2001 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems

Filed Mar 9, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 111,219 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

My 2001 silver toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when I was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. I was applying brake pressure from 20 MPH, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 MPH, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a matter of 3, or 4-5 seconds (the engine/RPM sounded similar one would hear when you would be accelerating entering a freeway via the entrance ramp). My rav 4 shot forward so fast like it was on some rocket launching pad. My foot was on my brake pedal almost to the car floor and I could not stop the car from moving into the back - and rear ending the car in front of me which was about 10-15 feet in front of me, that was stopped waiting for the light to turn green at the already congested stop light intersection. Damage was done to the rear end of the SUV door hatch and the attached tire mounted on the back of the SUV in front of me. Damage on my rav 4 was car hood folding back and up and my front upper and lower section of my bumper and plastic grill area. I immediately reported the unintended acceleration problem to t he toyota motor company the next day and they sent a 3rd party engineering analysis to examine my car. The investigator spent 4-5 hours examining my car and couldn't elaborate his findings but has submitted the information he was able to retrieve, back to the toyota motor co. Apparently, my 2001 rav 4 is a first generation model/version and didn't have the elaborate detailed edr devices installed in them, however some other device/devices, could possibly be retrieved? The final report by toyota taken by the 3rd party field engineering analysis will take 3-4 weeks from this report I have posted. A police report was filed (please see the scanned info- for further investigation).

Filed Nov 5, 2016 · Acceleration, Transmission · 63,192 miles · CA

My 2001 toyota rav4 has 63192 miles on it. It began exhibiting transmission/acceleration problems yesterday while driving my granddaughter from school, about a 2 mile round trip on city street traveling approximately 35-40mph. The car refused to pick up speed and began to jerk due to shifting/missing gears, all by its self. The car has an automatic transmission so should not exhibit these problems. I found out today that this was a known problem to toyota and there was a voluntary recall that I had no knowledge off. I contacted toyota and they refuse to assist with rectifying this problem saying the date for the recall has passed, but I was never notified of said recall to begin with. The problem just started and although the vehicle is 15 yo, it has always been immaculately maintained and serviced and only has 63k miles on it so should not be having any transmission issues. I want toyota to rectify this problem as it is a problem with their module and not due to the age or condition of the car. There have been many reports of this same issue with this exact vehicle year and model and toyota has knowledge of these issues. The car is not safe to drive and this should be addressed by toyota and fixed immediately. In an article found online, toyota admitted to this manufacturer defect and despite the defect, toyota did not offer any special warranty coverage. Instead, the bulletin said repairs would be covered under the federal emissions warranty of 80,000 miles or eight years from the time the vehicle was sold. But this is not an issue with the age of the vehicle and it has less than 80k miles on it, and it is due to a manufacturer defect which should be covered.

Filed Feb 4, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 135,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Jan 27, 2015 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA

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.

Filed Sep 27, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 104,568 miles · MD

Was entering a limited access highway and wanted to merge onto highway. When I pressed down on gas pedal to speed up, the car hesitated, lurched forward, stopped, and then shifted harshly once again. I had thought I gave myself plenty of room to enter but because of the possible transmission problem, my car almost ended in a car wreck - an approaching car had to take drastic moves in order to avoid hitting my car. I then found out that toyota knew about this problem with their ecms ruining these cars transmissions - something I was not aware, nor notified about. When I called them up - their toyota customer service line, I found out they still had my old address from 2005! Even though I've been going to my local toyota dealership for years and they had my latest data. Toyota says they can do nothing to help with a possible $6,000 bill. My car is only worth about $8k if that. Their negligence caused these problems, and almost caused a serious accident and human injury and/or death.

Filed Apr 16, 2012 · Acceleration · 120 miles · MN

Started having problems shifting gears, accelerating.

Filed Apr 5, 2012 · Acceleration, Engine · 109,008 miles · WA

My vehicle has begun experiencing harsh shifting. It will not accelerate immediately and it will jump forward at times. This is a reported problem with the 2001 rav 4. I received a letter stating there was the possibility of compensation after one has this fixed. As one a person who cannot afford to fix this out of pocket that is not a lot of help. This is a known issue and should be recalled!

Filed Feb 7, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · NV

When attempting to accelerate from a stop, the car stalls. Automatic transmission does not hold on to a gear and when a gear is finally engaged, the car jerks violently forward. This is extremely frightening; I thought I was going to be hit because I stall in dangerous situations. Trying to enter a fast paced road is highly risking the chance of being read ended, and at times I would attempt to accelerate from a stop light only to crawl into the intersection and sit in horror. Sometimes higher gear would judder the car. Apparently toyota knows the ECM is faulty and damages the transmission, but the actions they took on this matter were too late and barely caring. I was not notified of the danger. I had to come into the dealership to learn and by then my car is already out of warranty and my car is in no working order. No proper steps were taken to warn drivers of this hazard. The warranty they provide is incapable and restrictive of addressing the faulty ECM that will inevitably put unwary drivers in danger. I am still trying to learn more about this matter but toyota representatives insist I pay out of pocket for a defect that would have been solved by a recall years ago.

Filed Jul 21, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 102,000 miles · VA

The transmission will not accelerate and then something suddenly "kicks in" and the truck will go- nearly been rear-ended numerous times- this is a big safety issue- told it's going to be a $4,000 transmission replacement- only 102k miles, like new. Also, at traffic lights, won't accelerate and people get ticked and need to pass and can't- numerous online complaints- add this. Unacceptable for toyota.

Filed Jun 23, 2010 · Acceleration · 140,000 miles · CA

Erratic shifting on my wife's 2001 toyota rav4 (140,000 miles). Could not accelerate along with random downshifts. This was very dangerous on both surface streets and highway driving as vehicle would not accelerate when needed or radically slow down when it sporadically dropped into a lower gear. Took the vehicle to elk gove (ca) toyota (egt). They indicated that the transmission was low on fluid (it was not, I checked) and recommended a flush. They flushed it and stated it was tested and ready to go. Problem was not solved. Egt then stated I needed a new transmission and possibly a new ECM. I chose to research the problem and towed my vehicle home. A quick search revealed numerous complaints on rav4 ECM problems and several secondary markets repairing these defective units. Sent my unit out and had it repaired -problem solved. It appears that toyota is not acknowledging the problem with the defective ECM. Had I not researched this, I would paid for a new transmission and ECM. In defense of egt, they did reimburse me for the transmission flush, but they still insisted that I needed a new transmission. Please add my complaint to any others you may have regarding toyota rav4 ECM problems, so that toyota might admit that there is a defect in the units. My wife has always sworn by toyota products - the recent swearing associated with toyota is not the kind a company would covet.