2003 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TRANSMISSION ON 2003 RAV 4 (TOYOTA) DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IT HESITATES AND DOES NOT MOVE THE AUTO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IT ALSO JUMPS AND SHIFTS GEARS ROUGHLY WHEN ACCELERATING THIS COULD WELL LEAD TO PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE CRASHES ON FREEWAY RAMPS AND AT STOP LIGHTS AND SIGNS. *TR

WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AT ABOUT 20MPH. I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER AN INTERCEPTION, AND A 18 WHEEL TRUCK, STARTED TO MAKE A TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS UNABLE TO PROCEED, AND NARROWLY MISSED THE TRUCK HITTING ME HEAD-ON. COMPETITION TOYOTA OF MIDDLE ILAND, NY PUT A NEW ECM IN FOR $1400, BUT THE TRANS. CONTINUED TO SLIP. I SPENT $5,700+ ON A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM JASPER CORP., BUT I WAS WITH-OUT A VEHICLE FOR 7 WEEKS. *TR

WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 ROLLING OVER AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS HAD OPENED FRONT OR SKIRT ABOVE THE HEAD FOR ROLL OVER. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION & 4WD. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW PROPER ACCELERATION FROM STANDING STOP, ROUGH SHIFTING RESULTING IN A "SLAM" INTO GEAR, HANGS BETWEEN GEARS WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT. FLUSH OF FLUID ALLEVIATED PROBLEM FOR 1 WEEK (APPROX 200 MILES 0 BUT IT HAS RETURNED. ECU ERROR CODE: P0755. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WITH NO WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR BEGAN BUCKING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS - BUT THEN SMOOTHED OUT IN THE HIGHER GEARS AND ALSO AS THE CAR WARMED UP. NO OTHER CARS AROUND SO NO DANGER TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED FLUID, SO I TRIED THAT. SEEMED TO IMPROVE SOMEWHAT FOR TWO DAYS - THEN THE SLIPPING BECAME VERY BAD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT SAME AFTERNOON I BROUGHT CAR INTO MY MECHANIC, WHOSE COMPUTER DIAGNOSED A DEFECTIVE SOLONOID. AFTER REPLACEMENT ($117), TRANSMISSION WAS STILL SLIPPING. FOUND A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ECM. COST FOR REPLACEMENT: $1450. DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME WHETHER OR NOT TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. COST TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION: $3500. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY PCM- TECHNICAL BULLETIN #1046. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED BIND UP AND HARSH SHIFTING JANUARY 2010. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED BINDING UP, CAR WOULD NOT RUN PROPERLY. TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND FAULTY PCM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $4600.00. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE, RELEASED A TSB REGARDING REPAIR ISSUES. TSB IS LIMITED TO 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND DEALER HAVE REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND HERE IS YET ANOTHER. TOTALLY RIDICULOUS THAT TOYOTA WON'T STAND BEHIND THIS KNOWN ISSUE. ALL I CAN SAY IS WHERE DO I SIGN ON THE LAWSUIT? QUOTED OVER 3,000 TO REPLACE AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

HOW MANY TIMES DOES A PERSON HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT?? MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS!! IT WASN'T UNTIL I PULLED OUT ON A HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE (AND JUST MISSED GETTING PLOWED INTO BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE) THAT I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY CAR!! I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT INFORMED ME ABOUT A BULLETIN THAT WAS SENT OUT IN 2006 ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER COMPONENT THAT OPERATES THE TRANSMISSION!! WHAT GOOD IS A BULLETIN IF THE CONSUMER KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT?? OH THATS RIGHT...IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR TOYOTA TO GET OFF CHEAP!! A RECALL WOULD HAVE COST THEM MILLIONS!! I DID GET THE COMPONENT REPLACED (SINCE I ONLY HAVE 79,100 MILES ON MY CAR) AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT!! TOYOTA DESERVES EVERYTHING THEY GET RIGHT NOW!! THEY ARE DISHONEST AND COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER!!!!! *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 IN 2006. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT DID NOT STOP VERY EASILY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON EVEN MILDLY SLIPPER ROADS. IT ALSO MAKES A HORRIFIC CHATTERING NOISE WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKES (ONLY WITH SLIPPERY CONDITIONS). I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2006 OR 2007 WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT WAS HOW THE BRAKES WERE DESIGNED. THIS BRAKING ISSUE HAS CONTINUED. I HAVE EVEN CHECKED IN TO BUYING NEW TIRES (LAST FALL AND AGAIN THIS WINTER) AND THE MECHANIC SAID MY TIRES WERE FINE. I HAVE SORT OF LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS BRAKING ISSUE BY MAKING SURE WHENEVER THERE IS EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT I SLOW DOWN BY DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND OR 1ST RATHER THAN USING THE BRAKES. *TR

AROUND 12/1/2009, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT WOULD NOT, OR WHEN YOU WERE AT A STOP LIGHT AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL SO STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING BUT CAUSE A LOUD "REVVING" SOUND. IN MOST CASES WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, IT DID GET INTO GEAR AND THE CAR DID ACCELERATE HOWEVER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD JERK SHARPLY. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING ALOT (AT EVERY STOP, EVERY TIME THE CAR NEEDED TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR OR 2ND AND 3RD) SO I STOPPED DRIVING IT SINCE I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING IN TRAFFIC BUT THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND GO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND WE AGREED THE CAR SEEMED TO BE EXHIBITING PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 (A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE). AS MY CAR HAD JUST OVER 100000 MILES, TOYOTA REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS AS COVERED BY WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT DONE (ENDED UP GOING TO A PRIVATE SHOP). CAR IS BETTER NOW, THOUGH IT MAY ALSO NEED GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AS THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OR 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS A HARD SHIFT INTO REVERSE. LIKE A LURCH. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD WAS TAKING LONGER THAN IT SHOULD. ON ABOUT THE 4TH DAY, AT A LIGHT WHEN STOPPED, I HIT THE GAS AND DIDN'T MOVE. THERE WAS A NOTABLE HESITATION AND I NEARLY WAS REARENDED. FINALLY ON ABOUT THE 5TH DAY, I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS CRAWLING ALONG THE ROAD BASICALLY. WE TURNED AROUND AND PARKED IT, AND IT HAS SAT EVER SINCE, FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND WE ONLY HALF OWN IT. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4, APPROX. TWO MONTHS AGO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. AS I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2001-2004 TOYOTA RAV 4'S. IT SEEMS MANY OF THE ABOVE NOTED YEAR RAV'S HAVE A FAULTY ECU IN THEM, THIS ECU TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO DO THE WRONG THING, THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE TO REPAIR MY RAV4 IT WILL COST ME WELL OVER $5,000.00, REALLY? I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION SINCE SO MANY RAV 4 OWNERS ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME SITUATION. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS, AT LEAST THEY SHOULD HAVE WARNED US ABOUT THE FAULTY ECU. I HAD ALWAYS LOVED MY RAV4, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WENT UP HILL AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DROVE UP THE SAME HILL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. 3/12/2010 UPDATE*CW UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

WE RECENTLY ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WHERE THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SEEMED TO SLIP WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR FROM A STOPPED POSITION, SHIFTED HARSHLY BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS, OR AT TIMES SEEMED TO SLIP BETWEEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE RESULT OF THE HESITATION TO SHIFT GEARS REPRESENTS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IN TRAFFIC, AND WE FEARED THIS ISSUE WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (APPLE VALLEY TOYOTA IN MARTINSBURG, WV) TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. WE DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY INFORMING US THAT WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION (QUOTED $3800). RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THE KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ECM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE, AND THE FACT THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST 2006- ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT INFORM THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES, NOR DID THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP SEEM TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE- DESPITE A 2006 TSB ON THE SUBJECT. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT FIND THIS OUT UNTIL AFTER WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND THE SOLENOID BOX REPLACED. NOW, AFTER ALMOST $4000, WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS LEFT THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. AND THAT EVEN IF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 80,000 MILES; ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.

2003 TOYOTA RAV4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKING, STOPPING AND GOING BY ITSELF. *CN

ECM AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION - SEVERE HESITATION AND DELAY/DISRUPTION IN SHIFTING WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE BEHIND YOU OR WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC IN LOW GEARS. *TR

MY TOYOTA RAV4 AUTOMATIC SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY, AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING. I ATTEMPTED A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT TO CHECK THE CAR WHEN IT HESITATED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY INTERSECTION. THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ALERT ENOUGH TO AVOID ME BUT IT WAS CLOSE. I WOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED THAT TURN IF I HAD KNOWN THE EXTENT OF THE CAR'S PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME AND THE HARD SHIFTING, HESITATING AND SKIPPING GEARS CONTINUED. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH '01-03 RAV4'S. WELL KNOWN TO THE OWNERS AS WELL TOYOTA SINCE 2006. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN '03 AND THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF IT. I HAD THE ECM REBUILT-NOT BY TOYOTA-AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE NOW. *TR

I HAD A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ON APRIL 24TH 2009 I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND MY TRANSMISSION MADE MY CAR STALL ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MY TRANSMISSION ACTED IT UP. THE TORQUE CONVERTER BURNED UP IN IT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT. A COMPANY ON EBAY REBUILDS THE DEFECTIVE ECMS TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA HAS A REAL BIG PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS AND THAT THEY HAVE REBUILT TONS OF THE ECMS. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK 3 TIMES, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. UPDATED 03/24/10.*JB

CAR HAS BEEN REVVING AT HIGH RPM LEVELS PERIODICALLY. JUST RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS LIKE THE BRAKES WERE PUT ON ME, WENT FROM GOING 45 MPH TO 1 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY HEADING TOWARDS THE OFF RAMP. VERY SCARY. *TR

CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. IT FELT LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER FAILURE IS WHAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE PARTS LISTED ARE THE COMPUTER, CONVERTER, OVERHAUL KIT FOR AWD, AND TRANSAXLE OIL FILTER. *TR

TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL ALERT IN 2006 FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IN THEIR 2201-2003 RAV4'S. THE ALERT WAS ONLY SENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS, NOT TO THE CONSUMERS. THIS DEFECT SLOWLY DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION AND WITHOUT WARNING YOUR CAR STALLS LIKE YOUR RUNNING OUT OF GAS. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED BUT TOYOTA REFUSES. I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT COSTS $1300 NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THAT AND MY TRANSMISSION FOR A TOTAL COST OF $4400. PLEASE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I WENT ONLINE TO LOOK UP COSTS AND SAW A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM EITHER GOING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED OR BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE MY CAR IS WORTH THE SAME AS THE FIX. APPARENTLY FROM WHAT I AM READING IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR SOME TIME AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX IT. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV WAS STOP INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY STARTING 12/17, BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/22/09 AND THEY CHANGED SPARK PLUGS; BROUGHT BACK 12/29 THEY CHANGED WATER PUMP AND THEN TEST DROVE AND CALLED ME TO TELL ME IT COULD BE TRANSMISSION BUT TO REPLACE THE ECM FIRST SINCE THEY KNEW IT COULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

LONG HESITATION IN CHANGING GEARS. JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING. LACK OF ACCELERATION. *TR

THIS IS A WELL KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WITH 2001-04 RAV4S. MY WELL MAINTAINED 2003 RAV4 WITH 135K MILES SUDDENLY HESITATES/JERKS ON ACCELERATION. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH CAR UNTIL FEW DAYS AGO WITH MILD HESITATION INTERMITTENTLY. NOW CAR BUCKS VIOLENTLY, SHAKES, SKIPS GEARS AND LURCHES AHEAD WHEN ACCELERATING AND BEFORE COMING TO FULL STOP. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP AND NO DEFECTS FOUND. THEY ARE NOW TESTING FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AT MY REQUEST BASED ON WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM READING SCORES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. PART IS ESTIMATED AT $1500 BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER AS IT HAS OVER 80000 MILES - THEY KNEW OF THIS DEFECT SINCE AT LEAST 2006 AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT DID NOT ALERT ME AND OTHER OWNERS TO GET THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT I BOUGHT USED AND LUCKILY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH UNTIL NOW. 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS I WAS IN TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS AND HAD STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I PRESSED ON THE GAS, THE VEHICLES ENGINE REVVED UP BUT THE TRUCK HARDLY MOVED. THEN IT JERKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD REAR ENDED ME. I THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD BUT WENT ON. STOPPED AT ANOTHER LIGHT AND SAME THING. ONLY THIS TIME I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED TWICE BEFORE I COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. SO I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK IT IN ON CHRISTMAS EVE (ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED AT EVERY INTERSECTION I WENT THROUGH BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND THE DEALER SHIP 32 MILES AWAY) ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT AND WOULD COST ME $1350.00 TO REPAIR. SINCE THEN I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND REALIZED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. HOW CAN THERE BE A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT. ANY VEHICLE THAT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY VEHICLE IS READILY AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA TO TEST AND DETERMINE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

UPON A RECENT TRIP TO TENNESSEE, I STARTED NOTICING THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATE . AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO PLANS TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. WHEN EVER YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT DOES NOT WANT TO STAY IN GEAR LEAVING THE DRIVER IN DOUBT OF WEATHER OR NOT THE CAR STAY IN GEAR. IT SEEMS THE ECM MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WHICH CAUSED A VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP HER WITH THE REPAIRS. THEY ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1227. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AND WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. A MECHANIC WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE ECM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT REVVED UP BUT WOULDN'T MOVE. THEN IT FINALLY TOOK HOLD AND DROVE OFF IN A HIGHER GEAR. THEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC IT DID IT AGAIN (VERY DANGEROUS-SHE COULD OF BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. APPARENTLY AFTER READING UP ON IT, TOYOTA ISSUED IN MARCH 06' A REPORT TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS ABOUT THEIR ECM CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT HASN'T WARNED CONSUMERS, OR DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CRACKS ON THE ROTORS OF THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT ROTORS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THE FAILURE WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF THE FRONT ROTORS HAD SEPARATED AT THE HUBS. UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB

I BOUGHT A BRANDNEW 2003 RAV4 6 YEARS AGO AND ALREADY HAVE 95,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIPPED AND DRAG A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SLOWLY SHIFTS GEAR ON 2ND AND 3RD WITH A HIGH IDLING. I HAVE READ SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE RAV4 2001-2003 ECM ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAINT THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT DO A RECALL TO THE FAULTY PART THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH AND SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A RAV4 (2001-2003) MODEL WITH A DEFECTIVE ECM. THERE ARE OVER 488 COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ IN ONE FORUM ALONE. I HOPE YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO HAVE TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ECM FAILURE TO MY 2003 RAV4 AND HOPE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE ALL THE RAV4 (2001-2003) ECM MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 RAV 4 AND RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST 4 DAYS THE CAR JERKS AND DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD AND WHEN IN FIRST GOING TO SECOND IT HAS A SHORT JERK TO THE SHIFT. THEN THE RPMS REV UP TO 5 NEARLY GETTING ME HIT BY A DIESEL ON THE FREEWAY. I AM AWARE THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR AND IS A MODEL DEFECT TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY LIKE MYSELF IT COMES OUT OF POCKET HOW CAN YOU GUYS AKA TOYOTA FEEL RIGHT ROBBING PEOPLE LIKE THIS IN A TIME LIKE NOW. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO ANSWER THESE COMPLAINTS! *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. *TR

I OWN A 2003 RAV4, AFTER 100K MILES THE CAR STALKS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND THE ECM IS BAD. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THE ECM RECALL AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER FOR IT SINCE IT'S OVER THE 80K MILES. *TR

TOYOTA RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED CODE PO755S (SOLENOID B FAULT). THE MECHANIC COULD NOT INTERPRET THE ERROR CODE. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-INSPECTED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,998.

I OWN A RAV4 TOYOTA. LAST THURSDAY MY AR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WAS ROUGH SHIFTING AND STALLING FROM IN FIRST AND SECOND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, 45 KM FROM HOME, CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE "KANGAROO JUMPED" OVER THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 HOURS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I RETURNING HOME THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. WHEN I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP BACK THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN CALLING ME TO SAY THEY HAD FOUND INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM ETC. AND THEY HAD ORDERED THE PART WHICH WOULD TAKE 2/3 DAYS, THEN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BACK OUT THERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY CONCERNS TO THE MAY YOU HAVE RECEIVED REGARDING THE 2003 RAV4. I FEEL THAT THE RAV4 SHOULD BE RECALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE E-MAIL I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO RESEARCH IT. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA RAV 4 2003. IN A MATTER OF DAYS, MY CAR STARTED SLIPPING GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING. MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SAFELY IN 45 MPH BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A FAULTY ECM THAT AFFECTS TRANSMISSIONS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT. I THINK IT IS UNETHICAL PRACTICE FOR A CAR MAKER TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A FAULTY DESIGN IN A CAR THAT CAN AFFECT SOMETHING AS AN IMPORTANT AND AS EXPENSIVE AS A TRANSMISSION. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY, AND IT DID NOT ACCELERATE? *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE, THE COMPUTER REPLACED, AND THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED TWICE. MY MECHANIC ONCE THOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BURNING UP THE SOLENOIDS. I AM AT MY WITS END. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES BETWEEN JUNE 2009 AND OCTOBER 2009 FOR THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT SHIFTS FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN THE SAME THING: IT BECOMES UNRELIABLE AS TO WHETHER IT WILL SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR PROPERLY. IT JERKS, IT SLIPS, AT OTHER TIMES IT REVS UP TO 4000 RPMS BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR AND THEN IT LURCHES FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. SOMETIMES THE REAR WHEELS SKIP OFF THE PAVEMENT. I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF TIME. I CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC LIKE NORMAL VEHICLES AND I FEAR BEING REAR-ENDED FROM A STOPPED POSITION. I FEEL LIKE PUTTING A SIGN ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE EXPLAINING WHY I'M NOT MOVING. I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THURSDAY. BY FRIDAY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALREADY SLIPPING AGAIN. I WANTED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CRY. I PAID $2400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND FORTUNATELY, ALL OF MY RETURN TRIPS WERE COVERED BY THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. BUT I HAVE ALSO PAID $1300 IN RENTAL VEHICLES FOR ALL THE TIME THE RAV 4 WAS IN THE SHOP. I DID FIND THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT THE CODES FROM MY VEHICLE DID NOT MATCH THE CODES IN THE BULLETIN. TOYOTA, PLEASE HELP US! WE JUST WANT OUR CARS FIXED! WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THEM? ARE THEY ALL LEMON

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY 2003 RAV4 ECM/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I BROUGHT OUR RAV4 INTO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES EARLIER THIS YEAR, COMPLAINING OF A LURCHING ISSUE. AFTER MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO BRING IT IN AT 68,827 MILES, MIND YOU I HAD THE PLATINUM WARRANTY WHICH COVERS UP TO 75,000 MILES, ON JUNE 9, 2009. AFTER ONLY BEING GONE FOR 20 MINUTES AFTER DROPPING IT OFF, I GOT A PHONE CALL STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, WHEN CLEARLY, IN THE TSB IT STATES IT WOULD TAKE ATLEAST 30 MIN TO DETECT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS DETECTED LATER THAT DAY. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN THAT FIXED IT, GAVE THE CAR BACK TO MY WIFE, HE TOLD HER THAT IF THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR SO GOOD....UNTIL TODAY, OCTOBER 16. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE AND SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FINALLY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION AFTER HAVING TO TAKE IT OUT TWICE. WHEN I LEFT THE LAST TIME, IN JUNE, THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS UNDER THIS ECM CHIP WOULD BE COVERED UNDER 80000 MILES. I WAS AT 79515 WHEN I TOOK IT IN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY, INCLUDING MY PLATINUM WARRANTY THAT I HAD. I ASKED THEM IF THE ECM CHIP WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE, AND ATLEAST THREE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RELATION BETWEEN THE CHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, TOYOTA STATED IN A NYTIMES ARTICL

NO PRIOR NOTICE OF ANY PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE WILL BARELY START FROM STOPPED POSITION. I DRIVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ALL INDICATION IS THAT THE ECM IS FAULTY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. PULLING INTO OR OUT OF TRAFFIC WITH THE SAID VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 HAS A MALFUNCTIONING ECM. IT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. I HAVE FOUND THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN 2006 AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE A 100% REFUND TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THIS DEFECT MIGHT KILL PEOPLE AND THEY DID NOTHING. SO I HAVE THIS CAR AND I AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE DRIVE IT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED. I HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF SOON BECAUSE WE NEED A CAR TO DRIVE THAT IS SAFE. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A VERY HARSH SHIFT INTO REVERSE, HESITANT SHIFT OR NO SHIFT INTO 1ST. IF IT DID SHIFT INTO 1ST, THERE WAS A RAMP UP IN RPM TO 4000+ AND SHAKING TO GET FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DID A FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEM CODES, HOWEVER I SHOULD FLUSH THE TRANNY FLUIDS TO BEGIN WITH. AFTER A COMPLETE FLUSH, THE PROBLEMS DIDN'T GO AWAY SO I DID SOME RESEARCH ON RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND DISCOVERED THE ECM ISSUE WITH MY MODEL. I HAD THE ECM SERVICED AND A VAST MAJORITY OF THE ISSUED WERE SOLVED, HOWEVER THE FAULTY ECU HAD ALREADY DONE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHERE IT HAD A HORRIBLE SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD (A HORRIBLY HARSH SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR WITH RPM RAMP UP TO 5000+ RPS) REQUIRING ADDITIONAL WORK FROM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPLACE SOLENOIDS AND TRANSMISSION WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT LIGHTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT ALSO APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE, A TREE, AND A POLE WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TO SHATTER. THE SHATTERED GLASS WAS LODGED IN THE CONTACT'S NOSE AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE CONTACT CANNOT CONFIRM IF THE FLOOR MATS CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 73,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 11/17/11*CN

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 SOMETIMES STALLS IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THE ENGINE RACES FOR A WHILE, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL CATCH AND THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

TOYOTA 2003 RAV4- CAR STARTED BUCKING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT. DID NOT ACCELERATE EVENLY INTO TRAFFIC. HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET CARS PASS. ONBOARD COMPUTER (ECM) HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAD NOT INFORMED CONSUMERS OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

MY TOYOTA RAV4 2003 HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT. TOYOTA NEVER RECALLED OR INFORMED ANY OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND NOW WHAT I'M READING HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO NOT ACCELERATE AND BUCK FORWARD. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION, HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THEN IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE ECM AND THAT WAS REPLACED AND NOW IS FINE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE NOTIFYING ALL CUSTOMERS, IF YOU WERE ON THE HIGHWAY YOU WOULD BE KILLED IF THIS STARTED TO ACT UP!!! THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST EVERYONE HAS ENCOUNTERED. IF NOTIFIED I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD TO PAY FOR THE ECM. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOY RAV 4 AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR LOST ALL OF ITS ELASTICITY AND NO LONGER STAYS IN THE UP POSITION. I WAS DRIVING WEST ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AROUND SUN SET WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. MY VISOR SLAMMED DOWN AND I NEARLY HIT THE VEH IN FRONT OF ME AS I COULD NOT SEE. I HAVE TRIED VELCRO OF ALL KINDS AND GLUE. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2003 RAV 4 AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO HER CAR. (WILL PROVIDE HER INFO UPON REQUEST). I TRIED COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 125.00 FOR A NEW VISOR WHEN IT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. 2 RAV 4'S THAT I KNOW OF HAVE FAULTY VISORS. I WILL KEEP TAPING IT BUT I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO KEEP COMING DOWN AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME, AS A CONSUMER, FIND OUT IF THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU *TR