2001 Toyota RAV4: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 19, 2016 · WA

Aquired my 2001 toyota rav4 about 4 years ago. And now I am having the same issues with the ECM as the others. In fact my toyota is currently in a automobile repair shop. After nearly 3 weeks the shop finally determined the ECM needs replacing and possibly transmission also. The repair shop informed me that toyota issued a recall for the ECM but the recall has since expired. With this imformation I called toyota motor corp and was told there is nothing they can do to assist people that are purchasing these cars that have not been taken care of. This issues I am dealing with include the transmission slipping and revving higher, or the loss of power when going from a complete stop. Toyota helped the owners, with an " extended warranty" 10 years / 150000 miles. That is all good but the warranty was from the first date. Basically from day 1. That is not fair to the people who purchase these cars second hand with no knowledge of the issues. This is a huge safety issue and could case an accident cause you don't know when it is going to happen. It is my opinion that any and all recalls should not have limitations and should never expire!!! If a toyota is "on the road" (licensing is up to date), then it should automatically qualify for all warranted recalls!!!

Filed Jan 26, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · MN

I purchased my 2001 toyota rav4 in july 2012,. Now 2 years later and still owe a good amount on my car I am having the same issues with the ECM as the others. I called toyota and there is nothing they can do to assist people that are purchasing these cars that have not been taken care of. This issues I am dealing with include the transmission slipping and revving higher, or the loss of power when going from a complete stop. Toyota helped the owners, with an " extended warranty" 10 years / 150000 miles. That is all good but the warranty was from the first date. Basically from day 1. That is not fair to the people who purchase these cars second hand with no knowledge of the issues. This is a huge safety issue and could case an accident cause you don't know when it is going to happen.

Filed Jun 8, 2011 · Transmission · TX

My 18 year old has a 2001 rave 4 the mechanic says that the ecu has trashed the transmission so now she needs both to be replaced. I have found many complaints on line about this problem and most likely not many people know to contact this agency or this would have been addressed by now. Please refer to the toyota service bulletin march 3, 2006. Toyota is aware of the issue! This problem has the potential to cause an accident due to lose of power or stalling of the vehicle. My daughter has been very fortunate not to be in an accident due to this ecu /transmission problem.

Filed Apr 26, 2011 · Electrical · 145,000 miles · MN

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.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Transmission · 178,200 miles · OH

My complaint is about my 2001 toyota rav4. About three weeks ago I started having problems with my transmission. The transmission started to shift as if it were going to stop. It started to jerk, slow down so much until I thought that I was going to get hit from behind. I had to put my flashers on so the other drivers would slow down and go around me. I do not feel safe in my car anymore. I have had the transmission checked but no error code appears. I was told without a code they don't know what was wrong. The transmission will shift o.k. For a while and then it will start, jerking, losing power, and failing to accelerate. I am afraid to go very far in my car for fear of being stranded. I see that other people are having the same kind of problem with their toyota. Please help! Thank you

Filed Feb 19, 2010 · Transmission · 87,145 miles · DE

Transmission slipping, unable to accelerate. Severe jerking, bone rattling and very jarring, loss of power and vehicle stalling. Occurred several times, had repaired immediately and a high cost to me. Transmission hasn't felt right since. Stopped driving vehicle to replacement of ECM was replaced. I'm not confident that the transmission didn't suffer damage during this limited time it was driven and until the repair could be made. I haven't felt completely safe because the failure was so severe and quick to surface.

Filed Jan 30, 2010 · Transmission · 84,795 miles · OH

My transmission started slipping and bucking in aug. 2009. The car would loose power and almost stall out. While driving on the highway I came close to being rear ended due to loss of power. I had taken my car in to have it looked at and was told that I didn't have codes so they could not tell me what the problem was and would have to wait for it to happen again or bring it back what the check engine light came on. Before I left the lot the light came on and the code p0755 was the code used to repair the car. This however did not fix the problem, and I began to do some research and it seems that this has been an issue for many others with a 2001-2003 rav4. I called the toyota company and was told that this is a known issue, but because my car was out of warranty they would not help fix the issue. Due to the fact that this is the only car I have and needed to go to work I had no choice but to pay to get the car repaired. I feel that this is an issue that toyota needs to address along with the current issues they are having with the recall models now. Just because no one has died from this issue does not mean no one will, if the owner does not know about the problem and are driving on the highway with their families in the car with them.

Filed Nov 18, 2009 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · TX

After not having problems for nearly 4 years, the cil came on and the transmission began hard-shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. The ECM code was for an o2 sensor heater. Changed the sensor, light came back on calling out a gear and the shifting was worse. Took it to the dealership. They flushed the oil and flashed the ECM per tsb. Ran fine for one day. Cil came back on and hard shifted horribly while on the freeway on the way home. Pulled over and checked fluids. All fluids looked clean and were at appropriate levels. Headed for dealership again. Got on the freeway and low gear hard-shift went away, but suddenly lost all power and narrowly avoided an accident at 60 MPH! Car regained power and shifted fine in low gears but would not shift above 3rd. Drove rest of the way to dealer at 35 MPH and dropped it off for diagnostics. I have spent almost $2k in diagnoses, parts, and labor and the problem is not fixed. Now, we nearly were killed on a major freeway! This is dangerous! This problem manifested in september and peaked yesterday (11/17/09). We cannot afford to keep paying to repair this obviously unsafe defect.

Filed Sep 29, 2009 · 177,700 miles · GA

My 2001 rav4 had been exhibiting a harsh shift when put in reverse,very poor acceleration from a stopped position,loss of power,unusual sounds and finally a p0758 trouble code. I have taken it to stonecrest toyota 3 times and was told on 9/28/09 that the ECM needed to be replaced with no guarantee that the problem would be solved. Before taking the vehicle to the dealer, I've had a tune up,oil change,a new battery and a computerized engine diagnosis. The problems occur quite often and in heavy traffic poses an injury risk as they are unpredictable,cannot be controlled and other motorists are unaware that there is a problem vehicle beside,in back of or in front of them. Since the required repairs are so expensive, I have stopped driving this vehicle until I can have it fixed.

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.