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, Oct 2, 2009
ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. THE GEARS SHIFTED REALLY HARD AND IT STARTED SLIPPING. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SLIPPING KEPT ME IN AN INTERSECTION FOR TOO LONG. *TR IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/ I CALLED YOU YESTERDAY, AND WAS TOLD TO CALL TOYOTA. INDEED, THEY SENT ME TO A DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO SPEND $1546 TO REPLACE A COMPUTER IN CHARGE OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONCE THAT WAS REPLACED, THEY COULD TELL ME IF THE TRANSMISSION HAS OTHER PROBLEMS. A GOOGLE SEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS RECOGNIZED PREVIOUSLY. PLEASE HURRY WITH THIS INVESTIGATION, AS SOMEONE MAY GET KILLED IF YOU GO TOO SLOW. THESE COMPUTERS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. I AM RESPECTFULLY ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, AND KEEP AMERICANS SAFE BY RECALLING THESE CARS FOR REPAIR OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Oct 1, 2009
TOYOTA RAV4 MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS. I WAS JUST AT A LIGHT, AND IT DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. I ALMOST GOT HIT. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Power train, Oct 1, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH TRANSMISSION/ECM PROBLEMS. MY ISSUE IS THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SENT OUT TO ALL OF TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IT IS AS FOLLOWS: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IS: TC002-06, REVISED MARCH 3, 2006: "SOME 2001 ? 2003 MODEL YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT A HARSH SHIFT CONDITION AND/OR M.I.L. ?ON? WITH DTC P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, AND/OR P1760 STORED. IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) (SAE TERM: POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE/PCM) MANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING. USE THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE" IT GOES ON TO SAY REPLACE THE ECM/ECU AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA DID NOT NOTIFY ANY CONSUMER ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NOW THAT MANY OF US ARE JUST NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND AFTER RESEARCHING IT LEARNING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND IT IS HAPPENING WITH MANY OF THE SAME MODEL CAR- MAINLY THE 2002. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR MY CAR WOULD BE A COSTLY $9,000.00. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TOYOTA INTENTIONALLY KEPT FROM CONSUMERS TO AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS TO THEMSELVES. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED I WOULD HAVE HAD THE ECU/ECM REPLACE IN 2006 WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE 121 COMPLAINTS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THIS JUST STARTED WITH MY CAR 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO GEAR ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 20 MPH AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 40 MPH...THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 6000 RPM'S AND JUST SAT THERE IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS CAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. I AM VERY UPSET AND FEEL I WAS NOT DEALT A FAIR HAND WITH THIS CAR - TOYOTA WOULD ONLY REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BASED ON A CUSTOMERS SPECIFIC COMPLAINT UNDER 80K MILES. *TR
Power train, Sep 29, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. AFTER EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON (THE SAME EVENING THAT I EXPERIENCED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM). I TOOK IT INTO AN AUTO CENTER AND THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS CODE # P0755 - STORED IN SYSTEM SOLENOID B MALFUNCTION. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ECM. THEY TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND THAT TOYOTA SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES OR EIGHT YEARS FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR HAS ALMOST 97,000 MILES ON IT SO IT WAS NOT COVERED. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ARTICLE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE: HTTP://WHEELS.BLOGS.NYTIMES.COM/2009/08/26/TOYOTAS-REACTION-TO-TRANSMISSION-WOES-DRAWS-CUSTOMERS-IRE/?SCP=1&SQ=RAV4%20OWNERS%20FUME%20OVER%20TOYOTA%E2%80%99S%20HANDLING%20OF%20TRANSMISSION%20GLITCH&ST=CSE. *TR
Power train, Sep 28, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 92,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. PUT OVER $3,400 INTO GETTING IT REPAIRED. PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER $1,000 TO GET COMPUTER REPLACED. STILL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR NOT OFFERING ANY KIND OF FIX TO THIS SOLUTION. *TR
Power train, Sep 22, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN INTERMITTENTLY BOGGING DOWN AND HARD JERKY SHIFTING. I'M UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE CAR LOOSES FORWARD MOMENTUM. I ENCOUNTERED A CLOSE CALL WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, THE RAV4 BOGGED DOWN, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I NARROWLY MISSED BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I LIVE IN A LOW TRAFFIC AREA. MY MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AND BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY MODULE THERE MAY BE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA WOULD NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM STATING MY RAV4 IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILES ( I HAVE ABOUT 118,000 MILES) AND TIME. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Power train, Sep 22, 2009
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO "ROUGHLY" SHIFT. ALMOST LOST POWER ON FREEWAY. THIS HAPPENED SUDDENLY. NO WARNING OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WAS WORKING PERFECTLY EARLIER IN THE DAY. DROVE HOME IN SLOW LANE WITH HAZARDS ON. AFRAID ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN ON FREEWAY. *TR
Power train, Sep 19, 2009
A SAFETY PROBLEM OCCURRED ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED ENGAGED THE GEARS CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OR TRYING TO TURN WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING AND NOT KNOWING IF OR WHEN THE CAR WOULD MOVE OR ENGAGE GEARS WAS FRIGHTENING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED OVERNIGHT. WITH 47,717 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS BECAUSE TOYOTA HAS PUT A FAULTY COMPUTER INTO THE 2002 RAV4 THAT MAKES THE PARTS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAIL. TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS OR ISSUE A RECALL. PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL WHEN SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED? TOYOTA CLAIMS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER BUT TOYOTA REPLACED THE COMPUTER WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN THERE BY THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC. WHY WOULD TOYOTA REPLACE THE COMPUTER IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM? PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE THEM BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEEDED REPAIRS SO THAT THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE! THANK YOU! *TR
Electrical system, Sep 16, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR HESITATING AND JERKING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY WILL ONLY FIX THIS FAULTY ECM IF THE CAR IN UNDER 80,000 MILES, MINE HAD 80,800. *TR
Power train, Sep 16, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, THE CAR BEGIN SHIFTING HARD INTO REVERSE AND SECOND GEAR. AT SOME TIMES THE SHIFTING WOULD STALL, I.E. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR RIGHT AWAY AND WHEN IT WOULD, IT WOULD SHIFT HARD. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND LEARNED ABOUT THE ECM/ECU PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING 01-04 TOYOTA RAV 4S TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES ON THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. THEY TESTED THE ECM AND SAID IT WAS FINE AND TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR $4,100. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION CARE CENTER. I HAD THE SOLENOID B REPLACED FOR $560 BECAUSE THIS WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, SO I HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED FOR A TOTAL OF $3,100. THE TECH STATED THERE WAS ABOUT 200,000 MILES WORTH OF WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR ITSELF ONLY HAS 90,000. THERE WERE VARIOUS PIECES THAT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY DUE TO WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION; THESE WERE REPLACED. THE CAR IS STILL HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING-THE SAME PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE ECM/ECU MALFUNCTIONING. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHERE THEY ARE TOLD THE ECM/ECU IS FINE, HAVE THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THEN THE CAR STILL MALFUNCTIONS AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE ECM/ECU REPLACED. *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.
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.
Electrical system, Sep 7, 2009
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4L. MY PROBLEMS STARTED YESTERDAY. THE CAR IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT STALLS AS IF THE CAR WERE PUT INTO NEUTRAL AT 20MPH AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 40MPH. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS WAS PUSHED IT JUST REVVED THE ENGINE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I PURCHASED IT IN DEC OF 2006 AND AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ I HAVE THE SAME TYPE ISSUE AS MOST OTHERS- THE ECM. THIS IS UNSAFE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FESS UP. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN EARLY 2006 BECAUSE A TSB WAS SENT OUT TO ALL TOYOTA DEALERS. IF WE HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR IN 2006 THE 2002 WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY STILL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. THEY KEPT IT QUIET UNTIL NOW AND PEOPLE ARE CATCHING ON. I HAVE SENT A COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AND AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO IN THIS CASE. I AM WILLING TO TAKE IT AS FAR AS I NEED TO GO TO MAKE THEM REPAIR THE CAR AT NO COSTS TO ME. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPAIR THE CAR THAT WHAT THE VALUE OF THE CAR ACTUALLY IS AT THIS POINT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DECEPTION AND THE INCONVENIENCE AND LACK OF CONCERN OF THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER FROM TOYOTA. *TR
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
Electrical system, Aug 31, 2009
ECM FAILED ON 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUSING ERRATIC AUTO TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND CAR SPEED TO VARY WIDELY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT WARNING. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY WARNING. I HAD TO PAY A REPAIR BILL OF $5358.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. *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
Electrical system, Aug 28, 2009
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ECM THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THE MAKE MODEL AND YR OF MY VEHICLE RAV4 2002/I DROVE HOME AND TOLD MY BOYFRIEND THAT THE ECM REPLACEMENT IS 1600 DOLLARS. ONE WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING TO TOYOTA TO HAVE FIXED AND MY CAR WOULD NPT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD STOP AND GO AND I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION.. I WAS AT 83,000 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. OF COURSE I HAD TO ABSORB THE COST.. *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