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, Nov 20, 2009
1 & 2. RECENTLY I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT ON MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (E.C.M.), WHICH TELLS THE TRANSMISSION WHAT TO DO, APPARENTLY IS FAULTY (A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED BUT FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT) WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO ESSENTIALLY SELF DESTRUCT. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND MY CAR DRAMATICALLY SLOWED DOWN. AFTER PULLING OVER AND PUTTING IT INTO PARK, I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD, ALMOST CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. I FEARED FOR MY LIFE IN BOTH SITUATIONS AND FEEL THAT THIS PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY FAULTY. 3. MY TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT FOR APPROXIMATELY $3,500, BUT IF TOYOTA HAD NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EARLIER THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECTIFY THE ECM BEFORE IT CAUSED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND ENDANGERED MY LIFE. *TR
Power train, Nov 18, 2009
AFTER NOT HAVING PROBLEMS FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS, THE CIL CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARD-SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE ECM CODE WAS FOR AN O2 SENSOR HEATER. CHANGED THE SENSOR, LIGHT CAME BACK ON CALLING OUT A GEAR AND THE SHIFTING WAS WORSE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY FLUSHED THE OIL AND FLASHED THE ECM PER TSB. RAN FINE FOR ONE DAY. CIL CAME BACK ON AND HARD SHIFTED HORRIBLY WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON THE WAY HOME. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FLUIDS. ALL FLUIDS LOOKED CLEAN AND WERE AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS. HEADED FOR DEALERSHIP AGAIN. GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND LOW GEAR HARD-SHIFT WENT AWAY, BUT SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AT 60 MPH! CAR REGAINED POWER AND SHIFTED FINE IN LOW GEARS BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT ABOVE 3RD. DROVE REST OF THE WAY TO DEALER AT 35 MPH AND DROPPED IT OFF FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $2K IN DIAGNOSES, PARTS, AND LABOR AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. NOW, WE NEARLY WERE KILLED ON A MAJOR FREEWAY! THIS IS DANGEROUS! THIS PROBLEM MANIFESTED IN SEPTEMBER AND PEAKED YESTERDAY (11/17/09). WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE DEFECT. *TR
Power train, Nov 17, 2009
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON 2001 RAV4 (AUG 09) AND THEN IT WAS REPAIRED ONCE AGAIN AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING (NOV 09). I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM. WHICH I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS EVEN A PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURE. HAVE PAID FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION & ECM UNIT. *TR
Power train, Nov 16, 2009
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 SHIFTS GEARS ERRATICALLY AND STALLS WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IT STARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE BY SUDDENLY SURGING WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70MPH. NOW IT OCCURS DAILY WHILE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR EVEN WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BUT THIS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM AND I'VE BEEN GETTING ESTIMATES IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Nov 13, 2009
THE COMPUTER IN MY RAV4 FAILED. IT WAS GIVING MY TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENT COMMANDS TO DRIVE IN THE WRONG GEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, MY MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE TIMES THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY IN 2 GEARS AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR BUCKED AND ALMOST STALLED AS I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOP. ONCE IT STARTED HAPPENING I DROVE TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC I COULD FIND AND ONLY MADE RIGHT TURNS BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE CAR WOULD DO. IT BURNED UP THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN THE COMPUTER WAS RESET (AS WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED) THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMALLY FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN THE ECM WOULD BEGIN GIVING THE WRONG COMMANDS AGAIN. THE MECHANIC HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER TO GET THE ECM REPAIRED AND HE GOT TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A SCARY RIDE, WHICH IT WAS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE THE REP DENIED THAT THE RAV4 HAS A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND HAD FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH MY PROBLEM HE STATED THAT ANYONE COULD CREATE FAKE INTERNET POSTINGS, INCLUDING MYSELF. PLEASE, PLEASE RESEARCH THIS. TOYOTA TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND I WORRY WHAT WILL HAPPEN. MY CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT I DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID. I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE THEIR CAR HAS THE SAME ISSUE MINE DID. IT COMES ON VERY SUDDENLY, IT IS NOT THE CASE OF A SMALL PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECOMING WORSE. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT I COULD MAKE A REPORT LIKE THIS I WOULD HAVE DONE SO SOONER. *TR
Power train, Nov 12, 2009
NOT EASY TO EXPLAIN, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON GOING MILDLY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS BUT EVERY TIME I WOULD BRING IT IN NOBODY COULD SEE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM MOSTLY STARTING THE CAR AND THEN AFTER BRAKING IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE A CLOG. I WAS TOLD ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS THE CAT CONVERTER, HAD IT REPAIRED FOR $1000 AND IT DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. I JUST BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE IT IS GETTING SO MUCH WORSE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY SPARK PLUGS AND CYLINDERS SO I HAD THAT REPAIRED AND AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WAS TOLD IT WAS THE COMPUTER AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $1300 DOLLARS. (WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT SHOW BEFORE I HAD THE CYLINDERS REPAIRED.) I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND AM TERRIFIED WHEN THE SNOW AND ICE BEGIN BECAUSE WHEN IN CLOGS OR BUCKS I AM OPEN TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR
Power train, Nov 6, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. ALSO WHEN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER A MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER MONITOR WAS REPAIRED .HOWEVER BECAUSE OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,700.
Power train, Nov 4, 2009
2001 RAV4 TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED TODAY. READ ANYTIMES ARTICLE ABOUT ECM PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THAT ECM PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR AT THE VERY LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE TRULY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS NEED TO BE MADE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I HAVE HAD WITH MY CAR THAT TOYOTA FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF IN TIME TO CORRECT. *TR
Power train, Nov 2, 2009
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I TRIED TOACCELARATE BUT MY WAS STUCK AND THERE WAS A HEAVY TRAFFIC I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE I CHANGED IT BUT TWO DAY AFTER IT GAVE ME THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY THIS TIME ON THE HIGHWAY I STARTED LOOKING FOR ANSWER AND FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THE 2001 RAV 4 ECU CAME OUT WITH A PROBLEM BUT NEVER GOT A RECALL NOW THE TOYOTA COMPANY ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PRO THANK YOU THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PEOPLE COMPLAINING BOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT ITHTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2001/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR
Power train, Oct 29, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 2WD 4 CYLINDER. THE TRANSMISSION IS STALLS AT TAKE OFF, I WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, LEAVING OUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE THERE WAS ON GOING TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Oct 21, 2009
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WOULD NOT SHIFT WHEN I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS AS I PULLED ONTO THE INTERSTATE, IT SEEMS THAT SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I NEVER GOT IT AND NOW TOYOTA WONT FIX IT, I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR DAILY. *TR
Power train, Oct 15, 2009
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY THIS MORNING. IN REVERSE IT STARTED JERKING. I ALSO NOTICED SOME HESITATION IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME AND TOOK A RIDE TO WORK. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO SCHOOL TO PICK UP THE KIDS AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE. WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL AND SHE GOT ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING MY WIFE ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SUV. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN SHE TURNED IT BACK ON AFTER 2 MINUTES AND STARTED DRIVING IT WAS FINE. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND COME TO FIND OUT THIS IS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. I JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME SOME ONE NEVER TOOK ANY ACTION INCLUDING TOYOTA. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THEY ADVISE ME TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED AND THE ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN 14 CARS IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS, DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR DRIVER AT COLLEGE IN ST. LOUIS. IN RESEARCH, HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RE 2002 RAV4S AND IT APPEARS IT IS FAULTY ENGINEERING. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY IN TRAFFIC CAUSING SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS TO ALL PERSONS NEARBY. TOYOTA ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ALL SERVICE INSTRUCTING THEM TO REPLACE THE TCM TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM TAKING PLACE. TOYOTA DOES NOT WARN THEIR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SIMPLY WAITS FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AND BY THEN THE TCM CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA WOULD OPERATE THIS WAY AFTER BUILDING A REPUTATION OF BEING A QUALITY AUTO MAKER. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A DISCOUNTED RATE OF $ 3500.00 TO REPAIR MY CAR BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS ROBBERY. *TR
Power train, Oct 1, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, HE EXPERIENCED GEAR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97335.
Power train, Sep 24, 2009
WHILE DRIVING AT TYPICAL CITY SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD CLANKING SOUND AND THE CAR STATED STUTTERING INTERMITTENTLY. OFTEN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE CAR HAD TROUBLE FINDING A GEAR AND DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO ACCELERATION. THIS CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THE FIX WAS A NEW ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). FORTUNATELY, THE MECHANIC KNEW ABOUT TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Power train, Sep 21, 2009
THE ECM COMPUTER ON MY 2001 RAV4 IS FAILING, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO STALL DURING AUTOMATIC SHIFT CHANGE. THIS OCCURS EACH TIME YOU START IN 1ST, MOVING TO SECOND GEAR AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS LASTS SEVERAL SECONDS AND CAN REPEAT IN SECOND GEAR. TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU CAN EASILY RUN INTO YOU AND IF YOU ARE ENTERING A FREEWAY, YOU CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY TRANSMISSION FAILING OR STALLING AS A RESULT. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB IN 2006 TO DEALERS YET DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC AND ONE DEALER I TALKED TO INDICATE THAT THE ECM COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $5000. MY MECHANIC INDICATED HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 VEHICLES ON THIS AT HIS BUSINESS ALONE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. SINCE MY VEHICLE IS OVER 8 YRS OLD AND 115K MILEAGE, THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHY DID TOYOTA NOTIFY ITS DEALERS IN MARCH 2006 OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS. WHY HAVE YOU NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE BY ASKING TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. IF THE COMPUTER FAILS COMPLETELY, THE CAR WILL MORE THAN LIKELY STOP IN TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC INDICATES THAT A NEW COMPUTER MUST BE PUT IN AND THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE RE BUILT. THIS STARTED ON FRIDAY, SEPT 18TH, ABOUT 4PM AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED AND THIS WAS THE DETERMINATION. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR SINCE AND CANNOT DRIVE IT UNTIL REPAIRED. PLEASE ADVISE ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THANK YOU. *TR
Power train, Sep 18, 2009
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSUMER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH AN ALLEGED LIFE THREATENING ISSUE RE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA RAV 4'S HAVE A TRANSMISSION GLITCH. *JB
Power train, Sep 18, 2009
COMPLAINT REGARDING ECM ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. ECM CAUSES SHIFTING ISSUES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN UNSAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ECM AT A MINIMUM. *TR
Power train, Sep 18, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 UTILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT. AS A CONSEQUENCE HIS RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE ECU, REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AND TRANSMISSION. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ONLY OFFERED A $300.00 DISCOUNT TOWARD FUTURE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,473. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,426. BL
Power train, Sep 16, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 - MANUFACTURER-PROGRAMMED ECM FAILURE LEADING TO HARD SHIFTING, PROBLEMS ACCELERATING, AND MISFIRING. UNFORTUNATELY, TOYOTA IS ONLY COVERING THE REPAIR COST IF UNDER 80,000 MILES. APPEARS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT THE MILEAGE IS AND SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THIS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER. I HAD TO PAY OVER $1300 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
Power train, Sep 14, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 4WD CAR HAS NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION OR GETTING ONTO A FREEWAY THE CAR WILL LOOSE ITS POWER. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS, AND ENGINE SPEEDS UP WITHOUT CAR PROPERLY ACCELERATING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, CAN?T GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES ONCE THE CAR ENTERS AN INTERSECTION, OR COULD GET REAR ENDED BY OTHER VEHICLES. I CAN DRIVE THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT THE PROBLEM SHOWING UP. HAD IT IN TO MY MECHANIC TWICE AND THEY CAN?T REPRODUCE IT TO FIX IT. NO PROBLEMS SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER CHECK. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN IT MIGHT ONLY HAPPEN ONCE WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND THEN BE FINE FOR MANY DAYS OR MILES. I CANNOT MAKE IT DO IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I HAVE LEARNED IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE ECM MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED MARCH 6, 2006. THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Sep 12, 2009
RAV4 2001 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION WENT AT ONLY 100,000 MILES, DEALER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CHARGED ME $3,600 THIS INCLUDE THE NEW ECM THEY INSTALLED REQUIRED BY WARRANTY IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE MAKE NOTE IF THERE IS MORE VEHICLES(RAV4 2001) WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Sep 6, 2009
CAR HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON; MECHANIC RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON SYSTEM- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. RADIATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AFTER CAR PICKUP, CAR GRADUALLY STARTED SHIFTING ABNORMALLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR- 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. *TR
Power train, Sep 4, 2009
MY 2001 RAV4, WITH JUST OVER 80K ON IT, WENT BELLY-UP. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED USED), THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, DISABLING THE CAR 2 HOURS FROM HOME. THE DEALER IT WAS TOWED TO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, PUT IN 3/4 QT OF TRANNY FLUID, CALLED IT GOOD. IN FEBRUARY, AFTER IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, IT ONCE AGAIN DIED ON A TRIP, AGAIN 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. THE DEALER I HAD IT TOWED TO THIS TIME SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CODE WAS P0770 FOR SOLENOID MALFUNCTION. AFTER LONG NEGOTIATIONS WITH TOYOTA THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR