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
Power train, Feb 22, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AT 86,000 MILES HAVING TRANSMISSION TROUBLE DUE TO ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Power train, Feb 22, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING FROM A LIGHT AND TRYING TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT DID NOT RESPOND. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE HAD STOMPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE TO A SMALLER DEGREE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE AND MOST LIKELY NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Power train, Feb 19, 2010
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. SEVERE JERKING, BONE RATTLING AND VERY JARRING, LOSS OF POWER AND VEHICLE STALLING. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, HAD REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY AND A HIGH COST TO ME. TRANSMISSION HASN'T FELT RIGHT SINCE. STOPPED DRIVING VEHICLE TO REPLACEMENT OF ECM WAS REPLACED. I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SUFFER DAMAGE DURING THIS LIMITED TIME IT WAS DRIVEN AND UNTIL THE REPAIR COULD BE MADE. I HAVEN'T FELT COMPLETELY SAFE BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS SO SEVERE AND QUICK TO SURFACE. *TR
Power train, Equipment, Feb 14, 2010
I HAVE TOYOTA RAV4 2001 . I BOUGHT IT IN 2007 FROM TOYOTA DEALER AND 5 MONTH AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP.THE CAR IS ABOUT 80,000 MILES RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I COUD DO . *TR
Power train, Feb 9, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY STARTED SHIFTING HARD/JERKING...TOOK TO MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM...NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...DROVE VEHICLE FEW DAYS AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED...HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, TOLD TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, ECU FAILURE. *TR
Power train, Feb 8, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 2001 MODEL - STANDARD TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED AT ABOUT 74,000 MILES.
Power train, Feb 5, 2010
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2001 TOYATA RAV STARTED SLIPPING TWO WEEKS AGO. MY DAUGHTER STILL IS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND STILL RESIDES AT HOME COMMUTING TO SCHOOL (15 MILES ONE WAY) EVERYDAY. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED ALL OUR VEHICLES AND KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT GIVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN ALL MY VEHICLES WAY PAST OVER 160K MILES AND NEVER HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Feb 5, 2010
I ALSO HAD TO SHELL OUT $3000 TO REPLACE A FAULTY ECM FOR THE TOYOTA RAV4 2001. THE CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE AND JUST PAST THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY. THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING AND THE CAR ALMOST DIED ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND THOUSANDS OF REPORTED CASES OF PEOPLE SHARING THE SAME GRIEF AND APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ECM EXTENDS TO 2002-2003 RAV4 AND COROLLAS AS WELL. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAD A RECALL THE PATCH THE ECM AT 2006. BUT THE PATCH DOES NOT WORK AND PERHAPS A SMALL BANDAGE TO MASK THE REAL PROBLEM. AND TOYOTA BANKED ON THE FACT THAT CAR WILL EXCEED THE WARRANTY SO THEY BLOW ALL OF US OFF AND MAKE US PAY FOR THE PART OR DUMP THE CAR. I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND ALSO WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTER AND THEY VEHEMENTLY DENIED THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE OR TO DO A RECALL. BUT JUST DOING A CASUAL SEARCH THIS PROBLEM IS THE HIGHEST REPORTED PROBLEM WITH ANY TOYOTAS AND THIS PROBLEM SPANS TO EU AND AUSTRALIA AS WELL. THE ONLY REASON WHY THIS IS NOT PUBLICIZE IS BECAUSE LUCKILY NO ONE DIED, OR WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT THE RAV4 CAN EASILY STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSING ANOTHER CAR TO SLAM INTO THE RAV4. TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF LYING TO THE PUBLIC. FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, THEIR CARS ALL HAD SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. IT'S NOT JUST THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE ISSUE, IT'S ELECTRICAL. THEY HAVE A POOR DESIGN THAT KILLS. I HOPE THIS LETTER CAN PROMPT ANOTHER INVESTIGATION INTO OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA THAT HAD SUFFERED WITH OTHER ISSUES IN THE LAST DECADE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 1, 2010
EVENT 1: 1. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR, NOTED ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR BY 700 TO 800 RPMS BETWEEN GEARS WHILE SHIFTING MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FOUND THIS HAPPENED BY JUST DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH WITHOUT SHIFTING EVEN WITH FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 2. THE REV SOARING HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT FOR AN UNPLEASANT DRIVING EXPERIENCE. 3. COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED BY THE DEALER FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR. REV JUMPS REDUCED TO ABOUT 400 RPM. A SECOND REPROGRAMMING REDUCED IT TO ABOUT 200 RPM. THIS BEHAVIOR STILL EXISTS. EVENT #2. 1. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, NOTED THAT WHEN CRUISING WITH RPMS ABOVE 2800 RPM IN 5TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND FOOT NOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR TO 3,200 RPM TO 3,500 RPMAND REMAIN THERE FOR PERIODS RANGING BETWEEN 5 SECONDS TO OVER A MINUTE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS COASTING AND SLOWING WHILE NOT UNDER POWER. 2. THIS BEHAVIOR FREQUENTLY OCCURRED UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT AS A PROFESSION ENGINEER AND FORMER SPORTS CAR RACING DRIVER, I KNEW THIS BEHAVIOR WAS NOT NORMAL. 3. BEHAVIOR EXAMINED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. MECHANIC HOOKED UP RECORDING BOX TO CAR, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR ON THIS OCCASION. DATA EXAMINED BY A TOYOTA ENGINEER WHO PRONOUNCED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. LATER, I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR. AFTER YET ANOTHER COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING, THIS BEHAVIOR OF REMAINING AT A HIGH RPM SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REVS STILL WILL SURGE TO ABOUT 3,400 RPM BEFORE DROPPING OFF. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 30, 2010
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BOUGHT RAV USED JULY 2007 WITH 109,230 MI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (HAS REMAINED ON) BUT WAS DIAGNOSED AS O2 SENSOR & RAV OPERATED PERFECTLY (LIVE WHERE EMISSIONS CHECK NOT REQUIRED). MAY 2009 TRANNY STARTED ALTERNATING BETWEEN WORKING GOOD, SHIFTING ROUGH, SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, AND NOT DOWNSHIFTING AT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. HAD MECHANIC WITH OVER 15 YRS EXPERIENCE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHECK IT (AFTER HOURS). HE WAS UNAWARE OF CONNECTION TO FAULTY ECM SO WE THOUGHT TRANY WAS BAD & HE FLUSHED TRANNY. THAT REDUCED FREQUENCY OF SYMPTOMS BUT DID NOT STOP THEM. WE STILL THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL & TRANNY REBUILD/REPLACE WAS INEVITABLE & I DROVE IT LONGER TO SAVE UP MONEY FOR REPAIRS. I LIVE ON A SEMI-RURAL OHIO STATE ROUTE WITH 55MPH POSTED LIMIT & 65MPH AVERAGE SPEED. I HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY THEN SLIPPED, HESITATED, OR REFUSED TO SHIFT. MY 18YR OLD SON DROVE THE RAV IN DEC & PULLED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER RIG WITH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE DISTANCE EXCEPT THAT THE RAV DECIDED NOT TO ACCELERATE. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO PASS, BUT HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW ENOUGH IN TIME. INTERMITTENT SYMPTOMS CONTINUED UNTIL 12/14/09 WHEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR BURNED OUT & I DROVE HOME 20 MILES IN 1ST. JUST PARTS THRU TOYOTA WILL COST $2000 FOR REBUILT TRANNY PLUS $1000 FOR ECM. INDEPENDENT REPAIRMEN CAN FIX THE ECM FOR $65. HAD I AT LEAST KNOWN ROOT CAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS WAS ECM NOT TRANNY (TOYOTA'S KNOWN SINCE 2006 OR BEFORE) I COULD HAVE SAVED $4-5K & AVOIDED 7 MONTHS OF RISKY DRIVING. I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE AND RELY ON IT WHEN IT FAILS IN 65MPH TRAFFIC. OR WE CAN WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THIS PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND NOT POOR DRIVER JUDGMENT. *TR
Power train, Jan 30, 2010
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING IN AUG. 2009. THE CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ALMOST STALL OUT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE CODES SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR BRING IT BACK WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I LEFT THE LOT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE P0755 WAS THE CODE USED TO REPAIR THE CAR. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. I CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT HELP FIX THE ISSUE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND NEEDED TO GO TO WORK I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS ALONG WITH THE CURRENT ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE RECALL MODELS NOW. JUST BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED FROM THIS ISSUE DOES NOT MEAN NO ONE WILL, IF THE OWNER DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE CAR WITH THEM. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 29, 2010
I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2004. IN JULY 2009, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAN IT WOULD TO JUST PAY IT OFF. I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AS I DO A LOT OF COMMUTING. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. I HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECALL ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AS PERTINENT AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR. I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT THEY HAD A REPUTATION FOR SAFE, WELL-MADE VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS PUT ON THE LINE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THAT CONTRAPTION, AND I EXPECT THAT IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO ENSURE A COMPENSATION OR EXTENDED WARRANTY OF SOME KIND, TOYOTA WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS( AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS, I'M SURE.). MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYTIME ANYONE WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH A TOYOTA RAV 4 GETS IN THE CAR, THEY ARE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS CHEAP, FAULTY, UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE WHEN REVIEWING TOYOTA'S LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR DRIVER'S SAFETY. I AM SURE THAT SOME BIGWIG IS SITTING IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, PROFITING FROM THE MONEY THAT TOYOTA SAVED BY USING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 27, 2010
IN OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WE RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GEARS. THE CAR JERKS AND TAKES A MOMENT TO SHIFT. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS. *CN
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 23, 2010
I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2001 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED THE HARD SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THEN IT STARTED TO LURCH AND STALL. IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. THEN WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME EVERY INSTANCE YOU DROVE IT THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK TWO TIMES BEFORE MY MECHANIC SAW THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND A NEW COMPUTER THAT TALKS TO THE TRANSMISSION(ECM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WHICH THEY INSTALLED. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 23, 2010
MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 RAV4 DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER. *TR
Power train, Jan 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMAL. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FAILURE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10*JB
Power train, Jan 19, 2010
HARSH SHIFTING IN 2001 RAV4. *TR
Power train, Jan 8, 2010
I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD ANY PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S A BIG ONE. I USE THIS VEHICLE DAILY TO DROP MY KID AT SCHOOL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS A SAFETY CONCERN. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD BE TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AS WELL. *TR
Power train, Jan 3, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. [XXX], CA. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC
Power train, Dec 30, 2009
1. TRANSMISSION FAILED DESPITE TOYOTA DEALER HAVING REPLACED THE ECM ON THE 2001 RAV4. 2. CAR NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED (IN 2007) ECM. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 3. TOYOTA REPLACED THE PART IN 2007, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THEY RETOOLED THIS PART 3 TIMES SINCE 2007, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE NEW PART WAS JUST AS FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND THE NEW PART ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Dec 28, 2009
EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (JERKING & SLIPPING) WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. TOOK IT THE NORTHWAY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN LATHAM, NY. WAS TOLD THAT ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($1300) AND POTENTIALLY A TRANSMISSION ($3400). TAXES AND LABOR ARE TO BE ADDED. GOOGLED DCT (ERROR CODE) P0755 OBTAINED DURING THE CHECKUP AND FOUND TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 FROM MARCH 3RD, 2006 DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM AND INDICATING THE NEED TO REPLACE ECM. THIS REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER TOYOTA FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY (96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES). WHY TOYOTA DID NOT CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN ALMOST 4 YEARS MAKING ME TO PAY ALMOST $5000 FOR THEIR MISTAKE? *TR
Power train, Dec 10, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED AND JERKED, COASTED THEN LURCHED AGAIN, SUDDENLY LOSING SPEED, THEN STALLED. ENGINE REVVED AND TRANSMISSION KEPT JERKING, WOULD NOT ENGAGE FULLY. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY TRUCK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. EVENTUALLY, MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME AT REDUCED SPEED ON BACK ROADS. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER CHIP, $1,000 BILL. TOYOTA NOTIFIED DEALERS IN 2006 OF FAULTY CHIP, NOT ME. NOW, 12-11-09, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. BEGAN HESITATING IN TRAFFIC, AS IF CUTTING OUT. *TR
Power train, Nov 21, 2009
AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHERE THE CROSS TRAFFIC DID NOT STOP, MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH AND MY FAMILY AND I CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO A PRETTY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED, SO I DO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO UTILIZE LITTLE USED ROADS AND HOPE THAT I CAN GET A LITTLE MORE LIFE OUT OF MY CURRENT TRANSMISSION! *TR
Power train, Nov 21, 2009
GOING AT BELOW 40MPH CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO TAKE MY SON TO SCHOOL MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN TO JERK REPEATEDLY UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AS I FELT THE CAR WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OUT OF MY CONTROL AND HIT THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME! IT WOULD STOP IF OVER 40 COULD BE MAINTAINED. A FEW DAYS PRIOR I EXPERIENCED THIS 2 SINGLE JERKS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND MAY POSSIBLY NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS SOME YEARS AGO BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE JERKING REPRESENTS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY AND CONSUMER LIABILITY AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECOURSE FOR PREVENTION. *TR
Power train, Nov 20, 2009
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR LOST ITS ABILITY TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ECM FOR THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. IT COST ABOUT 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE CAR STILL DOESN'T SOUND OR DRIVE LIKE IT USED TO. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL IN BAD WEATHER OR ON A HILL AND I WILL HURT PEOPLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT OTHER CARS WITH THIS ECM PROBLEM LATER DO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND CALLS TO TOYOTA ARE NOT FRUITFUL. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. THE POWER TRAIN SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM TO A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR LIKE THIS IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES NOT 60,000 MILES. THIS CAR AND THE OTHER TOYOTAS I AM READING ABOUT SHOULD BE RECALLED THEY ARE DANGEROUS. *TR