2001 Toyota RAV4: engine failure

Filed Dec 14, 2015 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · CA

We were almost hit at a street light. Upon accelerating our car the engine died due the transmission or malfunction of the electric control module. We were lucky if the person behind had not slammed on brakes we would have been hit. Also the car has problems with shifting while drive on freeway. We always now stay in the slow lane because we fear to pass,

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Engine · 128,881 miles · WA

My 2001 toyota rav4 threw a rod, resulting in a total engine failure. The connecting rod endcap bolt broke. This is not a maintenance item and it should never brake. The rod punched a hole in the engine block. The whole engine has to be replaced. The toyota dealership says there's nothing they can do about it since it's not under warranty.

Filed Sep 24, 2009 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · CO

While driving at typical city speeds, the transmission made a loud clanking sound and the car stated stuttering intermittently. Often when starting from a stop, the car had trouble finding a gear and did not move forward. While driving, sometimes there was little or no acceleration. This caused a problem for drivers behind me. The fix was a new engine control module (ECM). Fortunately, the mechanic knew about toyota's technical bulletin on this matter.

Filed Jul 15, 2008 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · NJ

I have a toyota rav4 2001 car. Its an auto transmission with 117,000 miles on it. Suddenly about 10 days ago I started feeling the harsh shifting / bucking / jerking while taking the car. I then went to a near by toyota dealer for diagnostic test and what they have found was a fault code p0755 (harsh shift and/or m.I.l. ?on? Dtc p0750/p0753/p0755/p0758/p1760) which is basically recommending to replace the engine control module. I then searched about this fault code on the internet I ended up on a website (http://www.carcomplaints.com/toyota/rav4/2002/transmission/problems_shifting.shtml) where I could see numerous similar complaints. It looks like toyota has made a fault ECM and have installed in so many rav4 (b/w 2001 - 2003 model year), which made so many customers like us to go through a lot of service expenses. Please do the needful so that toyota makes a reimburse the expenses for all the customers who has gone through some financial burden due to this.

Filed Mar 28, 2008 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · CT

I have a toyota rav 4 4wd 2001 model. At 47,000 miles I had an engine replacement done by lynch toyota under warranty. 25,000 miles later vehicle was diagnosed with a cracked flex plate. Repair was done by aamco and in their written report they state that due to an alignment dowel that was cut off when lynch replaced the engine, the engine became misaligned and the flex plate cracked. In addition the torque converter also had to be replaced. The reports were handed to lynch and their service manager does not accept responsibility for this and reported that the cracked flex plate was more than likely due to poor materials. I still have the flex plate and would like to know if there is a way to have it checked to find out if indeed it was made from poor materials. Aamco don't appear to believe this to be the case.

Filed Jan 31, 2007 · Engine · 135,000 miles · GA

I have a 2001 toyota rav4 [xxx] the engine type is a 1azfe. I recently learned about a toyota oil gel problem with engine type 5s-fe. The motor may be different, but my story is the same. This is a work vehicle that was maintained. In sept 2006 I called toyota to complain about the $2800 repair due to what they had called "oil gel". The reference number for this call is [xxx]. At the time I was unaware of the law suit in process for some toyota engines due to this exact thing! Jan 19th 2007, while driving, my car's engine light went on and 30 seconds later there was a plume of blue smoke ( the bartow fire department was called as I was on I-75 in georgia and someone thought the car was on fire). There was no fire, just smoke. I pulled over immediately. The car was towed to the service dealership where they told me I had thrown a rod. They claim the two are unrelated occurrences. From what I have read on web sites, they seem very related to me. The repair in sept was costly, to have the rod thrown 4 months later makes me think the 1azfe engine may have some defect as well. The car could not be repaired without a totally new engine. We chose not to repair it. I believe toyota should pay for the repairs in sept 06 and the tow in jan 07, as I am convinced this is a defect. I can provide all the oil changes and maintenance records as this has been a work vehicle for me. I wonder if other toyota engines should be examined and reported. The dealership and toyota have both claimed this engine is not involved. I disagree. Had I not pulled over I am certain a fire would have begun with all the engine oil on the motor. *nm updated 07/11/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Feb 10, 2006 · Engine · 51,000 miles · TX

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH the engine stalled and the vehicle lost all power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. Upon inspection it was determined the baffle under the oil cap broke off. As a result metal pieces went into the timing chain, causing the engine to seize. The engine was replaced. Updated 3/20/2006 - the consumer was able to locate a tsb which referenced this problem.