2003 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 326 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 19 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 9 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: power train
213 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Apr 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED WITHOUT A POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS; HOWEVER, WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR POSITION THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Power train, Apr 5, 2010
ON OCT. 5, 2002, I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM STAR TOYOTA OF BAYSIDE INC. AS OF THIS WRITING, THE AUTOMOBILES MILEAGE IS ONLY 15, 782 MILES. ON JULY 13, 2009 (8 MONTHS AGO), I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 FOR SERVICE IN REGARDS TO THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CHECK ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, I STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD STALL AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A RED LIGHT, AND THAT IT WOULD SURGE WITH FORCE ONCE IT ACCELERATED; IT FELT LIKE A REAR-ENDED COLLISION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 12,894 MILES WHEN THE SUV WAS TAKEN IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I WAS CHARGED $664.87 FOR A SENSOR AND A V-RIPPED BELT. LAST WEEK, ON MAR. 24, 2010 AT 15,757 MILES, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN JUST 8 MONTHS OF PRIOR WORK RENDERED, AND AFTER ONLY 2,863 MILES. WHILE RESEARCHING THE INTERNET IN REGARDS TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, I STUMBLED UPON HUNDREDS OF CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH HARSH SYMPTOMS BEFORE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND, UNSAFE AND HARSH DRIVING CONDITIONS. AS I CONTINUED MY RESEARCH EFFORTS, I IMMEDIATELY LINKED INTO A FEW TOYOTA TSBS CONCERNING A DEFECTED ECM/PCM REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE TO THE FAILING COMPONENTS AS TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE & POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE W/THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. I HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND NEVER INFORMED OF ANY OF THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA TSBS. IT'S DISHONEST, AND LACKS INTEGRITY NOT TO FORMALLY INFORM THE LOYAL CONSUMERS OF THE DEFECTION AND THE SAFETY ISSUES & TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IN WRITTEN FORMAT, I AM JUSTIFIABLY AND LEGITIMATELY REQUESTING PROPER AND HONEST RAMIFICATION TO THIS UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTION IN WORKMANSHIP OF MY 2003 RAV4. THE PURCHASE OF A NEW AUTO WAS TO ASSURE MYSELF PEACE OF MIND OF SAFETY & QUALITY. A LETTER WILL BE MAIL OUT TOMORROW TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE.*TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 23, 2010
TRANSMISSION UNRESPONSIVE AT TIMES. HARD SHIFTING IN REVERSE. HESITATES AT 1ST GEAR...
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 22, 2010
MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS I WOULD BE ENTERING TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE, ON HIGHWAYS. A NUMBER OF TIMES IT WOULD START ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOW DOWN OR LOSE ACCELERATION, THIS CAUSED MANY ANXIOUS MOMENTS AS OFTEN A CAR/TRUCK WOULD BE COMING UP BEHIND ME. I WOULD TRY TO ACCELERATE AND STEP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REALLY MOVE UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AND SUDDENLY START MOVING. THIS WAS SCARY ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT GEARS, OR DROP GEARS WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD BE IN TRAFFIC AND WE WOULD BE MOVING ALONG WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD JUMP INTO GEAR AND LITERALLY JUMP FORWARD SOMETIMES PROPELLING THE CAR FORWARD A LITTLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, BOTH LOCAL ROADS AND ON HIGHWAYS THE CAR WOULD DROP GEARS AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND THEN SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. THE CAR HAS 95000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE TOLD BY A MECHANIC (WHO IS NOT FIXING THE CAR) THAT TOYOTA HAD ADVISED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A COMPUTER-THE ECM- IN THE RAV 4, THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO JUMP AND SHIFT GEARS AND POSSIBLY RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN DAMAGED AND ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *DT
Power train, Mar 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE IN PARK. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 25MPH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTICE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND MAKE AND FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
Power train, Mar 16, 2010
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RAV4 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN IT REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION(COASTING BASICALLY) WITH A LINE OF UNHAPPY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME BEFORE IT SLAMMED VIOLENTLY INTO HIGH GEAR AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO THE OVERPASS WALLS. IT HAS SINCE THEN BEEN INTERMITTENT, BEING FINE FOR A DAY OR SO THEN DOING THE SAME THING, IN VARYING DEGREES OF SEVERITY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT IN TO TOYOTA FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THEY QUOTED ME $6800 TO REPLACE THE ECM COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS 119,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF TOYOTA THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR A WHILE NOW. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL UNTIL THE COMPUTER IS REPLACED, AND THEN IT WILL NEED A TRANSMISSION SHORTLY AFTERWARD ACCORDING TO BOTH TOYOTA AND THE OTHER RAV4 OWNERS IN THIS SITUATION. IF THE COMPUTER HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM DEMONSTRATING ITSELF IN THE SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AT ALL. I THINK THAT TOYOTA IS TO BLAME FOR NOT ADVISING RAV4 DRIVERS OF THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THE RELATIVELY CHEAP REPAIR THAT COULD HAVE SAVED ME MUCH TIME AND MONEY. I NEED A CAR TO WORK, SO I EITHER PAY TOYOTA $6800 OR BUY A NEW CAR, AND IN THIS ECONOMY I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE FINANCING TO DO EITHER. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Mar 15, 2010
IN 2009, WITHOUT NOTICE MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 WAS "JERKING AND GOING". THEN IT WOULD BARELY MOVE ONCE STOPPED. THEN WHEN IT WOULD MOVE, IT WOULD DRAG. IN AUGUST OF 2009, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY PALMER'S TOYOTA SUPERSTORE. THIS COST $1,721.93. *TR
Power train, Mar 9, 2010
AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN SPED UP QUICKLY AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT DID THAT ABOUT 4-8 TIMES BEFORE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA WOULDN'T FIX IT, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH AND TOYOTA'S RELUCTANCY TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Mar 8, 2010
TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP BY A FAULTY ECM. *TR
Power train, Mar 3, 2010
1. JERKING TRANSMISSION AT LOW SPEED 2. LOSS OF POWER 3. DEALER REPLACED ECM TO TRANSMISSION (WARRANTY) IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSB. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2010
HELLO, I JUST RECENTLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 THAT IS HAVING WIDE SPREAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM. I JUST SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT THE CONSUMERS ARE NOT. IT IS ONLY TAKEN CARE OF AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTS AND IF YOU TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO RUNS A SERVICE BULLETIN CHECK. THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING THE HUGE EXPENSE OF THIS, AND WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS MAIN COMPUTER (ECM). I JUST HOPE I CAN HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ALL OF US. NOT A SAFETY ISSUE....BS! MY TEENAGE DAUGHTERS ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND I'M AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE CAR STOPS WORKING ON THE FREEWAY OR WHERE EVER IT MAY HAPPEN. WHO IS TO SAY THE NEW ECM IS EVEN GOOD. PLEASE GO TO ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM ON TC002-06 AND SEE COMPLAINTS. ALSO JUST SEARCH TC002-06 RAV4 TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THANK YOU! *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2010
WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SAFETY ISSUES. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 YRS AGO FROM A DEALER AND IT HAD 74,000 MILES. THANKFULLY WE DID GET A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT NOT ONE THAT WILL COVER THIS PROBLEM. THIS LAST NOVEMBER OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WAS STUCK GOING UP A HILL AS THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. SHE WAS STRANDED ON THE MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY UNTIL WE COULD COME GET HER. THANKFULLY SHE DID GET OFF THE ROAD, BUT IT SCARED US TO THINK THAT THIS CAR COULD OF DONE THIS IF SHE WAS AT A HIGH SPEED OR COULDN'T HAVE GOT OFF THE ROAD IN THE DARK MOUNTAIN TERRAIN. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE HAD ONLY PUT MAYBE 10,000 MILES ON IT SINCE PURCHASE. THE WARRANTY COVERED THE $4000 REPLACEMENT COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE IT SEEMED TO RUN OK BUT STILL HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT THE SPEED OF 20-30. A HARSH JERKING. OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND AGAIN IT STOPPED WORKING IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT. SO BACK TO THE SHOP. WELL NOW WE ARE STUMPED ON WHAT COULD BE WRONG. EVEN HAD 2 SENSORS REPLACED AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. SO WE HAVE A TOYOTA, WHICH WE BOUGHT FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION OF BEING A GREAT VEHICLE, BUT NOW WORRIED WHAT IT WILL DO AS THEY ARE DRIVING IT. SO THE LATEST IS I DID SOME OF MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. CAME ACROSS A WEBSITE CALLED RAV4WORLD. THERE ARE PAGES OFF COMPLAINTS ON TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR RAV4 2001-2003. I GUESS TOYOTA DIDN'T DO A RECALL FOR A SUPPOSEDLY DEFECTIVE ECM THAT IS THE MAIN COMPUTER IN CAR AND IT IS LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TOYOTA DID PUT OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT WHICH IS 96MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. OUR CAR IS AT 84K. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THIS CAR AND HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS DEFECTIVE ECM IS DESTROYING THE TRANSMISSION??? ALSO IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
Power train, Feb 23, 2010
CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. TOYOTA DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID. AFTER INTERNET SEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I ASKED THAT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACE THE COMPUTER (MUCH LESS COSTLY) AND THE CAR STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AN INTERNAL MEMO TO DEALERS STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE MAKE/MODEL BUT THE LOCAL DEALER DID NOT MENTION SUCH A MEMO. I ONLY FOUND IT AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE. *TR
Power train, Feb 23, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE RPMS RAPIDLY BEGAN TO INCREASE. WHENEVER SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD GEAR RANGE THERE WAS A JERKING SENSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECU). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Power train, Equipment, Feb 19, 2010
TRANSMISSION ON 2003 RAV 4 (TOYOTA) DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IT HESITATES AND DOES NOT MOVE THE AUTO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IT ALSO JUMPS AND SHIFTS GEARS ROUGHLY WHEN ACCELERATING THIS COULD WELL LEAD TO PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE CRASHES ON FREEWAY RAMPS AND AT STOP LIGHTS AND SIGNS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 19, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE STOPPED THE GEAR WILL FAIL IT WILL STAY IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECU AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,236. UPDATED 03/30/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE MADE A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED, THEN SLIPPED INTO GEAR AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND SENDING FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE. UPDATED 07/15/10*JB
Power train, Feb 18, 2010
WHEN DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AT ABOUT 20MPH. I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER AN INTERCEPTION, AND A 18 WHEEL TRUCK, STARTED TO MAKE A TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS UNABLE TO PROCEED, AND NARROWLY MISSED THE TRUCK HITTING ME HEAD-ON. COMPETITION TOYOTA OF MIDDLE ILAND, NY PUT A NEW ECM IN FOR $1400, BUT THE TRANS. CONTINUED TO SLIP. I SPENT $5,700+ ON A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FROM JASPER CORP., BUT I WAS WITH-OUT A VEHICLE FOR 7 WEEKS. *TR
Power train, Feb 15, 2010
2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WITH NO WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR BEGAN BUCKING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS - BUT THEN SMOOTHED OUT IN THE HIGHER GEARS AND ALSO AS THE CAR WARMED UP. NO OTHER CARS AROUND SO NO DANGER TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED FLUID, SO I TRIED THAT. SEEMED TO IMPROVE SOMEWHAT FOR TWO DAYS - THEN THE SLIPPING BECAME VERY BAD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THAT SAME AFTERNOON I BROUGHT CAR INTO MY MECHANIC, WHOSE COMPUTER DIAGNOSED A DEFECTIVE SOLONOID. AFTER REPLACEMENT ($117), TRANSMISSION WAS STILL SLIPPING. FOUND A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ECM. COST FOR REPLACEMENT: $1450. DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME WHETHER OR NOT TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. COST TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION: $3500. *TR
Power train, Feb 15, 2010
2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION & 4WD. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ALLOW PROPER ACCELERATION FROM STANDING STOP, ROUGH SHIFTING RESULTING IN A "SLAM" INTO GEAR, HANGS BETWEEN GEARS WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT. FLUSH OF FLUID ALLEVIATED PROBLEM FOR 1 WEEK (APPROX 200 MILES 0 BUT IT HAS RETURNED. ECU ERROR CODE: P0755. *TR
Power train, Feb 14, 2010
2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY PCM- TECHNICAL BULLETIN #1046. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED BIND UP AND HARSH SHIFTING JANUARY 2010. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED BINDING UP, CAR WOULD NOT RUN PROPERLY. TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND FAULTY PCM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $4600.00. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE, RELEASED A TSB REGARDING REPAIR ISSUES. TSB IS LIMITED TO 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND DEALER HAVE REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. *TR
Power train, Feb 12, 2010
TOYOTA RAV4 WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND HERE IS YET ANOTHER. TOTALLY RIDICULOUS THAT TOYOTA WON'T STAND BEHIND THIS KNOWN ISSUE. ALL I CAN SAY IS WHERE DO I SIGN ON THE LAWSUIT? QUOTED OVER 3,000 TO REPLACE AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Power train, Feb 9, 2010
HOW MANY TIMES DOES A PERSON HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT?? MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS!! IT WASN'T UNTIL I PULLED OUT ON A HIGHWAY AND MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE (AND JUST MISSED GETTING PLOWED INTO BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE) THAT I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY CAR!! I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT INFORMED ME ABOUT A BULLETIN THAT WAS SENT OUT IN 2006 ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER COMPONENT THAT OPERATES THE TRANSMISSION!! WHAT GOOD IS A BULLETIN IF THE CONSUMER KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT IT?? OH THATS RIGHT...IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR TOYOTA TO GET OFF CHEAP!! A RECALL WOULD HAVE COST THEM MILLIONS!! I DID GET THE COMPONENT REPLACED (SINCE I ONLY HAVE 79,100 MILES ON MY CAR) AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT!! TOYOTA DESERVES EVERYTHING THEY GET RIGHT NOW!! THEY ARE DISHONEST AND COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER!!!!! *TR
Power train, Feb 5, 2010
AROUND 12/1/2009, I NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT WOULD NOT, OR WHEN YOU WERE AT A STOP LIGHT AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL SO STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING BUT CAUSE A LOUD "REVVING" SOUND. IN MOST CASES WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, IT DID GET INTO GEAR AND THE CAR DID ACCELERATE HOWEVER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD JERK SHARPLY. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING ALOT (AT EVERY STOP, EVERY TIME THE CAR NEEDED TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR OR 2ND AND 3RD) SO I STOPPED DRIVING IT SINCE I DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING IN TRAFFIC BUT THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND GO THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND WE AGREED THE CAR SEEMED TO BE EXHIBITING PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN TC002-06 (A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE). AS MY CAR HAD JUST OVER 100000 MILES, TOYOTA REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS AS COVERED BY WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT DONE (ENDED UP GOING TO A PRIVATE SHOP). CAR IS BETTER NOW, THOUGH IT MAY ALSO NEED GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AS THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR OR 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR
Power train, Feb 3, 2010
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4, APPROX. TWO MONTHS AGO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. AS I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2001-2004 TOYOTA RAV 4'S. IT SEEMS MANY OF THE ABOVE NOTED YEAR RAV'S HAVE A FAULTY ECU IN THEM, THIS ECU TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO DO THE WRONG THING, THEREFORE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE TO REPAIR MY RAV4 IT WILL COST ME WELL OVER $5,000.00, REALLY? I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A RECALL SITUATION SINCE SO MANY RAV 4 OWNERS ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME SITUATION. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS, AT LEAST THEY SHOULD HAVE WARNED US ABOUT THE FAULTY ECU. I HAD ALWAYS LOVED MY RAV4, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 3, 2010
THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS A HARD SHIFT INTO REVERSE. LIKE A LURCH. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER I NOTICED THE SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD WAS TAKING LONGER THAN IT SHOULD. ON ABOUT THE 4TH DAY, AT A LIGHT WHEN STOPPED, I HIT THE GAS AND DIDN'T MOVE. THERE WAS A NOTABLE HESITATION AND I NEARLY WAS REARENDED. FINALLY ON ABOUT THE 5TH DAY, I HAD THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND WAS CRAWLING ALONG THE ROAD BASICALLY. WE TURNED AROUND AND PARKED IT, AND IT HAS SAT EVER SINCE, FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND WE ONLY HALF OWN IT. *TR