Today my toyota rav4 2002 began to have automatic transmission shifting issues. It has an excessive jerk when shifted from park to reverse, it is slow to shift from 1 to 2, and it jerks like I was rear ended when shifting to the next gear. I contacted my local toyota dealer and was told there are no outstanding recalls on my car, the ECM software was updated before I purchased it used. I asked if they had any issues with the transmission on this model and year and I was told "no". They recommended I bring it in for a diagnostic check for $104 just to check it out. Afterwards I thought I would check the net. I found numerous threads regarding the 2001-3 ECM/transmission issue. It appears a number of owners have submitted complaints to the federal safety agency. Please add me. They are ignoring this issue and pretending they do not know anything about it.
2002 Toyota RAV4 electrical complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 92, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Original owner of 2002 toyota rav4 awd. Was driving home from a friend's house and stopped off near my home for an errand. Left the store, (car was running, family inside) and proceed to drive towards my house. The engine was running but the car was barely moving. The tach was at 4,000 and I was barely going 5 MPH. Suddenly and without warning the car raced forward at a high rate of speed. I slammed on the brakes to avoid a rear-end collision. After it was safe to move, I stepped on the gas again and the car sluggishly moved at about 5mph again. The whole ride home (less than 5 minutes) the car was either slow or fast without much pressure on the accelerator. Upon arriving at home and trying to parallel park the car, I noticed that the transmission was sluggish and made loud noise when shifted into reverse. This wasn't normal and it troubled me. I looked up online the symptoms and saw the tsb and the class action lawsuit against toyota. I never received any information on this. This is my first time hearing about this. Ok 10 years/150,000 miles from 1st drive. Here's my problem - I bought the car in 11/2001 - I am over the years and under the mileage, so I don't qualify? The class action lawsuit was settled in jan/feb 2012. Tell me what happens to the people who purchased their car before jan/fen 2002 - are the out of luck? I am no longer driving this car till this is fixed and safe. Please the federal safety agency - make it a mandatory recall - over 250,000 SUV's are affected. Make it right - make it safe!!
While driving on hwy i85 at 70mph my toyota rav4 suddenly locked up and caused vehicle to skid off the road. Thankfully, no one was injured, but car was towed to mechanic and estimated that the transmission transfer case may be cause...since then I have learned that toyota had a recall on their ECM for rav 4 cars 2001-2003 that resulted in transmission shifting problems yet I was never notified because my VIN number was n/a indicating that my car would not experience any of the transmission shifting problems commonly associated with this recall. Unfortunately, the transmission shifting and lock-up problems that I am having is directly related to the computer faulty design of toyota's ECM and yet they are not taking any moral or financial responsibility for my repairs. I'm filing this complaint because there has to be other toyota owners that were not informed about the ECM recall such as myself that also like me, could be driving along the road in a well maintained car and suddenly skid out of control perhaps next time causing a fatality that could be avoided! Proper notification regardless of VIN numbers so consumers can have cars inspected specifically for recall issues would have been the right thing to do and potentially offset the car repair issues I currently face.
Trans began to race, while car was moving slowly. Shifting became slow and loud. Acted like it was stuck in the low gears and was having difficulty shifting from 1 to 2 to 3, etc. The trans was laboring to make the necessary shift from the low to the higher gears have not driven car since that date except for analysis, etc.. To date, the various experts (joke) ( toyota included ) say I need either the ECM, trans., or both the current price for repair is $6,775.00 + tax ( this was a special price that was quoted by a toyota dealer ) I have dealt with the car dealer,toyota(corp) sales managers, etc and, to a person, received their sympathy, but, no support whatsoever. How is it possible for this corp. To continue to refuse to correct an obvious fraud ( they new abt this problem since day one ) and continue to refuse to provide corrective steps? I bought this auto in aug of 2011 with 47,00 miles on it. I drove it for 4,400 miles when the trans. Failed. Now, having learned about the prob. With this model, how is it possible that this auto was sold without any of the problems ever being disclosed at the time of the sale ? As a matter of fact, it was stated that "this car will last me a lifetime, given its low mileage and pristine condition " I have learned that toyota issued a directive in 2001( ?) that extended the warranty to 10years or 150,000mls,, whichever comes first. I then found out that I was not entitled to any assistance as I was outside the 10 year period. How is it they can use this logic when they have acknowledged that a problem exists and one that will not go away or correct itself regardless of time or mileage? Knowing the inherent problems with the auto, the manufacturer should be held accountable and correct all problems without any exclusions or fine print items.
In 2009, 2010, and 2011 my 2002 toyota rav4 exhibited sharp, rough shifting into and out of gear, often when on the freeway. The vehicle also had a check engine light that repeatedly came on. I was initially advised by a non-toyota repair shop that the issue was with the transmission and it had to be replaced. However, upon taking the car to a toyota dealership they stated the problem was with the ECM. In 2009 they re-programmed the ECM, in 2010 they re-programmed the ECM and in 2011 (after the extended warranty was issued by toyota corp) they replaced the ECM. They never did any service on the transmission. Now in april 2013 just 17months after they replaced the ECM it happens again and they tell me I need a new transmission and I have to pay for it because it's out of the extended warranty. Since the ECM was throwing the transmission in & out of gear for 3 years, isn't it obvious that the transmission was damaged by the ECM? It was even mentioned in the service bulletins that the ECM was possibly causing damage to the transmission and the dealerships may also have to replace the transmission at the same time the ECM was replaced. Yet because they chose not to repair or replace the transmission on my car in 2011 while it was under warranty, I now have to pay for what should have been done in the first place. Toyota has been aware of this problem since 2006 yet they never issued a recall or notified owners until a class action lawsuit was filed. Toyota needs to satisfy their customers by issuing a recall and admitting that both the ECM and transmission need to be replaced on any 2001-2003 rav4 that experiences rough shifting, or shifting in & out of gear, or codes that reflect a problem with the ECM or transmission. This is dangerous for drivers and toyota is negligent in preventing injuries and deaths due to a known defect.
This past summer the 2002 rav 4 started giving indications that something might not be right. The car had always gotten its required mileage maintenance which was also due at the time. So those things were done. However, over the last three weeks the following started: --the engine light came on, then off; --there was hesitation when accelerating/ a harsh jerk and shift when changing gears --the vehicle would sometimes slip back into neutral and stall while driving three independent toyota-certified technicians diagnosed that there is a problem with the transmission, so we took it to darcars toyota where the car was purchased. The technician there confirmed the diagnosis but said we needed to contact the warranty enhancement department. After placing me on hold for about 5 minutes, she told me that the car had exceeded the time for the warranty by about 3 months and therefore nothing could be done. Is toyota willing to jeopardize the long-term customer loyalty and more importantly, the safety of their customers, just because the car chose to display its problems 3 months later?
On starting, the car the battery light came on and stayed on. A month or so later I noticed a clunking in the transmission as the automatic went to a higher gear. This problem still remains.
I was driving my 2002 toyota rav4 down the interstate when the check engine light came on at the same time that the RPM's of the vehicle began escalating far beyond where they normally would. After testing the vehicle at different speeds, I determined that the car would not shift from fourth to fifth gear. Took it to my local mechanic, who determined that there is nothing wrong with my transmission. What's wrong is that the electronic control module (ECM) that controls the transmission had failed. He contacted a local toyota dealer to see if he could source the part and discovered that it was a known failure and we needed to take the car to the dealership. We did so, where we were told because we purchased the car new in may of 2002 (ten years, five months ago) that they were refusing to repair the car's ECM as it fell outside of their 'adjusted' warranty period. I contacted toyota's corporate customer assistance, where I was told that yes, toyota knows that the part is going to fail. They extended the warranty to cover more of the cars that would be affected. However, since I purchased my car five months longer than their arbitrary ten year coverage period regardless of the fact that the mileage of the car falls far below the listed coverage that they are not going to do anything to repair my vehicle. Not only that, but the dealership quoted $1400 for the ECM repair and another $4800 for the transmission - saying that the transmission had to be replaced, even though they hadn't inspected it (I asked!!) and I had already had an independent mechanic check it out and said that it was fine. I do not understand how it is okay for toyota to sell millions of people cars with known safety defects and say that they are not responsible for the repair - knowing that if the repair isn't made, that people will be killed driving these cars.
Harsh shifting and jerking, particularily 1st & 2nd gear slow to accelerate launching and bucking hard engagement when put in reverse revs up from 2 to 3 - 4 rpms.
Toyota 2002 rav4, automatic transmission problem when switching into first / second gear, car will hiccup, and or not accelerate as expected. Aamco transmission specialists confirmed defective ECM module failure, and require a full transmission rebuilt. Toyota apparanty knows about this problem, and has issued service advisory, but no recall. Problem can resurface any anytime, very high potential for accidents as car will fail to accelerate or just stall when entering intersections and or freeways.
I was going north on molly lane and going to turn right on us hwy 92 going east. I pulled into oncoming traffic when my car stalled and it acted like the transmission slipped. I was almost rear ended. I drove and picked up a pizza on townlake parkway and the same thing happened when I pulled out of papa johns. I knew there was a bad problem at that point. I was going to drive it home and have it towed to toyota. Upon turning onto the entrance ramp it stalled again and had no power. The cars behind me were blowing their horns. At the top of the ramp it revved and then surged. I drove it home and had it towed. Toyota says that the ECM is bad and needs to be replaced and then they can check the transmission. I looked on the internet and found there have been numerous problems with the 2001 - 2003 rav4's. This is a definite safety risk and toyota should be made to do a recall to fix the ECM boards.
I experienced sputtering and hesitation while driving my 2002 toyota rav4 a few weeks ago, the friday before memorial day. The car has around 72,800 miles on it. Over the memorial day weekend the car was fine. The next week I experienced the same problem. Once I stopped the car at a light and then accelerated, the car would lurch and sputter. I feared the car would shut off in traffic or I would not be able to keep up with the flow of traffic. I stopped driving it. Two different mechanics (non-toyota) have told me I need a new transmission. I then took it to a toyota dealer after calling the national customer service number, mentioned in a new york times article from august 2009. There was a recall on the ECM which the dealer who I bought the car from was uncooperative in replacing. So far the car is still at a different toyota dealership undergoing "diagnosis".
Auto: 2002 toyota rav4 issue: ecu or ECM complaint: toyota refuses to repair any transmission damages associated with the faulty computer part. Description: when pressing the gas while accelerating from a complete stop, the transmission will not shift properly. Jerky movements in the lowest gears and reverse; sluggish when pedal fully pressed. Current resolve: toyota will replace the ECM, though the part will take 2-3 weeks due to high demands. Toyota will not repair any other transmission damages associated with the faulty part.
I have a toyota rav4 and its computer broke. We took it to manufacture and they said the computer is free to replace under warranty, however, they charge us repair cost around $700. Is it legal to charge for the repair for anything under warranty?
I have a 2002 rav4 I purchased used in may 2010 for $9,000. A few days after purchasing it, the transmission started slipping. Almost had numerous accidents when needing to accelerate when pulling out into a busy road and the transmission failed to get out of 2nd gear into 3rd gear. Had the transmission replaced/rebuilt for $3,500, the ECM flashed for $265, 3 new oxygen sensors put in for $900. Now the car is still doing what it did even after all that money spent. Looking up on the web, found many owners had the same problem and almost all had to replace the ECM. I am now trying to get an appointment with a toyota dealer to get this done. Very disappointed in toyota.
My wife was driving our rav 4 with my son aboard. The car began experiencing trouble accelerating, car would hesitate, then all of a sudden it would lurch forward. It was totally unsafe to drive at that point. I have learned that this is due to a faulty ECM which has caused this vehicle to be extremely unsafe. Ii took the car to my mechanic and sure enough the car showed the p0755 obd ii code which indicates that the issue is with the ECM. F left unattended, the transmission will require replacement at a cost of $4000 - $5000. I talked to toyota about it and they said a repair was covered under a customer support warranty extension program (*case # 1010011845). However, now I talk to fitzgerald toyota in gaithersburg (judith) and they indicate that they haven't even heard of this program.
Ecm/transmission failure on my 2002 rav 4. I ended up cleaning out my savings over this car. After recent bulletin from toyota, I submitted necessary paper work for some reimbursement. I was told that I was not eligible because the car was made in puerto rico, not us!!!!!! I bought it used from a toyota dealer in va. Why did toyota send me the notice?????
May 19th of 2007, my 2002 toyota rav 4 4x4 was in an accident. It was hit in the front passenger side doing 25-30 MPH. After struck, I applied the brakes twice, while the car continued to accelerate at an increasing high speed, resulting in hitting a glass bus stop ending up hitting a brick school. It continued to accelerate although I was unable to go anywhere. No injuries reported.
2002 toyota rav4. After stopping at an intersection I took off and the automatic transmission seemed to be in high gear, then it jerked and the engine raced and the transmission down shifted. This happened two other times within 10 miles. The ECM unit had failed. I researched this problem on-line and found that many other people had the same issue. Toyota claims that this problem was fixed in 2008 on this vehicle but we have owned the vehicle since may of 2007 and did not have any repairs done.
I have been a loyal toyota owner with a 1995 camry and a 2002 toyota rav 4. I noticed the terrible jerking that started while driving the rav4 on my way to work. I could not even attempt to speed up when necessary and once I did, the car jerked so much, I had to pull over and eventually get the car towed to the mechanic. They stated that the transmission was the problem so we paid to replace it and resolve that issue. Not even a week later, I had the same exact problems going home from work. I brought it back to the mechanic and now it's the ECM that needs to be replaced. I cannot afford to get it replaced since I just paid for the new transmission. The mechanic attempted to reset the ECM but that did not help at all. Now we are down to the 95 camry and crossing our fingers that we don't have issues with our "old reliable".
I purchased my used 2002 toyota rav4 on 12/10/05 from south coast toyota of costa mesa. Shortly after purchasing it, I received some kind of "adjustment notice" asking me to bring the car in, which I did. I asked what they needed to do to the car, they would not directly answer my question and said it "was nothing, just a minor adjustment." in september of 2008, shortly after my warranty had expired and my car was just over 83,000 miles, the transmission began slipping completely out of gear while I was driving it, and then it wouldn't shift into gear, and I would suddenly have no control over the car so I had to stop, and then try to get it in gear, or drive home in 1st. I had to drive from 1st gear or 4th. I was unable to drive it on the freeway to get to work, and had to stop driving it all together on the street. The dealer would not replace the transmission. The price he quoted me to "replace the transmission and ecu" was around $4,500. I was furious, as the reason I purchased toyotas was because they drove 200,000 miles as long as you properly maintained them, which I always did. I went and had to pay $2,593.00 at irvine transmission center in irvine, ca on 9/24/08. After replacing the transmission and test driving it, it was ready for pickup. When they got in the car to drive it up to me, suddenly the new transmission wouldn't shift. So, they researched the problem and told me the computer (ecu) apparently had to be replaced also, and they had discovered through online sites that toyota was having problems with this vehicle. The dealer charged me $500 to replace the ecu. The dealer sold me a rav4 they knew was having transmission and ecu failure. I wrote toyota a complaint. I believe I should be reimbursed the money I am out, and this car should be recalled with the hundreds of complaints, if not thousands, that have been reported. I request you take action!
My 2002 toyota rav4 began having problems shifting in april 2010. It was intermittent, and wasn't cause for concern until my check engine light came on in may 2010. The symptoms of the problem with my vehicle are that it stalls, hesitates, and has a stop / go (jerking) type of action while driving it. At that time, I took it to a service technician at my local toyota dealer where I purchased both of my toyotas. They told me that the ECM had to be replaced and would cost around 1,300 dollars. Mind you, I had to pay 75 dollars for the diagnostic check. The following week, I took my rav4 to a local transmission shop, had it diagnosed for a second opinion and he confirmed that the ECM unit was bad and needed to be replaced, which cost me yet, another 75 dollars for the diagnosis. He also instructed me not to continue to drive the car because it could possibly harm the transmission. Since doing so, I have been down to one car for two and a half months because I simply don't have the money to have it repaired. After doing some research online, I found out that toyota has known about this problem since 2006. It is a serious safety issue when entering traffic, or trying to move from a stop light or stop sign, as you don't know when the car is going to shift into gear or not. Toyota has not issued a recall, nor has not done anything to resolve the issue. I am disgusted that in 2006 toyota realized there was an issue with the ECM, which could ruin the transmission. Instead of letting consumers know about this issue as soon as they realized, they sent a technical service bulletin to dealerships and service areas, but failed to let their own customers know. According to internet research, this problem generally starts around 90,000 miles and causes considerable danger with jerking and shifting problems. According to internet research, this problem generally starts around 90,000 miles and causes considerable danger with jerking and shifting problems.
2002 toyota rav4 started jerking and shaking,, then slowing down at 111k miles at in the middle of traffic concerned for safety, had to pull over and call for a tow truck to tow car home. I took the car to the dealership, but they said that it could be ECM, which is $1500, but no guarantees it would work. Researched issue, and found out that this is known issue since 2006, but toyota didn't notify owners.
I recently had a failure of the control module (ecu), I was told by my mechanic that this problem came up frequently for rav 4s of years 2002 and 2003 and that toyota was aware of this issue since 2006 ' but never recalled the cars! After searching on the internet I noticed that there were hundreds of complaints regarding exactly the same issue and even a class action lawsuit for the same matter filed in 2009. The replacement cost me $758.50 to replace (with a refurbished one) and I had to rent a car during the replacement process ' which cost me $131.32 ' therefore a total of $889.82.
Whiplash and cervical disc herniation due to negligence of toyota rav 4 2002 transmission and ECM problems. Around 4/20/10 I took my toyota to this dealership due to ongoing jerking and forward thrust when starting from a stop position, also the engine light was on. They kept my toyota from 4/19/10 till 4/21/10. Reset the engine stating that it is o2 sensor problem and replaced it. Also diagnosed transmission problems but I was told by the dealership persona,l" I don't want to stamp your car as condemned, take it back and when problem gets worse bring it back" he did not warn me that if I did not get it corrected right away, I can be jeopardizing my safety and safety of people on the road. It is apparent from the paperwork they handed me that they had diagnosed a serious problem and should have corrected it right away. Around middle of may the problems with the transmission got worse, on 2 occasions the car stalled completely while going at 30 MPH and then severely thrust forward again. In another 3-4 days I started experiencing severe muscle spasms and headaches. Since then I had been to er, received ct and mri showing disc prolapse and tear of my 2 vertebral discs. I have been receiving physical therapy, cervical traction, pain medication, cervical collar, and am scheduled to receive an epidural injection in 2 weeks. I have seen my pcp twice, a neurologist, 2 neuro surgeons and have received numerous medication, some with serious side effects and have detailed information about these visits. I am a physician and due to this problem have missed days at work jeopardizing my clinical care. Yesterday almost got in an accident when my car slowed down instead of accelerating and I almost hit another car, this incident made me realize I can hurt other people if I continue to drive this car. I took it in to dealer today and they are going to run a diagnosis on it again, and it might cost me 6,000 dollars. Please help.
2002 toyota rav4 transmission failure. This vehicle has been maintained excellently with all recommended services performed at toyota dealers or authorized facilities. In 2009, toyota sent a recall notice about a "faulty ECM" (electronic control module) and the vehicle was taken in and the ECM was reprogrammed. After this service, the car started shifting erratically and as of june 26, 2010, the transmission suddenly failed with 118,000 miles on the car. Toyota knows that the ECM causes the transmission failure and is refusing to make this right. Toyota needs to be held accountable and responsible for this lack of integrity and for putting consumers at risk of death or injury, due to transmission failures in 2002 rav4's, camry's and corollas. Google this information to see that this is becoming more common with this model of car, now that they are reaching 100,000 miles.
2002 toyota rav 4 electronic control unit has a manufacturer's defect that cause the car's automatic transmission to disintegrate with little or no warning.
2002 toyota rav4 all of a sudden wouldn't shift between 3rd and 4th gear. To ok in immediately into dealership to be checked. Said it was the ECM. It was already taken in for recall and is another malfunction of same problem. If you drive it will ruin your transmission. I am very disappointed in the dealership as they only said to call toyota. I have done that and am waiting a response. There are many complaints on this and 220,000 toyota vehicle have issues. My car only has 56000 miles on it and should still be covered but they stop at 8 years. I am 25 days past warranty. Due to them knowing and already recalling them they should be liable.
I purchase my vehicle a 2002 rav4, automatic, new. The vehicle has been well maintained. Approximately in march of 2010 my vehicle starting jerking, I look at my gas gauge and thought I must be lower on gas then the gauge is showing. I got gas and the problem stopped. About 2 weeks later the same problem. I got gas and the situation stopped. Sporadically, in the 2 week time frame my vehicle seemed to lose power. I did take my car into my mechanic and he had the car and did test drives with no problems. Again, in april the problem arose again and the car when to my mechanic and again they could find no problem. On april 22, 2010 upon leaving work I started my vehicle and there was a horrible jerking, shaking and at times seemed to have no power I finally was able to make it home (1 mile away) with the tires barely rolling down the road. Immediately, the next day I took it to my mechanic and as we were doing a test drive the vehicle began the jerking, shaking and lost power, the car was not operable any longer. The diagnosis: transmission burnt and new ECM (my third in this vehicle). The vehicles engine check light never came on or any other sensors in the vehicle. When the ECM was tested it did not display any codes or problems with the vehicle. I contacted the dealership and explained the situation and was advised I needed to bring it in for them to look at it. I explained to them it does not run and not going anywhere and would these (I would have had the vehicle towed with an expense of anywhere from $250 to $300.00, a hours drive away) expenses be covered. Response "warranty expired 60 days ago." after many days of an agonizing decision, I advised my mechanic to go ahead and fix the car at the tune of $3500.00, replacing the ECM and transmission. The vehicle is still being repaired and I will have it back next week.
My 2002 toyota rav4 check engine light came on. The light went off a few days later, but my husband took it to a mechanic to have it looked at. The mechanic said the ecu (computer) failed. A few days later the car had problems shifting, and it started bucking on the highway. I did some research on the internet, and came to find out that this is a known defect with the 2002 toyota rav4. There was a toyota internal memo written in 2006 admitting the defect. My husband and I bought this car brand new. The car has only 60,000. Miles on it. We called toyota to see if they would honor the warranty (we are three months over the warranty) and the dealership said no, and toyota headquarters gave us a case number, and referred us back to the dealership. We have been loyal toyota customers. We also bought a 2007 toyota sienna. It is unconscionable that a company is putting its customers at risk with a defective part, and then hiding it from the vehicle owner. We never received a memo about the danger of this vehicle. Does someone have to be killed in order for our government to get involved? Toyota should be ordered to replace the defective parts that it willfully sold to its customers and then tried to cover it up!
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