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
555 reports, newest first.
Power train, Nov 9, 2009, crash
WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY RAV4 STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND THEN IT STOPPED ALTOGETHER IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC! I ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. AS IT WAS ALL THERE WAS A MINOR DING. *TR
Power train, Nov 6, 2009
IN MID SEPTEMBER I STARTED TO NOTICE MY CAR REALLY HAVING TROUBLE PICKING UP SPEED ESPECIALLY WHEN STARTING OFF AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM BECAME MUCH WORSE. THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO CHANGE GEARS AND WHEN IT DID IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD (IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS GOING TO FALL OUT). I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO WRECK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT PICK UP TO SPEED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD JERK UPTO LIKE 40MPH. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERYDAY UNTIL I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AND THAT MY CAR'S COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. I JUST WONDER HOW MUCH TOYOTA CARES ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT TOLD THE CONSUMER ABOUT IT NOR HAVE THEY MADE A RECALL ON THE COMPUTERS TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS. I ENDED UP HAVING TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE MY COMPUTER WHICH ENDED UP COSTING $5,000. *TR
Structure, Nov 4, 2009
I HAVE A '02 TOYOTA RAV 4 WHOSE K- FRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING MECHANISM, RUSTED COMPLETELY IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD WHEN I BRAKED SUDDENLY AND IT CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS 150K AND I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE AND HAD NO IDEA THE RUST WAS THAT BAD. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE COVERING EVEN OLDER TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS BECAUSE OF THEIR RUSTING FRAMES. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISCONCERTED IN TOYOTA PRODUCTS ,ESPECIALLY SINCE THEIR LATEST AD CAMPAIGN TOUTS THEIR LONGEVITY AND DEPENDABILITY. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, I'M SURE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY RAV4 OWNER WITH THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Nov 4, 2009
APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I BEGAN NOTICING HESITATION, JERKING, AND SLIPPING COMING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BIG TEN TIRES TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE MOUNT. THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I REALIZED THEN IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE,AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, BUT THEY TOLD ME TO LIVE WITH IT BECAUSE IT WAS INTERMITTENT! THEY DID NOT TELL ME IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT AT LEAST HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 2001-2003 RAV 4 OWNERS ARE HAVING AS WE SPEAK, NAMELY, A DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (SEE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE DATED 8/26/09). THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED ECM IS SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGES TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO MALFUNCTION. THIS PRESENTS TWO PROBLEMS: OVER TIME IT DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ON TWO OCCASIONS I PULLED OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY (WITHOUT WARNING) REFUSED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND. THIS HESITATION ALMOST CAUSED OTHER VEHICLES TO HIT ME. IT FINALLY "JERKED" INTO GEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISIONS. HAD IT NOT DONE SO, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST AS EARLY AS 2006 WHEN IT ISSUED A TSB TO IT DEALERS PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO BE HONEST. I ALSO THINK IT IS A TRAVESTY THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO MAKE A RECALL. TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS FLAT OUT WRONG. JUST BECAUSE IT DOES NOT OCCUR ON THE "OPEN HIGHWAY" IS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LUDICROUS. I CAN BE JUST AS SERIOUSLY INJURED IF MY CAR IS HIT BY SOMEONE GOING 40 MPH BECAUSE I CAN'T GET OUT OF THEIR WAY. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE TOYOTA FIX THIS PROBLEM DO NOT LET THIS BECOME ANOTHER PINTO GAS TANK CASE. THANK YOU. *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
Power train, Nov 1, 2009
SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. FURIOUS AT THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE WHICH AS THE OWNER I FAILED TO DO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE SOLD MY TOYOTA WITH COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION AT TOYOTA'S LACK OF RESPONSE TO THIS. IF I DID NOT STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY I'M TOLD I WOULD HAVE RUINED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD HAVE COST $4,00 INSTEAD OF THE $1,600. SLIPPING GEARS WHILE DRIVING IS A SAFETY HAZARD. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET HURT BEFORE TOYOTA DOES SOMETHING? *TR
Power train, Oct 31, 2009
IN 2004 WE PURCHASED A 2002 RAV4 TOYOTA AFTER CHECKING WITH CONSUMER REPORTS. THE CAR HAS NOT TURNED OVER 100,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER WENT OUT. THE CHARGE FOR REPLACING BOTH WAS $3708. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE COMPUTER/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR 2001 TO 2003 TOYOTAS IS GROWING. WE ARE RETIRED LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND DID NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR SOME TYPE OF ADJUSTMENT BY TOYOTA FOR THE COMPUTER/TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Oct 29, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN DRIVING SHE EXPERIENCES GEAR SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE AND STALL. THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 75,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Oct 22, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD ISSUES WITH THE ECU (COMPUTER) WHICH CONTROLS THE GEAR SHIFTING. THE SYMPTOMS ARE STALLING/PAUSING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND/OR 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WHEN IT HAPPENS, PRESSING ON THE GAS HAS NO EFFECT - CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY AFTER THE PROBLEM SURFACES. ON 10/8, AS I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A MAIN ROAD, I HAD A STALL AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS AN ONCOMING CAR THAT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP AND DID NOT HIT ME. I HAD MY MOTHER AND 14 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS SAME COMPLAINT FOR HUNDREDS OF RAV4 OWNERS. THE ECU (COMPUTER) FAILS AFTER SIGNIFICANT MILEAGE (I'M AT 135K), CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE AFFECTED. IF THE ECU REPAIR DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. I HAD THE ECU RE-BUILT FOR $1,413 ($1200 FOR THE PART ALONE) AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED MY ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Oct 21, 2009
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED SLIPPING AND PULLING OUT OF THE BLUE. IT HAD 87,280 MILES AND HAD BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND INSPECTED. IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE AT INTERSECTIONS AND ON TAKE OFF , MAKING DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL , LEAVING ME DRIVING WITH ONLY 3RD GEAR. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD TO SPEND $3715.30 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ECM. THIS IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER AS THERE IS NO WARNING. FAILURE COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE CAUSING BODILY HARM TO THE DRIVER , PASSENGERS, AND OTHER VEHICLES AND OCCUPANTS ON THE ROAD. I FEEL A RECALL IS NEEDED AND REIMBURSEMENT OF ALL REPAIR COSTS SHOULD BE MADE TO VICTIMS OF THIS NEGLIGENCE. *TR
Power train, Oct 20, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4. CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY, BARELY MADE IT UP HILLS. DROVE TWO HOURS FROM HOME TO A RECRUITING EVENT. TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 76,600 MILES ON IT. SLOW SHIFTING AND SUDDEN COMPLETE MALFUNCTION LED TO SAFETY ISSUES/SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. *TR
Power train, Oct 19, 2009
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2002 RAV4: THE "CHECKING" ENGINE LIGHT ON MY CAR WAS ON A WEEK AGO, THEN THE NEXT DAY, I PUT MY CAR TO KOONS TOYOTA AT TYSONS, VIRGINIA FOR CHECKING THE PROBLEM, ALSO I REQUESTED 120,000 MILE SERVICE. AFTER SERVICE WAS COMPLETED BY KOONS, I FOUND THAT MY CAR HAS THE HARSH SHIFTING OCCURS, MEANING THAT, AT THE LOW GEAR, WHEN STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. MY CAR HESITATES TO SHIFT INTO THE SECOND GEAR. AFTER PUSH FURTHER ON THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR JUMPED HARSHLY INTO THE SECOND GEAR, RATHER THAN SMOOTH DRIVING AS PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. THE NEXT DAY, I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO KOONS TO REPORT THE "HARSH SHIFTING" PROBLEM, THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR AND AGREED THAT THERE IS SOME JERKING OCCURS AT LOW GEAR. THEY RECOMMENDED ME TO CONTINUOUSLY DRIVE THE CAR, HOPING THAT THE CAR WILL ADJUST ITSELF TO THE NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING THAT THEY USED. I CONTINUED DRIVE FOR A WEEK WHILE CAREFULLY LISTEN TO MY CAR: THE "HARD SHIFTING" PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THEN LAST NIGHT, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT MY CAR TO KOONS DEALER AT TYSONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING IT AGAIN, KOONS TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE "ENGINE CONTROL MODULE" (E.C.M.) AND RECOMMENDED ME THAT FIRST TO REPLACE THE E.C.M., AND IF THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM, SECOND IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION NEXT. I THINK THIS PROBLEM DEFINITELY NOT CAUSE BY ME, RATHER BY KOONS AND TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. NOW I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR DANIEL BUI
Power train, Oct 16, 2009
APPARENTLY WITH ALL THE CHATTER ABOUT TOYOTA RAV4S THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS. MINE AS WELL HAS STARTED TO SLIP AND BUCK IN AND OUT OF 2ND GEAR. AN INVESTIGATION IS DEFINITELY WARRANTED AND SHOULD LEAD TO A RECALL BY TOYOTA. *TR
Power train, Oct 14, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED GEAR SHIFTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED GEARS,THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. HOWEVER NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Power train, Oct 14, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS, THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86936.
Power train, Oct 14, 2009
TRANSMISSION/ECM FAILURE. TRANSMISSION WOULD "FLARE" WHILE ACCELERATING. WHEN SHIFTING WHILE ACCELERATING, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND POWER WAS NOT TRANSMITTED TO WHEELS. ENGINE WOULD REV UP FOR 5-10 SECONDS UNTIL TRANSMISSION WOULD VIOLENTLY ENGAGE IN NEXT GEAR. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS OR MERGE WITH TRAFFIC, AS THE VEHICLE HAD NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE DURING THE EVENT. SYMPTOMS QUICKLY BECAME VERY REGULAR/REPEATABLE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAULTY ECM MODULE AND DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Oct 12, 2009
IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIP, AFTER STOPPING, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT DOWNSHIFTS FOR NO REASON, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T FULLY ENGAGE INTO FIRST GEAR. SOMETIMES IT WORKS FINE. SOMETIMES IT HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING GOING UPHILL, IT WILL DOWNSHIFT AND REV TO REDLINE AND WON'T SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THAT IT WORKED FOR THEM. BUT THEN THEY ALSO OFFERED TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Oct 11, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 ALL WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC, AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AT 98,000 MILES. THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER AT STOPS, SOMETIMES LUNGING FORWARD. I WOULD HOLD UP TRAFFIC AS IT CONTINUED SHUDDERING UNTIL IT WOULD FINALLY GO INTO SECOND. SOMETIMES ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND SHUDDER AS WELL. I WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE SPEED UNTIL IT WOULD GO INTO SECOND. SOMETIMES AT INTERSECTIONS I WOULD CRAWL ACROSS THE STREET AS I HOPED THAT IT WOULD GO INTO SECOND BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNED RED! I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA OXNARD CA. AT 110,000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL "IS NOTORIOUS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS." I THEN SAID, "AND YOU SOLD ME THIS CAR KNOWING THIS?!" I PURCHASED THE USED CAR FROM THE SAME LOT IN APRIL 2004. SO THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NO MENTION OF THE COMPUTER PROBLEM. I WAS QUOTED $3800 TO FIX IT. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION, AS I COULD NOT AFFORD $3800 TO FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I "BABY" IT THAT IT MAY LAST AWHILE LONGER. AT 203,000 MILES IT GAVE OUT. THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO 2ND GEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WAS ALSO AN ISSUE, AND HE SUGGESTED TO REPLACE BOTH. IT IS NOW FIXED...$4800 LATER. I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND HAD TO USE ALL OF MY STUDENT LOAN MONEY TO PAY FOR MY CAR. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2009
OUR ECM, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, IS FAULTY AND HAS BEEN SENDING OUR TRANSMISSION THE WRONG SIGNALS AND TELLING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT AT THE WRONG INTERVALS. THIS CAUSED OUR TRANSMISSION TO HARD SHIFT AND MIS-SHIFT BETWEEN 1 AND 2, AND 2 AND 3. AS A RESULT, MY WIFE AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OUR SUV WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. *TR
Power train, Oct 7, 2009
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THERE WAS A LACK OF ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. ONCE THE CAR WOULD FINALLY ACCELERATE, IT WOULD BANG INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4'S AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IF THE CAR HAS OVER 80,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Power train, Oct 6, 2009
PROBLEM WITH MY TOYOTA RAV4'S ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED TRANSMISSION. THE COMPUTER WAS RECALLED IN 2007 FOR REPROGRAMMING. NOW IT HAS FAILED, AND THE TRANSMISSION POTENTIALLY ALONG WITH IT. TOYOTA CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS RECALLED AND I HAD THE REPROGRAMMING DONE, BECAUSE I AM NOT UNDER WARRANTY. SCARY TO BE DRIVING AND HAVE THE CAR SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY DOWN TO FIRST GEAR AND NOT SHIFT BACK. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER DRIVING TWO SMALL CHILDREN AROUND - SERIOUSLY SCARY. *TR
Power train, Oct 5, 2009
ERRATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATION, E.G. SEVERE SLIPPING AND IMPROPER DOWNSHIFTING WHICH CAUSES RAPID DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION TO FOLLOWING DRIVERS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RESULTED FROM FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THIS CAR'S ECU WAS RECENTLY REPROGRAMMED BY TOYOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSB EG010-02. THIS TSB ADDRESSES SPURIOUS CATALYTIC CONVERTER ERROR CODES. *TR
Power train, Oct 5, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION, 94K MILES; TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR IN A SAFE MANNER. THE RPMS REACH 4000 - 5000 BEFORE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO 2ND GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING ON A HIGHWAY RAMP AS THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING TO REACH HIGHER SPEEDS IN ORDER TO MERGE SAFELY. ALSO, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, CAR IS NOT SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR IN A TIMELY MANNER AND COULD CAUSE LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENTS DUE TO REAR-END COLLISIONS. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 3, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 RAV 4 WITH 60K MILES AND THE ECM IS FAULTY AND IS CAUSING MY TRANSMISSION TO SLIP, FLARE UP, AND ALMOST GOT ME KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT AD MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN TRAFFIC UNTIL IT FINALLY GRABBED AND WENT FORWARD. NOW, I HAVE TO SPEND $4000 TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FIXED AT 60K MILES. I AM OUTRAGED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS FAULTY COMPUTER ECM. IT'S DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I WILL BE CONTACTING AN ATTORNEY AS 1000'S OF OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND DISCUSS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR
Power train, Oct 3, 2009
YESTERDAY, 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND HESITATE JEOPARDIZING PASSENGER SAFETY. I UNDERSTAND TOYOTA ISSUED TSB 00206 BUT CHOSE NOT TO RECALL OR OTHERWISE INFORM CUSTOMERS. FURTHER I UNDERSTAND REPLACEMENT ECM IS OVER $1,000 AND A TRANSMISSION REBUILD MAY COST NEARLY $4,500. TOYOTA EVIDENTLY IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT OR OTHERWISE OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR