2002 Toyota RAV4: complete transmission failure

Filed May 5, 2022 · Transmission · CA

2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD transmission problems and will be available upon request. Transmission caused vehicle to disengaged , jerks, stalls with severed engine braking while driving creating a safety performance and hazard on the roads to myself and other unexpected drivers. Upon reading similar complaints of other owners reported similar transmission problems. This was believed to be a reproduced problem and should be investigated for Safety-Related defects. The vehicle was inspected by manufacture according to previous owner. Manufacturer recently replaced transmission and updated ECM per previous owner. The vehicle appeared in working order for 3-4 months then the transmission problems occurred again as mentioned above. There was no warning lights while I experienced this transmission problem.

Filed Nov 23, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 91,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. After starting the engine, the vehicle would not properly accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to fred anderson toyota (9101 glenwood avenue, raleigh, nc) where it was diagnosed that the electronic control module and transmission were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 91,000. *tt consumer stated transmission failed while in traffic, car was able to accelerate properly and was longer shifting gears.

Filed Feb 27, 2018 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle felt as if it switched gears independently. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the transmission failed to engage and the vehicle did not proceed forward. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal several times before the transmission finally engaged and the vehicle operated normally. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. *tt

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · WI

The ECM which controls the transmission failed.

Filed Oct 14, 2015 · Transmission · 174,519 miles · MA

I purchased the rav in 2007 with less than 50,000 miles. Soon after the purchase the check engine light would come on and off. When I took the vehicle multiple times to be serviced the engine light would not be on and the dealer service department did not check for codes because dealer policy is if engine light was not on, codes would not be check. This vehicle was subject to a 2007 recall on ecu and the ecu was reset per recall instructions per the toyota dealership. Since that time I have had to replace multiple components with the most recent repair of $3,600 for a rebuilt transmission. I believe that if computer would have been checked back in 2007 these repairs (replacement of multiple solenoid, oxygen sensors and valve switch) would not have not taken, including the recent failure and replaced of the transmission and I would not be in this situation now. Per multiple toyota service department staff, I was told this model has a history of ecu problems causing transmission failures. Resetting the ecu only masked or put a band aide on this transmission problem.

Filed Jun 20, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 82,264 miles · FL

2002 toyota rav 4 engine control module/transmission failed on 82,264 miles, erratic driving, very dangerous to drive. Toyota is aware of this problem but not doing any thing to resolve. Spent almost $1000 to replace the ecu alone, may need complete transmission replacement.

Filed Apr 27, 2015 · Transmission · 144,000 miles · WI

Purchased the 2002 toyota rav4 for $6000 from a 'reputable' mechanic. His nephew owned it. Mechanic did all the work on it while it was owned by nephew. Nephew owned it for 2 years. I purchased it in may 2014. February 2015 the transmission went out. Through much research & digging found a recall on it. Toyota stated they fixed it in 2007. Further investigation show 2001 - 2003 rav4's are a pieces of junk. This car was taken in from the previous owner to have the 'shifting issues' looked at in march 2012. Said nephew owned it at that time. Noone can tell me the mechanic & the nephew didn't know there was going to be problems with the transmission. February 16, 2015 the car stopped in the middle of the road. Had towed to my mechanic, we will call him [xxx]. [xxx] said it was the transmission, he could take the tranny out & send it to his transmission guy for repairs. Total estimate: $ 3800. Called the previous owner, he 'oh, I'm sorry'. Fast forward to today, april 27, 2015. The car has been at the mechanics for 2 1/2 months. Transmission has been rebuilt. Had to reprogram the ECM. Have gone through 3 ECM's, the transmission is still slipping between 2nd & 3rd gears. [xxx] & the tranny guy tells me it is the computer. Computer company says it is the tranny. So my car just sits at my mechanics shop. It can run but if I run it I risk ruining the transmission & it not being covered under warranty. Up until this point I have forked out $4100 for the repairs. (doesn't include the loan I had to take out for the car). Today I am going to take the car in & demand it gets fixed by this weekend, if it doesn't I'm going to have to take them to small claims court to get my money back so I can have it repaired properly. The two people I am doing business with are small business owners. I don't want to take them to court but they are forcing my hand. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Nov 22, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · PA

My daughter purchased a used 2002 rav4 as her first car in 2010. It had engine and transmission problems within months of purchasing. She also had transmission issues where it would not go into gear or it would act sluggish while driving on the california freeways. It was very dangerous, especially for a young driver. We learned of the class action suit for this issue and got on board with it. Unfortunately we lost, as we knew we would, since toyota does not want to stand behind its warranties or technical service bulletins. We paid for a transmission replacement so she could safely drive this vehicle and the tsb clearly states that any prior out-of-pocket repairs related to this issue would be reimbursed. Even though we eventually had the ECM and transmission replaced at their expense, she was to be reimbursed for the prior work done but was not. We will never purchase another toyota product. Too many recalls and issues. And they do. Not. Honor. Their. Agreements. I know we aren't the only ones....there are legions of dissatisfied consumers. Something this dangerous should be addressed. Never had these problems with ford or pontiac vehicles.

Filed Sep 24, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 167,200 miles · NC

My wife was driving to a doctor's appointment and, while on the "on ramp" to the interstate, the car would not shift from 2nd to third gear (it's an automatic trans). With the engine revving she looked down to check to assure it was in drive about the time it lurched into 3rd, then soon lurched into 4th. Coming home she shifted between drive and neutral to try to maintain a safe speed, save the transmission and engine, while allowing her to get home. The dealership quoted $989 to replace the ECM (computer), but couldn't assure the transmission wouldn't later need to be replaced. Toyota corporate was not helpful. I had records from the previous car owner that toyota issued an extended warranty to replace the ECM for 10 years or 150,000 miles as a result of a class action suit, "if they felt it was warranted." I also had documentation that the ECM was "reprogrammed" at 72k miles. My contention was the ECM should've been replaced, not reprogrammed, but was told that the reprogramming was done to correct a different problem. I asked if I could speak to someone else at corporate and was told everyone would give me the same response since it is their company position. The internet is full of owners who replaced the transmission first, only to find the ECM caused the newer transmission to fail also, or owners who replaced the ECM only to find that the transmission also needed replacement. It is obvious that toyota is aware of the problem. I believe they have failed to adequately protect owners by creating a recall to allow owners to get this fixed prior to scary and potentially dangerous shifting problems. The internet is also full of people who claim to want to enter another class action suit, but I am hoping toyota appreciates their customers enough that law suits wouldn't be required to get them to do the right thing. But, I'm losing hope.

Filed Aug 27, 2014 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · MS

Going from a very slow speed or from stop it has a hard time getting out of first and or second. I will jerk or shift very harshly. Sometimes it feels like I've been rearended. As it's picking up speed in the 15-25 MPH range it will start to slow on it's own when I'm still giving it gas. It feels like there's a rubberband in the transmission stretching and as it gets tight it's slowing down then it will just release and then comes the harsh or violent shift. If I can catch it at the right time and let off the gas, that will most of the time negate the harshness. It is probably not safe to be driving it but I do not have a choice at this point. Toyota told me it may need a new chip at about $900 and if that doesn't work, it will need a new transmission!! I'll just be as careful as I can and not pull out in front of traffic.

Filed Aug 13, 2013 · Transmission · 49,000 miles · NJ

We were just informed from our local toyota dealership (gateway toyota in toms river, nj) that there is a known problem with the 2002 toyota rav 4 automatic transmissions (high failure rate) and we were just informed that our transmission needs to be replaced. I believe the federal safety agency needs to investigate toyota to see if a recall is in order.

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