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, Electrical system, Jun 11, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT CAUSE THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO DISINTEGRATE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. *TR
Power train, Jun 10, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 (2002) JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO TRAFFIC WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A BUSY BOULEVARD. CARS SCREECHED TO A HALT. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. RAV4 HAS FAULTY COMPUTER (ECM) THAT TOYOTA DID NOT RECALL AND HOLDS CONSUMERS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING (APPX$1400). FAULTY COMPUTER OFTEN DESTROYS TRANSMISSION ALSO. I AM FACING $5500 IN REPAIRS AND TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR AND PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LIVES. I AM LUCKY I DIDN'T. *TR
Power train, Jun 10, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. REPORT 1006100118 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS SINCE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,680.
Power train, Jun 8, 2010
ON MAY 25TH, MY WIFE WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A LOCAL BYPASS (SPEED LIMIT 55 MPH). AS SHE BEGAN TO MERGE, OUR 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HESITATED AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. MY WIFE HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY TRAFFIC. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY AND THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDED NEW FLUID. THEY TESTED THE CAR AND IT WAS OK SO I PICKED IT UP AND BROUGHT IT HOME. BY THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS HESITATING AGAIN SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE PROBLEM. I THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY REPAIR PERSON STATING THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH 61,000 MILES ON IT BUT ALL WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED. I THEN FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSIONS BUT HAVE NEVER CONTACTED THE BUYERS OR HAD A RECALL DUE TO EXPENSE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK OR A REPAIR BILL FOR $5,000 PLUS. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS DEPENDABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT COST TO ME SINCE I HAVE NO MORE WARRANTY COVERAGE. I'M NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR SINCE I'M NOT PUTTING $5,000 INTO AN 8 YEAR OLD ONE. DO I HAVE ANY LEGAL ALTERNATIVES SINCE TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT SAID NOTHING? *TR
Power train, Jun 4, 2010
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD,GOING INTO REVERSE FROM PARK WITH A HUGE CLUNK. ALSO, SLIPPING AT TIMES. WHEN MAKING A LEFT/RIGHT TURN FROM A ROAD TO ANOTHER, CAR WOULD SLUGGISHLY MOVE-VERY DANGEROUS. TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD A NEW COMPUTER WAS NEEDED TO VERIFY IF THE PROBLEM WAS ECU RELATED OR THE TRANNY..I ASKED WHY A NEW COMPUTER WASN'T AVAILABLE TO TEST WHETHER IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR TRANNY."WE DON'T STOCK COMPUTERS". I WAS QUOTED $1200.00 FOR "NEW" ECU TO SEE IF IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEN A "NEW" TRANNY FOR 4000.00 TO 5000.00 WOULD BE REQUIRED. THIS IS A 2002 2WD WITH 99K MILES WORTH ABOUT $5000.00(IN GREAT SHAPE OTHERWISE). ALSO LEARNED THAT THE ECU TENDS TO THROW CODES UNRELATED TO THE TRANNY ISSUE. WHEN I BROUGHT MY RAV4 IN I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY ISSUES WITH THE TRANNY AND THAT THERE WAS A TSB TO INSTALL NEW SOFTWARE TO TRY TO FIX THE ISSUE. I WAS THEN TOLD NO, YOU NEED TO TRY A NEW ECU FOR $1200.00. WHY NOT THROW A "NEW" ECU IN TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM? WHY DON'T THEY ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT INSTEAD OF EASTER EGGING AT MY EXPENSE? CHARGE ME $1200.00 FOR AN ECU(OR ANY PART) THAT MAY OR MAY NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE IS CRIMINAL AND TO HEAR THAT THE ECU PROBLEM EATS THE TRANNY IS ALSO CRIMINAL QUICK TO TAKE YOUR CASH BUT TO DENY A VERY COMMON PART DEFECT (ECU) THAT ULTIMATELY DESTROYS ANOTHER EXPENSIVE NEEDED COMPONENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE MADE LEFT/RIGHT TURNS AND THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES TO BUCK/HESITATE AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS EXPECTING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE APPROPRIATELY. *TR
Power train, Jun 4, 2010
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. VEHICLE SHUDDERS LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STOP RUNNING, THEN RPM'S JUMPED UP TO ABOUT 4,000 AND SLAMMO! SLAMS INTO GEAR. ALMOST GOT HIT BY A LARGE TRUCK BEHIND ME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON . TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY WITHOUT ERROR CODES THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HAD A RECALL ON ECM A COUPLE OF YRS. AGO. HAD IT DONE(RE-FLASHED) AT DEALERSHIP. NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. *TR
Power train, Jun 2, 2010, crash
TOYOTA RAV4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT CRAZY AND CAR STARTED LUNGING FORWARD AND THEN NOT GOING WHEN IT SHOULD. IT CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT SOME TIME AGO, BUT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE AND WE HAVE NOT FELT SAFE ENOUGH TO EVEN KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. IF PEOPLE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS US TO HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAN NOT AFFORD TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, IT COULD VERY WELL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUSINESS WITH THEM. OURS ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED TO US AND FROM WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET THERE IS MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN. *TR
Power train, May 30, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV-4. I HAVE TAKEN PROPER CAR OF THE CAR, LIKE OIL CHANGES, TUNE-UPS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. EXCEPT RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR HAS FAILED. IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ISSUE HAS COME ABOUT. I AM ALMOST AT 102K MILES ON MY CAR. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER SUV DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. I HAVE RECENTLY FOUND ARTICLES BY USA TODAY AND CBS5 STATING HOW OWNERS OF TOYOTA RAV-4'S 2001-2003 MODELS HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *TR
Power train, May 23, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 2002 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES WITH A PERFECT MAINTENANCE. SINCE TWO DAYS AGO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN. I SEARCH IN THE INTERNET AND TOYOTA KNEW THE PROBLEM SINCE 2006 WITHOUT TELLING THE OWNERS, NOW TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION COULD COST AROUND 5,000 AND ITS SUPPOSE TO BE THE COMPUTER. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Equipment, May 22, 2010
I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE A 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC, NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2010 MY VEHICLE STARTING JERKING, I LOOK AT MY GAS GAUGE AND THOUGHT I MUST BE LOWER ON GAS THEN THE GAUGE IS SHOWING. I GOT GAS AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. I GOT GAS AND THE SITUATION STOPPED. SPORADICALLY, IN THE 2 WEEK TIME FRAME MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. I DID TAKE MY CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAD THE CAR AND DID TEST DRIVES WITH NO PROBLEMS. AGAIN, IN APRIL THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN AND THE CAR WHEN TO MY MECHANIC AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. ON APRIL 22, 2010 UPON LEAVING WORK I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE JERKING, SHAKING AND AT TIMES SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME (1 MILE AWAY) WITH THE TIRES BARELY ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY, THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND AS WE WERE DOING A TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE BEGAN THE JERKING, SHAKING AND LOST POWER, THE CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE ANY LONGER. THE DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION BURNT AND NEW ECM (MY THIRD IN THIS VEHICLE). THE VEHICLES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NEVER CAME ON OR ANY OTHER SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ECM WAS TESTED IT DID NOT DISPLAY ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO BRING IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT DOES NOT RUN AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND WOULD THESE (I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED WITH AN EXPENSE OF ANYWHERE FROM $250 TO $300.00, A HOURS DRIVE AWAY) EXPENSES BE COVERED. RESPONSE "WARRANTY EXPIRED 60 DAYS AGO." AFTER MANY DAYS OF AN AGONIZING DECISION, I ADVISED MY MECHANIC TO GO AHEAD AND FIX THE CAR AT THE TUNE OF $3500.00, REPLACING THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL HAVE IT BACK NEXT WEEK. *TR
Power train, May 14, 2010
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV BEGAN SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD. TOOK IT TO TRUSTED GARAGE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN RESEARCHING THE VEHICLE AND THE MODEL'S SERVICE HISTORY FOR RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INVOLVED WAS ONLY USED FOR 16 MONTHS BY TOYOTA BEFORE IT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF POOR PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY ISSUES. THE ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. (TOYOTA TSB TC002-06). TOYOTA DEEMED NOT TO ALERT VEHICLE OWNERS OF THIS CONDITION OR TO OFFER ANY PREVENTIVE ACTION TO BE PURSUED TO PREVENT THE ULTIMATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT. WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION NOT VALID IF THE ECM UNIT IS NOT ALSO REPLACED. TOTAL COST = $5,000. ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS 119,000 MILES IN 90 MONTHS OF USE. TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE VEHICLE PARTS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, May 13, 2010
STARTING THE END OF APRIL 2010 MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTING GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR IT DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND REALLY SLUGGISH AND WOULD JERK. I WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD REAR END ME. I KEPT UP ALL MY MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE MARCH 2008. THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS 90,000 MILES. I HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE, BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Power train, May 12, 2010
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM GEAR TO GEAR AND HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS VERY COMMON ON 2001-2004 RAV4'S PER COMPLAINTS ONLINE. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS PUT OUT BY TOYOTA IN MARCH OF 2006 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE ECU. THE BULLETIN PROVES TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE ECU. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO BUY A TRANSMISSION ALSO AFTER THE FAULTY ECU DESTROYS THEIRS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SUCH AS DRIVING ONTO A FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION STALLING WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, May 5, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ENTERING A BUSY HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WITHIN MOMENTS, THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10019667). THE DEALER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
Power train, May 4, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS AT ODD TIMES. ESPECIALLY THOUGH, WHEN TRYING TO MERGE OR PASS IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, May 3, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4, WHILE PUTTING IN DRIVE THE CAR STALLS FOR A SECOND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR...I HAD ECM WORK DONE FOR 1300.00 DOLLARS AND THE CAR STILL JERKS INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO POWER...I AM WORRIED THAT MY WIFE WILL BE IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Power train, Apr 30, 2010
HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 I WAS DRIVING NEAR HOME - BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON AREA HIGHWAY AND EXPERIENCED A JOLT OR HARD SHIFT WHILE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING BETWEEN APPROX. 25-30 MPH. CAUSED CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY. CONSIDER MYSELF BLESSED CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND NO ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME AS WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MECHANIC WHO ADVISED TO TAKE TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DUE TO A FAULTY ECM COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. CURRENTLY STILL SITTING THERE WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA ON HOW THEY WILL REMEDY. *TR
Power train, Apr 30, 2010
WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ON AN INTERSTATE, THE RAV4 WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND WOULD HANG FOR A MOMENT. EMERGENCY MANEUVERS HAD TO BE MADE TO AVOID GETTING RAMMED BY A SEMI-TRUCK. AFTER PULLING OVER AND CHECKING THE CAR, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOW A CEL, IT DID NOT SEEM LIKE ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE. DRIVING HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WITHOUT A PROPERLY SHIFTING CAR, I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP. THAT IS WHEN MY MECHANIC PULLED UP TSB NUMBER: TC002-06 FROM TOYOTA WHICH STATES THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THIS TSB OR ANY OTHER NOTICES FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH MY 2002 RAV4 IS UNDER THE "AGE LIMIT" FOR THE WARRANTY, I AM OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT WHICH MEANS THAT TOYOTA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM. IT CURRENTLY SITS UNFIXED UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE TSB. *TR
Power train, Apr 28, 2010
WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. *TR
Power train, Apr 26, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 JERKING AND LUNGING INTO GEAR FROM A STOP. CAR DROPS INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING A SUDDEN SLOW DOWN AND DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR CARS BEHIND ME WHO HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY FOR ME. 70,000 MILES, TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP THIS A.M. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD TRY RE-PROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER AND THEN IF THAT DID NOT WORK THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPUTER FOR $1,100 AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3,000-$4,000. LEFT DEALERSHIP AFTER "RE-PROGRAMMING" THE COMPUTER AND IMMEDIATELY CAR STARTED LUNGING INTO GEAR, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, THUMPING INTO GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *TR
Power train, Apr 24, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4'S TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS EVEN THOUGH I AM PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT JUST SLOWLY MOVES DURING THOSE SECONDS. THIS IS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN I ATTEMPT TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SOMETIME IT FEELS LIKE THE TURN WILL NOT COMPLETE BEFORE ON COMING TRAFFIC APPROACHES. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WILL COST $3500. *TR
Power train, Apr 24, 2010
MY CAR HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THEN IT STARTED JERKING AND WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE AFTER STOPS AND IN LOW SPEEDS. HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE TWO OXYGEN SENSORS. TWO OXYGEN SENSORS WERE CHANGED BUT THE JERKING DID NOT STOP. I PAID $853.00 FOR THIS SERVICE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT TWO ADDITIONAL SENSORS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I PAID ADDITIONAL $600 (DISCOUNTED) FOR THIS REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ECM ON THE CAR IS BAD AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY IN LOW GEAR. AFTER I HAD SPENT OVER $1400 TO FIX THE OXYGEN SENSORS, I WAS TOLD TO SPEND ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO $6,000 TO FIX THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR BOTH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY DID NOT RECALL THE CARS THAT ARE AFFECTED: 2001-2003 RAV4. WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 22, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4: ECM COMPUTER PROBLEM CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO BURN OUT. THE ECM HAS A DESIGN BLUNDER WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE ITS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE SOLENOIDS. THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED QUITE SUDDENLY. *TR
Power train, Apr 16, 2010
I HAD THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED BY TOYOTA IN 2007. IT CONCERNS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06). AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR THIRTY MINUTES, THE CAR WOULD THEN START TO SHIFT HARSHLY/DELAYED SHIFT CAUSING A LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE IN 2007 AND THEN LAST MONTH HAD TO HAVE THE ECM REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Apr 15, 2010
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 97,000 MILES, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR WOULD STICK AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AS IF THE GEAR FINALLY CAUGHT. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC I FOUND OUT I NOT ONLY NEEDED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION BUT ALSO THE ECM. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR OF OVER $3300 FOR A CAR THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE WELL OVER THAT MILEAGE PRIOR TO NEEDING A TRANSMISSION CHANGE. ALSO IT TOOK 2 ECMS BEFORE WE FOUND ONE THAT COULD WORK. THE CAR WORKED FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR