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, 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
Electrical system, Aug 17, 2009
THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR JERKS/TRANSMISSION JERKS AND REMAINS AT A SLOW SPEED, RESPONDING MUCH LATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING OR SIMPLY DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER FROM A MAJOR TOYOTA DEALER. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, IT SEEMED FINE. THE DEALER APPARENTLY, DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR WAS APPARENTLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OBVIOUSLY A FALSEHOOD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OVER - THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM - A DEADLY ONE. *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
Electrical system, Aug 3, 2009
ECM IS FAULTY. CAUSING VEHICLE TO "MISSHIFT" FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE MISSHIFTING CAUSES CAR TO STALL FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL SHIFTING IS COMPLETED, CAUSING POTENTIAL REAR-END OR SIDE-HIT(AT INTERSECTIONS) ACCIDENTS. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE. SUGGESTED BY DEALERSHIP TO "REFLASH" ECMA; COMPLETED; NO CHANGE. NOW SUGGESTED TO REPLACE PART (ESTIMATED COST OF + LABOR) RESEARCHED ON INTERNET, THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT HAVE CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA WITH NO SOLUTION (SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0C40D0/573) CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION BECAUSE A THERE WASN'T A "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN" AKA RECALL. ADVISED ME TO SEEK OUTSIDE HELP. *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
Electrical system, Aug 1, 2009
AFTER 30 MINS OF HWY/PKWY DRIVING, THE CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 45 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE INCIDENT AND NO PREVIOUS ISSUE AT ALL. STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME SLUGGISH, AND WE LACKED BASIC ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE MEASURES. HAD WE BEEN TRAVELING FASTER AND/OR IN DENSER TRAFFIC THE CAR WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A MAJOR OBSTACLE TO ONCOMING VEHICLES, PLACING BOTH US AND OTHER DRIVERS ETC. IN DANGER. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SO MADE NO REPAIR. THE CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC 2 WEEKS LATER. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED A TRANSMISSION CHIP. THE CAR THEN RAN WITH HESITATIONS AND SOME DELAY IN SHIFTING FOR SOME WEEKS. FINALLY, AT 60 MPH IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THE CAR STARTED TO JERK, FAIL, AND BUCK. AGAIN THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT. WE DISCOVERED THROUGH RESEARCH ON LINE THAT THIS MODEL TOYOTA RAV4 2002 HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS ONBOARD COMPUTER OR ECM, FOR WHICH TOYOTA EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY. OUR CAR IS WITHIN THE WARRANTY LIMITS BOTH AS TO YEARS AND MILEAGE. TOYOTA IS SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE ECM IN THIS MODEL UNDER THIS WARRANTY. OUR DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DO SO AND HAS SENT US BACK OUT ON THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY SECURITY AGAINST ANOTHER FULL ENGINE STOP IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. *TR
Electrical system, Jul 27, 2009
I BEGAN NOTICING THAT MY AUTOMATIC 2002 RAV 4 WAS JERKING WHEN SHIFTING, WOULD REV AT HIGH RPMS BEFORE SHIFTING AND AT TIMES FELT LIKE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. LIKE OTHERS, I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ECM THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. MY CAR HAS 119K MILES ON IT AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I AM EVALUATING MY OPTIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE, AS IT IS A SAFETY RISK WHEN THE CAR IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS PROBLEM WILL COST ABOUT A THOUSAND TO GET A NEW ECM, AND MUCH MORE IF THE DAMAGE IT HAS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION NOW REQUIRES A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. *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
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 22, 2009
FOUND FUEL LEAKS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA TRUCK RAV4. MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY FIXED IT AND STATED "SECURE THE FITTING" ON THE INVOICE. THEY CHARGED ME $ 62.50. I ALWAYS SENT TO MY CAR TO THE DEALERS FOR MAINTENANCE. II DO NOT PERFORM ANY MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. *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
Power train, Jul 10, 2009
THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ECM IN 2002 TOYOTA RAV4S. THIS CONTROL UNIT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING AND CAN ALSO LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I STATE THAT THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BECAUSE TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THE ECM, BUT ANY DAMAGE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ECM IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL BECAUSE A FAILING TRANSMISSION CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS OR EVEN DEADLY PROBLEMS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 8, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 - ECM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE - AT 125,000 MILES, DRIVING LAST WEEK, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING. CAR SLOWED WITHOUT CAUSE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND I HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS. DRIVING TO DEALER, THEN DRIVING TO TRANSMISSION SHOP WRECKED TRANSMISSION. AFTER PAYING $2700.00 TO GET TRANSMISSION FIXED, FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS REALLY A ECM FAILURE PROBLEM. FOUND 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SVC., AND TOYOTA IS NOT RECOGNIZING AS A RECALL PROBLEM. I AM UNEMPLOYED AND THIS COST IS OVERWHELMING, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Power train, Interior lighting, Jul 1, 2009
IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I NOTICED MY RAV4 WOULD SLIGHTLY PAUSE WHEN I PRES THE GAS PEDAL AND WOULD JERK WHEN IT'S SUPPOSE TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT GEARS, MY REGISTRATION IS DUE & OF COURSE I NEED A SMOG CERTIFICATE. THE "TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP" ONLY SOMETIMES. I'M JUST GUESSING IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. NOT SURE YET... OF COURSE MY "EXTRA CARE" EXPIRED 05/30/08 MILEAGE 100,000 BUT MY MILEAGE IS ONLY 91,000. I FIGURE THIS IS GOING TO COST ME A LOAD OF MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE AND THIS CAR HELPS ME GET TO WORK. WITH THE ECONOMY BEING SO BAD THIS DOESN'T HELP OUT MUCH AT ALL IT'S ALWAYS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER ESPECIALLY WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A CAR THAT IS ACTUALLY WORTH IT AND I THOUGHT SINCE I WAS BUYING IT BRAND NEW I WAS MAKING A GOOD CHOICE. MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AND I WAS ON THE HWY 880 SB GOING ABOUT 65 MPH MY RPM SEEM A LITTLE HIGH BUT I WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THAN MY CAR STARTING MAKING A NOISE, THAN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND SOMETHING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR FLEW OFF AND AS I LOOK IN MY REAR MIRROR I SAW PIECES OF AN OBJECT WENT FLYING AND I NOTICE CARS SWERVING TO MOVE FROM THE FLYING OBJECTS THAT WERE BURNING AND I WAS SOOO SCARED AS MY FIANCE SAID TO PULL OVER SLOWLY. I CUT CARS OFF AND I COULDN'T PRESS THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLOW LANE I CALLED AAA AND TOWED MY CAR TO MY HOUSE AND UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC YET B/C I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE HAND OR NO SENSOR. FOR EXAMPLE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I NEED OIL/CHANGE, ETC. WHAT TYPE OF PAPERWORK DO I NEED TO SEND B/C I HAVEN'T TOOK IT TO THE SHOP YET AND MAY I ADD THAT THE LIGHTER DOESN'T WORK. ONCE I FIND OUT WHAT THE ACTUALLY PROBLEM IS THAN I WILL MAIL COPIES.I I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Jun 20, 2009
2002 RAV4 WITH 95,000 MILES AND ROUTINE SERVICE. BEGAN JERKING AND HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, SEEMS LIKE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS - TWO DEALERSHIPS - UNABLE TO DETERMINE EXACT PROBLEM. RECOMMENDED FLUSHING TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, REPLACING TRANSMISSION, REPLACING SOLENOID - NO ONE WAS ABLE TO GUARANTEE THESE FIXES WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. MANY PEOPLE REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH NO FIX. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF STALLING DURING ACCELERATION. TSB #00206 ISSUED IN 2006 MENTIONS REPLACING ECM. MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS HAVE HAD SUCCESS. TOYOTA SHOULD ENSURE ALL DEALERSHIPS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT BEFORE SUGGESTING COSTLY TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Equipment, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 16, 2009
THE TOYOTA RAV4 (YEAR 2002) INDISCRIMINATELY SPEEDS UP AND MAXES OUT THE RPMS (6000) FOR NOT REASON. I WAS GOING 65 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPMS WENT UP TO 6000 FROM 3000 AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 AND THEN WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITH ME TOUCHING ANY GEARS OR ANY PEDALS. LUCKILY I WAS ALLOWING ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER VEHICLES TO SAFELY GET IT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT FROM CRASHING INTO SOMEONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND BOTH SIDES AND THE REAR HAD VEHICLES IN THEM. THE ECM, TRANSMISSION AND VSS (VARIABLE SPEED SENSOR) WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. TOYOTA DISAVOWS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES; HOWEVER, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT TO SOLVE THEM AND IT'S NOT BEING SOLVED. THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE HERE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE MODELS EFFECTED ARE THE TOYOTA RAV4'S FROM 1999 TO 2009. AND IT APPEARS THAT IT'S STILL AN ISSUE AND STILL BEING PUSHED UNDER THE RUG SO TO SPEAK. ACTION OR LIVES....THAT'S WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO NOW. INCIDENT DATE IS MOST CURRENT. NUMEROUS PAST DATES. *TR
Power train, Jun 4, 2009
COMING FROM A FULL-STOP, THE CAR JERKED WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. RPM WAS INCREASING HOWEVER THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING ONCE IT STARTED MOVING IT JERKED A FEW MORE TIME. TOYOTA DID A RECALL PREVIOUSLY ON THE ECU, IT WAS REPROGRAMMED HOWEVER THE SAME PROBLEM RESURFACED AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR