2003 Toyota RAV4: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Mar 16, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · MO

The vehicle is very delayed shifting and will slow down without pushing the breaks

Filed Jan 16, 2018 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · LA

Long story short, bought the car "as is" from a toyota dealership in october 2017, did not know of the transmission/ECM problem until november 2017 (yes that fast). Got a diagnostic test, the code said the transmission needed to be replaced. We are now in january 2018, I got the transmission replaced for 2,714 right? Okay, today january 16th 2018, I picked up my car, drove it around, brought it right back within 45 minutes. My car was still doing a hard shift. I got in the car with the mechanic to drive up the highway, he felt the shift immediately and informed me he was the one that put the part in. Okay, at this point we had to leave because all the managers were in a meeting. I get a call around 3:30pm saying that the ECM is not a problem and they quoted me a price! I just spent 5,000 so far buying the car and 2,700 dollars to fix the car. She told me that an ECM would cost from 1,500 dollars to 2,000 to replace, are you serious right now? Of course the warranty that toyota "extended" is no longer in affect, so all of this money has to come out of pocket. To say I haven't had my car or driven my car for long at all I have experienced a nightmare. I am a senior in college now, I only bought this car because my other vehicle was totaled by a driver who ran a stop sign and state farm awarded me only 2,800 for my previous car. This is a nightmare, no one but god will help you in the end this is sad and ridiculous. It's not right to get over on people in this way.

Filed Oct 17, 2016 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle hard shifted and would not accelerate. The vehicle was diagnosed as needing a new transmission. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 119,000.

Filed Sep 14, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 143,000 miles · NJ

Harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear, sluggish acceleration and transmission/electronic control module failure. Called toyota regarding the extended warrenty. They refused to honor the extended warranty despite not providing notice to the correct address.

Filed Aug 25, 2016 · Electrical, Transmission · 82,000 miles · CA

I was driving my 2003 toyota rav4 and attempted to merge into another lane when I experienced a very hard shift from the transmission causing the vehicle to stall with a reving engine noise and avoided being rear ended by a truck. I purchased my rav4 brand new in 2003 to accomodate my disability needs and only have 82,000 miles.I checked with my mechanic today and he looked up the toyota recall on these rav4 transmission failures and not once did toyota inform me about the recall. How is disabled individual on fixed income to afford $3000.00 for a transmission on a well maintained toyota with only 82,000 miles. I wish toyota would show some empathy to accommodate an individual whose sole purpose of a brand new rav4 would fulfill his daily physical challenges in life and now left with a toyota with 82,000 miles in need of a transmission. This rav4 is no longer safe to be driven given its nature of safety concerns.

Filed Jul 25, 2016 · Transmission · 158,000 miles · MI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle began to experience a harsh shift while the vehicle began to reduce in speed. The contact stated that a burning odor was present. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the automatic transaxle failed and the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

Filed Jun 10, 2016 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · ID

Ecm failed causing harsh shift transmission problem while driving in lower gears

Filed May 26, 2016 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · PA

Had this car for only 10 months (my daughter worked 2 jobs to buy it) and it started clunking when it was put into reverse and then not shifting properly while driving. Took it in and it was the computer, and it would be minimum of $1000 to fix it. It has 170,000 miles which for a toyota is not a lot. Can't believe this was never a recall and it is now past the warrenty. I love my toyotas but this is not ok that they won't own up and pay to fix it!!!!

Filed Dec 4, 2015 · Transmission · 95,225 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission/transaxles experienced a harsh shift failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 95,225.

Filed Sep 30, 2015 · Electrical · 112,790 miles · SD

Electric control module (ECM) is bad, causing harsh shifting, failure to accelerate correctly, and RPM's to jump. This is a known problem with this model and should have been recalled. This vehicle only has 112,000 miles on it. The part is $800+ or $1100 from dealer.

Filed Jun 7, 2015 · 116,000 miles · MI

Harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear, sluggish acceleration and ultimately transmission failure

Filed Jan 6, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 108,000 miles · CA

Experiencing abnormal behavior when shifting gears (auto trans). Transmission was shifting oddly - harsh shift condition . It was not a frequent problem and no engine light and I took it to the local mechanic and he connected to his computer and could not find any error codes. The problem happens every time I move from a stop. Found out that toyota put out a technical service bulletin in early 2006 after defects started surfacing stating to replace the car's computer ECM/ecu and possibly the transmission.. The company did not inform owners about this defect which is now surfacing and did not recall due to cost of replacing the ecu and transmission it destroys. The defective ecu burns up the clutch and other parts in the transmission