2001 Toyota RAV4: check engine light

Filed Nov 5, 2023 · Brakes, Fuel system · OH

2001 Toyota Rav4 was sold at Auction, to a used car dealership. I purchased this car from the used car dealer on August 5, 2023. Unfortunately, the dealer tampered with the brakes. I witnessed their mechanic working on the rear brake system in person on August 4, 2023. The owner told me that because there was a noise coming from the rear, they were "fixing it". Upon buying this car and driving it to a gas station, filled it up, much to my horror, gas spilled out. The gas tank has a leak in it. Also, upon driving it home the engine warning light suddenly illuminated. I promptly brought it to a Toyota Dealership in Wooster, Ohio and requested a complete examination. I have their full report, and they have determined this car to be unsafe to drive. The brakes had been adjusted when in fact, the brakes and brake lines need to be replaced, this was the used car dealer at fault. I feel the used car dealership bought car at auction and was unaware of the gas tank leak and the bearing plates being fragile, the engine cradle could break at any given moment, causing the engine to fall out. The car was purchased at and maintained by an Akron Toyota Dealership since it was brand new in 2001. After 23 years why did this dealership allow this car to be released into the general public? Frame Damage so bad, the bearing plates that hold the engine up are beyond fragile, the cradle that holds the engine integrity is grossly compromised, and the gas tank has a hole in it. Bad brakes + leaking gas tank. One spark and = Ka Boom. I would be dead. So many things wrong in this situation. Personally, my physical and emotional health suffered. I had chronic diarrhea, headaches, and went to the Dr several times. Please let me know how this matter should be resolved. I am upset and financially compromised all from this car. Documentation available.

Filed Jun 12, 2017 · 68,000 miles · CA

Driving car and it started jerking and then the check engine light went on tester showed it was related to ECM and transmission

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 Aug 25, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 175,691 miles · CO

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.

Filed Aug 17, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 175,000 miles · CO

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.

Filed Nov 9, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 95,000 miles · MO

Just purchased this vehicle in september of 2013 with only 95,000 miles. Two days after purchase, the check engine light came on. Dealer said it was the catalytic converter. So it was replaced at a cost of over $600. Then two days later, the check engine light came back on. Dealer said it was the o2 sensor, that bill was nearly $350. Now for the icing on the cake. Four days after that repair, I was pulling out of my driveway to go to work and the vehicle did not want to shift in to gear, lunged forward and I nearly ran over some children at a bus stop! The dealer said the issue is with the ECM and possibly the transmission. The ECM was replaced at nearly $1100 and the problem still exists! Dealer said next step is to replace transmission. That cost is $5700 and I can't afford it. There are so many complaints about this vehicle for similar problems. Why can't the government mandate that toyota has to stand behind this problem? Children were nearly ran over because of this problem and toyota will not do a [xxx] thing about it. Very sad. *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 10, 2011 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · WA

Automatic transmission sometimes hesitates when shifting and sometimes starts in 3rd gear instead of 1st. Check engine light came on a week ago, similar to when shifting problems began.

Filed Jul 27, 2011 · Electrical · 74,770 miles · FL

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?

Filed Jul 5, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 169,000 miles · CA

I noticed vehicle was not accelerating or going into proper gear. I was alarmed when I couldn't pick up speed turning left. Engine light lit when I got home. I spoke to toyota today about the known ecu issue with 2001-2003 rav4s. My car was serviced in 2007 when there was a recall but they will not address the issue now since the warranty expired. I am very disappointed with toyota not addressing the ecu/ECM issue to a satisfactory manner. This is a safety issue that toyota should show more concern over.

Filed Jul 3, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 160,000 miles · NE

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.

Filed Jun 6, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 136,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 toyota rav4. While the contact was driving 35 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated, and the transmission began to exhibit severe hesitation in a jerking motion. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing and confirmed that the transmission, ECM module and a faulty trans axle needed to be replaced. The contact discovered there was a prior voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer pertaining to the ECM module; however, the contact did not receive notification of the recall. The manufacturer stated that the recall expired in january 2011 and they were unable to provide further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

Filed Apr 6, 2011 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · NJ

I own a regularly serviced and well maintained 108,000 mile 2001 toyota rav4 with a transmission concern. Car upon acceleration will not respond, revs, slips and lunges into gear. This occurs intermittently. Two independent transmission specialists have inspected this vehicle and stated that the problem they diagnose is a computer problem which is malfunctioning communication to the transmission. They have recommended not repairing the transmission but focus on the car's computer. Toyota dealership finds no computer codes on the diagnostic check to indicate any problem whatsoever with this vehicle. Toyota case manager and dealership service manager states to drive this vehicle with all the safety concerns mentioned until a check engine light indicates a computer problem. Toyota serviceman rode in vehicle with this owner and felt the above mentioned safety transmission problems and reported it back to the manager. No repair work was recommended because the computer codes did not communicate a problem. Other than the service tech who drove in this vehicle and felt first hand the transmission slipping and not responding, toyota refuses to acknowledges there is a problem. The computer communicating information to the transmission on many 2001 rav4 vehicles have proven to malfunction according to toyota's own service bulletin. According to my research a malfunctioning computer has LED to many transmissions being damaged in toyota vehicles. I am at a loss as to what to do. I am also very disappointed in toyota's run around and their dismissive attitude when bringing a safety concern to their attention.