2003 TOYOTA RAV4 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

THIS IS A GENERAL CONCERN QUESTION RE THE ETHICS OF THE TOYOTA CORPORATION. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH ENGINE LIGHTS COMING ON WITH THE RESULT BEING O2 SENSOR PROBLEMS. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN WITH APPROXIMATELY 8 CHANGES (I HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE RECORDS. IN 2010, I RECEIVED NOTICE OF PROBLEMS WITH "HARSH SHIFTING". I CALLED TOYOTA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS, AND I WAS ASSURED I WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM OR I "WOULD KNOW IT". AT THIS SAME TIME, I WAS HAVING YET ANOTHER ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM WITH O2 SENSOR CODES AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN.. THE O2 SENSOR REPLACEMENTS WENT ON CONTINUOUSLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE...EVEN TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE SENDING THE SENSOR IN TO THE "MAIN OFFICE". UNFORTUNATELY, LAST WEEK MY CAR TOTALLY FAILED, AND THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT IS FAILURE OF THE ECM AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL! I RECENTLY REVIEWED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ECM AND THAT TOYOTA ACTUALLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. IT WAS THEN I LEARNED THAT THE O2 SENSORS HAVE A DEFINITE IMPACT ON THE ECM, ETC. AT NO TIME WHATSOEVER DID THEY EVER CHECK THIS OR INFORM ME. THAT THESE MAY BE RELATED,SO I AM WONDERING IF THEY "PUT OFF" CHECKING THIS POSSIBILITY UNTIL MY CAR PASSED THE 10YR/150,000 MILE EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS COMPONENT SO THAT I WOULD THEN NOT BE ELIGIBLE??? *TR

INSPECT AND REPLACE WATER PUMP AND SERPENTINE BELT ON FEB 2009, ENGINE ISSUE AGAIN FEB 2012 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON/FLASHING - ESTIMATE $955.98+TAX - FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT $69.95+TAX TECH ROAD TESTED AND FOUND FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS ARE WORN/LOOSE $435.82+TAX (REPAIRS COMPLETED) FEB 2012 BRAKE NOISE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES NOISE WHEN BRAKING ~|~FRONT AND REAR BRAKE INSPECTION DONE AT THIS TIME ~|~INSPECTION ONLY NO CONCERNS FOUND AT THIS TIME (ANOTHER MECHANIC REPLACED ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES SHORTLY AFTER AS THEY WERE FOUND HIGHLY DAMAGED) TRANSMISSION SERVICE ~|~CUSTOMER REQUESTS TRANSMISSION SERVICE W/DIFFERENTIALS ~|~MAINTENANCE ~|~DRAINED AND REFILLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID W/TRANSFER CASE AND DIFFERENTIALS AS NEEDED (LESS THAN YEAR LATER HAD TRANS FLUID AGAIN REPLACED AS CONTINUED ISSUES) NOW IS SEEMINGLY WORSE AND MORE OFTEN. STEP ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THEN JERKS FORWARD, LOUD THUNKING SOUND, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS UNKNOWN WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. HAVE NOT BEEN USING VEHICLE VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF IT. IF THIS ISSUE WAS KNOWN ABOUT IN 2006 WHY WAS THIS NEVER REPAIRED BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT IT OR NOTIFY ME OF WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS? *TR

Mileage: 133,931

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL TOYOTA VEHICLES ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE STICKING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND THROTTLE BODY WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD GO OUT, AFTER CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL ALL APPEAR FINE, THE CAR WOULD BURN 1 QUART EVERY TWO MONTHS. AFTER DRIVING ALONG THE EXPRESS WAY FOR 30 MILES AND USING A TWO LANE ROAD FOR ABOUT 3 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN THE ENGINE MAKE NOISE AND QUIT RUNNING, AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP WE WERE TOLD THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR IS A RAV 4 2003 WITH ABOUT 89,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

WHILE DRIVING, MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S ENGINE LIGHT STARTS FLICKERING. THE CAR STARTS HESITATING, EVEN WITH APPLYING MORE GAS. THE CAR THEN LOSES POWER AND CUTS OUT. THE CAR WILL THEN RESTART, BUT CONTINUE TO HESITATE AND CUT OUT THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH. THE DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE THE PROBLEM AND SIMPLY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS. MY WIFE HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR YESTERDAY WITH MY TWO TODDLERS IN THE CAR WHEN IT CUT OUT AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115000.

Mileage: 115,000

MY 2003 RAV4 HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SLUGGISH FROM A DEAD START AND ANY KIND OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT I KNEW THAT I WOULD EVENTUALLY REACH THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT. DRIVING 1 1/2 WEEKS AGO, HOWEVER, BROUGHT MY ATTENTION TO ANOTHER, FAR MORE SERIOUS ACCELERATION PROBLEM, FAR WORSE THAN JUST SLUGGISHNESS. THE SUV WAS SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AND I FEARED FOR MY SAFETY AS I WAS IN MOVING TRAFFIC AND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE MOVING. I IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. LUCKILY, THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSE TO WHERE I WAS. THEY KEPT MY CAR FROM APPROX. 3:30 PM THAT FRIDAY UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. AT FIRST, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID THEY NEEDED UNTIL MONDAY TO KNOW FOR SURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP. TO NOT WORRY, THAT IT MAY BE FAR LESS EXPENSIVE THAN I THINK. THAT MONDAY, I GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICED REP THAT HE HAD BOTH GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM - AN ECU PROBLEM BUT THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE. I TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND INSTALL IT AS I COULDN'T SEE ANY ALTERNATIVE. THE WORK WAS DONE AND THE FINAL COST FOR THE UNIT AND LABOR WAS $1,300.00. I TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT I FELT SHAFTED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AFTER 80,000 AND I HAD 84,000 MILES AT THE TIME. FURTHER, I HAD THE SUV FOR JUST 7 YEARS, NOT THE LIMIT OF 8 YEARS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FOR THE ECU. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THE NY TIMES JULY, 2010 LETTER ANNOUNCING MANY PROBLEMS LIKE MINE WITH TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AS WELL AND TOYOTA WOULD NOW COVER IT ALL. ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, TOYOTA HAD EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO 150,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS FOR THE ECU ! I CALLED THE SERVICE REP AND HE SAID TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS REP WAS THERE AND SAID I HAD NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANAGER NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. I FINALLY CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A TOYOTA MANAGER OFFERING ME $1,000 TO BUY A NEW TOYOTA VEHICLE. 11/03/10 *TR

Mileage: 84,898

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

Mileage: 126,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR REPAIR COST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

Mileage: 86,000

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON A 2003 RAV4 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IT STARTED AT 100,456 MILES. NEVER HAD PROBLEM WITH THE CAR BEFORE. IT STARTED TO OCCUR ONCE IN A WHILE IN FIRST GEAR, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, GOT IT CHECK. CAME UP CODE PO755. NOW IS OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. LIGHT GOES OFF AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DAY GOES ON AGAIN. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THEY SAID IT NEEDS A REMANUFACTURE TRANSMISSION AND THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE ECM. COST 5,995 THEY TOLD ME I'M BETTER OFF TRADING THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 101,456

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.

Mileage: 94,000

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

Mileage: 102,134

TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL ALERT IN 2006 FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE IN THEIR 2201-2003 RAV4'S. THE ALERT WAS ONLY SENT TO THE DEALERSHIPS, NOT TO THE CONSUMERS. THIS DEFECT SLOWLY DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION AND WITHOUT WARNING YOUR CAR STALLS LIKE YOUR RUNNING OUT OF GAS. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED BUT TOYOTA REFUSES. I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THAT COSTS $1300 NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THAT AND MY TRANSMISSION FOR A TOTAL COST OF $4400. PLEASE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

Mileage: 123,000

2003 TOYOTA RAV WAS STOP INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY STARTING 12/17, BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/22/09 AND THEY CHANGED SPARK PLUGS; BROUGHT BACK 12/29 THEY CHANGED WATER PUMP AND THEN TEST DROVE AND CALLED ME TO TELL ME IT COULD BE TRANSMISSION BUT TO REPLACE THE ECM FIRST SINCE THEY KNEW IT COULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

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.

Mileage: 70,000

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.

Mileage: 80,000

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.

Mileage: 49,000

CAR DOES NOT PROCEED INTO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. SLOW TO TURN CORNERS - SLOW TO MOVE FORWARD -NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

SLUDGE IN TOYOTA ENGINE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 RAV 4 THE CHECK OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND IT WILL COST ABOUT 8,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER THIS HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH OIL HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE A WEEK BEFORE. THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Mileage: 68,000

I HAVE A 2003 RAVA4. I USE SYNTHETIC OIL IN IT WHEN I GET MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO. I BECAME VERY ALARMED. I WENT BACK TO MY HOME AND PUT MORE OIL IN THE ENGINE. I THEN WENT TO THE STORE NOW I AM HEARING A SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS A BOMB. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANICS SAYS I HAVE SLUDGE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I USE SYNTHETIC OIL. TOYOTA DEALER WANT ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE WITH LABOR IT WILL COST ME 8,000.00. I HAVE 39,000 MILES. SHOULD THE DEALER FIX THIS FOR ME BECAUSE MY ENGINE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY? *JB

Mileage: 38,995

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2006 WHILE DRIVING FROM RHODE ISLAND, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - IMMEDIATELY I PULLED OVER TO THE NEXT EXIT TO A GAS STATION. I PUT ONE QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL IT STATED IT NEEDED. AT WHICH TIME THE OIL LIGHT WENT OFF. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES A CLICKING SOUND STARTED - SO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN - HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM RHODE ISLAND TO NORTH CARY AUTO. THE MECHANIC TRIED STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD. I ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE CAR OVER TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS THE CASE. HE STATED THAT AFTER CHECKING THE CAR - HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED IRA TOYOTA AND THE TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE AT WHICH TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ON FEBRUARY 2 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45 P.M. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CHARLENE TO INFORM ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE $10,000 TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS GONE. SHE STATED THAT A ROD BROKE AND WENT UP INTO ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO HER MANAGER, CATHY KITIK, WHO ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS "GUNK" IN THE ENGINE. AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS SLUDGE AND IT IS KNOWN THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE V4 AND V6 ENGINES. SHE STATED THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4. AT WHICH TIME I ASKED HER "IS IT A TOYOTA ENGINE" AND SHE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS. SHE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT A ROD BROKE AND WENT INTO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. I INFORMED HER THAT I HAD RECEIPTS WHICH SHOWED THE OIL WAS CHANGED APPROPRIATELY. *NM

Mileage: 97,000

OWNER OF 2003 TOYOTA RAV4S, PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE NOVEMBER 2003. IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASING MEDICAL PROBLEMS ( RESPIRATORY, GASTROINTESTINAL, NEUROLOGIC, ETC.) AND HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE MEDICAL TESTING WITHOUT CLEAR DIAGNOSIS. TEST HAVE ALSO BEEN PERFORMED IN THE HOME WHICH FAIL TO SUGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSE WITHIN THE HOUSE. OWNER HAS PROGRESSIVELY ASSOCIATED ISSUES OF ILLNESS WITH DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, EVEN FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND SHORT DURATIONS. ALTHOUGH HAVING ONLY 17, 500 MILES DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY NOW NOT USEABLE. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR HAS SUGGESTED THAT AN ODOR IS DEFINITELY BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HEATING AND AARI CONDITIONING SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SAY WHAT IT MIGHT BE. AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT RAN A FEW TESTS, INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISCERN A PROBLEM, AND HAS BASICALLY WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE PROBLEM. NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE WOULD BE APPLICABLE, AS THE SYMPTOMS HAVE ACCELERRATED OVER TIME. OTHER DETAILS TO BE PROVIDED AS NEEDED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TO SAN ANTONIO ON 11-26 2004 MY TOYOTA RAV4 JUST LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-37 I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOTHING WRONG COULD BE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE.ON 11-28-04 ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM SAN ANTONIO IT DID IT AGAIN ONCE AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS TAKING THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY.*AK

Mileage: 22,000

TOYOTA RAV 4 DRIVE BELT PULLEYS WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY.*MR. WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY DISCHARGER LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BELT TENSIONER AND BELT HOUSING BROKE.*TS *JB