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, Sep 3, 2009
FAULT ECM CAUSES TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS. NO SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED TO OWNERS. *TR
Power train, Sep 2, 2009
FALL '08 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN STALLING UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE CHANGING GEARS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RPMS. SUDDEN JERKS AND HALTS OCCUR AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOPS AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO GO. DIAGNOSTIC TEST CLAIMS SOLENOIDS BUT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SUGGESTS REPLACING ECM AND/OR TRANSMISSION. AN EXPENSE OF ABOUT $4500 WITHOUT GUARANTEE OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN HIGHWAY, KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC PACE SUDDENLY HALTS AND LOOSES POWER. *TR
Power train, Aug 31, 2009
JANUARY 2008 I HAD THE ECM REPROGRAMMED BY TOYOTA AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER TO COME IN FOR THIS. ON JUNE 3, 2008, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STUTTER FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE VEHICLE STUTTERED AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WOULD HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING AND TOOK THE CARE IN. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE CODE INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TOYOTA TECH SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06) FROM 3//3/06 INDICATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ECM AND TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, R&R ECM WHICH WAS NOT DONE IN THE RECALL. *TR
Power train, Aug 29, 2009
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN ACTING UP AND WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. IT WOULD SHIFT VERY HARD, AND WOULD OFTEN HESITATE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE SHOP RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM MONITOR TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, AS THEY WERE VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE RAV4'S AND ALSO BECAUSE METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND CONTINUES TO TRY AND AVOID THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THESE VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2006, TOYOTA SENT DEALERS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WARNING THEM THAT SOME CONSUMERS MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT HARSH SHIFTING. IT SAID IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE COMPUTER ?MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING.? IT THEN TOLD THE DEALERS TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. BUT CONSUMERS OWNING THE VEHICLES WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA ALSO REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING IS THE VEHICLES MILEAGE IS OVER THE 80,000 WARRANTY PERIOD, AND LUCKY FOR THEM, MOST VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES UNTIL THEY ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2009
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE/HARSH SHIFTING. MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN ECU IS WELL KNOWN BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE DEFECTIVE ITEM. ANYONE DRIVING THIS MODEL IS IN A "TICKING TIME BOMB" FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IF IT HAPPENS AT SPEED, THERE WILL BE DEATH/INJURY INCURRED. INFORMATION WAS IN N.Y. TIMES ON 8/26/2009 ARTICLE. I AM THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND WANT TO BE ADDED TO THE NHTSA LIST OF COMPLAINTS/CONCERNS ABOUT THIS WELL KNOWN DEFECT. REQUEST AGENCY PRESSURE TOYOTA TO RECALL/REPLACE ECU/ECM/TRANSMISSION AS NEEDED ON EVERY OPERATIONAL RAV4 IN THE 2001-2003 RANGE. TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 ON MARCH 3, 2006 ADVISING SERVICE MANAGERS TO REPLACE ECM/TRANSMISSIONS.. "ONLY IF CUSTOMER COMPLAINS" THIS IS A DEVIOUS WAY OF AVOIDING AN OUTRIGHT NOTIFICATION/RECALL AND I REQUEST YOUR GOOD AGENCY HELP OWNERS LIKE ME WHO ARE ENDANGERING THEIR FAMILIES/THEM SELVES & THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON OUR ROADS. I AM A LICENSED DRIVING INSTRUCTOR IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND WILL MAKE EVERYONE I KNOW AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A TOYOTA PRODUCT. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED. *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2009
MY TOYOTA RAV 4 (2001) SUDDENLY STARTED SLIDING, JERKING, MOTOR RACING IN MAY OF 2009. IT HAD JUST PASSED THE 80,000 MI MARK, AND THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION NEARLY STOPPED. I HAD BOUGHT IT USED, AND WHEN WE CHECKED WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, FOUND THAT THE 2006 BULLETIN ON THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ECU WHICH CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION HAD RESULTED IN THE ECU BEING 'FLASHED'. SO IT HAD THE WORK DONE WHICH WOULD SUPPOSEDLY FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED ON A STREET AND NOT ON A FREEWAY, WHICH WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. TOYOTA WAS PHONED, A COMPLAINT WAS MADE. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. AT MY OWN EXPENSE, I HAD THE ECU REBUILT; THE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS THERE, BUT THE REBUILDING OF THE ECU ENABLED ME TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2009
COST OF REPAIR: 2684.47 & CAR WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR APP. 1 MONTH TOTAL. MY RAV4 STARTED OCCASIONALLY SHIFTING HARD AND WOULD NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY WENT INTO THE NEXT GEAR IT FELT LIKE A SUDDEN JUMP. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT REACHED A POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH SERVICE ADVISOR ,HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. A SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06 89661-42650) INSTRUCTED IN CASES SUCH AS MINE THE ECM WAS TO BE REPLACED. AND HE ALSO STRONGLY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT SHOW ANY NEED TO BE, BUT HE AND THE MASTER MECHANIC FELT IT WOULD BE NEEDED. THE ORIGINAL QUOTE FOR THE ABOVE WAS OVER $1500. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT I DIDN?T FEEL IT WAS RIGHT THAT I SHOULD PAY WHEN IT WAS A KNOWN BAD ECM THE PRICE DROPPED FOR ?CUSTOMER LOYALTY, BLAH, BLAH?. THEY FELT THEY DID ME A FAVOR AND ONLY CHARGED ME $740.47 . TWO DAYS AFTER I GOT IT OUT OF THE SHOP IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING. I HAD BEEN VERY DISGUSTED WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED, THE NOT RETURNING OF PHONE CALLS, ETC. THE LAST PLACE I WANTED TO GO WAS BACK TO THE DEALER. ON OR ABOUT MAY 2, 2008 I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT HAD BEGUN TO FLICKER. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO OIL GELATION AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I WENT FOR A RIDE WITH SERVICE ADVISOR TOM DRUZYNSKI AND WE QUICKLY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THE TRANSAXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ENGINE REBUILT. SERVICE ADV TOLD ME REPAIRS WOULD COST $7000. I UNSUCCESSFULLY COMPLAINED TO CORPORATE TOYOTA 2 TIMES. REPAIR COST WENT FROM 7000 TO 1800.THE A/C HASN'T WORKED SINCE. *TR
Power train, Aug 27, 2009
I GAVE THE RAV 4 GAS THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN DRIVE TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD SINCE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE . I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A COST OF $3700. *TR
Power train, Aug 27, 2009
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING LATE LAST YEAR. THE SHIFTS BECAME HARDER EARLY THIS YEAR PARTICULARLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND AT THAT TIME I HAD PROBABLY 78000 MILES. WHEN THE HARD SHIFTING OCCURRED, MY VEHICLE WOULD ALMOST STALL COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED A KNOWN TRANSMISSION TROUBLE "SUPPOSEDLY" SOLVED BY REPROGRAMMING MY ECM CARD(WHICH I HAD DONE). THIS HOWEVER DID NOT SOLVE MY PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO OTHER'S WHO HAD THE SAME THING DONE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FAULTY PROGRAMMING HAS ALREADY DAMAGED MY EXISTING TRANSMISSION. I AM STILL DRIVING MY RAV4 WAITING FOR IT TO COMPLETELY FAIL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA AT A HIGHER PRICE POINT, FOR IT'S RELIABILITY! THE 1ST MAJOR REPAIR MADE ON MY VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Aug 25, 2009
THE ECU COMPUTER ON A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANS TO NOT SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD. IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO PARK COMING TO A RED LIGHT. COMPUTER ECU HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE TRANS REBUILT AND THE TRANS SHOP THAT DID THE WORK WAS NOT SO GOOD. TOYOTA WANTS $4200 TO FIX. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 6, 2009
SOMEWHERE AROUND THE LATER PART OF JUNE, 2009 MY CAR BEGAN HESITATING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEN WAS INFORMED THE IT WAS MY ECM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM DURING PRODUCTION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT FIXED. MY VEHICLE HAS AROUND 97,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS. SEVERAL TIMES MY FAMILY AND I WERE ENDANGERED BECAUSE SOMEONE ALMOST HIT MY VEHICLE FROM THE BACK BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION. AS OF TODAY, I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT GETTING TOYOTA TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE RPM SPIKED. WHENEVER THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, DUE TO A PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THE ECM, WHICH WAS NOT READING PROPERLY WHICH WAS AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED IVOQ. 08/07/09.*JB
Power train, Aug 4, 2009
ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF THE BLUE MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFTING. WE DROVE IT HOME TO PARK IT UNTIL WE COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. $1000 LATER AND NO THANKS TO TOYOTA IT IS FIXED. IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDED REPROGRAMMED. THANKFULLY THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T SHOT B/C WE DIDN'T DRIVE IT AFTER IT STARTED TO HARD SHIFT AND SLIP. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE US $5000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. BUT WE FOUND SOMEONE TO HELP US WITH THE COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 27, 2009
FAULTY ECU IN 2001 RAV4 AUTOMATIC CAUSES INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SLIPPING & DOUBLE-SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR, LONGER ECU IS USED THE WORSE THE SLIPPING OCCURS. RESETTING ECU FIXES PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND TRANNY WILL WORK PERFECT, THEN IT STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 21, 2009
OUR TOYOTA RAV 4 IS HAVING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS A BUST. IT CONTROLS AMONG OTHER THINGS OUR TRANSMISSION, AND THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. THE ECM HAS PRETTY MUCH RUINED OUR TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS BEEN MANY RAV 4 OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. AND TOYOTA IS (WAS) A REPUTABLE COMPANY. ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. OUR WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. AND THERE WAS RECALLS ON DIFFERENT COMPUTER THINGS FROM THEM BUT, THEY WILL NOT HELP US. AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. AND THIS IS OUR ONLY FAMILY CAR. ONE WE NEED TO HELP US GET TO WORK. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 11, 2009
MY CAR IS TOYOTA RAV4 2001 2WD AUTOMATIC. RECENTLY, THE CAR ON ACCELERATION STARTED DOING HARD SHIFT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2001/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM PRIVATE PARTY, I HAD ASKED TOYOTA OF KIRKLAND (WA) TO CHECK FOR ECU MODULE. I WAS TOLD IT IS THE RIGHT MODULE AND NOT THE RECALLED ONE. SO, I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE PRIVATE PARTY. AFTER 9 MONTHS OF USING THIS CAR, I GET THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES IT REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR BUT WHEN I PURCHASED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK IT IS A FAULTY PART IN THE CAR. IF REPLACING ECU DOES NOT FIXES THE PROBLEM THEN WE HAVE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST ME ADDITIONAL $4000. TO REPLACE NEW ECU OR ECM, IT COSTS $1100+. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO RECALL THE RAV4S. THIS IS A BIG BLOW TO US IN THIS ECONOMY. *TR
Power train, Apr 14, 2009
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 IS A VICTIM OF THE ECM FAILURE THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2001 AND 2002 RAV4'S THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THE ECM UNIT FAILS, AND DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PROCESS. *TR
Power train, Mar 19, 2009
I AM ONE OF THE MANY UNLUCKY PEOPLE WHO OWN A 2001 TOYOTA RAV-4 WHICH HAS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE FOR YEARS. AFTER BRINING TO TOYOTA MORE THAN ONCE TO HAVE THEM NOT BE ABLE TO TURN OFF I AM NOW FACING A FAILED TRANSMISSION- OVER $2,500 TO FIX. AS I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FAULTY ECM AND TOYOTA'S LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I AM DISGUSTED. SHAME ON TOYOTA AND AS A ONCE LOYAL OWNER I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. *TR
Power train, Mar 12, 2009
RAV4 DO NOT SHIFT GEAR. SOME TIMES IT WAS LIKE JERKED SHIFTING AND I SEARCHED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL PROBLEM REPORTED IN CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SITE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. "I TOOK CAR TO A DEALER - LOMBARD TOYOTA, IL, AND TOLD ABOUT GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM. AT FIRST THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RAV4. WHEN I SAID, I RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN INTERNET AND FOUND THAT RAV4 HAS A GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND THERE IS A TSR-TECH SERVICE BULLETIN, AND IT NEEDS TO REPAIR FREE. THEY TOLD ME LET US TAKE A LOOK AT. AFTER HALF AN HOUR, THEY TOLD ME I AM LUCKY IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY 8YR/80000. I PURCHASED THIS ONE ON 2/??/2001. SO I AM LUCKILY COVERED. I DID A LITTLE ARGUED THAT EVEN IF I AM OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A DEFECT. THEY DID NOT CARE MUCH. AND I DID NOT PRESS ON IT. SO HERE IS THE PROBLEM-ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 REVISED MODEL 2001-2003 RAV4 EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A HARSH SHIFT AND/OR M.I.L "ON" DTC P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, AND/OR P1760. IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SAE TERM - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING. USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACE A R&R ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. MY RAV4 DRIVES GOOD NOW. I STILL THINK MY RAV4 IS REALLY NOT SMOOTH. OR ATLEAST THAT IS THE WAY I FEEL. THIS IS IT FOR RIGHT NOW. IF ANYTHING COMES UP I WILL UPDATE LATER. *TR
Power train, Jan 7, 2009
MY 2001 RAV4 DEVELOPED A SHIFTING ISSUE, AND EVENTUALLY PRODUCED A CHECK ENGINE CODE, WHICH INDICATED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TELLS ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $3200. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2001-2003 RAV4S, AND THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF IT. A TECHINICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED IN 2006, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH SOME RAV4S, AND THAT THE ECM SHOULD BE REPLACED - IF NOT THE TRANSMISSION MAY BE RUINED. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY POSSIBLE ISSUE, AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS RUINED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT I WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS ANY ISSUE, AND UNTIL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY CAR MAY NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 21, 2008
ON NOVEMBER 8, WHILE TRAVELING TO WORCESTER TO SEE A FRIEND RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS MEDICAL NEXT I CALLED TWO OF THE MAJOR TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS IN THE AREA; COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN NORTHAMPTON AND THE TRANNY SHOP IN PALMER, WHERE BRIAN AND SCOTT TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA'S REPROGRAMMING DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT I'D NEED TO BUY A NEW MODULE OUT OF POCKET FOR $900-1100. THEY BOTH SAID THAT IF I CAUGHT IT EARLY, I WOULDN'T NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT UNWILLING TO PAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR
Power train, Nov 6, 2008
2001 RAV 4 TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN. CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. DEALER AND ANOTHER GARAGE SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I GUESS THAT RAVS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THEY DO AND KEEP SELLING THEM AND PEOPLE KEEP GETTING RIPPED OFF. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 12, 2008
2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF THEN TOYOTA SENT SSC-601 IN MARCH OF 08 THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE ECM REPROGRAMMED WHICH I DID{TOOK TECH 2 TIMES TO GET IT RIGHT} NOW MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND SURE AS PIE THEY SAID ECM HAS FAILED AND THEY WANT 940.00 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN SEEN BY TOYOTA AND IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT THAT THEY EXPECT US THE CONSUMER TO EAT I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT RUNAROUND FROM BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE AND IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Power train, Sep 11, 2008
CIRCUIT BOARD FOR TRANSMISSION FAILED AND VALVE. *TR
Power train, Jul 29, 2008
I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED, BUT BELIEVE THE ISSUE WITH MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT ONLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR TOYOTA RAV4S THAT WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN THE YEARS 2001-2003. A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER PART IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION, ULTIMATELY DESTROYING THEM IF NOT CAUGHT EARLY AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200! IN MANY CASES, THE TRANSMISSION STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ADDITIONAL COST OF AROUND $3500 OR MORE. IT IS SICKENING THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS TOYOTA WOULD NOT RECALL THIS PART AND COVER THE COST OF MALFUNCTIONS! IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW SEVERE THE LURCHING AND SKIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE. IT CAN COME OUT OF NOWHERE AND THAT CERTAINLY CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. I THINK THIS ISSUE IS ON THE RISE BECAUSE IT TENDS TO HAPPEN WITH HIGHER MILE VEHICLES. I TRULY HOPE MORE CONSUMERS WILL FILE COMPLAINTS SO THAT TOYOTA WILL BE FORCED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE HEARD OF NO REPORTED INJURIES AT THIS POINT-I HOPE THAT REMAINS THE CASE. *TR
Power train, Jul 22, 2008
ACCELERATION FREQUENTLY HESITATES CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY GOTTEN WORSE AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS A BAD ECM IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR