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.
Visibility, Sep 17, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 TOY RAV 4 AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR LOST ALL OF ITS ELASTICITY AND NO LONGER STAYS IN THE UP POSITION. I WAS DRIVING WEST ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AROUND SUN SET WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. MY VISOR SLAMMED DOWN AND I NEARLY HIT THE VEH IN FRONT OF ME AS I COULD NOT SEE. I HAVE TRIED VELCRO OF ALL KINDS AND GLUE. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2003 RAV 4 AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO HER CAR. (WILL PROVIDE HER INFO UPON REQUEST). I TRIED COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 125.00 FOR A NEW VISOR WHEN IT IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. 2 RAV 4'S THAT I KNOW OF HAVE FAULTY VISORS. I WILL KEEP TAPING IT BUT I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO KEEP COMING DOWN AT THE MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME, AS A CONSUMER, FIND OUT IF THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU *TR
Power train, Sep 16, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THE CONTACT WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
Power train, Sep 14, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND HESITATED AND THE CAR SPUTTERED LOSING SPEED AND NEARLY CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS A ECM MODULE CONTROL PROBLEM THAT YOU MAY BE AWARE OF. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT TOYOTA AND THE TOLD BASICALLY "TO BAD FOR ME". I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESISTS APPLICATION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,882. UPDATED 10/22/09 *BF
Power train, Sep 11, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT BEGAN SHIFTING HARD IN THE LOWER GEARS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SKIPPING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP THAT I NORMALLY USE AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE COMPUTER PROBLEM. A MONTH BEFORE THE PROBLEM, MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT MY NORMAL SHOP AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED. I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE SHOP AND TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN DULUTH, GA THE FOLLOWING MORNING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. WITHIN 2 HOURS THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH BUT NO COMPUTER PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. I WAS TOLD VARIOUS OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AS WELL, SUCH AS CHANGING THE BELT, 90K SERVICE, AND A FEW BULB REPLACEMENTS. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED A MONTH PRIOR AND THEY SAID THAT THE WRONG FLUID WAS PROBABLY USED SINCE I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE AT A DEALER. I OPTED FOR ONLY THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND BULB REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. A COUPLE HOURS LATER, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT I DID NEED TO HAVE THE COMPUTER REPLACED AND POSSIBLY A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT CONCERNING THE COMPUTER BUT I AM OVER THE WARRANTY AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,286. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE BULLETIN, I COULD HAVE HAD THE COMPUTER REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Sep 9, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SKIPPED GEARS WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM 1 TO 2 OR 3 TO 4. THE GEAR SLIPPAGE INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98800.
Power train, Aug 26, 2009
I BECAME AWARE OF YOUR SITE AFTER A READING A NY TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HARD SHIFTING AND LURCHING BEGAN IN MY 2003 RAV 4 WHEN IT WAS AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPUTER CODE THAT WAS DIAGNOSED INDICATED SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I RESEARCHED IT ON THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR MANY RAV OWNERS. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD THE WORK DONE BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED. I PAID $1100 FOR THE NEW ECU AND $2400 FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR ANY OF THE REPAIR WORK THAT WAS DONE. *TR
Power train, Aug 5, 2009
TRANSMISSION IS HESITATING, JERKING, STALLING, LOSS OF POWER, AND RPM'S RACING IN LOWER GEARS OF MY 2003 RAV4 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Jul 29, 2009
FROM A COMPLETE STOP, HARSH SHIFT/JERK FROM PARK TO REVERSE, HESITATION AND JERKING CHANGING GEARS, MOST TIMES CONSISTENT DURING ENTIRE RIDE, THEN OK FOR A WHILE AFTER ADDING FLUID OR FLUSHING TRANNY FLUID. STARTS ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES INTO RIDE. STARTED WHEN GETTING OFF HIGHWAY RAMP DURING RUSH HOUR. CAME TO A STOP, AND GEARS WERE NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY ON TAKE OFF, LOTS OF JERKING. CAR SHAKING AND FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS WITHOUT HITTING GAS PEDAL HARD. CAR TESTED WITH 3 COMPUTERS AND NO CODES. TRANSMISSION FLUSHED 2X, PAN DROPPED, NO EVIDENCE OF METAL OR GUNK. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND BULLETINS HAD BEEN POSTED (BY TOYOTA) FOR THESE CONCERNS SEVERAL TIMES. ECM/TRANSMISSION WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST WILL BE BETWEEN $3K-5K! *TR
Power train, Jul 24, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO THE CORRECT GEAR, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED DURING THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO FAILURES OR WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TCM FAILED, AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $6,500. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE COMPENSATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT IF SHE HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $6,500, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REIMBURSE HER IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH STATED THAT A WARRANTY WAS OFFERED THAT WOULD COVER THE EMISSION FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE AND CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,548 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,270.
Power train, Jun 11, 2009
I HAVE A 2003 RAV4 BROUGHT NEW AT 0 MILES WITH 92,000 MILES NEVER A PROBLEM OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT UNTIL MAY 31 09 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS TECH THE NEXT MORNING. THEY HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED THIS CAR THEY INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A REMANUFACTURED 3122.24 TRANS AND A 1145.89 ECU.I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ECU IN THIS MODEL OR THAT A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. THEY WAS NEVER A ISSUE WITH THE CAR BEFORE THAT ONE DAY YET THESE REPAIRS ARE WHAT I'M TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA AS IT TURNS OUT IS WELL AWARE OF TO THE POINT OF MAKING AND UPGRADE FOR THE ECU BUT ARE NOT RECALLING. THIS IS A SAFETY IS YOUR TRANS JUST GOES IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Steering, May 26, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT UNCONTROLLABLY TOWARD THE RIGHT. AS AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURNED THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC DIVIDING WALL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
Steering, May 26, 2009, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT UNCONTROLLABLY TOWARD THE RIGHT. AS AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURNED THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO A TRAFFIC DIVIDING WALL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TIE ROD FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
Power train, May 12, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE COMPUTER WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Power train, May 11, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO THIRD GEAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND JERKS WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE SOLENOID WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL TO THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,000.
Power train, May 5, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING, STALLING, AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CHANGED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FILTER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WERE CHANGED, BUT THE JERKING WORSENED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF A TOYOTA VEHICLE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOOK APART AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A TSB REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION (TC002-06), BUT THE DEALER NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A TSB FOR THE TRANSMISSION OR ECM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
Power train, Apr 1, 2009
AROUND EARLY MARCH AFTER SEVERAL PRIOR REPAIRS FROM DEC. 08-FEB. 09 MY TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTS DRIVING REALLY ROUGH, WON'T ACCELERATE, THEN LURCHES YOU FORWARD, ETC. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. YOU GO TO ACCELERATE AND SOMEONE IS BEHIND YOU AND YOU LITERALLY CANNOT GET THE CAR TO GO, THEN IT FINALLY SHOOTS YOU FORWARD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. I CALLED TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND MAD HATTERS HAD THE BEST PRICE. MAD HATTERS DID REPAIR AND CLEARED OFF CODES AND CAR DROVE FINE FOR 48 HOURS. ON WAY HOME FROM WORK THAT MONDAY EVENING IT DROVE THE WORST IT EVER HAS, WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THEN SHOT ME FORWARD, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WAITING TO TURN AFTER ME AND A WOMAN BEHIND ME. I PRAYED I WOULD MAKE IT HOME. CALLED TOYOTA TOOK IT BACK TO MAD HATTERS AT THEIR SUGGESTION. MAD HATTERS CHECKED AND INDICATED IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE. WE CALLED TOYOTA TO IMMEDIATELY TOW IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA CALLED AND INDICATE IT IS THE EMC AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. $1300. I RESEARCHED AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS A OLD TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN SO THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED. TWO WEEKS LATER AFTER I GOT THE MONEY TOGETHER I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP MY CAR. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE AND THE CAR SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE, ALTHOUGH AFTER PICKING IT UP I DROVE FOR 10 MILES AND NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I PRAY IT HAS NOT DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION. THANK GOD THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN BRAIN OF THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Power train, Jan 21, 2009
FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. WHEN IN PARK OR STOPPED THE CAR IDLES HIGH. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THE SHIFT OF GEARS IS NOT SMOOTH, IT IS JUMPY AND JERKY. ALSO WHEN SWITCHING TO DRIVE, REVERSE ETC, ITS NOT A SMOOTH TRANSITION. I FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SAFE AND COULD FAIL WHILE IM DRIVING. MY PASSENGERS OFTEN TELL ME I AM A CRAZY DRIVER AS OF LATE, BECAUSE THE CAR IS JERKING THEM AROUND, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY WAY OF DRIVING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 31, 2008
CAR DOES NOT PROCEED INTO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. SLOW TO TURN CORNERS - SLOW TO MOVE FORWARD -NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 26, 2008
TOYOTA RAV4 2003, TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICE A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, MORE SO FROM A STOP AND GO MOTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TRANSMISSION EXPERT, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER NEEDS CHANGING. A DAY LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT BACK. NOW THEY TOLD ME THE TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER, THAT MAY AT THIS POINT CONTRIBUTED TO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND IF I WANTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I NEED TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER, WHICH CAN RUN TO THOUSAND OF DOLLARS, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AT THIS TIME. MY QUESTION IS IF TOYOTA KNOW THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WHY NOT RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM? I HAVE GONE TO CARCOMPLAINT.COM AND READ MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THOSE OWNERS PAID ALOT MONEY UP FRONT TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIX, UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR CARS HAD HIGH MILEAGE, AND OUT WARRANTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, I AM FOR WHATEVER ACTIONS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST TOYOTA TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DANIEL *TR
Power train, Dec 4, 2008
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, 138000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2003. THIS CAR JERKS, JUMPS GEARS, AND SUDDENLY SLOWS WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO COME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. NOW IT WON'T GO OVER 40 AND IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE. I CALLED CONTINENTAL TRANSMISSION AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY HAVE REPAIRED MANY TOYOTA RAV4'S FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME APPROX $3500.00. IT SEEMS THE DEFECTIVE ECU BURNS UP THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, WHEN SEARCHING ON LINE THEIR ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RAV4 OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT AND/OR GET HURT AND HOPEFULLY NOT KILLED. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO DO A RECALL. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR HELP COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY. WE HAD BELIEVED IN TOYOTA FOR QUALITY, AFTER THIS I WILL NOT EVER CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA. WITH TODAY'S ECONOMY IN SUCH A FINANCIAL DISASTER IT IS A SHAME THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS. *TR
Power train, Nov 19, 2008
TOYOTA RAV 4, 2003, FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY IN LOWER GEARS LEADING TO NEAR REARENDERS. LOOKED ON A CAR COMPLAINT SITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REFLASHED AT THE SERVICE CENTERS TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NOT LISTED AS A RECALL BUT A TECHNICAL PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO HAVE BOTH THE ECM REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. 125000 MILES WHICH IS BETTER THAN MOST REPORTED. EVERYONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH TOYOTA. SEEMS TO HAVE CROPPED UP IN THE 2002 MODELS FIRST. *TR
Power train, Oct 23, 2008
JERKING AND SHIFTING TO THE WRONG GEAR. DEALER FOUND OUT BAD TRANSMISSION . NEED TO SPEND $5000. I'M SURPRISE FOR TOYOTA PRODUCT. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 15, 2008
SLUDGE IN TOYOTA ENGINE. *TR