2002 Toyota RAV4: hesitation when accelerating

Filed May 22, 2015 · Steering, Transmission · 18,000 miles · WV

I purchased the 2002 toyota rav4 new from the dealership. One day while I was on my way to work I almost wrecked because the drive belt got hung up on something and it chewed up my drive belt. Also, I started noticing every time that I wanted to speed up my rav4 would hesitate and not go in gear. If it did go in gear it made a noise like a grinding type of noise. I called the toyota dealership and they did nothing. I called the toyota motor USA and told them about my problem and I was told that toyota does not manufacture any defective vehicles and they refused to do anything. The I read where there had been a recall on all 2001, 2002 and 2003 rav4 toyota vehicles because of faulty transmissions. I then sent a letter to toyota motor corporation USA and again they refused to do anything. The rav4 has been parked in my garage and it has only 35,000 miles on it and everyone in my family is afraid to drive it. I thought that when a car manufacturer has a recall that the manufacturer has a responsibility to fix the defect. In my case toyota has refused to do anything. Can you agency ask toyota why they have never offered to do anything for a legitimate recall which involes the problems that I am having. Thank you.

Filed May 11, 2015 · Transmission · 123,850 miles · MA

The car recently starts hesitate and suddenly slow down sometimes when I push the gas gear from stop (not always). The mechanic said the transmission may need to be checked. From the internet, I learned that this particular car is known to have the transmission defect (rav4 2001-2003 with automatic transmission).

Filed Nov 15, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 94,230 miles · NY

Attempting to enter highway, car lost power, eventually kicked in, immediately brought car to dealer. They serviced fuel injection, fuel system, spark plugs. Found no problem with transmission. 4 weeks following repair, hesitation happened again, this time check engine light came on, returned to dealer and was told the transmission and ECM unit needed replacement. Going through all my previous service records, came across a service ticket dated 05/18/2012, showing a service performed on a faulty ECM unit. Toyota was aware of this problem, but never informed consumers that the faulty units could affect the transmission, and driving ability of the vehicle. I am stuck with a $5,000. Repair bill, but I also could have been involved in an accident, had I been merging onto a busier highway. There have been many complaints filed, but yet no action taken by the national highway traffic administration...will it take a loss of life, or serious injury before action is taken?

Filed Aug 13, 2013 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that when shifting gears, there was a delay before the vehicle would engage, causing the vehicle to hesitate and lunge forward abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ECM was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 80,600.

Filed Jul 16, 2013 · Transmission · 67,950 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated and jerked while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist where a diagnostic was performed that indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer advised the contact that the transmission replacement warranty was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 67,950. Updated 10/29/13

Filed May 14, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 120,000 miles · KS

First the engine light came on then while trying to accelerate, the car hesitates and then shifts hard and jerks the car forward. The safety issue is that the car hesitates and acceleration is affected so it is unsafe to try to get on the highway with oncoming cars behind you. I talked to toyota about this issue but they stated my car was not covered by the recall of (harsh shift condition and/or malfunction indicator light).

Filed Dec 6, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 140,002 miles · MD

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?

Filed Jul 11, 2012 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to shift gears. The contact attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle failed to respond or shift gears. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the electronic control module was found defective. In order to repair, the electronic control module would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware; however no assistance was provided. The failure and current mileages were 35,000.

Filed Jun 10, 2011 · Electrical, Transmission · 72,750 miles · NJ

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".

Filed Feb 23, 2011 · Transmission · 91,620 miles · WA

2002 toyota rav4. Started a month ago harsh shifting from lowest gear to the next, hesitation then abrupt shifting or no shifting at all by transmission, either with or without overdrive applied. Replaced oxygen sensors and ECM, okay for a week but back again. Repeats the same problem from complete stop then slow acceleration, gear shifting is not timely and sudden unexpectedly creating a jerky motion.

Filed Oct 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · 90,400 miles · MD

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.

Filed Jul 28, 2010 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 20 MPH, approaching an intersection. The transmission began to hesitate in an intense jerking motion. The vehicle was taken to an auto transmission shop where the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt transmission. The identical failure occurred after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the auto transmission shop where the technician replaced the electronic control module. The manufacturer offered a free remedy under the customer support program related to the electronic control module defect; however, the VIN was excluded. The contact experienced the same failures that were mentioned in the program. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.