For a few months now the problem has progressively gotten worse. It is a constant issue. When in park or stopped the car idles high. When driving the car (automatic transmission) the shift of gears is not smooth, it is jumpy and jerky. Also when switching to drive, reverse etc, its not a smooth transition. I feel like the transmission is not safe and could fail while im driving. My passengers often tell me I am a crazy driver as of late, because the car is jerking them around, although I haven't changed my way of driving. I have done some research online and feel that this is a common problem among 2003 toyota rav4's.
2003 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints
Page 8 of 8: complaints 191 to 209 of 209, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Toyota rav4 2003, two weeks ago I notice a shifting problem with the car, more so from a stop and go motion. I took the car to transmission expert, he said the transmission oil filter needs changing. A day later I noticed the same problem, took the car back. They told me they could not duplicate the problem. A week later I noticed the same problem, I took it back. Now they told me the toyota rav4 have a known issue with the computer, that may at this point contributed to problem with the transmission, and if I wanted to fix the problem, I need to replaced the transmission and computer, which can run to thousand of dollars, I don't have that kind of money at this time. My question is if toyota know this to be an issue why not recall the cars and fix the problem? I have gone to carcomplaint.com and read many other car owners with the same problems. Those owners paid alot money up front to try to get the problem fix, unfortunately, their cars had high mileage, and out warranty. Something needs to be done, I am for whatever actions needs to be taken against toyota to fix the problem. Daniel
I own a 2003 toyota rav4, 138000 miles. I purchased this vehicle new in 2003. This car jerks, jumps gears, and suddenly slows which has caused me to come close to having an accident. Now it won't go over 40 and it won't go in reverse. I called continental transmission and have been told they have repaired many toyota rav4's for this same problem and it is going to cost me approx $3500.00. It seems the defective ecu burns up the clutch and other parts of the transmission. Also, when searching on line their are many complaints from other rav4 owners who are having the same issues so obviously it is not a random problem. This is a safety issue and one of these times someone is going to have a car accident and/or get hurt and hopefully not killed. Toyota has known about this problem and has failed to do a recall. My husband has called toyota and they have refused to take any responsibility or help compensate in any way. We had believed in toyota for quality, after this I will not ever consider buying another toyota. With today's economy in such a financial disaster it is a shame they can get away with this.
Toyota rav 4, 2003, failed to shift properly in lower gears leading to near rearenders. Looked on a car complaint site and found numerous people with the same problem. The ECM needs to be reflashed at the service centers to prevent transmission failure. Not listed as a recall but a technical problem. I am now having to have both the ECM replaced and the transmission rebuilt. 125000 miles which is better than most reported. Everyone having trouble with toyota. Seems to have cropped up in the 2002 models first.
Jerking and shifting to the wrong gear. Dealer found out bad transmission . Need to spend $5000. I'm surprise for toyota product.
I have toyota rav 4 2003 and the transmission is damage.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. Whenever the vehicle is at a complete stop, it lost power. If the air conditioning were to be on, the vehicle would not lose power. While driving when the vehicle changed gears there wasn't a smooth transition and the vehicle would jerk. He took the vehicle to aamco transmission and the mechanic stated that the vehicle has a worn clutch. Also, the second and third gears failed. The contact was informed that the cause for the transmission failure was due to a faulty power train control module. The dealer stated that there was no recall; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The dealer also stated that the vehicle would have to have less than 80,000 miles for the warranty to be in effect. The current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 70,000.
I own a 2003 toyota rav 4, at 140,000 miles the check engine light came on. Was told by toyota dealership, the car needed a new exhaust system. Had repairs done, light came back on at 160,00 . Dealer says needs need transmission. Started doing more research and found this forum at www.carcomplains.com and discovered there are a lot of rav 4 owners that are having the same problem and toyota is ignoring our cry for help.
In october 2004, I purchased a 2002 toyota rav4 from modern toyota in winston-salem, north carolina on a six-year payment plan. I also purchased out what was left of the three-year warranty, and a one-year maintenance plan. I have continued to get oil changes and tune-ups at regular intervals. The car is at about 93,000 miles. On friday, july 18, I was driving to a doctor's appointment, and quite suddenly, it began shifting improperly. In the lower gears, it lurched and bucked as if it was having trouble catching. Immediately, I drove to emporia motors, the local toyota service center. It was about 11 am. Emporia motors was too busy to diagnose the problem by the end of the business day. The car was not drivable and they did not provide me with a loaner, so I had to do without a vehicle over the weekend. On monday, july 21at at 8:30 am, I was informed that the transaxle/transmission would need to be replaced. The part needed was estimated at $3,450.00. After running an internet search at www.carcomplaints.com, I found that there were 103 complaints about transmission problems on the 2002 rav4, most of which were focused on problems with shifting, often occurring when the vehicle's mileage reached the 90,000 mark. This is clearly not a random problem, the costs of those repairs to other consumers are comparable to mine, and yet, toyota has not taken any responsibility whatsoever for this problem. The vehicle is only six years old and I have not even finished paying it off, and now I'll have to make additional monthly payments for the transmission replacement. The high cost of this unexpected repair is a serious burden in these difficult economic times. I am extremely disappointed with the quality of this car. I live in a rural state and I need to know that my car is reliable and that its quality is backed by the manufacturer.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota rav4. While driving 55 MPH, the transmission suddenly began to downshift and upshift on its own. The contact did not notice any differences in the vehicle prior to the failure. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
Toyota rav-4 has serious transmission problems leading to failure of the transmission. Will not shift from first gear to second in heavy traffic, at intersections etc. Have come close to being hit by on coming traffic on two occasions. Toyota will acknowledge this problem.
I have a 2003 toyota rav4- seems to be exact same problem everyone else is having--no problems until early this year 2008, transmission was skipping gear 2 to 3, took to mechanic then to transmission specialist, where the same procedure occurred. Computer chip replaced, few days later, same problem occurred. Transmission replaced at 89,000 miles, 3400 dollars total. Otherwise, the car is great. No accident, just too much hassle, money, and several stressful, scary rides home.
My 2003 toyota rav-4 with 103,000 miles on it is having severe transmission problems. The car will not shift from 1st to 2nd without lunging, clunking, and hesitating to the point where it hardly moves. Just had the 90,000 mile tune up done and the dealer could not id the problem. After getting the car home it is undrivable-we did not think we would make it to the auto repair shop. They tell me it is a transmission problem-very expensive to fix. I have read that many others are having this same problem. It is dangerous and a clear manuf. Defect that needs to be fixed. My car is now sitting in the shop with no hope of a solution.
I have a 2003 toyota rav4, at 86600 miles it appeared my transmission was slipping, when I would pull out in front of anyone it was stall and slip while going into 1st and 2nd gear. (automatic transmission), the dealership (toyota) said it was internal in the transmission so I took it to a transmission place, they said they could not find anything wrong with it. After review the complaints on the internet it seems that this is happening with toyota's 2001 thru 2003 and it is the ECM that goes bad and if you drive your car it will tare up the transmission. I went back to toyota and showed them the bulletin put out by toyota and after some back and forth with them they installed me a new ECM, this was just 2 days ago, they are not sure if this will fix the problem or not, but I believe toyota should recall these vehicles before someone get killed, this is a real expense to the car owners.
My toyota rav4 wd, 2003, transmission failed in a major intersection and again traveling up a hill.
The following are the events leading up to the failure of my '03 toyota rav4: - current mileage: 93k miles - after coming to a full stop at a street light I started to accelerate and noticed my car started to stall. I figured my foot may have slipped off the gas pedal and didn't think much of it. - later that week the stalling worsened and my car would then start to shutter uncontrollably. - this LED me to take notice that the stalling/shuttering occurred after my car was warmed up and I had driven about 20 mins. - I brought my car to the toyota dealership where I purchased this car. - diagnostics tests were performed and I was told my transmission was the cause of the stalling/shuttering. - the technician recommended to replace the entire transmission because "toyota" recommends to do so instead of finding out what the true cause is. - they proceeded to tell me it would cost me $4,000 to replace which has LED me to this point in posting this complaint. - I am not pleased with the service options I was given and was under the impression that toyota is a dependable car. I've only had this car for 3 years and am very disappointed.
My wife's 2003 toyota rav4 has 85000 miles. Several weeks ago it started shifting poorly and eventually would not move easily from rest. We took it to the dealer and were told that the transmission was bad. We could not believe this and took it to a local cottman transmission shop for repair. After 2 weeks and the replacement of many internal parts, mechanical and electrical, we paid $4000 for our car and drove it away. Within 100 miles the same symptoms returned. We had it towed to the cottman transmission shop and were told that the engine control module was defective and they wanted another $1100 to replace it. Whether cottman transmission is being honest or not remains to be seen but we feel that toyota should have some responsibility in this matter. So far toyota USA has been unhelpful or unresponsive. I discovered a tsb (tc002-06) that discusses the engine control module. The tsb states that it is part of the emission control system and that replacement will be covered by warranty up until 96 months or 80000 miles. Leaves us out but others may be interested.
I had my hand resting on the gear shift (automatic on the floor) and bumped it from drive into neutral. I did not push the button designed for shifting. I was stopped on a hill; when I took my foot off the brake to start, I drifted backward toward another car.
While coasting down a hill driver began to depress the brakes and there was no brake pressure. Also, driver had difficulty with the vehicle down shifting at anytime.
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