2001 TOYOTA RAV4 Electrical System Problems

MY2001RAV4 WITH 125000 STARTED JUMPING INTO GEAR ALSO THE RPM REVS UP BUT VECHICLE LOSSES POWER VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERK INTO GEARS

Mileage: 125,000

THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 150,000

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STARTED DOING STRANGE CHANGES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SUCH AS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND JERKING MOVEMENTS. AT ONE POINT, SHE TOLD ME GETTING ON FREWAY ON RAMP WAS A HAZARD, BECAUSE OF IRRATIC BEHAVIOR OF TRANSMISSION!!

Mileage: 135,000

WHEN I CHANGE GEAR OR PRESS ACCELERATOR TO GIVE GAS, MY CAR DOESN'T PICK UP RACE AND DOESN'T SHIFT THE GEAR. IT WILL DO ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING TURNED ON, EVEN THOUGH THISNGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

Mileage: 135,000

HARSH SHIFT BETWEEN 2 AND 3, PROBABLY DUE TO ECM FAILING

Mileage: 86,155

I BOUGHT A TOYOTA RAV4 TWO WEEKS AGO, AND SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, BUT ASSUMED THAT TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE IT IF MINE NEEDED REPLACED. MY VEHICLE'S ECM HAD BEEN REPROGRAMMED, SO I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE FINE. I WAS WRONG. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, MY VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARSHLY, AND I HAD TO CRAWL ALONG A BUSY EXPRESSWAY WITH MY FOUR-WAY LIGHTS ON WITH CARS FLYING PAST ME. AND I HAD TO LIMP THROUGH INTERSECTIONS, THEN IMMEDIATELY STOP MY CAR FROM LURCHING FORWARD -- WHAT IF A PERSON HAD BEEN WALKING ACROSS THE INTERSECTION?? TOYOTA SAYS MY VEHICLE'S TOO OLD TO BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL TO REPLACE THE ECM. ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. IF THEIR FIRST RECALL OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WORK, OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A HUGE MISTAKE TOYOTA MADE. IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THIS IS COVERED FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT FAIR FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE TO BUY A USED CAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HASN'T BEEN INVESTIGATED YET. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE SEEING AS THE CAR CRAWLS THROUGH BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND SOMEONE COULD EASILY HIT YOU. OR YOU COULD BE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR COULD REFUSE TO ACCELERATE AND A CAR COULD HIT YOU THEN. OR IF IT'S A SNOWY OR ICY DAY AND YOU TRY TO CLIMB A HILL, YOU COULD EASILY NOT MAKE IT UP THE HILL AND ROLL BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR BEHIND YOU. OR THE TRANSMISSION COULD GO OUT ALTOGETHER SUDDENLY, SEEING AS THIS IS A KNOWN RISK WHEN THE CAR STARTS SHIFTING HARSHLY. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE FOR THIS HUGE PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN INJURED OR ANYONE ELSE AROUND ME. *TR

WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL ON AN INCLINE MY RAV4 ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL SO I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO GET IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD THIS ON 2 RAV4S, BOTH 2001, ONE WAS 4WD AND THE OTHER 2WD. TOYOTA TRIED TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST VEHICLE BY SENDING IT HOME WITH A TECH WHO DROVE TO MODESTO. THEY COULD NOT REPEAT IT...ON MY CURRENT CAR IT DOES THE SAME AND TOYOTAS BEST ANSWER WAS NOT TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AFTER HE ASKED WHY I WAS USING IT ANYWAYS. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ECUS IN THESE CARS AND BEFORE BUYING IT, SENT THE PRIVATE DEALER TO TOYOTA TO REMEDY THIS. NOW I FIND OUT THEY ONLY FLASHED THE ECU UNDER THE RECALL WHICH THEY NEW DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING. NOW 2 YEARS LATER I FACE THE HARSH SHIFTING CONDITION....ALL ON ME. IM LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HURT BY EITHER OF THESE ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY BY TOYOTA, AND THANK GOD MY 9 YEAR OLD WASN'T WITH ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY. *TR

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN TOYOTA'S EXTENDED WARRANTY AND RECALL FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. ACCORDING TO A JULY 10, 2010 ARTICLE ONLINE AT THECARCONNECTION.COM IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE ISSUE, WHICH AFFECTS AROUND 235,500 VEHICLES, CAN LEAD TO A DAMAGED, ROUGH-SHIFTING TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE RAV4 FOR THOSE MODEL YEARS WAS ORIGINALLY COVERED FOR FIVE YEARS OR 60,000 MILES ON POWER TRAIN COMPONENTS, TOYOTA IS EXTENDING COVERAGE TO TEN YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THE AUTO MAKER IS ALSO OFFERING TO REIMBURSE CURRENT OR FORMER OWNERS FOR REPAIRS ALREADY MADE. FOR ME, THE PROBLEM DID NOT APPEAR UNTIL NEAR THE VERY END OF THE COVERAGE DATE. IT WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED AND WHEN PROBLEM WAS FINALLY IDENTIFIED, I WAS TOLD IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY WINDOW AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO TOYOTA AND WIDELY DOCUMENTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED AS QUICKLY. UPDATED 11/10/14

Mileage: 148,000

RECENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE DASHBOARD LIGHT ON OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE THAT OFFERED A FREE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK; IT INDICATED TROUBLESHOOTING CODE P0770; THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS DUE TO FAULTY SIGNALS FROM THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) THAT REGULATES THE TRANSMISSION. THIS EXPLANATION SEEMED CONSISTENT WITH THE CARS BEHAVIOR (NOT CLIMBING EVEN A SMALL HILL AND HAVING TO RESTART IT) AND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS WE'VE READ ONLINE THAT SUGGEST THE ECM DEFECT REMEDIED FOR A WHILE BY A RECALL IN 2007 AND EVIDENTLY A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT BY A CLASS ACTION SUIT NO LONGER IN EFFECT IS STILL AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WE TOWED THE RAV TO OUR CLOSEST AUTHORIZED TOYOTA REPAIR FACILITY, THEN EXPLICITLY ASKED IF THEY WOULD CHECK BOTH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE REP GAVE A $4200 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE, BUT MADE NO MENTION OF THE ECM MODULE, EVEN THOUGH I SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT THIS. 1) TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THEIR RECALL ON THE ECM MODULES INDEFINITELY AND PAY FOR BOTH ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, SINCE THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN DEFECT AND A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE CIRCUITRY IN THE ECM WERE TO MALFUNCTION AT HIGH SPEEDS IT MIGHT CAUSE FATALITIES OR SERIOUS INJURIES. 2) THE SPECIFIC TOYOTA DEALER SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE ECM IN THEIR ESTIMATES AND MADE GREATER EFFORTS TO WORK WITH TOYOTA TO REMEDY THIS SPECIFIC SITUATION AND ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES IN GENERAL, FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INTENTIONALLY DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM THE ECM DEFECT AND ITS LIABILITY TO AVOID THE EXPENSE AND COMPLICITY INVOLVED IN WHAT WOULD SEEM TO BE A LEGITIMATE ON-GOING SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 175,691

ECM WAS REPLACED IN 2007. NO PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME. IN MAY 2014 BRAKES PLUS MISDIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND FIXED ALMOST EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER WENT ON UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP AND WHEN I WENT TO PASS A PERSON ON A BICYCLE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THEN IT JUMPED BACK AND FORTH LIKE TRYING TO GO FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER, WITH NOTHING HAPPENING. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY A TRUCK AT THIS POINT, BUT AVOIDED. TOOK THE RAV BACK TO BRAKES PLUS. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. WOULD COST $4500-5000 REPAIR. THEY NEVER EVEN CHECKED THE DIAGNOSIS - WHICH WHEN WE TOOK TO AUTO ZONE (WHICH WILL READ THE PROBLEM AS ECM). THEN TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS "SMOKE." CALLED THE TOYOTA REP AND ONLY GOT A CASE NUMBER. OF COURSE THE CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND WE HAVE HAD IT 12. IT IS AT 175,000 MILES. WE CAN'T PUT ANOTHER $4,500 IN THIS CAR. THE ECM SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD HAVE GONE ON IN MAY FROM WHAT WE ASSESS CONSIDERING THE PROBLEMS WE EXPERIENCED AT THAT TIME. I WOULD NOT ADVISE ANYONE TO PURCHASE A 2001-2003 RAV4. I AM NOT SURE I'D EVERY PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA. IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA HAS STUCK US WITH A NEARLY $5000 REPAIR IF WE WANT A NEW TRANS. AND WE JUST PUT $2,700 INTO IT IN MAY. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON AN ICY AND SNOW COVERED ROAD, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

CAR HAD NO SPARK WHEN CRANKING, MY MECHANIC CHECKED AND TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE CAR'S MAIN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTER (ECM), I ORDERED A USED ECM FOR THE SAME VEHICLE, CAR STARTED BUT TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING WAS VERY ABNORMAL, SHIFTING WAS HARSH MAKING A LOUD THUMP WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND STARTING OFF ON THIRD GEAR. THE DAMAGE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALREADY DONE SO I WENT AND ORDERED A TRANSMISSION AND A NEW ECM SINCE I FOUND OUT THAT ALL ECM'S HAD BEEN UPDATED DUE TO ALL ECM'S BEING DAMAGED FROM FACTORY. A LAWSUIT TOOK PLACE BACK 2012 IN THE CASE THAT WAS ENTITLED MILLIGAN V. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A IN WHICH TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED TOYOTA HAS EVER SINCE EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 170,000 MILES, EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM IS THERE THEY STILL WON'T RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR PROPER REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 189,000

TRAVELING AT 30 MPH OR LESS THE VEHICLE WILL STUMBLE. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AS TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE AN INCIDENT WHEREBY THE ENSUING TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE A CRASH.THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT INVOLVES THE ECU(ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) THAT IS THE COMPUTER WHICH CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS VERIFIED BY TOYOTA AS THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE AGE IS BEYOND THE 10 YEAR LIMIT. THEREFORE,I WISH TO PURSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I AM NEWLY EMPLOYED WITH THE POST OFFICE SO I NEED MY CAR. I WAS OUT DRIVING MY ROUTE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS LAGGING A LITTLE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE OFF. THEN WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME SPEED BETWEEN BOXES IT WAS LIKE IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN JERKED REALLY HARD AND KICKED INTO GEAR, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND ALSO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN PUT OUT IN 2010 ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING THE MECHANIC DID AND THAT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE BULLETIN BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE 10 YEAR OR 150,000 MILE RANGE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE TO PAY THIS OUT OF POCKET AND I NEED MY CAR. THE ESTIMATE THAT I GOT WAS $1536 FROM TOYOTA AND THEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED TOO. THIS IS CRAZY ESPECIALLY SEEING AS TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND NOTIFIED SOME PEOPLE BUT NOT ALL RAV4 OWNERS. I AM OUT THERE DRIVING MY CAR AND COULD PULL OUT AT THE WRONG TIME AND GET HIT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO IN THIS CAR ANYMORE. I LOVE MY CAR AND NEED MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 193,000

HARSH VEHICLE JERKING WITH BAD AUTOMATIC SHIFTING/ACCELERATION. USED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT WITH BADLY PERFORMING VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECM. *TR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (TOYOTA DOCUMENT T-SB-0156-10) BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS. ECM FAILURE IN MY CAR CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED BY PRO-ACTIVELY REPLACING THE FACTORY INSTALLED ECM IF I HAD BEEN GIVEN THE T-SB-0156-10 INFORMATION. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS AT THE TIME. THIS PART FAILURE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA NOTIFY OWNERS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. THANKS.

Mileage: 119,000

ON 10/13/2012 WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WE HEADED SOUTH ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN AS WE PROCEEDED UP THE ENTRANCE RAMP GAINING SPEED TO SAFELY MOVE ON THE FREEWAY WE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE POWER WINDOW BY PULLING UP ON THE DESIGNATED SWITCH AND EXPERIENCED THIS WINDOW AS SOON AS IT CLOSED WOULD INSTANTLY GO BACK DOWN. REPEATED ATTEMPTS SAME OUTCOME. CARS WERE ON ALL SIDES, THE GUST OF RAIN HITTING MY FACE MADE IT HARD TO SEE WHILE MY ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON GETTING THIS WINDOW TO STAY CLOSED AND AT THE SAME TIME AVOID COLLISIONS DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF A WINDOW THAT WOULD NOT STAY SHUT. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS YET. ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 2012 I TOOK MY RAV4 BACK TO CARMAX IN ATTLEBORO WITH MY COMPLAINT--I WILL BE LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH THEM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2012 SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TCM (THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WHICH HAS HAD THE RECALL). IF IT IS FOUND THAT MY RAV4 IS ONE OF MANY UNDER THIS RECALL, I WILL HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL HONOR ITS' COMMITMENT AND FIX MY RAV. I DO HOPE THAT LODGING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU WILL HELP ME IN THIS PLIGHT, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO AS TO THE ABOVE, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS A RECALL WITH TOYOTA. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 114,800

THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR WHILE IN LOW GEAR AND SHIFTING FROM A LOW SPEED. I BECAME AWARE OF THE ECM PROBLEM KNOWN TO OCCUR IN MY MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP; HOWEVER, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE (I PURCHASED MY CAR 11 YEARS AGO) DESPITE THE FACT IT IS KNOWN THAT THE ECM, THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TOYOTA CANNOT ETHICALLY COVER THIS KNOWING IT IS DEFECTIVE AND IS PROBABLE TO CAUSE OWNERS PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE, REGARDLESS IF IT'S 8, 10, OR 12 YEARS DOWN THE LINE. *TR

Mileage: 115,790

MY VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING AND HARD ENGAGEMENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED TOYOTA RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS FAR BACK AS 2006 IN THE 2001-2003 MODELS. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 150, 000 MILES. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS BEYOND THE DATE (ONLY 103,000 MILES). I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, I DISCOVERED THAT OWNERS HAD ISSUES WITH THE REPLACED EMC UNIT WITHIN 2 YEARS-CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE OR REPEATED ECM FAILURE. I QUESTIONED TOYOTA AS TO WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME. IF IT HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUE, TOYOTA WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND NOT ME. IN ADDITION, HOW DO I KNOW THAT ONCE I HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED TODAY, THAT I WON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OR WORSE IN 2 YEARS--LIKE MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS? TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS A RECALL ISSUE--ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

WE RECEIVED A LETTER LAST YEAR FROM TOYOTA NOTIFYING US ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON A PART THAT THEY EXPECTED TO MALFUNCTION, THE ECM - SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRANSAXLE AND A HARSH SHIFT CONDITION. WE WERE NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM, SO WE DID AS THE DOCUMENT RECOMMENDED AND FILED IT. LAST WEEK OUT OF NO WHERE, WE STARTED EXPERIENCING THIS HARSH SHIFT CONDITION. THE CAR STALLED OUT WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR QUICKLY AND ON TRAFFIC FILLED ROADS, DANGEROUSLY. WE PROMPTLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS NEEDING THAT PART REPLACED. THEN THEY TOLD US SORRY, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 2010. TWO MONTHS AFTER WE'D RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. I AM UNEMPLOYED, WE ARE A ONE CAR FAMILY AND NOW WE HAVE A VEHICLE WE CAN'T DRIVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN AND BECAUSE OF THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF A PROPER RECALL TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THEIR PRODUCT WHICH COULD CAUSE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO NOW DUE TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, MY HUSBAND'S JOB AND OUR ONE SOURCE OF INCOME IS AT STAKE. TOYOTA HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN A BAD SITUATION AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WANT THE ECM RECALLED AND FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. I CALLED TOYOTA WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAD THIS PART REPLACED IN 2007 UNDER A RECALL AND ONLY ONE TO A CUSTOMER. I ALSO HAD MISSED THE 10 YEARS TIME LIMIT, (FROM ORIGINAL USE DATE), BY A FEW MONTHS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF TOYOTA KNOW THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULDN'T HAVE REPLACED MY ECM WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LIMIT OF ONE ECM. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE REPLACED ECM WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I'M HAVING TO SPEND ABOUT $1100 FOR A PART THAT TOYOTA KNOWS IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

I AM WRITING BECAUSE I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT STARTED ACTING UP A FEW WEEKS AGO. IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN ACCELERATING IT WOULD MAKE A STRANGE SOUND AND INSTEAD OF MOVING IT SEEMED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN IT WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN START JERKING. I GOT SCARED A FEW TIMES BECAUSE WHEN I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE FOR EXAMPLE: WHEN ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD NOT MOVE DUE TO THIS SHIFTING PROBLEM I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 6 & 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME!! I TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM THEM DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT HAD BEEN TURNED ON FOR A WHILE AND INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AS STATED ON RECALL NOTICE, THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL REPAIRED. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS THERE FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT THEY NEVER DID!! I DIDN'T GO BACK BECAUSE I FELT THAT THEY WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME BECAUSE INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM WHICH TOYOTA SENT RECALLS FOR, THEY DIDN'T. NOW 2 YEARS LATER, I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM AND I FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING IS DUE TO NEEDING A NEW ECM/ECU. THE TOYOTA GUY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $1,000 JUST FOR THIS PART! AND IF THAT DIDN'T WORK THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HERE'S THE THING: TOYOTA HAS KNOWN THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE ECU FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY KNOW THAT DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ECU THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY BE DAMAGED. WHY DIDN'T THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT 2 YEARS AGO? THEY PURPOSELY DON'T SAY ANYTHING SO THAT BY THE TIME YOUR CAR DOES HAVE PROBLEMS, THEY USE THE "YOU'RE OUT OF WARRANTY" EXCUSE TO MAKE YOU PAY THEM FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD'VE FIXED TO BEGIN WITH. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED AND I HAD TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE SINCE I DON'T TRUST TOYOTA DUE TO THEIR DISHONESTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! WHAT IF I WOULD'VE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY DAUGHTERS DUE TO THEM NOT CORRECTING THIS? *TR

Mileage: 74,770

STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY AFTER I HAVE COME TO COMPLETE STOP AND TRY TO ACCELERATE. IT WILL START TO MOVE AND THEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT AND IT STOPS ACCELERATING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO YEARS. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO NEEDING NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE IN 2005. AFTER SEARCHING FOR INFO ONLINE I FOUND OUT ABOUT SAFETY RECALL FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM), THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND ENGINE LIGHT IS NOW OFF, BUT TRANSMISSION IS BAD. AND TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUINED TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN A PUBLIC PARKING RAMP. THE FAILURE CAUSED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY VERY HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 3RD GEAR WITH SURGES DURING ACCELERATION. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 ECM AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN MAY OF 2009. PAID OUT OF POCKET. REPLACEMENT WAS A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BY DEALER (VICTORY TOYOTA IN CANTON, MI) SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 17,000 MILES. PAID OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. NO HELP FROM DEALER OR TOYOTA CORPORATE. FOUND OUT THAT DEALER JUST SWAPPED TRANS, DID NOT ACTUALLY REBUILD TRANS. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP. INDEPENDENT DISCOVERED A WASHER MISSING THAT CAUSED THIRD GEAR TO STRIP (DEFECT IN SECOND TRANS). TRANS REPAIRED, BUT THEN GOT A HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN STOPPING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND P0420 P0430 CODES. INDEPENDENT TRANS SHOP CLEARED CODES, AND TOLD ME THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO HAVE DEALER RE-FLASH ECM. WORKED OK FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS, THEN GOT THE HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WILL SUBMIT FOR RE-IMBURSEMENT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR SECOND TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE FIRST ECM AND TRANS FAILING. *TR

Mileage: 127,000

ECM FAILED ON MY 2001 RAV4 AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. WHEN IT FAILED IT PUT ME IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS WAS AFTER A RECALL ON THE ECM. SO I HAD ALREADY BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALER AND HAD THE ECM REPROGRAMMED. IF I HAD DIED IN AN ACCIDENT WOULD ANYONE HAVE CHECKED THE ECM TO SEE IT WAS NOT WORKING? I DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD DRIVING THESE CARS THAT COULD AT ANY MINUTE START ACTING ERRATICALLY. *TR

Mileage: 81,369

MARCH 2009 VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTOZONE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. CHECK INDICATED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS BAD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF BEDFORD AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE DIAGNOSTIC FROM OTHER PLACES, SO THAT COST ME $100. AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WAS PERFORMED, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS JUST THE GAS CAP AND TURNED THE LIGHT OFF. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE LIGHT CAN BACK ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IN JUNE 2009, THE CAR STARTED HAVING SHIFTING DIFFICULTY, GETTING STUCK IN A GEAR THEN JERKING OUT OF IT. I TOOK IT TO A FOREIGN CAR SPECIALIST SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, I DROVE IT FOR A FEW WEEKS AGAIN, THEN IT SHIFTED HARD WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR GETS STUCK IN A GEAR AND WON'T ACCELERATE!!! I READ COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE WITH THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND CAN'T BELIEVE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NOT A DRIVER ERROR, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER ERROR. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED BEFORE A RECALL CAN BE ORDERED. THIS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DEFECTIVE AND IF IT IS IT SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT QUESTION. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TOYOTA RAV4 2001 - COMPUTER PROBLEMS & TOTAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM MY RAV4, 2001 MODEL INITIALLY STARTED GIVING "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND HAVING HARD TIME ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGNAL. THE BBB APPROVED SERVICE CENTER CHECKED IT AND FOUND OUT THE ERROR CODE AS P0750 AND ADVISED THE REPLACEMENT/REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED ME APPROX $3000 FOR THIS TRANSMISSION REBUILD WORK/FIXING THE ERROR CODE ISSUE. TWO DAYS AFTER, I GOT THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SAME SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS THE CULPRIT FOR CAUSING THE PROBLEM. NOW, BASED ON THE DETAILS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET (HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/MAIN_COMPUTER_AND_TRANSMISSION_FAILURE.SHTML), I UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS THE COMMON PROBLEM OF TOYOTA RAV4 CARS. WHEN I SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 800-331-4331 (CASE # 1006150572), THEY SAID THEY ARE HELPLESS. I AM INTERESTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH CARSAFETY TO TAKE THIS UP WITH TOYOTA AS TO WHY THIS COMMON PROBLEM OF RAV4 IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED/RECALLED, THOUGH THERE ARE CUSTOMERS FACING SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE PROBLEM CAN EVEN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE LIVES. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON FREEWAY, WHILE GOING AT 60MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY FALLS DOWN TO 30 OR EVEN 20MPH AND CONTINUES LIKE THAT FOR FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES AUTOMATICALLY TO HIGHER SPEED. THIS FAILURE OCCURS EVERY 10-15 MINUTES IF NOT EARLIER.. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILD (INCLUDING THE SOLENOIDS, GEARTRAIN COMPONENTS, TORQUE CONVERTER ETC), THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED WITH A TOTAL OF APPROX $4500, THOUGH THERE WERE NO DEATHS/INJURIES YET. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE TAKEN UP SERIOUSLY WITH TOYOTA AND NEEDS A QUICKER RESOLUTION. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ALLEGED SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE ECM COMPUTER ON HIS 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE ECM CAUSED A PAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. TOYOTA CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED IN 2004. *JB

TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND SLIPPING IN SECOND GEAR THEN JUMPING TO THIRD GEAR, THEN TAKING OFF IN THIRD GEAR, FLUSH TRANNY AND REPROGRAM ECM, DIN"T 'HELP ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FOR CODE P0758, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ECM AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS ECM PROBLEM AND FAIL TO NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS

Mileage: 99,500

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS JERKING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS IN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD DO THIS INTERMITTENTLY THEN IT BECAME WORSE. I WAS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BORROW MONEY SO I COULD TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR COSTING ME APPROX. 1800.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM. *TR

Mileage: 103,690

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4, 98,000 MILES, HAS A PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SHIFT AROUND 30MILES AND ENGAGING SHIFT 2ND TO 3RD, RPM GAUGE JUMPING UP 5,000~6,000 RPM ON EVERY DRIVING AND FINALLY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. DEALER SHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEEDED REPROGRAM ECM. AFTER FIXED IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY SAID IT NEEDS NEW ECM AND REPROGRAM. AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. NOW THEY SAY IT NEEDS TRANSMISSION REBUILD TOO. THEY ALREADY KNEW THESE PROBLEM THROUGH THEIR BULLETIN SOME YEARS AGO AND DIDN'T NOTICED OWNERS. IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF SHIFT WAS CHANGED WHEN RPM GAUGE JUMPED UP. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. ALSO I READ SOME ARTICLE FOR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN SHIFTING VERY JERKY WHILE ON WAY HOME FROM STORE. VERY SCARY. WOULD LUNGE AND JERK TO START OUT BUT AFTER 2ND OR 3RD GEAR WAS OKAY. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS TRANSMISSION SERVICER HAD A MUCH BETTER PRICE. THE TRANSMISSION CO REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER AS WELL AS A REBUILT TRANSMISSION ($2700) AND THAT THIS (FAULTY COMPUTER) WAS A CONDITION TOYOTA WAS FULLY AWARE OF. APPARENTLY THE COMPUTER FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL WAS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY AND IN THIS CASE WAS TELLING THE TRANSMISSION TO ACCESS 2 GEARS AT THE SAME TIME (ACCORDING TO THEM). REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND THE WOMAN SAID I WAS OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER, EVEN THOUGH I HAD CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEPT COMING ON. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

FAULTY COMPUTER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE COMPUTER CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE INTO WRONG GEARS,RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. COST TO ME OF $4,847.00. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY TOYOTA OF THIS PROBLEM. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #1046. *TR

Mileage: 102,494

I BOUGHT NEW[ DEC. 2000] A 2001 TOYOTA RAV.4 LIMITED ..WITH 4CYL/.AUTOMATIC 4SPD.O.D.TRANSMISSION +ALL THE XTRAS...I HAVE KEPT IT UP -MECHANICALLY AND BODY WISE NEAR PERFECT...ALMOST ALL THRU TOYOTA DEALERS,AS I PLAN TO PASS IT ON TO MY GRANDDAUGHTER. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF AUG. 09 I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE LOCAL HIGHWAY @35/40 MPH AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT "CAME ON AND THEN A LOUD BANG AND GROWL ALL WHILE BUCKING DOWN TO10 MPH AND DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR. AFTER PULLING OVER TO A STOP,I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND BODY--NO LEAKS OR HANGING PARTS...AFTER I PHONED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER I DROVE THE CAR [NOW STUCK IN 2ND. GEAR THE SHORT DISTANCE BACK HOME..THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER FOUND 2-CODES STORED--INDICATING A DEFECTIVE ECU.OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT ALSO KNOWN AS A ECM OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE....THIS $1500. COMPUTER PART SENDS ALL THE SIGNALS TO THE SOLENOIDS IN THE AUTO TANS. WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS..NOW COMES THE SAFETY CONCERN--SEEING THAT THE ECU CAN GO BONKERS AT ANY TIME,IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS MOVING ALONG AT 50/60/65MPH AND BOOM THE CAR DROPS DOWN IN 1ST. GEAR GOD FORBID IF THERE ARE 2 OR 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND A 80,000LB.SEMI IS ON THEIR REAR-WORST YET AT NIGHT WITH BAD WEATHER...AS MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE IN YOUR FILES AND THE INTERNET HAS THOUSANDS OF NEAR MISSES ON THIS PROBLEM TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT AS FAR BACK AS 2003.THAT THE 01--02 AND 03 RAV 4 HAD THIS SAFETY CONCERN SO THEY TWEAKED THE ECU PER A TSB IN 06 I HAD PURCHASED THE PREMIUM 100K. WARRANTY AND THE E.C.U.WENT OUT AT 105K. WITH SOME PHONE CALLS TO CHICAGO AREA REP.TOYOTA AGREED TO SEND ME A LONG AWAITED CHECK FOR ONE-HALF PART ONLY COST..NOTHING FOR TROUBLESHOOTING-TOWING -OR LABOR FEES....MY MAIN CONCERN IS TOYOTA [I FEEL ]ISN'T ONE BIT PRO ACTIVE ON SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN OWNERS CALL THE 800# IN CALIFORNIA..I HOPE NHTSA CAN GET THIS ON FAST TRACK FOR SAFETY..THANK YOU...P.S. I HAVE OLD PART... *TR

Mileage: 105,000

EVENT 1: 1. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING CAR, NOTED ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR BY 700 TO 800 RPMS BETWEEN GEARS WHILE SHIFTING MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FOUND THIS HAPPENED BY JUST DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH WITHOUT SHIFTING EVEN WITH FOOT NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. 2. THE REV SOARING HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT FOR AN UNPLEASANT DRIVING EXPERIENCE. 3. COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED BY THE DEALER FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR. REV JUMPS REDUCED TO ABOUT 400 RPM. A SECOND REPROGRAMMING REDUCED IT TO ABOUT 200 RPM. THIS BEHAVIOR STILL EXISTS. EVENT #2. 1. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, NOTED THAT WHEN CRUISING WITH RPMS ABOVE 2800 RPM IN 5TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND FOOT NOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH, THE ENGINE REVS WOULD SOAR TO 3,200 RPM TO 3,500 RPMAND REMAIN THERE FOR PERIODS RANGING BETWEEN 5 SECONDS TO OVER A MINUTE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS COASTING AND SLOWING WHILE NOT UNDER POWER. 2. THIS BEHAVIOR FREQUENTLY OCCURRED UNDER THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. NO CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT AS A PROFESSION ENGINEER AND FORMER SPORTS CAR RACING DRIVER, I KNEW THIS BEHAVIOR WAS NOT NORMAL. 3. BEHAVIOR EXAMINED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. MECHANIC HOOKED UP RECORDING BOX TO CAR, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR ON THIS OCCASION. DATA EXAMINED BY A TOYOTA ENGINEER WHO PRONOUNCED THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. LATER, I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE BEHAVIOR. AFTER YET ANOTHER COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING, THIS BEHAVIOR OF REMAINING AT A HIGH RPM SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REVS STILL WILL SURGE TO ABOUT 3,400 RPM BEFORE DROPPING OFF. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BOUGHT RAV USED JULY 2007 WITH 109,230 MI. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON (HAS REMAINED ON) BUT WAS DIAGNOSED AS O2 SENSOR & RAV OPERATED PERFECTLY (LIVE WHERE EMISSIONS CHECK NOT REQUIRED). MAY 2009 TRANNY STARTED ALTERNATING BETWEEN WORKING GOOD, SHIFTING ROUGH, SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS, AND NOT DOWNSHIFTING AT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. HAD MECHANIC WITH OVER 15 YRS EXPERIENCE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHECK IT (AFTER HOURS). HE WAS UNAWARE OF CONNECTION TO FAULTY ECM SO WE THOUGHT TRANY WAS BAD & HE FLUSHED TRANNY. THAT REDUCED FREQUENCY OF SYMPTOMS BUT DID NOT STOP THEM. WE STILL THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS MECHANICAL & TRANNY REBUILD/REPLACE WAS INEVITABLE & I DROVE IT LONGER TO SAVE UP MONEY FOR REPAIRS. I LIVE ON A SEMI-RURAL OHIO STATE ROUTE WITH 55MPH POSTED LIMIT & 65MPH AVERAGE SPEED. I HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY OR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY THEN SLIPPED, HESITATED, OR REFUSED TO SHIFT. MY 18YR OLD SON DROVE THE RAV IN DEC & PULLED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER RIG WITH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE DISTANCE EXCEPT THAT THE RAV DECIDED NOT TO ACCELERATE. THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO PASS, BUT HAD THERE BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW ENOUGH IN TIME. INTERMITTENT SYMPTOMS CONTINUED UNTIL 12/14/09 WHEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR BURNED OUT & I DROVE HOME 20 MILES IN 1ST. JUST PARTS THRU TOYOTA WILL COST $2000 FOR REBUILT TRANNY PLUS $1000 FOR ECM. INDEPENDENT REPAIRMEN CAN FIX THE ECM FOR $65. HAD I AT LEAST KNOWN ROOT CAUSE OF THE SYMPTOMS WAS ECM NOT TRANNY (TOYOTA'S KNOWN SINCE 2006 OR BEFORE) I COULD HAVE SAVED $4-5K & AVOIDED 7 MONTHS OF RISKY DRIVING. I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE ONE OF THESE AND RELY ON IT WHEN IT FAILS IN 65MPH TRAFFIC. OR WE CAN WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED WHERE THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THIS PROBLEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND NOT POOR DRIVER JUDGMENT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2004. IN JULY 2009, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAN IT WOULD TO JUST PAY IT OFF. I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AS I DO A LOT OF COMMUTING. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. I HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECALL ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AS PERTINENT AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR. I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT THEY HAD A REPUTATION FOR SAFE, WELL-MADE VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS PUT ON THE LINE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THAT CONTRAPTION, AND I EXPECT THAT IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO ENSURE A COMPENSATION OR EXTENDED WARRANTY OF SOME KIND, TOYOTA WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS( AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS, I'M SURE.). MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYTIME ANYONE WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH A TOYOTA RAV 4 GETS IN THE CAR, THEY ARE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS CHEAP, FAULTY, UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE WHEN REVIEWING TOYOTA'S LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR DRIVER'S SAFETY. I AM SURE THAT SOME BIGWIG IS SITTING IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, PROFITING FROM THE MONEY THAT TOYOTA SAVED BY USING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

IN OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WE RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GEARS. THE CAR JERKS AND TAKES A MOMENT TO SHIFT. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS. *CN

Mileage: 114,000

MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 RAV4 DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER. *TR

Mileage: 134,000

I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2001 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED THE HARD SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THEN IT STARTED TO LURCH AND STALL. IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. THEN WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME EVERY INSTANCE YOU DROVE IT THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK TWO TIMES BEFORE MY MECHANIC SAW THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND A NEW COMPUTER THAT TALKS TO THE TRANSMISSION(ECM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WHICH THEY INSTALLED. *TR

Mileage: 68,860

THE ECM ON MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 STOPPED WORKING AT 76K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENT BECAUSE I STOPPED DRIVING IT AND GOT IT FIXED QUICKLY WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF THE FAILED TRANSMISSION SYMPTOMS - LURCHING AND JERKING AND LACK OF POWER IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND REALIZE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND AM HOPING IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN, TOYOTA WILL OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM OF A MAJOR DEFECTIVE PART. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AND, SINCE THE WARRANTY ON MY ECM EXPIRED AS OF MARCH THIS YEAR, THEY ALSO CLAIM IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 76,677

FAULTY ECU IN 2001 RAV4 AUTOMATIC CAUSES INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SLIPPING & DOUBLE-SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR, LONGER ECU IS USED THE WORSE THE SLIPPING OCCURS. RESETTING ECU FIXES PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND TRANNY WILL WORK PERFECT, THEN IT STARTS ACTING UP AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

OUR TOYOTA RAV 4 IS HAVING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS A BUST. IT CONTROLS AMONG OTHER THINGS OUR TRANSMISSION, AND THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. THE ECM HAS PRETTY MUCH RUINED OUR TRANSMISSION. THERE HAS BEEN MANY RAV 4 OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. AND TOYOTA IS (WAS) A REPUTABLE COMPANY. ONE WOULD THINK THEY WOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. OUR WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. AND THERE WAS RECALLS ON DIFFERENT COMPUTER THINGS FROM THEM BUT, THEY WILL NOT HELP US. AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS. AND THIS IS OUR ONLY FAMILY CAR. ONE WE NEED TO HELP US GET TO WORK. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

Mileage: 81,000

MY CAR IS TOYOTA RAV4 2001 2WD AUTOMATIC. RECENTLY, THE CAR ON ACCELERATION STARTED DOING HARD SHIFT. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2001/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM PRIVATE PARTY, I HAD ASKED TOYOTA OF KIRKLAND (WA) TO CHECK FOR ECU MODULE. I WAS TOLD IT IS THE RIGHT MODULE AND NOT THE RECALLED ONE. SO, I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE PRIVATE PARTY. AFTER 9 MONTHS OF USING THIS CAR, I GET THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES IT REFUSES TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR BUT WHEN I PURCHASED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK IT IS A FAULTY PART IN THE CAR. IF REPLACING ECU DOES NOT FIXES THE PROBLEM THEN WE HAVE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST ME ADDITIONAL $4000. TO REPLACE NEW ECU OR ECM, IT COSTS $1100+. PLEASE ASK TOYOTA TO RECALL THE RAV4S. THIS IS A BIG BLOW TO US IN THIS ECONOMY. *TR

Mileage: 83,150

ON NOVEMBER 8, WHILE TRAVELING TO WORCESTER TO SEE A FRIEND RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS MEDICAL NEXT I CALLED TWO OF THE MAJOR TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS IN THE AREA; COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN NORTHAMPTON AND THE TRANNY SHOP IN PALMER, WHERE BRIAN AND SCOTT TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA'S REPROGRAMMING DIDN'T WORK, AND THAT I'D NEED TO BUY A NEW MODULE OUT OF POCKET FOR $900-1100. THEY BOTH SAID THAT IF I CAUGHT IT EARLY, I WOULDN'T NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT UNWILLING TO PAY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 85,400

2001 TOYOTA RAV4 TROUBLE CODE P0750. WHEN CONSULTING MECHANICS AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO HELP FIX THE PROBLEM EFFICIENTLY. I WAS TOLD REPLACING SHIFT SOLENOID A MIGHT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEN AGAIN UNKNOWINGLY COULD BE A ECM ISSUE OR EVEN THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT THE COSTUMERS BEST INTEREST, WITH AN IMPORTANCE OF SUCH MAGNITUDE EXPENSE IS AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED TO GUARANTEE SATISFACTION OF OUTCOME. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE OF THIS VEHICLE WITH MAKER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL YET HAVE NOT DONE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS IT ACCORDINGLY. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH UNTIL RECENTLY HAD BEEN WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD PURCHASE. IN DECEMBER 2007, WE RECEIVED A LETTER INSTRUCTING US TO BRING OUR VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR) REPROGRAMMED WHICH WE HAD DONE IN JANUARY 2008. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2008, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STUTTER FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LIKE WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE A MUFFLED BACKFIRE MIGHT SOUND LIKE. THEN THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STUTTER AND ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. IT WOULD HESITATE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I MADE IT TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THAT AFTERNOON. THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM AND MY TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD COST $4900! HE EXPLAINED THAT I COULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING; THAT THE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD BEEN FOLLOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED FINE. HE ADDED THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ECM WITHOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE SERVICE CODES INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I OBTAINED A COPY OF THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TC002-06) FROM MARCH 3, 2006 WHICH INDICATED THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE ECM AND TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM, R&R ECM, WHICH WAS NOT DONE IN MY CASE..SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION UNTIL DECEMBER 2007, THE TRANSMISSION WAS EXPOSED TO A FAULTY ECM THAT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED ITS FAILURE. THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO WHICH I HAVE CONFIRMED BY SPEAKING TO ASE CERTIFIED TOYOTA AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR MECHANICS. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF THEN TOYOTA SENT SSC-601 IN MARCH OF 08 THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE ECM REPROGRAMMED WHICH I DID{TOOK TECH 2 TIMES TO GET IT RIGHT} NOW MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND SURE AS PIE THEY SAID ECM HAS FAILED AND THEY WANT 940.00 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN SEEN BY TOYOTA AND IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT THAT THEY EXPECT US THE CONSUMER TO EAT I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT RUNAROUND FROM BOTH LOCAL DEALER AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE AND IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

Mileage: 104,500

OWN 01 TOYOTA RAV 4 THAT HAS FAULTY COMPUTER, TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THESE MODELS ARE FAULTY. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACING COMPUTER CAN ALSO MAKE TRANSMISSION GO OUT. A VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKE BY TOYOTA AT MY COST. I PAID 12,400 FOR THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 YRS AGO. IT IS SHIFTING SO HARD THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I WISH I HAD READ CAR COMPLAINTS.COM BEFORE I PURCHASED IT, THERE ARE TONS OF OWNERS WITH 01-02 RAV'S WITH SAME PROBLEM. I THINK TOYOTA NEED TO CORRECT AT THEIR COST. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA BUT WILL BE MY LAST!!!! *TR

Mileage: 117,000

FIRST MY 2001 RAV4 STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD (THE LOWER GEARS) AND I COULD SEE THE RPM GOING UP HIGH. AFTER A DAY OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS AT A GOOD LEVEL AND IT'S NICE AND PINK. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BULLETIN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 80,000. CONSUMER NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. COMPUTER WENT BAD AT 87,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND CONSUMER CURRENTLY GOING ROUND AND ROUND OVER WHETHER TOYOTA OR CONSUMER MUST PAY FOR COMPUTER REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION MAY NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM RAV4 OWNERS AND IN MANY CASES THE SHIFT PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION WHICH TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

FAILED ECM RESULTS IN THE CAR STARTING IN THE WRONG GEAR AND HESITATING WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS ECM FAILURE CAUSES VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WITHIN LESS THAN 100 MILES OF DRIVING AND MAKES THE DRIVER UNABLE TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THEIR CAR WILL SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN NECESSARY, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON LEFT TURNS IN HIGHLY TRAFFICKED AREAS. ONE DEALERSHIP (COBB COUNTY TOYOTA, KENNESAW, GA) REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ECM EVEN THOUGH A TSB ISSUED BY TOYOTA STATED IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WHEN THESE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. TOYOTA USA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE FAILING COMPUTER WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION. *CN

Mileage: 78,400

ROUGH SHIFT IN LOW GEARS CAUSING ENGINE TO REV BUT CAR DOES NOT MOVE. HAD SOLENOIDS REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOLD ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT OTHER OWNERS SAID THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. CAR REVS BUT GOES NO WHERE AND CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY IN DENSE TRAFFIC WITH BIG TRUCKS. *TR

Mileage: 15

MY WIFE DROVE THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 TO WORK THIS MORNING. IT WAS A 5 MILE DRIVE. AFTER PARKING THE CAR A FELLOW EMPLOYEE TOLD HER THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BUT THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE INSPECTOR LOCATED THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE, ALONG THE FIREWALL DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WALL, BUT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE SAID NO ACCELERANT WAS USED, AND THAT THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY THE RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL-LINE OR SOME OTHER FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. WE NOTICED NO FLUIDS LEAKED ONTO THE DRIVEWAY AT HOME. I AM POSTING THIS IN CASE ANY ONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLIED THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 96,000

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING IN THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE THIRD TIME THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER PLANNED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE FUTURE. CURRENTLY THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING DIFFERENTLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY URGED THE CONSUMER TO WORK WITH THE DEALER, AND MAYBE THEY WOULD HELP HER WITH THE COST. *AK (11/21/05) THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHER SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEARS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *SC

Mileage: 50,423

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGERS SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FIRE. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK SMOKE HAD COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *SC

Mileage: 36,136

THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF I CAN SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ,AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CLEAR THE ONBOARD COMPUTER'S MEMORY, AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CLEARED UP. NOTHING WAS SAID ON HOW OR WHY THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT. THE DAY AFTER THE CLEARING OF THE MEMORY THE VEHICLE DID THIS AGAIN. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CLEARING OF MEMORY. WHAT MEASURES CAN I TAKE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE? I CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO BRING THIS IN EVERY WEEK. *AK

Mileage: 20,700

PREMATURE WEARING OF BRAKE PADS, MAKING VEHICLE HARD TO STOP. *AK THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE. AT FIRST THE DEALER TURNED PADS, SECOND THE DEALER INSTALLED UPDATED FRONT BRAKE PADS, THEN REPLACED BOTH REAR DRUMS BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNSOLVED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C FAN ON THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN DASH AREA. THE ROOF RACK SCREW WAS LOOSE AND FELL OUT. THE CENTER SEAT BELT WAS MISSING TRIM PIECE. THE REAR DOOR RATTLES WHILE CLOSING. *YH