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.
Suspension, Power train, Electrical system, Apr 23, 2010
2003 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER REQUESTS RAMIFICATION TO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AS SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER A RED LIGHT AND IT WOULD SURGE WITH FORCE ONCE IT ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED $664.87 FOR A SENSOR AND V-RIPPED BELT. ON MARCH 24, 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. UPON RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A TSB FOR THE PCM AND ECM. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED OF A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AT THE SLIGHTEST ROAD BUMP AND HEARING A THUMP WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TO THE FAR RIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THE TSB'S REGARDING THE ECM/PCM. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 23, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WHEN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SENSORS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE FAILURE BUT WERE NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,400.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 15, 2010, crash
2003 TOYOTA 4DR. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *JB
Power train, Apr 14, 2010
IN SEPTEMBER 2008, MY RAV4 SUDDENLY BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER AND IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AS OTHER VEHICLES WARE APPROACHING AND AS I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR JUST IDLED HIGH THEN IT JOLTED INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO THE NEXT DAY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY AAMCO, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE TSB TC002-06 ISSUED BY TOYOTA. AAMCO ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY COULD DETERMINE IF IT WAS IN FACT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH IT DID NEED A NEW ECM COMPUTER AS PER TC002-06. ALSO IN FEB 2009 I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ECM COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. MY RAV4 AT THE TIME HAD 80,300 MILES ON IT AND THE SLONE TOYOTA THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM WOULD NOT HONOR THE 80/8 WARRANTY. THEY DID HOWEVER GIVE ME 50/50 GOODWILL ASSISTANCE (IF YOU CAN EVEN CALL IT THAT SINCE IT STILL COST OVER $900 FOR THE COMPUTERS.) THE NEW TRANSMISSION COST $3,750 DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONED COMPUTER. NOW IN APRIL 2010, 18 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES LATER, I AM GOING THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 60 MPH AND THEN IT WENT TO 40 MPH. I COULD NOT GET IT ACCELERATE. I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS VERY SCARY FOR US AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING BEHIND US AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE LOCATION WERE I WAS DRIVING DID NOT HAVE ANYWHERE FOR ME TO PULL OVER. AGAIN THE CAR JOLTED INTO GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE AGAIN MY CAR IS AT THE AAMCO. AT THIS TIME WE ARE UNSURE IF THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN OR IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION I HAD INSTALLED. REGARDLESS I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TOYOTA CLAIMED IN 2006 STEPS WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. ONCE I RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT I WILL POST A COMPLAINT. *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Mar 29, 2010, crash
2003 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE SLOWLY, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, HE BELIEVED THE CARPET BECAME STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL. *JB UPDATED 06/02/10 *JB
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.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Mar 17, 2010
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT FM OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHEN SHE TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO GET IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE, THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE SENSOR IN THE GAS TANK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
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
Vehicle speed control, Mar 4, 2010
PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 80 KM/H. STOPPED. LIGHT GOES GREEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS ONLY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE LURCH FORWARD SLOWLY AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP IN SHORT SPURTS. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AS TRAFFIC CAME FLYING FROM BEHIND. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SITTING, I HIT THE GAS AGAIN AND GOT GOING LIKE NORMAL. PARKED THE CAR FOR FOUR HOURS AND THEN HEADED BACK HOME. WAS MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION ON THE WAY HOME AND PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. CAN'T GET GOING AND THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT'S STUCK BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. I SHIFT IT INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS. JUST AS I DRIVE UP A HILL CLOSE TO MY APARTMENT, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS TIME I TRY SHIFTING TO BOTH SECOND AND FIRST GEAR BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND WAIT FIVE MINUTES. I START THE CAR AND IT RUNS LIKE NORMAL. I MAKE IT BACK HOME AND PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET. IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE AND I OCCASIONALLY MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, I HAVE LEARNED IT IS PROBABLY THE ECM AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG RAV4'S BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FURTHER. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED INITIALLY, IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPEEDY HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO MOVE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Mar 3, 2010
ACCELERATION INCREASES WHILE USING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP SLOW DOWN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT BEING APPLIED. *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
Vehicle speed control, Feb 25, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 8 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND HER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED UP TO 35 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AND INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING. SHE HAS MAILED A LETTER TO THE DEALER AND SHE HAS ALSO CALLED THEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2010
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2003. MY CAR IS RUNNING SO WEIRD AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PUT MY LIFE AT RISK. I AM DRIVING ON A FREEWAY (65-70 MPH ' 36MILES EVERYDAY) A DANGEROUS FAILURE TO SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOKING. WE TOOK MY CAR AT THE DEALER TWICE AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. AT FIRST THEY TOLD US THE PROBLEM, THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE/CHANGE/REPAIR THE AIR FILTER/AIR PILOMETER, WE REPLACED IT. BUT THEN SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY (EVERYDAY), FAILURE SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOCKING WHILE I AM DRIVING'. WE BROUGHT IT AGAIN AT THE DEALER AND THEY JUST TOLD US THAT THEY ALREADY DIAGNOSED IT (TWICE) BUT THEIR COMPUTER CANNOT LOCATE THE 'CODE' THING FROM THE COMPUTER, WHICH TELLS THEM IF THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM OR NOT. I ASKED THEM THAT IF THEY DIAGNOSED IT HOW COME THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM? THE ONLY ANSWER THEY TOLD ME WAS 'THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT GIVING THEM A CODE' AND I TOLD THEM IF THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN MY CAR, THE ANSWER WAS 'THEY ARE NOT SURE'. THIS IS A REALLY 'SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS MATTER'. 'TOYOTA IS PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK'. ARE THEY GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM OF THE CAR IF THEY SEE US DEAD OR IF WE GOT IN ACCIDENT??? TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A FULL ATTENTION OF THIS MATTER AND GIVE US A FULL WARRANTY OF FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA RAV4 2001-2003. WE NEVER WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 24, 2010
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A RUNAWAY GAS PEDAL ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA RAV4. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE AND AFTER BRAKING AND WORKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SLOWED DOWN. I WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 87 MPH IN A SPLIT SECOND AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT THE TOYOTA FROM AND THEY ARE NOT OFFERING CONCERN OR A SOLUTION. ONE DEALER SUGGESTED WE CALL THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF TOYOTA, BUT AFTER DOING SO, I HAD NO WAY TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. IT WAS ALL PREPROGRAMMED TO DEAL ONLY WITH TOYOTA'S THAT WERE ON THE RECALL LIST. WE DON'T FEEL REAL SAFE WITH OUR FAMILY CAR AND FELT THE NEED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW. WE ALSO WANT TO LET OTHERS BEWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF TOYOTA RAV4. WE NOW HAVE A CAR THAT WE DO NOT TRUST IS SAFE AND NOBODY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *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.