. ALSO JUST SEARCH TC002-06 RAV4 TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THANK YOU! *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A RUNAWAY GAS PEDAL ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA RAV4. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE AND AFTER BRAKING AND WORKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SLOWED DOWN. I WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 87 MPH IN A SPLIT SECOND AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT THE TOYOTA FROM AND THEY ARE NOT OFFERING CONCERN OR A SOLUTION. ONE DEALER SUGGESTED WE CALL THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF TOYOTA, BUT AFTER DOING SO, I HAD NO WAY TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. IT WAS ALL PREPROGRAMMED TO DEAL ONLY WITH TOYOTA'S THAT WERE ON THE RECALL LIST. WE DON'T FEEL REAL SAFE WITH OUR FAMILY CAR AND FELT THE NEED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW. WE ALSO WANT TO LET OTHERS BEWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF TOYOTA RAV4. WE NOW HAVE A CAR THAT WE DO NOT TRUST IS SAFE AND NOBODY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2003. MY CAR IS RUNNING SO WEIRD AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PUT MY LIFE AT RISK. I AM DRIVING ON A FREEWAY (65-70 MPH ' 36MILES EVERYDAY) A DANGEROUS FAILURE TO SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOKING. WE TOOK MY CAR AT THE DEALER TWICE AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. AT FIRST THEY TOLD US THE PROBLEM, THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE/CHANGE/REPAIR THE AIR FILTER/AIR PILOMETER, WE REPLACED IT. BUT THEN SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY (EVERYDAY), FAILURE SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOCKING WHILE I AM DRIVING'. WE BROUGHT IT AGAIN AT THE DEALER AND THEY JUST TOLD US THAT THEY ALREADY DIAGNOSED IT (TWICE) BUT THEIR COMPUTER CANNOT LOCATE THE 'CODE' THING FROM THE COMPUTER, WHICH TELLS THEM IF THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM OR NOT. I ASKED THEM THAT IF THEY DIAGNOSED IT HOW COME THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM? THE ONLY ANSWER THEY TOLD ME WAS 'THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT GIVING THEM A CODE' AND I TOLD THEM IF THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN MY CAR, THE ANSWER WAS 'THEY ARE NOT SURE'. THIS IS A REALLY 'SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS MATTER'. 'TOYOTA IS PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK'. ARE THEY GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM OF THE CAR IF THEY SEE US DEAD OR IF WE GOT IN ACCIDENT??? TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A FULL ATTENTION OF THIS MATTER AND GIVE US A FULL WARRANTY OF FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA RAV4 2001-2003. WE NEVER WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE RPMS RAPIDLY BEGAN TO INCREASE. WHENEVER SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD GEAR RANGE THERE WAS A JERKING SENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECU). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. TOYOTA DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID. AFTER INTERNET SEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I ASKED THAT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACE THE COMPUTER (MUCH LESS COSTLY) AND THE CAR STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AN INTERNAL MEMO TO DEALERS STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE MAKE/MODEL BUT THE LOCAL DEALER DID NOT MENTION SUCH A MEMO. I ONLY FOUND IT AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE STOPPED THE GEAR WILL FAIL IT WILL STAY IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECU AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,236. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE MADE A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED, THEN SLIPPED INTO GEAR AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND SENDING FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 07/15/10*JB