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
314 reports, newest first.
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 29, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WAS DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Vehicle speed control, Jun 23, 2010
ERRATIC SHIFTING ON MY WIFE'S 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 (140,000 MILES). COULD NOT ACCELERATE ALONG WITH RANDOM DOWNSHIFTS. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON BOTH SURFACE STREETS AND HIGHWAY DRIVING AS VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED OR RADICALLY SLOW DOWN WHEN IT SPORADICALLY DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ELK GOVE (CA) TOYOTA (EGT). THEY INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOW ON FLUID (IT WAS NOT, I CHECKED) AND RECOMMENDED A FLUSH. THEY FLUSHED IT AND STATED IT WAS TESTED AND READY TO GO. PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. EGT THEN STATED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY A NEW ECM. I CHOSE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND TOWED MY VEHICLE HOME. A QUICK SEARCH REVEALED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON RAV4 ECM PROBLEMS AND SEVERAL SECONDARY MARKETS REPAIRING THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS. SENT MY UNIT OUT AND HAD IT REPAIRED -PROBLEM SOLVED. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEFECTIVE ECM. HAD I NOT RESEARCHED THIS, I WOULD PAID FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ECM. IN DEFENSE OF EGT, THEY DID REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH, BUT THEY STILL INSISTED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. PLEASE ADD MY COMPLAINT TO ANY OTHERS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING TOYOTA RAV4 ECM PROBLEMS, SO THAT TOYOTA MIGHT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE UNITS. MY WIFE HAS ALWAYS SWORN BY TOYOTA PRODUCTS - THE RECENT SWEARING ASSOCIATED WITH TOYOTA IS NOT THE KIND A COMPANY WOULD COVET. *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
Power train, May 27, 2010
SUDDENLY, WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MY TOYOTA RAV4 (2001) SEEMED TO GO INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN HARSHLY SHIFT INTO 2ND THEN 3RD GEAR WITH A LURCH. NOW, WHENEVER I ACCELERATE AFTER A STOP, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY ECM AND POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR
Power train, May 27, 2010
ERRATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS IN TOYOTA RAV4. SHIFTS HARD OR SLOWLY, CAUSING SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER. *TR
Power train, May 26, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 CAR JERKS UPON ACCELERATING FROM STOP. CAR IS SLUGGISH TO ACCELERATE. COULD CASE WRECK WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS A STREET OR HIT FROM BEHIND IF RAV4 DOES NOT ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. FAILURE STARTED TO OCCUR SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP STATES ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BASED ON TSB FROM TOYOTA (TSB # 000206), TSB STATES "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" -- THIS INDICATES THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THAT IS OCCURRING DUE TO A POOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES WHERE OTHER 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, May 24, 2010
WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 L, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT/SIGN OR BASICALLY ACCELERATING, IT ACTED AS IF IT DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO GEAR, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO POWER, THEN THE ENGINE WOULD REVVED, FINALLY IT LUNGED AND JERKED INTO GEAR. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY CAR RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 3000 MILES. HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, IN FACT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NOTHING. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE I READ ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING ONE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES--I'M UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA CORP. A COMPANY WHO I HAVE TRUSTED FOR MANY YEARS HAS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ECM. DRIVING THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION POSES A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION WHEREAS THIS IS AN "ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN" WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. *TR
Electrical system, May 24, 2010
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ALLEGED SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE ECM COMPUTER ON HIS 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE ECM CAUSED A PAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. TOYOTA CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED IN 2004. *JB
Power train, May 14, 2010
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY ECM ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2006 TO THE DEALERS BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY ME, THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, May 4, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 81,000 MILES. ECM FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. SAFETY ISSUE CREATED DUE TO POOR ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC SHIFTING. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE ECM FAILURE. *TR
Power train, Apr 28, 2010
MY SPOUSE HAS A TOYOTA RAV4, 2001 AND IT EXPERIENCED MAJOR STALLING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TEAM IN BERKELEY, CA THREE TIMES FOR A POTENTIAL FIX. FIRST IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR (ECM AT $1,040), THEN IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT $266, THEN IT WAS A BEND PIPE/TUBE LEADING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ONE MONTH LATER. *TR
Power train, Apr 21, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, SHIFTING HARD AT LOW SPEEDS. HAS 144,480 MILES. AAMCO SHOP DIAGNOSED IT AS A KNOWN COMPUTER DEFECT, SENT FAULTY INFORMATION THAT FRIED THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR IS UNDERWAY, TAKES 4 DAYS AND COSTS $3,900 FOR NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR. *TR
Power train, Apr 17, 2010
MY TOYOTA RAV4 2001 MODEL, 125000 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN TURNED GREEN TRIED TO MOVE , BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT JUST DID A LITTLE, THEN I SOME HOW PARKED IN THE ROAD SIDE. TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT GARAGES, MIENEKE SAID 6000 DOLLAR REPAIR ON THE TRANSMISSION, ANOTHER SAID 4800 DOLLAR FOR REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION, AAMCO DID A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FOR 2800 DOLLAR.... ALL THESE PLACES THEY ARE NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS TRANSMISSION OR ECM PROBLEM. I JUST CHOOSE TO GET IT DONE WITH THE CHEAPEST ONE. I FEEL LIKE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION OF TOYOTA. BEING A CUSTOMER I HAVE NO WAY KNOWING WHO SAYS THE RIGHT THING? NOW I HEAR THAT TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS DEFECTIVE ECM THAT CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS? NOW I AM WORRIED IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THAT CAR ANY FURTHER? *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 16, 2010
TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND SLIPPING IN SECOND GEAR THEN JUMPING TO THIRD GEAR, THEN TAKING OFF IN THIRD GEAR, FLUSH TRANNY AND REPROGRAM ECM, DIN"T 'HELP ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FOR CODE P0758, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ECM AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS ECM PROBLEM AND FAIL TO NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS
Power train, Apr 15, 2010
2001 RAV4 TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS. TOOK TO DEALER, DENIED PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP, CHANGED TO NEW ECM IN TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM FIXED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO BAD PARTS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2010
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4, 98,000 MILES, HAS A PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SHIFT AROUND 30MILES AND ENGAGING SHIFT 2ND TO 3RD, RPM GAUGE JUMPING UP 5,000~6,000 RPM ON EVERY DRIVING AND FINALLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. DEALER SHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEEDED REPROGRAM ECM. AFTER FIXED IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY SAID IT NEEDS NEW ECM AND REPROGRAM. AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. NOW THEY SAY IT NEEDS TRANSMISSION REBUILD TOO. THEY ALREADY KNEW THESE PROBLEM THROUGH THEIR BULLETIN SOME YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T NOTICED OWNERS. IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SHIFT WAS CHANGED WHEN RPM GAUGE JUMPED UP. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO I READ SOME ARTICLE FOR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED FOR THIS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2010
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS JERKING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS INTERMITTENTLY THEN IT BECAME WORSE. I WAS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BORROW MONEY SO I COULD TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR COSTING ME APPROX. 1800.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 5, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN SHIFTING VERY JERKY WHILE ON WAY HOME FROM STORE. VERY SCARY. WOULD LUNGE AND JERK TO START OUT BUT AFTER 2ND OR 3RD GEAR WAS OKAY. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS TRANSMISSION SERVICER HAD A MUCH BETTER PRICE. THE TRANSMISSION CO REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER AS WELL AS A REBUILT TRANSMISSION ($2700) AND THAT THIS (FAULTY COMPUTER) WAS A CONDITION TOYOTA WAS FULLY AWARE OF. APPARENTLY THE COMPUTER FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL WAS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY AND IN THIS CASE WAS TELLING THE TRANSMISSION TO ACCESS 2 GEARS AT THE SAME TIME (ACCORDING TO THEM). REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND THE WOMAN SAID I WAS OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER, EVEN THOUGH I HAD CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEPT COMING ON. *TR
Power train, Apr 1, 2010
DURING A TRIP TO THE LOS ANGELES AREA FROM OUR HOME IN FREMONT, CA. OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 REFUSED TO ENTER 1ST GEAR, THEN WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR SUDDENLY, CAUSING A BUCKING EFFECT. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS AND SOME ATTEMPTS AT ADDING TRANS FLUID IT STARTED RUNNING OK. TWO DAYS LATER ON THE FREEWAY HOME IT SUDDENLY STARTED IN AGAIN, LEAVING US WITH NO POWER TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC UNTIL IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR AGAIN. WE MADE IT BACK HOME BY REMAINING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOT STOPPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUINED AND NEEDED REPLACING. HE SHOWED ME THE CHIPPED-UP GEARS ON THE UNIT. AFTER REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION I DROVE IT FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND THE SLIPPING AND BUCKING STARTED IN AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME CHECKING IT BECAUSE IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE FOR THEM. COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CAME OUT NORMAL. I TOLD THEM TO KEEP IT AND DRIVE IT FOR A DAY. SURE ENOUGH IT WENT BAD AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS. AFTER HAVING THE ACTUATORS REPLACED THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. IT LASTED 1 DAY. AT THAT TIME I CHECKED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM. I PRINTED IT AND GAVE IT TO MY MECHANIC. THEY REPLACED THE ECM WITH A NEW ONE ($1200) SINCE NO REBUILDER WOULD RE-PROGRAM THE OLD ONE BECAUSE OF THE RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE CAR NOW RUNS FINE BUT ONLY AFTER ABOUT $4000 BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ECM THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO ADMIT IS THE REAL PROBLEM.
Power train, Mar 31, 2010
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK AND IT WAS DRIVING AND SHIFTING JUST FINE (AUTOMATIC). I PARKED, TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND WENT INSIDE TO PUNCH IN. NOT 10 MINUTES LATER I RETURNED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED HARD OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. WHEN IT SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR I COULD TELL THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THE CAR BASICALLY SPUTTERED INTO THE GEAR AND COULD BARELY SHIFT OUT OF IT INTO SECOND. ONCE IT DID THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND I FELT LIKE I DID NOT HAVE GOOD CONTROL OF IT DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS JERKING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. DURING THIS TIME THE RPMS WOULD GO WAY UP AND SUDDENLY DOWN AGAIN, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME I APPLIED THE GAS (AND THUS ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION) THE VEHICLE STARTED REACTING IN AN UNPREDICTABLE MANNER. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY RHYME OR REASON FOR WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SOMETIMES IT WAS OK BUT IN GENERAL THE CAR HAD A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. ONCE I WAS GOING OVER ROUGHLY 30MPH THE CAR WAS GENERALLY OK, BUT WOULD OCCASIONALLY SPUTTER. AS FAR AS EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN RECALLED I BELIEVE TWICE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND IT HAS ALWAYS HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR ROUGHLY 12K MILES PREVIOUS TO THIS HAPPENING WITH NO INCIDENT; THE DIAGNOSTIC READ THAT I NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT 1) THE COMPUTER, IN MY OPINION, ISN'T RELIABLE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN RECALLED/REPROGRAMMED AND CLEARLY HAS A DEFECT AND 2) THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DYING SHOULD BE A SLOW DEATH WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN GAS MILEAGE AND EVENTUAL "CHOKING" OF THE ENGINE AT UP TO 40K MILES AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AND FROM ONE ENGINE START TO THE NEXT.