2002 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 555 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 39 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 50 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: engine
64 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Mar 6, 2012
HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING, PARTICULARILY 1ST & 2ND GEAR SLOW TO ACCELERATE LAUNCHING AND BUCKING HARD ENGAGEMENT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE REVS UP FROM 2 TO 3 - 4 RPMS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 30, 2010
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 RAV4 TO TOYOTA ON A FEW OCCASIONS. EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN AN OXYGEN SENSOR OR FUEL SENSOR. WE HAD THESE REPLACED AND NOW TOYOTA IS TELLING US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1000). THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 18, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE ELECTRIC CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FOREIGN GARAGE SPECIALIST WHO REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THE ECU FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE 150,000 MILE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 11/28/11 *CN
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 26, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THEN 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR YET THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,178 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,515.
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 13, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE. ALSO, HE RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 9, 2010
I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE... WAS ALMOST KILLED AND HAD TO DRIVE IN EMERGENCY LAND BEFORE BUILDING UP SPEED..... THE PROBLEM IS THE ECM IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FAILED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 29, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ON MARCH 14, 2010, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM STARTED TO OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,747. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,800.
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 8, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED HESITATING ON INITIAL ACCELERATION AND BOLTING WHEN THE GEAR CAUGHT 2ND. WAS PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION AND NEARLY T-BONED BY FORD EXPEDITION. BROUGHT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO CODE. READ ABOUT POTENTIAL ECM PROBLEM. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA AND SPENT $1400.00 TO REPLACE ECM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 5, 2010
IN 2003 WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. IN 2007, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 56,000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST $7,000 BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER GATHERING ALL OUR MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND MUCH DELIBERATION TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR ($2500); WE AGREED. AFTER THEY DID THE WORK, WE HEARD A SOFT CONSTANT BEATING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK, WE WERE TOLD THAT SOUND WAS NORMAL WHEN A NEW ENGINE IS INSTALLED AND IT WILL GO AWAY -- IT DIDN'T. 18 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. BAFFLED AT HOW TWO SEPARATE ENGINES CAN DIE WE TOOK IT TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED, BUT REBUILT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP US. SO DID TOYOTA CORP. THEY HAVE A SETTLEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINES FOR THE SAME GENERATION ENGINES (1997-2002) FOR ALMOST EVERY MODEL. EXCEPT THE RAV4. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE WAS I WAS TOLD I WAS GETTING A NEW ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD FOUND ME A USED ENGINE (12,000 MI) FOR 2300 INCLUDING INSTALLATION. HAD I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO REBUILD IT, I WOULD HAVE WENT WITH THAT OPTION. SO THEY SCREWED ME OUT OF 2500, A CAR, AND A CHANCE AT ACTUALLY FIXING THE CAR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 25, 2010
ENGINE SEIZE AT 162K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-5K MILES. APPARENTLY OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND TOOK THE ENGINE WITH IT. OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAD 7 MILES ON IT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PUT IN REMAN. JASPER ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT $7,000.00 THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE MECHANIC SAID I COULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY'D "FLASH" IT TO GET IT TO GO OFF, BUT IT WOULD COST ME A FEW HUNDRED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ABOUT 28K MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THAT AND THEY JUST UNDO THE BATTERY AND PUT IT BACK ON. THAT "RESETS" IT. WITHIN 100 MILES IT GOES BACK ON. I JUST LEAVE IT AND IF THE CAR BLOWS UP I'LL LEAVE IT WHERE IT DIES THIS TIME. I PAID 28K FOR THE CAR IN 2002, 8 YRS AGO. 28K+7K(ENGINE)=$35,000.00 $35,000.00/8(YRS)=4375(PER YEAR TO OWN.MINIMUM) 4375.00/12(MOS)=364.58 PER MONTH. VERY EXPENSIVE TO OWN AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISN'T EVEN INCLUDED..... TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 22, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. THE ENGINE REVED EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A HARSH SHIFT AS A RESULT OF AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE VEHICLE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ
Engine and engine cooling, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 27, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 82K MILES ON IT. AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN I ACCELERATED BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT I HAD A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 RAV 4'S -- A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND LEARNED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2001 AND 2002 RAV 4'S. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Nov 2, 2009
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2002. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A NIGHTMARE. A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING GEARS, SHAKING, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT IT TO HYANNIS TOYOTA. THE CSR TOLD ME IT WAS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. APPROX. 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR STARTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SHAKING, MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO HYANNIS TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD, "THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM." YOU NEED A NEW COIL. IT WILL COST YOU $250.00. ALSO, I HAD TO RENT A CAR. OF COURSE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. NOW, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY. IF THE COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WAS REPLACED. WHY AM I STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 14, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE POSITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESISTATED 30 TO 45 SECONDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR AND ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY. THE DEALER FLUSHED OUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACED IT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSUME THE REPAIR COSTS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS A DEFECT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Sep 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/08/09.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 27, 2009
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON; I WOULD CARRY IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD RE-SET. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN TWICE. FINALLY, WHAT I THOUGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW, BUT FOUND OUT LATER THAT IS JUST SOUNDED AND REACTED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. BUT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH HAD FAILED. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY WAS OFF AND AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA I GET NO ASSISTANCE. THIS IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION I FOUND OUT: ) THAT TOYOTA HQ HAS BEEN AWARE FOR AT LEAST A FEW (2,3?) YEARS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ECM INSTALLED IN 2001/2002 TOYOTA RAV4?S > > 2) THAT THE DEFECT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING MECHANISM > > 3) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS ARE NOT DUE TO ?NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR? OF THE VEHICLES. THEY ARE CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE DEFECT IN THE ECM. > > 4) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY. (A CASUAL READ OF OWNER COMPLAINTS SUGGESTS MANY OF THEM HAVE SPENT ANYWHERE BETWEEN $3000 AND $5000). > > 5) THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR COSTS OF FIXING THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THEY WERE AWARE OF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND A ENGINE IN THIS CAR. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2009
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2002. LAST YEAR, A FEW YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE, TOYOTA HAD A RECALL FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE LIGHT WAS FIXED. MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AFTER, THE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND HAS STAYED OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. LAST YEAR, MY TRUCK BEGAN TO "HESITATE" WHILE DRIVING AND FINALLY IT BEGAN TO STOP ALL TOGETHER. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AN AIR CONDITIONER BELT WAS REPLACED AND THE AGENT TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. FOR A DAY OR TWO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. BUT SHORTLY AFTER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND I WAS STUCK WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A $2,500 COMPUTER ENGINE PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. SO, I HAD TO RENT A CAR. MY INSURANCE WOULD NOT PAY RENTALS. EXTERNALLY, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK, EVEN TODAY. BUT, INTERNALLY, IT COMPLETELY LET ME DOWN. WHEN I PURCHASED MY TRUCK, I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A DEPENDABLE TRUCK THAT WOULD LAST FOR YEARS AFTER IT WAS PAID OFF. I PAID OFF THE CAR IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. HOW BAD CAN THIS GET? MY TRUCK HAS OVER 140,000 MILES WHICH ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, EXCEEDS WARRANTY DATES. IF THE REPAIR COST IS HIGH, I WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO SELL THE TRUCK. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT AN AMERICAN MADE USED CAR THE OTHER DAY. IT CANNOT COMPARE WITH MY TOYOTA WHEN IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. NOW I AM BACK IN DEBT AGAIN. THIS TIME I GOT A THREE YEAR WARRANTY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE TOYOTA RAV4 TRUCKS. ACCORDING TO THE WEB, A LOT OF US ARE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Equipment, Apr 1, 2009, crash
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2002-IN MAY 2006 I WENT TO MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOL, I GOT BACK OCT 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE FAILED ON THE HWY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 420 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. I DID ALL MY REQUIRED UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE AND TO MY SURPRISE IT HAD OIL SLUDGE. HE CLAIMS ITS FROM SITTING BUT ALOT OF VEHICLES SIT AND DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY MILITARY MEMBERS THAT ARE DEPLOYED. I HAD TO PAY 3989.00 FOR A USED ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING OUT 2001 -03 CAMRY AND LEXUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WERE RECALLED. I FOUGHT GOT AND ATTORNEY AND STILL NO RECALL. I HOPE TO HAVE A CIVIL LAWSUIT WITH TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THIS BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. MARCH 2007 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE ON THE HWY. I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICE IT KEPT JERKING. THEN IT WOULD HESITATE GETTING INTO GEAR AND REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD COST 4980.00. OK LET ME BREAK DOWN THE EXISTING PROBLEMS UP UNTIL THIS POINT. THE DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKING SYSTEM WENT OUT IT WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF SAID ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE ALARMS COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN DOOR KEY OR KEY PAD IS INDICATED. SO I HAD TO UNHOOK. YESTERDAY MARCH 31ST I WAS DONE WITH THE RAV 4. I HAVE NOTICE THAT MORE THAN 35 % OF OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 26, 2008
I BOUGHT A TOYOTA RAV4 2002 AT THE DEALER "TOYOTA OF ALAHAMBRA" AND I BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM TO MANY TIMES WITH THE COMPUTER ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. WHEN I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY TURNED OFF THE LIGHT AND SAID AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK, THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. RECENTLY I HAD PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE COMPUTER ENGINE AND THEY CHARGED $1,200.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS MY FAULT THAT I WAS TAKING OFF IN 2ND GEAR BUT I NEVER USE THE 2ND GEAR. WHAT I KNOW THIS CARS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE NAME OF THE DEALER IS "TOYOTA-SCION OF GLENDALE" 1260 S. BRAND BLVD. GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 91204. AS I KNOW WE HAVE 170 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS RAV4 TOYOTA CARS. FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT ANY PROBLEM WITH DEATH, OR FIRE, OR CRASH, BUT I AM WORRY ABOUT THIS COMPUTER PROBLEMS, WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING ANY MORE, CAN YOU TELL ME THAT CAN I DO ABOUT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Oct 8, 2008
OUR RAV4 BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER. FIRST VISIT RESULTED IN TUNE-UP ITEMS. DEALERSHIP TREATED IT AS AN ENGINE-RELATED PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE CAME BACK ON AGAIN THE SAME AFTERNOON. ON SECOND VISIT, DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR OVERNIGHT TO DRIVE IT WHILE IT WAS COLD. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD A BAD CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE ANY FURTHER DIAGNOSIS COULD OCCUR. THE CC WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, ALREADY HAVING BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAD ALREADY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. PER A TOYOTA SERVICE CAMPAIGN. AFTER THE CC REPLACEMENT, CAR IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, AND IS GETTING WORSE. DEALERSHIP ADVISED US THAT WE NEED AN ECM REPLACEMENT, AT A COST OF $1300. AFTER THE FACT, WE FOUND TOYOTA TSB TC002-06, WHICH DESCRIBES THE EXACT ISSUES OUR RAV4 IS HAVING. TOYOTA ADMITS IN THE TSB THAT THE ECM OF THE '01 THROUGH '03 RAV4'S CAN CAUSE THE HARSH SHIFTING THAT WE ARE SEEING, AND THAT TOYOTA MADE CHANGES TO THE "MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING". THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM. IT CANNOT BE REPROGRAMMED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. THE RESULT OF THIS ECM FAILURE IS THAT THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE, AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AT ALL, AND IT CONSTANTLY LOOSES TENSION ON ITS CLUTCH PACK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE ROAD. THE CONDITION GETS WORSE OVER A SHORT TIME. IN ONLY TWO WEEKS, THE CAR WILL NOT STAY IN ANY SINGLE GEAR WHEN DRIVING. A SEARCH OF THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. OFTEN, THE ECM FAILURE CAUSES PHYSICAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY DIAGNOSIS, NOR WILL THEY MAKE TOYOTA HONOR THE WARRANTY, WHICH IS 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. WE ARE UNDER THE YEARS, BUT OVER BY 8,000 MILES. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE TREATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE? IS IT NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH WHEN YOUR CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR IN TRAFFIC UNEXPECTEDLY? *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 19, 2008
TOYOTA RAV4 2002, 98367 MILES, TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL ON ECM REPROGRAM, AFTER DONE THE RECALL BY TOYOTA DEALER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY ERRATICALLY. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO LOSS OF TRANSMISSION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 23, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE GAINED POWER. IN ADDITION, THE GEARS SHIFTED ROUGHLY AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING AND VIBRATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,846. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 1, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE SPEED REDUCED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AND HESITATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 27, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE ENGINE LIGHT. A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT FOUND. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-50 MPH. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES OR WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,411.