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: power train
381 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Sep 13, 2009
BECAUSE THERE IS PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SENSOR SYSTEMS THAT CAUSING IT TO STALL. AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I ALMOST GOT REAR-END TWICE. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FIXED AT A COST OF $3000 WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH A RECALL WAS DONE. BECAUSE THE STALLING OUT SCARED ME SO BAD. I HAVE IT FIX. *TR
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.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 6, 2009
AROUND THE 1ST OF JULY MY TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTING JERKING AND REFUSED TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR. THE RAV 4 HAS HAD ALL OF THE REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND SHOWED ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM WERE GOING OUT. I HAD MY 16 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DID NOT REALIZED THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR AROUND 3 YEARS UNTIL I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE TOYOTA COMPANY IMMEDIATELY. I AM JUST NOW LEARNING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED TOYOTA CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE BUT OF COURSE THE TOYOTA COMPANY WILL NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. IF MY GRANDSON AND I HAD BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY I DO FEEL THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DEVASTATING. *TR
Power train, Sep 3, 2009
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ON AUGUST 22ND, 2009 I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AND PICK UP SPEED. ONCE IT DID GET MOVING, THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY PICK UP SPEED. EVERYTIME I WOULD COME TO A STOPLIGHT, I WOULD BE DEATHLY AFRAID THAT MY CAR WOULDN'T START UP AGAIN AND THAT I WOULD BE HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD SLOW DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THEN JERK VIOLENTLY FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED EVERYTIME I DROVE. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED A SHOP. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP GETTING REBUILT AT A COST OF $3,000+ I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION BUT WOULD SEND IT TO BE REMANUFACTURED AT A COST OF NO LESS THAN $5,000. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH 2002 RAV4 OWNERS AND THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN OF THIS FOR A WHILE BUT DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. APPARENTLY THE ISSUES IS WITH A FAULTY ECM THAT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT, MOST OF THE CARS ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE COST IS LEFT UP TO THE CONSUMER. MY FEAR IS THAT EVEN WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ECM, IT IS GOING TO RE-OCCUR AND I AM GOING TO INCUR ANOTHER STAGGERING REPAIR BILL. I CALLED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE NUMBER AND SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER CARE REP WHO ADVISED ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS AT THE TIME ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND THAT I COULD NOT SPEAK TO HIS MANAGER AS THEY DO NOT TALK TO CONSUMERS. I WANT TOYOTA TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. HAD THEY NOTIFIED THEIR BUYERS TO REPLACE THEIR ECM'S AHEAD OF TIME, THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THESE COSTLY REPAIRS DOWN THE LINE. *TR
Power train, Aug 31, 2009
THE CAR JUST BEGAN JERKING AFTER I PUT GAS IN ONE DAY. I WAITED A WEEK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT GOT WORSE. THE DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, THE CAR WOULD BARELY DRIVE. IT WOULD HESITATE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO 2ND GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ONLY 150 MILES BEFORE THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE ECU AND IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM MASKED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE O2 SENSOR, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER 2 DAYS. SO I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED. *TR
Power train, Aug 31, 2009
AS I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HESITATED AND WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA ON DIXIE HIGHWAY, LOUISVILLE, KY WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT FOR EVERY SERVICE. THEY PUT SOME TYPE OF FLUID SAID THAT THIS MAY FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO GET IT AND ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT RUN. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE BACK TO SEE THEM. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $4,000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2009
I AM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY TOYOTA RAV4 L 2002 WHILE DRIVING. WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD,THE TRANNY BEGAN SLIPPING,HESITATINGAND JERKING. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED YET. I AM CONCERNING SOMEDAY SOMEONE WILL HIT BEHIND ME DURING DRIVING DUE TO SHIFTING PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T KEEP ON SPEED LIMITED. I GET ONLINE WWW.CARSCOMPLAINTS.COM AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I FOUND OUT MOST OF THE TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS DESCRIBING SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT CAN DAMAGE THE TRANNY. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 28, 2009
DURING A RECENT RAIN I WAS TRANSPORTING MY GRANDKIDS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CAR SEEMED TO SLIP AND JOLT FORWARD EACH TIME I ACCELERATED. EACH TIME THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND THE SLIPPING AND JOLTING WAS SIGNIFICANT. I WAS AFRAID THAT MY CAR WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY GLAD TO GET MY GRANDKIDS HOME SAFELY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ECU AT A COST OF OVER $6,000! I WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE YEAR BEFORE AND DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE "ENGINE" TROUBLE LIGHT WHICH KEPT COMING ON. EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT EITHER AN ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ALSO CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL HEADQUARTERS AGAIN. I FELT LIKE A PING-PONG BALL. IN THE END NO ONE COULD OR WOULD HELP ME. I ENDED UP GOING TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE JUST THE ECU REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500. THE CAR STILL JOLTS WHENEVER I ACCELERATE, HOWEVER I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD $4000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THIS TIME. *TR
Power train, Aug 28, 2009
2002 RAV4 THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM ON - DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. REPAIR COST $5,000. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THERE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN, AS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WAS MERGING ONTO A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THESE CARS ARE A DEATHTRAP AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THEM AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 28, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 THAT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE IT WOULD JERK AND JOLT THIS IS HOW IT STARTED. THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT STARTED DOING THIS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND SO ON. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS OF THIS I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT IT. THEY CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY SAYING THAT THEY THOUGHT I NEEDED NEW ENGINE MOUNTS. THAT THEY WERE CAUSING CAR TO JERK WHEN IT CHANGED GEARS. HE SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ORDERED AND THAT THEY NEEDED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. SO THE NEXT DAY GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING THAT THEY DROVE THE CAR SOME MORE AND REALIZED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS IT. THIS WOULD COST ME $5200.00. I CALLED A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 30 YEARS AND HE CALLED A FRIEND OF HIS WHO WORKS PARTS AT TOYOTA. THE PERSON WHO WORKS FOR TOYOTA TOLD MY FRIEND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV AND THAT IT IS ONLY THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT, NOT THE TRANSMISSION. SO, HE SOLD US THE PART AND MY FRIEND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER. NOW MY CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY. SO, I INSTEAD SPENT ONLY $1100.00 AS OPPOSED TO THE $5200.00 THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME WHEN IT WAS NOT MY TRANSMISSION AT ALL. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALER SHOWING WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO REPLACE AND SPEND. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AN ACCREDITED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO HAVE ME SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING WHEN IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY CAR THERE AND I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED THERE EVER SINCE- 7 YEARS! *TR
Power train, Aug 27, 2009
I HAD A TOYOTA RV4 2002, THAT WAS GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE CAR STAR SHAKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY IN VARIOUS OCCASION, THAT REALLY SCARED ME, AND MY CHILD, I HAD TO PAID 3462.52 DOLLARS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA REPLACED THE ECM, ANOTHER 1, 200 DOLLARS. I'M VERY UNHAPPY BECAUSE LATER I FOUND OUT, THAT TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T NOT NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER, I'M A SINGLE MOTHER, AND FOR ME THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY TO PAID WITH MY CREDIT CARDS... *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 27, 2009
1. TOYOTA 2002 RAV 4 STARTING JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AT 80,300 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT AROUND 60 MPH. 2. TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY AND TOYOTA DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE WHICH WAS MAKING THE TRANSMISSION JERK. 3. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND STUCK US WITH THE BILL SINCE OUR CAR WAS 300 MILES OVER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH WE HAD BROUGHT IT IN 4 TIMES PRIOR FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Aug 27, 2009
PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DAUGHTER. HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS AND ONCE IT HIT 90,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR FROM STOP POSITION. AFTER TOWING TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANNY $3290.27 AND ECM $1211.13 . TOYOTA HAS MONOPOLY ON ECM/PROGRAMMING AND IT MUST BE CHANGED WITH REBUILT/NEW TRANNY. WENT TO WEBSITE AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS STANDARD FOR 2002 RAV4'S. MANUFACTURER SAYS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE AND WON'T HELP IN ANY WAY! *TR
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
Power train, Aug 24, 2009
CAR JERKS AND LOSES ACCELERATION, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION. *TR
Power train, Aug 16, 2009
2002 RAV4 JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. *TR
Power train, Aug 13, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IN WHICH I RECENTLY REPLACED THE COMPUTER FOR THE TRANSMISSION. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOPLIGHT, THEN WOULD JERK FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR--A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GAIN SPEED ON A HIGHWAY. AFTER I REPLACED THE COMPUTER, THE CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WENT BACK ON AND IT IS STARTING TO JERK AGAIN AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP TO WHICH I TOOK THE VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IF THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENT, AT A COST OF ABOUT $1300, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF ABOUT $4,000. I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HOPE WITH ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS, YOU CAN FORCE TOYOTA TO RECALL THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Power train, Aug 9, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4, 4WD,AT TRANSMISSION JERKING AND HASHING, REPORTING CODE P0750, P0755... I CALLED TOYOTA DEALER IN PORTLAND, OR AND SPEAK TO MASTER TECHNICIAN. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MASTER TECH THAT RAV4 2001-02 AND 2003 RAV4 NEEDS A NEW UPDATED ECM FOR ABOUT $800.00 + LABOR. HE WARNED ME THAT WITHOUT REPLACING THE NEW UPDATED ECM, MY RAV4 TRANSMISSION WILL BE DAMAGE AND IT COULD COST ABOUT $5,500.00 PARTS + LABOR. TOYOTA WARRANTY ONLY 8 YRS OR 80K MILES SINCE THIS IS THEIR FLAW SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING AND WHY DON'T THEY DO A RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM. INSTEAD THEY ONLY NOTIFY THEIR SERVICE CENTER OF THEIR DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP RAV4 OWNERS.... *TR
Power train, Aug 9, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEARS. THE CAR STALLS UPON TAKEOFF AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH MY SON IN THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TAKE OFF. WE WERE ALMOST HIT IN THE SIDE. *TR
Power train, Aug 9, 2009
AFTER REGULAR SERVICE, CAR BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY THIS WEEK WITH JUST OVER 85K MILES WITH NO INITIAL INDICATION OF PROBLEM INCLUDING HARD CLUNKING/SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS.. I HAVE HAD NEAR REAR-END ACCIDENTS THIS WEEK AS A RESULT OF THE INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHOM DIAGNOSED THEN UN-DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION/ECM FAILURE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LARGE COMMUNITY OF USERS REPORTING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Aug 3, 2009
SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE BOTH WITH THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TO AND WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER AND THIS IS KNOWN TO BE A $6,000 PROBLEM TO REPAIR. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 2, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING AND SOMETIMES IT ALMOST DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE WITH AN A/C ON... BUT WHEN I TURN OFF THE A/C IT RUNS FINE... LIVING IN ARIZONA WE NEED AS MUCH A/C AS WE GET... AND TOYOTA WON'T MAKE ANY RECALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOPE YOU GUYS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP US REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 1, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. IT BALKS AND CLUNKS, AND EVENTUALLY SHIFTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR WILL BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC OR NOT. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AT STOP LIGHTS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGES OR NOT. THIS STARTED IN JANUARY 2009, BUT WAS NOT CONSISTENT. IN JULY, IT FINALLY CREATED A "CHECK ENGINE" CONDITION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC, AND HE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACED SOLENOIDS, WHICH THE ENGINE CODE SUGGESTED. I THEN TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE ECM, AT A COST OF $1500. THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY SAY I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3500. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006, AND AT THAT TIME ISSUED A BULLETIN. HOWEVER, I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE COST INVOLVED. *TR
Power train, Jul 27, 2009
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED BY MANUFACTURER LEADING TO DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS, HARD SHIFTS, JERKING, MISFIRING, PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. CAN POSE A DEFINITE DANGER TO TRAFFIC DUE TO FAILURE TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFT AS NEEDED WHILE DRIVING. CAN ALSO LEAD TO SEVERE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE FAILURE IF ECM PROBLEM IS NOT CAUGHT AND ECM REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OCCASIONALLY COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF - REGISTERS A PROBLEM WITH SOLENOID A & B. TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 DETAILS THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED REPAIR, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF ECM AND POSSIBLY OF TRANSMISSION. AFTER 3-4 WEEKS OF HARD SHIFTING, PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AND STUTTERING, DIAGNOSTICS IDENTIFIED PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT ECM AND POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FLUSH. *TR
Power train, Jul 13, 2009
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, TOYOTA BECAME AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THEIR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT WERE USED IN 2001/2002 RAV4 VEHICLES. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET UNCOVERS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE NOW EXPERIENCING THE RAMIFICATIONS. TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS WHILE THESE CARS WERE STILL YOUNG; HOWEVER, FAILED IN ANY WAY TO MAKE THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AWARE. THE FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE GENERALLY LASTS UNTIL CONSUMERS ARE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, THUS TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IN MY CASE (AND AS DOCUMENTED BY MANY OTHERS), MY BAD ECM CAUSED MY CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS ALSO HAZARDOUS THAT OFTEN THE CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PICK UP ANY SPEED AT ALL AND THEN WHEN IT DID, IT WOULD ONCE AGAIN JERK AND ACCELERATE ALL AT ONCE. IN ESSENCE, THE FAILURE OF THE ECM CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO DIE. MY RAV4 FINALLY DIED ON JUNE 26, 2009. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE ABOUT $3700; HOWEVER, MANY FOLKS OUT ON THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT WEBSITES HAVE PAID UP TO $5000. THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS HUGE, AS TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT IT LONG AGO AND WITH THE HUGE COST OF THE REPAIR, I'M CERTAIN THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL DRIVE THEIR CARS FAR TOO LONG WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR