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.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 28, 2010
TOYOTA 2001 RAV4: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE AT LEAST AUGUST, 2004 (DOCUMENTED). TOYOTA CLAIMED TO FIX PER A RECALL NOTICE. FROM FEBRUARY 2002 TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT GROANING BENEATH CAR, WHINING IN FIRST GEAR, AND WHAT FELT LIKE CLUNKING. COULD NOT PASS SMOG TESTS BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE. IN OCTOBER, 2009, CAR DIED. COULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO WAIT FOR TOW (MIDNIGHT ON A DARK ROAD). HAD WORK DONE IN OCT, 2009, AND I REQUESTED THE PARTS. THEY REPLACED MY COILS, PLUGS AND AIR FILTER FOR $1,330. I HAVE HAD BRAKES REPLACED , FLUIDS CHANGED, O2 SENSORS REPLACED ( SINCE THEN, THE CAR IS MIS-SHIFTING, CLUNKING OR GROANING, ROUGH ENGINE. ON 3/25/2010, I TOOK IT IN AND TOYOTA SERVICE RECOMMENDED THAT I "LET IT GO" AND BUY ANOTHER CAR. THEY TOLD ME TO JUST COME AND GET THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WORK DONE, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $6,000-$7,000 FOR REPAIRS. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT I HAD ECM AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE VISITS TO TOYOTA SERVICE. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA "WAITED ME OUT" SO THAT THEY COULD JUST SELL ME ANOTHER CAR INSTEAD OF REVEALING THE TRUE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEMS. THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS A NEW ITEM, SO I WOULD HAVE TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, WHICH THE DEFECTIVE ECM WOULD END UP DESTROYING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL. *CN
Power train, Mar 25, 2010
ON DECEMBER 22ND, I EXPERIENCED SLIPPING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO A INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. I LEARNED THAT THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. I STILL HAD PROBLEMS, AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, I DROVE MY TOYOTA RAV 4, ONLY TO EXPERIENCE MORE PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY BEGAN INVESGATING THE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA RAV'S, AND LEARNED OF ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LOGGED AGAINST TOYOTA, DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN 3, ALMOST4 MONTHS, AND MY TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP, GETTING A SHIFT SOLENOID. I CALLED TOYOTA, FOR ASSITANCE, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, I HAVE OVER $4700 IN REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE.
Power train, Mar 24, 2010
MY 2001 RAV 4 BAGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TROUBLE GETTING STARTED AND THE CAR SHIFTS VERY HARD. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY SHIFTS, IT OFTEN LURCHES FORWARD. I HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AM FEARFUL TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY!
Power train, Mar 23, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4, TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO JERK US AROUND, LURCH IN TRAFFIC AND FEELS LIKE IT COMES OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING/ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC OR PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE NOT MOVING.
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 7, 2010
FAULTY COMPUTER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE COMPUTER CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE INTO WRONG GEARS,RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. COST TO ME OF $4,847.00. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA OF THIS PROBLEM. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #1046. *TR
Power train, Mar 4, 2010
TOYOTA 2001 RAV4 TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEM SINCE MARCH 2009. APPROX MILES TO DATE 95,750. WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT IN, I CHECKED WITH AUTOZONE FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH WAS FREE BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN TOOK THE READINGS TO TOYOTA WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT AUTOZONE'S DIAGNOSTIC AND I HAD TO GET ANOTHER ONE FROM THEM WHICH COST $100. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP AND TURNED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. WITHIN 2 DAYS, AFTER MY E-CHECK, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR OIL CHANGES AND THEY NEVER SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE DIAGNOSTIC FROM AUTOZONE STATED THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS BAD BUT TOYOTA SAID IT WAS THE GAS CAP. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I AM NOW AWARE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. THIS IS SHAMEFUL THAT THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE THIS SERIOUS MALFUNCTION TO GET MAJOR MONEY FROM THE CONSUMERS. I AM MORE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY OF 2006 AND THEY KNEW THEN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY IS A JOKE, THAT'S A MAJOR PART THAT THEY WON'T HONOR AND THEY ARE PURPOSELY IGNORING IT SO THAT IT'S NOT COVERED OR THEIR PROBLEM. WHY WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY CAR WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND JUMP TO SECOND VERY HARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SHOP LAST SPRING AND THEY DID A QUICK FIX BY TRYING TO SEE IF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO SEE IF THAT WORKED BUT IT LASTED FOR ONLY A WEEK. DURING MY LAST MAINTENANCE CHECK AT TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD I PROBABLY HAD SIX MONTHS, STILL NEVER ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THEIR PART OR THAT IT WAS COVERED. IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER TO BE IGNORED AND TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THIS COMPANY. PLEASE DON'T IGNORE OUR COMPLAINTS THEY ARE REAL AND SERIOUS. *TR
Power train, Mar 1, 2010
HELLO, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2003. IT SERVED US WELL UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WHEN AT 93,500 MILES IT BEGAN TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD, I WOULD STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD CRAWL ALONG; THEN IT WOULD BEGIN TO SLIP, AS IF I HAD HIT A PATCH OF ICE--THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. AND I HEARD A LOUD AND OMINOUS CLANKING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AS I CRAWLED ALONG. AS THE ENGINE WARMED UP, THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED SO I HEADED HOME. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STALLED MOMENTARILY. THANKFULLY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THOUGH I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN REAR-ENDED. AFTER MANY HOURS SPENT WITH MY MECHANIC, OUR SELLING TOYOTA DEALER, AND A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ECU MODULE IN THE RAV WAS GOING BAD AND THAT IS WHAT WRECKED OUR TRANSMISSION. WE NEEDED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND A NEW ECU MODULE. GRAND TOTAL FOR THE WORK: A WHOPPING $4500! I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND READ THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM; THAT IN 2006 TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH ECUS IN RAVS MODEL YEAR 2001-2003. BUT THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WERE NEVER NOTIFIED, LEADING TO A BURN-OUT OF RAV TRANSMISSIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST TOYOTA TO GET THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. I CALLED TOYOTA; THEY POLITELY BUT FIRMLY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE WORK, SIMPLY CLAIMING THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEN I SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP--SAME ANSWER. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF MONEY AND INCONVENIENCE; THESE VEHICLES ARE DANGEROUS AND I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT TOYOTA INSTALLED IN ITS VEHICLES. PLEASE PRESSURE TOYOTA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM IT HAS CREATED! THANK YOU. *TR
Power train, Feb 28, 2010
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV-4 BEGAN HAVING GEAR SHIFT PROBLEMS ABOUT JANUARY 10, 2010. IT BUMPED, LURCHED, BURPED GOING INTO 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR SERVICE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OVER, THEY DRAINED AND REPLACED THE FLUID, PAN GASKET & FILTER. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME IT BEGAN THE GEAR PROBLEM AGAIN. I THEN TOOK IT TO A RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY RECONDITIONED THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS OK FOR A FEW DAYS; TOOK IT BACK; MORE WORK DONE AS PART OF TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. STILL NOT FIXED. BIG PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEARS MOST OF THE TIME. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2010
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STOP. IT STARTED TO JERK, SLOW DOWN SO MUCH UNTIL I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND. I HAD TO PUT MY FLASHERS ON SO THE OTHER DRIVERS WOULD SLOW DOWN AND GO AROUND ME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANYMORE. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED BUT NO ERROR CODE APPEARS. I WAS TOLD WITHOUT A CODE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT O.K. FOR A WHILE AND THEN IT WILL START, JERKING, LOSING POWER, AND FAILING TO ACCELERATE. I AM AFRAID TO GO VERY FAR IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. I SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THEIR TOYOTA. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Feb 23, 2010, crash
I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY TO WORK AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES TO STOP ( I BARELY PRESSED THEM) AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND I COULDN'T STOP. I TRIED TO PRESS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND EVEN PUMPED THEM. I TRIED TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER AND MY STEERING LOCKED. I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH BEFORE I TRIED STOPPING, AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO STOP, AND WHEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FRONT END WAS SMASHED END AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE LADY I HIT HAD JUST A DENT IN HER BUMPER. I DIDN'T HAVE MAJOR INJURIES BUT I HAD SOME BRUISING AND A KNOT ON MY KNEE. I NEVER WENT GET CHECKED OUT BUT I STILL HAVE PAIN SOMETIMES IN MY NECK AND BACK. THE POLICE DID FILE A REPORT AND EVEN THOUGH THE LADY I HIT TOLD THE OFFICER THAT I WASN'T CLOSE TO HER AND HAD PLENTY ENOUGH TIME TO STOP HE GAVE ME A TICKET FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE. IT TOOK ME WAY LONGER THAN 4 SECONDS TO HIT HER. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 22, 2010
I BOUGHT NEW[ DEC. 2000] A 2001 TOYOTA RAV.4 LIMITED ..WITH 4CYL/.AUTOMATIC 4SPD.O.D.TRANSMISSION +ALL THE XTRAS...I HAVE KEPT IT UP -MECHANICALLY AND BODY WISE NEAR PERFECT...ALMOST ALL THRU TOYOTA DEALERS,AS I PLAN TO PASS IT ON TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF AUG. 09 I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE LOCAL HIGHWAY @35/40 MPH AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT "CAME ON AND THEN A LOUD BANG AND GROWL ALL WHILE BUCKING DOWN TO10 MPH AND DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO A STOP,I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND BODY--NO LEAKS OR HANGING PARTS...AFTER I PHONED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER I DROVE THE CAR [NOW STUCK IN 2ND. GEAR THE SHORT DISTANCE BACK HOME..THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER FOUND 2-CODES STORED--INDICATING A DEFECTIVE ECU.OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT ALSO KNOWN AS A ECM OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE....THIS $1500. COMPUTER PART SENDS ALL THE SIGNALS TO THE SOLENOIDS IN THE AUTO TANS. WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS..NOW COMES THE SAFETY CONCERN--SEEING THAT THE ECU CAN GO BONKERS AT ANY TIME,IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS MOVING ALONG AT 50/60/65MPH AND BOOM THE CAR DROPS DOWN IN 1ST. GEAR GOD FORBID IF THERE ARE 2 OR 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND A 80,000LB.SEMI IS ON THEIR REAR-WORST YET AT NIGHT WITH BAD WEATHER...AS MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE IN YOUR FILES AND THE INTERNET HAS THOUSANDS OF NEAR MISSES ON THIS PROBLEM TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT AS FAR BACK AS 2003.THAT THE 01--02 AND 03 RAV 4 HAD THIS SAFETY CONCERN SO THEY TWEAKED THE ECU PER A TSB IN 06 I HAD PURCHASED THE PREMIUM 100K. WARRANTY AND THE E.C.U.WENT OUT AT 105K. WITH SOME PHONE CALLS TO CHICAGO AREA REP.TOYOTA AGREED TO SEND ME A LONG AWAITED CHECK FOR ONE-HALF PART ONLY COST..NOTHING FOR TROUBLESHOOTING-TOWING -OR LABOR FEES....MY MAIN CONCERN IS TOYOTA [I FEEL ]ISN'T ONE BIT PRO ACTIVE ON SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN OWNERS CALL THE 800# IN CALIFORNIA..I HOPE NHTSA CAN GET THIS ON FAST TRACK FOR SAFETY..THANK YOU...P.S. I HAVE OLD PART... *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Feb 13, 2010
TOYOTA 2001 RAV4 HESITATING TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE AND METAL IS GRINDING. STARTED ALL OF THE SUDDEN. DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR FROM FIRST TO SECOND, ETC. DESCRIPTION OF EXACT PROBLEM IS HERE: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/#MORE-23445. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Feb 13, 2010
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED CAR PUT IN DRIVE APPLIED GAS AND CAR LEAPED FORWARD. PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL,ENGINE WAS HEAVILY RACING,STEPPED ON BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP CAR. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND STOPPED IN A SNOW PILE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 10, 2010
MY 2001 RAV4 TOYOTA JERKS FORWARD AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. HAD IT CHECKED AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY DIDN'T SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE ENGINE CONTROL. IF I DECIDE TO DO THE JOB, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS BUT IT WILL COST ABOUT $6,000. TOOK IT A LOCAL MECHANICS THEY COULD NOT HELP ME AS WELL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 9, 2010
MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 THREW A ROD, RESULTING IN A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONNECTING ROD ENDCAP BOLT BROKE. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM AND IT SHOULD NEVER BRAKE. THE ROD PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE WHOLE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *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
Structure, Feb 4, 2010
I BELIEVE THAT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR ON THE TOYOTA RAV 4 2001 AND PERHAPS OTHER YEARS IS INADEQUATE. A WHILE BACK MY FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS AND I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE. A SMALL ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED BY THE HEIGHT DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO PEDALS.. *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