2001 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 314 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 19 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 12 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: power train
191 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jun 6, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SEVERE HESITATION IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, ECM MODULE AND A FAULTY TRANS AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THERE WAS A PRIOR VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE ECM MODULE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED IN JANUARY 2011 AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Power train, Apr 28, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HIS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Power train, Apr 6, 2011
I OWN A REGULARLY SERVICED AND WELL MAINTAINED 108,000 MILE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH A TRANSMISSION CONCERN. CAR UPON ACCELERATION WILL NOT RESPOND, REVS, SLIPS AND LUNGES INTO GEAR. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. TWO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS HAVE INSPECTED THIS VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM THEY DIAGNOSE IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM WHICH IS MALFUNCTIONING COMMUNICATION TO THE TRANSMISSION. THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED NOT REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION BUT FOCUS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FINDS NO COMPUTER CODES ON THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER WITH THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA CASE MANAGER AND DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER STATES TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH ALL THE SAFETY CONCERNS MENTIONED UNTIL A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATES A COMPUTER PROBLEM. TOYOTA SERVICEMAN RODE IN VEHICLE WITH THIS OWNER AND FELT THE ABOVE MENTIONED SAFETY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND REPORTED IT BACK TO THE MANAGER. NO REPAIR WORK WAS RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THE COMPUTER CODES DID NOT COMMUNICATE A PROBLEM. OTHER THAN THE SERVICE TECH WHO DROVE IN THIS VEHICLE AND FELT FIRST HAND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND NOT RESPONDING, TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE COMPUTER COMMUNICATING INFORMATION TO THE TRANSMISSION ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES HAVE PROVEN TO MALFUNCTION ACCORDING TO TOYOTA'S OWN SERVICE BULLETIN. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH A MALFUNCTIONING COMPUTER HAS LED TO MANY TRANSMISSIONS BEING DAMAGED IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO. I AM ALSO VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S RUN AROUND AND THEIR DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE WHEN BRINGING A SAFETY CONCERN TO THEIR ATTENTION. *TR
Power train, Mar 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER THE CONTACT ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 193,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Power train, Mar 10, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS WHILE DRIVING. ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Power train, Mar 10, 2011
FAULTY SHIFTING IN 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 RELATED TO THE ECM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND ALMOST COME TO A STOP WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. ECM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAULTY SHIFTING STILL OCCURS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE NOW NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, IT HAS LESS THAN 130,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO THE ECM AND ITS POOR DESIGN DESPITE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FROM RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2011
BEGINNING IN JAN. 2010 THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY BEGAN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY. JUST AFTER ENTERING I-35 IT DOWNSHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO I'M GUESSING SECOND GEAR. THIS SUDDEN DECELERATION NEARLY GOT ME REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK. IT ALSO DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. I AM ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM THAT CAUSED IT MUST NOW BE REPLACED, @ A COST OF $4200. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS SO ERRATIC YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL GO INTO GEAR AND IF IT DOES, WHAT GEAR AND IT SHIFTS SO ERRATICALLY IT'S LIKE RIDING A BUCKING HORSE. JUST GETTING IT THE THREE MILES TO THE SHOP WAS TAKING MY LIFE IN MY HANDS. THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. BEING OF LIMITED MEANS, I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE CAR YET. *TR
Power train, Feb 11, 2011
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND INTO INAPPROPRIATE GEARS. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING INTO A HIGHER GEAR AS IT NORMALLY DID. NOW IT HESITATES BETWEEN GEARS (NEUTRAL) AND THEN RANDOMLY SHIFTS INTO A LOWER OR HIGHER GEAR OFTEN JUMPING FROM GEAR TO GEAR UNTIL SETTLING INTO THE PROPER GEAR. THIS BEHAVIOR JUST BEGAN WITH 112K MILES. *TR
Power train, Jan 15, 2011
THE ECM IS TOYOTAS 2001-2003 RAV4 CAUSES ROUGH SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THIS MEANS THE CAR CAN AND WILL COME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW THE TRANNY IS NO GOOD AT ALL. THIS IS ALL AFTER RECEIVING A FEW LETTERS FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND BRINGING IT IN FOR SERVICE ON THE ECM AFTER I'D ALREADY PAID $1400 TO TOYOTA FOR THE SAME SERVICE. THEY NEVER CHANGED ANYTHING , JUST "REPROGRAMMED " IT. NOW , EVEN WITH TOYOTA SAYING PUBLICLY THAT THEY WILL STAND BY THE VEHICLE ,AFTER CATCHING SO MUCH HEAT FROM THE PUBLIC , THEY STILL DENY ME COVERAGE AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY EVEN CHARGED ME A STORAGE AND DIAGNOSTIC FEE! THIS ECM PROBLEM HAS BEEN A WELL KNOWN DEFECT SINCE 2006 AND TOYOTA WAS AND FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. YOUR CAR SUDDENLY STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DANGERS ONE CAN FACE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.JUST TO BE CLEAR , THE FIRST TIME THE CAR STOPPED ON ME WAS IN 2006. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ACTED AS IF I WAS OUT OF MY MIND. I PAID , THE $1400 TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW ECM. 2 WEEKS LATER THE CAR STOPPED AGAIN. THE SAID IT WAS MY FAULT. 6 WEEKS AFTER THAT , ( STILL IN 2006) TOYOTA SENT A SERVICE LETTER DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM I'D PAID FOR BUT I GOT NO REFUND. A MONTH LATER , YUP YOU GUESSED IT.I PAID AGAIN AND EVERYTHING WAS OK AT BEST UNTIL JANUARY 2009 WHEN IT STOPPED YET AGAIN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY LIKE THIS FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS ENTIRELY TOYOTAS FAULT AND OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE. PLEASE PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 1, 2011, crash
TOYOTA RAV4 2001 SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND THROTTLE SURGE... NO WAY TO STOP CAR WITH BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Power train, Oct 27, 2010
ENTERING HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID BEING HIT. *TR
Power train, Oct 24, 2010
2001 RAV4- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING GEARS AND HAVING PROBLEMS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION A WEEK AGO. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BLINKING TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS AND "THINK IT MIGHT BE THE COMPUTER". WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, SURE ENOUGH THE CAR STARTS JERKING BACK AND FORTH. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS THE ECM (SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE LOOKED INTO), BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT AS IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND THE CAR CAME FROM JAPAN TO CANADA THEN TO THE UNITED STATES (SERIOUSLY?). I GUESS TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Power train, Oct 22, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO STUTTER AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. UPDATED 03/16/11 *BF UPDATED 10/12/11
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 4, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MAY OF 2009. PAID OUT OF POCKET. REPLACEMENT WAS A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BY DEALER (VICTORY TOYOTA IN CANTON, MI) SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 17,000 MILES. PAID OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. NO HELP FROM DEALER OR TOYOTA CORPORATE. FOUND OUT THAT DEALER JUST SWAPPED TRANS, DID NOT ACTUALLY REBUILD TRANS. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP. INDEPENDENT DISCOVERED A WASHER MISSING THAT CAUSED THIRD GEAR TO STRIP (DEFECT IN SECOND TRANS). TRANS REPAIRED, BUT THEN GOT A HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STOPPING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND P0420 P0430 CODES. INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP CLEARED CODES, AND TOLD ME THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO HAVE DEALER RE-FLASH ECM. WORKED OK FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS, THEN GOT THE HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WILL SUBMIT FOR RE-IMBURSEMENT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR SECOND TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE FIRST ECM AND TRANS FAILING. *TR
Power train, Sep 17, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ECM IN 2007 BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF UPDATED 12/29/10
Power train, Aug 28, 2010
I BOUGHT A USED TOYOTA RAV4 IN 2007. LAST WEEK MY ECM (TRANSMISSION) COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED. I GOT THE CAR FIXED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER, BUT FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS THE 3RD ECM COMPUTER REPLACED. MY CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. AND IF THE SHIFT IS BUMPED THE SHIFTER WILL MOVE TO ANOTHER RGEAR. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW. WHAT IF IT COMPLETELY STALLS. I COULD SEE ONE COMPUTER BUT 3!!! I WILL NOT BUY TOYOTA AGAIN. AFTER FINDING ARTICLES ON THIS ON THE INTERNET-SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA STILL HAS NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO FIX IT. AND NOW THE QUESTION REMAINS-HOW GOOD IS MY TRANSMISSION AT THIS POINT? *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2010
ON 06/05/10, MY PERSONAL VEHICLE (2001 TOYOTA RAV4) BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHICH DEVELOPED INTO "HARSH SHIFTING"; THIS PROBLEM WORSENED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS BUT, DUE TO THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS FAILURE (FROM A KNOWN MALFUNCTION WHICH TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF BUT FAILED TO EVER NOTIFY ME ABOUT) THIS WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED AS A TRANSMISSION-RELATED ISSUE. UPON FINALLY REACHING DANGEROUS LEVELS OF JERKING AND DECELERATING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS, ETC., I FINALLY TOOK THE RAV4 TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME OF AN ECM "RECALL" RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION -- OF WHICH I HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION. THE REPROGRAMMING DID NOT WORK AND THE HARSH SHIFTING WORSENED. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER, AT WHICH POINT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. I DID SO, ONLY TO RECEIVE A NOTICE 3 WEEKS LATER FROM TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS STATING THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT A "HARSH SHIFT" MALFUNCTION RELATED TO THE ECM IN 2001-2003 RAV4 MODELS. HOWEVER, ALL TOYOTA DID WAS EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 150,000 (MY REPAIR WAS DONE AT 154,000) RATHER THAN ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS UTTERLY LUDICROUS, AS MY CAR HAD THE POTENTIAL TO JUST SUDDENLY STOP MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THE ISSUE APPARENTLY DEVELOPED AROUND 06/05/10 AND LED TO THE VEHICLE NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AS OF 08/21/10. THE HARSH SHIFTING TOOK PLACE OVER SEVERAL WEEKS BETWEEN THOSE DATES. *TR
Power train, Aug 20, 2010
DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2001 RAV4 AND IT DECIDES NOT TO SHIFT IN TO GEAR, LEAVING ME TO PULL OVER BARELY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. *TR
Power train, Aug 3, 2010
MY RAV4 2001 MOTOR 2.0 HAS HARSH SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH IS PARK. I DO NOT USE BECAUSE ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MI TWO KIDS AND MI WIFE, PLEASE HELP ME I NEED TO REPAIR AND IT COST 1200 DOLLARS. IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. PLEASE STOP BEFORE WILL BE TO LATE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 1, 2010
ECM FAILED ON MY 2001 RAV4 AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHEN IT FAILED IT PUT ME IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS WAS AFTER A RECALL ON THE ECM. SO I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AND HAD THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. IF I HAD DIED IN AN ACCIDENT WOULD ANYONE HAVE CHECKED THE ECM TO SEE IT WAS NOT WORKING? I DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD DRIVING THESE CARS THAT COULD AT ANY MINUTE START ACTING ERRATICALLY. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 22, 2010
MARCH 2009 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTOZONE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. CHECK INDICATED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS BAD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF BEDFORD AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE DIAGNOSTIC FROM OTHER PLACES, SO THAT COST ME $100. AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WAS PERFORMED, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE LIGHT CAN BACK ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IN JUNE 2009, THE CAR STARTED HAVING SHIFTING DIFFICULTY, GETTING STUCK IN A GEAR THEN JERKING OUT OF IT. I TOOK IT TO A FOREIGN CAR SPECIALIST SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, I DROVE IT FOR A FEW WEEKS AGAIN, THEN IT SHIFTED HARD WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR GETS STUCK IN A GEAR AND WON'T ACCELERATE!!! I READ COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE WITH THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND CAN'T BELIEVE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NOT A DRIVER ERROR, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER ERROR. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE A RECALL CAN BE ORDERED. THIS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DEFECTIVE AND IF IT IS IT SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT QUESTION. *TR
Power train, Jul 14, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, HARD TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM PUTS MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ON RISK OF BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS. *TR
Power train, Jul 11, 2010
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 (71K MILES) WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY ONRAMP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CARS IN BACK OF ME ALMOST REARENDED ME. THE CARS BEHIND ME BEGIN HONKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE, BUCK, AND HESITATE THE WHOLE WAY HOME(FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY ONE EXIT AWAY); MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE VERY SHAKEN UP. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC, WHO DID A TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE CAR DROVE FINE FOR A COUPLE DAYS THEN AGAIN OUT OF NOWHERE BEGAN HESITATING AND LUNGING/THUDDING. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO AAMCO, WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3129. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AAMCO DROVE IT AROUND BUT SAID IT DROVE FINE AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AGAIN IN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, AND I TOOK IT BACK TO AAMCO. THEY OPENED THE TRANSMISSION UP AND SAID THE SAME PARTS THEY REPLACED ARE BAD AGAIN, AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER REBUILD PLUS A VALVE BODY AND ECM. I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL $ FOR THIS SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING (NOT IN RUNNING CONDITION) FOR 3 MONTHS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 2001-2003 RAVS ARE HAVING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION/ECM FAILURES. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ALARMING DEFECT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 15, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 2001 - COMPUTER PROBLEMS & TOTAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM MY RAV4, 2001 MODEL INITIALLY STARTED GIVING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND HAVING HARD TIME ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGNAL. THE BBB APPROVED SERVICE CENTER CHECKED IT AND FOUND OUT THE ERROR CODE AS P0750 AND ADVISED THE REPLACEMENT/REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME APPROX $3000 FOR THIS TRANSMISSION REBUILD WORK/FIXING THE ERROR CODE ISSUE. TWO DAYS AFTER, I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SAME SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS THE CULPRIT FOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NOW, BASED ON THE DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/MAIN_COMPUTER_AND_TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML), I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS THE COMMON PROBLEM OF TOYOTA RAV4 CARS. WHEN I SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 800-331-4331 (CASE # 1006150572), THEY SAID THEY ARE HELPLESS. I AM INTERESTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH CARSAFETY TO TAKE THIS UP WITH TOYOTA AS TO WHY THIS COMMON PROBLEM OF RAV4 IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED/RECALLED, THOUGH THERE ARE CUSTOMERS FACING SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEM CAN EVEN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE LIVES. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON FREEWAY, WHILE GOING AT 60MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY FALLS DOWN TO 30 OR EVEN 20MPH AND CONTINUES LIKE THAT FOR FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES AUTOMATICALLY TO HIGHER SPEED. THIS FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 10-15 MINUTES IF NOT EARLIER.. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILD (INCLUDING THE SOLENOIDS, GEARTRAIN COMPONENTS, TORQUE CONVERTER ETC), THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED WITH A TOTAL OF APPROX $4500, THOUGH THERE WERE NO DEATHS/INJURIES YET. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TAKEN UP SERIOUSLY WITH TOYOTA AND NEEDS A QUICKER RESOLUTION. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
Power train, Jun 7, 2010
TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, SHIFTING FROM 1-2 WILL HESITATE AND CAUSE ENGINE REV, WILL ALSO JERK WHILE SHIFTING HESITATION COULD BE HAZARDOUS AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS. AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR