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
326 reports, newest first.
Power train, Dec 28, 2009
THIS IS A WELL KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WITH 2001-04 RAV4S. MY WELL MAINTAINED 2003 RAV4 WITH 135K MILES SUDDENLY HESITATES/JERKS ON ACCELERATION. NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH CAR UNTIL FEW DAYS AGO WITH MILD HESITATION INTERMITTENTLY. NOW CAR BUCKS VIOLENTLY, SHAKES, SKIPS GEARS AND LURCHES AHEAD WHEN ACCELERATING AND BEFORE COMING TO FULL STOP. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP AND NO DEFECTS FOUND. THEY ARE NOW TESTING FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AT MY REQUEST BASED ON WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM READING SCORES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. PART IS ESTIMATED AT $1500 BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER AS IT HAS OVER 80000 MILES - THEY KNEW OF THIS DEFECT SINCE AT LEAST 2006 AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT DID NOT ALERT ME AND OTHER OWNERS TO GET THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Electrical system, Dec 28, 2009
LONG HESITATION IN CHANGING GEARS. JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING. LACK OF ACCELERATION. *TR
Power train, Dec 27, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT I BOUGHT USED AND LUCKILY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH UNTIL NOW. 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS I WAS IN TOWN RUNNING ERRANDS AND HAD STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND I PRESSED ON THE GAS, THE VEHICLES ENGINE REVVED UP BUT THE TRUCK HARDLY MOVED. THEN IT JERKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD REAR ENDED ME. I THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD BUT WENT ON. STOPPED AT ANOTHER LIGHT AND SAME THING. ONLY THIS TIME I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED TWICE BEFORE I COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. SO I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK IT IN ON CHRISTMAS EVE (ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED AT EVERY INTERSECTION I WENT THROUGH BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND THE DEALER SHIP 32 MILES AWAY) ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT AND WOULD COST ME $1350.00 TO REPAIR. SINCE THEN I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND REALIZED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. HOW CAN THERE BE A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NOT. ANY VEHICLE THAT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY VEHICLE IS READILY AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA TO TEST AND DETERMINE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Power train, Dec 19, 2009
UPON A RECENT TRIP TO TENNESSEE, I STARTED NOTICING THE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION DURING ACCELERATE . AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO PLANS TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. WHEN EVER YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT DOES NOT WANT TO STAY IN GEAR LEAVING THE DRIVER IN DOUBT OF WEATHER OR NOT THE CAR STAY IN GEAR. IT SEEMS THE ECM MODULE IS DEFECTIVE AND IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF IT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 14, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WHICH CAUSED A VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP HER WITH THE REPAIRS. THEY ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1227. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AND WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 11, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ENTERING A HIGHWAY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. A MECHANIC WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE ECM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Power train, Dec 5, 2009
MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT REVVED UP BUT WOULDN'T MOVE. THEN IT FINALLY TOOK HOLD AND DROVE OFF IN A HIGHER GEAR. THEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD IN TRAFFIC IT DID IT AGAIN (VERY DANGEROUS-SHE COULD OF BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. APPARENTLY AFTER READING UP ON IT, TOYOTA ISSUED IN MARCH 06' A REPORT TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS ABOUT THEIR ECM CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT HASN'T WARNED CONSUMERS, OR DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 3, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CRACKS ON THE ROTORS OF THE FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT ROTORS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THE FAILURE WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF THE FRONT ROTORS HAD SEPARATED AT THE HUBS. UPDATED 01/15/10.*JB
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 1, 2009
I BOUGHT A BRANDNEW 2003 RAV4 6 YEARS AGO AND ALREADY HAVE 95,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIPPED AND DRAG A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SLOWLY SHIFTS GEAR ON 2ND AND 3RD WITH A HIGH IDLING. I HAVE READ SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE RAV4 2001-2003 ECM ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAINT THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT DO A RECALL TO THE FAULTY PART THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH AND SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A RAV4 (2001-2003) MODEL WITH A DEFECTIVE ECM. THERE ARE OVER 488 COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE READ IN ONE FORUM ALONE. I HOPE YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO HAVE TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ECM FAILURE TO MY 2003 RAV4 AND HOPE TO HAVE THEM REPLACE ALL THE RAV4 (2001-2003) ECM MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Power train, Nov 21, 2009
I OWN A 2003 RAV 4 AND RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST 4 DAYS THE CAR JERKS AND DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD AND WHEN IN FIRST GOING TO SECOND IT HAS A SHORT JERK TO THE SHIFT. THEN THE RPMS REV UP TO 5 NEARLY GETTING ME HIT BY A DIESEL ON THE FREEWAY. I AM AWARE THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR AND IS A MODEL DEFECT TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY LIKE MYSELF IT COMES OUT OF POCKET HOW CAN YOU GUYS AKA TOYOTA FEEL RIGHT ROBBING PEOPLE LIKE THIS IN A TIME LIKE NOW. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO ANSWER THESE COMPLAINTS! *TR
Power train, Nov 19, 2009
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. *TR
Power train, Nov 10, 2009
I OWN A 2003 RAV4, AFTER 100K MILES THE CAR STALKS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND THE ECM IS BAD. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THE ECM RECALL AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER FOR IT SINCE IT'S OVER THE 80K MILES. *TR
Power train, Nov 9, 2009
TOYOTA RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 6, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED CODE PO755S (SOLENOID B FAULT). THE MECHANIC COULD NOT INTERPRET THE ERROR CODE. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-INSPECTED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,998.
Power train, Nov 2, 2009
I OWN A RAV4 TOYOTA. LAST THURSDAY MY AR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WAS ROUGH SHIFTING AND STALLING FROM IN FIRST AND SECOND. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, 45 KM FROM HOME, CROSSING A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE "KANGAROO JUMPED" OVER THE INTERSECTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 HOURS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT SO I RETURNING HOME THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. WHEN I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP BACK THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN CALLING ME TO SAY THEY HAD FOUND INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM ETC. AND THEY HAD ORDERED THE PART WHICH WOULD TAKE 2/3 DAYS, THEN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BACK OUT THERE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY CONCERNS TO THE MAY YOU HAVE RECEIVED REGARDING THE 2003 RAV4. I FEEL THAT THE RAV4 SHOULD BE RECALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE E-MAIL I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO RESEARCH IT. *TR
Power train, Oct 21, 2009
I OWN A TOYOTA RAV 4 2003. IN A MATTER OF DAYS, MY CAR STARTED SLIPPING GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING. MY CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE SAFELY IN 45 MPH BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A FAULTY ECM THAT AFFECTS TRANSMISSIONS THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT. I THINK IT IS UNETHICAL PRACTICE FOR A CAR MAKER TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A FAULTY DESIGN IN A CAR THAT CAN AFFECT SOMETHING AS AN IMPORTANT AND AS EXPENSIVE AS A TRANSMISSION. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY, AND IT DID NOT ACCELERATE? *TR
Power train, Oct 17, 2009
MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE, THE COMPUTER REPLACED, AND THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED TWICE. MY MECHANIC ONCE THOUGHT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BURNING UP THE SOLENOIDS. I AM AT MY WITS END. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SIX TIMES BETWEEN JUNE 2009 AND OCTOBER 2009 FOR THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT SHIFTS FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN THE SAME THING: IT BECOMES UNRELIABLE AS TO WHETHER IT WILL SHIFT INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR PROPERLY. IT JERKS, IT SLIPS, AT OTHER TIMES IT REVS UP TO 4000 RPMS BEFORE IT GOES INTO GEAR AND THEN IT LURCHES FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. SOMETIMES THE REAR WHEELS SKIP OFF THE PAVEMENT. I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF TIME. I CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC LIKE NORMAL VEHICLES AND I FEAR BEING REAR-ENDED FROM A STOPPED POSITION. I FEEL LIKE PUTTING A SIGN ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE EXPLAINING WHY I'M NOT MOVING. I JUST GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THURSDAY. BY FRIDAY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALREADY SLIPPING AGAIN. I WANTED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CRY. I PAID $2400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND FORTUNATELY, ALL OF MY RETURN TRIPS WERE COVERED BY THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. BUT I HAVE ALSO PAID $1300 IN RENTAL VEHICLES FOR ALL THE TIME THE RAV 4 WAS IN THE SHOP. I DID FIND THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT THE CODES FROM MY VEHICLE DID NOT MATCH THE CODES IN THE BULLETIN. TOYOTA, PLEASE HELP US! WE JUST WANT OUR CARS FIXED! WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THEM? ARE THEY ALL LEMONS? MY RAV4 HAS 93,000 MILES ON IT. I AM THE 2ND OWNER, IT HAS A CLEAN TITLE, AND WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 16, 2009
I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY 2003 RAV4 ECM/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I BROUGHT OUR RAV4 INTO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES EARLIER THIS YEAR, COMPLAINING OF A LURCHING ISSUE. AFTER MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO BRING IT IN AT 68,827 MILES, MIND YOU I HAD THE PLATINUM WARRANTY WHICH COVERS UP TO 75,000 MILES, ON JUNE 9, 2009. AFTER ONLY BEING GONE FOR 20 MINUTES AFTER DROPPING IT OFF, I GOT A PHONE CALL STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, WHEN CLEARLY, IN THE TSB IT STATES IT WOULD TAKE ATLEAST 30 MIN TO DETECT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS DETECTED LATER THAT DAY. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN THAT FIXED IT, GAVE THE CAR BACK TO MY WIFE, HE TOLD HER THAT IF THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR SO GOOD....UNTIL TODAY, OCTOBER 16. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE AND SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FINALLY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION AFTER HAVING TO TAKE IT OUT TWICE. WHEN I LEFT THE LAST TIME, IN JUNE, THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS UNDER THIS ECM CHIP WOULD BE COVERED UNDER 80000 MILES. I WAS AT 79515 WHEN I TOOK IT IN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY, INCLUDING MY PLATINUM WARRANTY THAT I HAD. I ASKED THEM IF THE ECM CHIP WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE, AND ATLEAST THREE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RELATION BETWEEN THE CHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, TOYOTA STATED IN A NYTIMES ARTICLE THAT THE CHIP WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $3700 DOLLARS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED DUE TO THE LACK OF ATTENTION IN CHANGING THE ECM CHIP. YEAH!!!! *TR
Power train, Oct 14, 2009
NO PRIOR NOTICE OF ANY PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE WILL BARELY START FROM STOPPED POSITION. I DRIVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. ALL INDICATION IS THAT THE ECM IS FAULTY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. PULLING INTO OR OUT OF TRAFFIC WITH THE SAID VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Electrical system, Oct 13, 2009
TOYOTA 2003 RAV4 HAS A MALFUNCTIONING ECM. IT HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. PLEASE TAKE ACTION. I HAVE FOUND THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN 2006 AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE A 100% REFUND TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THIS DEFECT MIGHT KILL PEOPLE AND THEY DID NOTHING. SO I HAVE THIS CAR AND I AM AFRAID TO LET ANYONE DRIVE IT BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED. I HOPE THAT THIS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF SOON BECAUSE WE NEED A CAR TO DRIVE THAT IS SAFE. *TR
Power train, Oct 8, 2009
MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A VERY HARSH SHIFT INTO REVERSE, HESITANT SHIFT OR NO SHIFT INTO 1ST. IF IT DID SHIFT INTO 1ST, THERE WAS A RAMP UP IN RPM TO 4000+ AND SHAKING TO GET FROM 2ND TO 3RD. I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DID A FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEM CODES, HOWEVER I SHOULD FLUSH THE TRANNY FLUIDS TO BEGIN WITH. AFTER A COMPLETE FLUSH, THE PROBLEMS DIDN'T GO AWAY SO I DID SOME RESEARCH ON RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND DISCOVERED THE ECM ISSUE WITH MY MODEL. I HAD THE ECM SERVICED AND A VAST MAJORITY OF THE ISSUED WERE SOLVED, HOWEVER THE FAULTY ECU HAD ALREADY DONE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHERE IT HAD A HORRIBLE SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD (A HORRIBLY HARSH SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR WITH RPM RAMP UP TO 5000+ RPS) REQUIRING ADDITIONAL WORK FROM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPLACE SOLENOIDS AND TRANSMISSION WORK. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Oct 1, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT LIGHTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT ALSO APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE, A TREE, AND A POLE WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TO SHATTER. THE SHATTERED GLASS WAS LODGED IN THE CONTACT'S NOSE AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE CONTACT CANNOT CONFIRM IF THE FLOOR MATS CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 73,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 11/17/11*CN
Power train, Sep 29, 2009
MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 SOMETIMES STALLS IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THE ENGINE RACES FOR A WHILE, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL CATCH AND THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD. THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Power train, Sep 28, 2009
TOYOTA 2003 RAV4- CAR STARTED BUCKING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT. DID NOT ACCELERATE EVENLY INTO TRAFFIC. HAD TO PULL OVER AND LET CARS PASS. ONBOARD COMPUTER (ECM) HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAD NOT INFORMED CONSUMERS OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
Power train, Sep 19, 2009
MY TOYOTA RAV4 2003 HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT. TOYOTA NEVER RECALLED OR INFORMED ANY OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND NOW WHAT I'M READING HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO NOT ACCELERATE AND BUCK FORWARD. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION, HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THEN IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS THE ECM AND THAT WAS REPLACED AND NOW IS FINE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE NOTIFYING ALL CUSTOMERS, IF YOU WERE ON THE HIGHWAY YOU WOULD BE KILLED IF THIS STARTED TO ACT UP!!! THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST EVERYONE HAS ENCOUNTERED. IF NOTIFIED I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD TO PAY FOR THE ECM. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR