2004 Toyota RAV4: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 21, 2024 · Electrical, Transmission · PA

10 days ago transmission on 2004 Rav started to act funny. Slow/jerky to engage in lower gears. Check engine lights came on. Checked out by mechanic who said it looked like a transmission problem and should have it looked at by transmission specialist who said it was not safe to drive as is since it could simply die at any time, and it needed a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

Filed Feb 19, 2017 · Driver assistance · 99,000 miles · CA

When driving on hills, specify during a turn, at sporadic times, the ESC light comes on, with 3 beeps from the dash......the car jerks and lugs, like the engine is dying, then resumes normal speed. Each time this happens is a little more dramatic than the last, and has happened 5 times in the past month. My car has 99000 miles on it , and has been a terrific car so far, but now I am scared to drive it. My husband called toyota dealers, and local toy specialty shops, but no one has heard of this problem. After reading about other drivers experiences with their ESC problems, I am leary of the cost of a fishing expedition at a dealer, unless I can go in with more information. I bought this car used, based on the dependability reports for this model and year, and would like to keep it for a long time, but first need to find a solution to this problem.

Filed Jan 23, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 125,000 miles · UT

The vsc/trac light came on while driving. Also transmission started acting funny. From a stop sign it would hesitate and then start with a jerk. While driving at a constant speed the rpms would go up and down. I took it to an auto parts store to have them read the error code. They said it was a solenoid problem within the transmission. I took it to a transmission shop and they checked it out and ordered a remanufactured transmission. Total cost was over $4,600. Since the transmission was replaced have had the car back 3 times in 2 weeks with same problem. Today, 1-23-17, I drove it about 1 mile and vsc/trac light came on again. I took it back to transmission shop and left it running. They came out and tried to use their scanner but had some difficulty so they turned off the engine and when they tried to restart it the engine would not turn over. So the car now has been towed to tunex since they have more diagnostic equipment. On the internet I see article that claim that the problem with these 2001 thru at least 2005 ravs is the ECM. The site of other deal.com says this is a very common problem because of defective ecms from the manufacturer. There was a class action suit against toyota that covered transmission problems on 2001-2003 ravs. Seems like whether it is the ECM or the transmission or both that toyota should be held responsible.

Filed Jul 9, 2016 · 155,000 miles · FL

When accelerating from stopped position the car hesitates, moves very slowly, then with added pressure on gas pedal jerks as it shifts into second gear, after that it seems to run fine. Check engine light and vsc trac lights are on. This is very dangerous when entering a busy road or in heavy traffic.

Filed Jun 17, 2016 · Driver assistance · 120,000 miles · MA

Often after a cold start (all year round), stability control kicks in (with beep and stability control light coming on) after a few hundred feet of driving, resulting in one or more wheels applying the brakes and causing a jerk in the steering wheel. This happens on smooth surfaces and with normal acceleration where stability control should never activate. Has never happened at high speed because it always happens shortly after start, so always fully recoverable, but very concerning. Toyota (acton toyota of littleton, ma) has failed to diagnose the issue.

Filed Feb 4, 2016 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · NJ · crash

I was pulling into a parking spot at less than 10 MPH when the engine revved loudly, lurched forward, jumped the curb and continued up a slope. I was unable to stop the car. I was able to turn the wheel to avoid a head-on collision with a building, and instead hit the building on an angle on the left front side. The car stopped only after hitting the building. This is the third instance of "unintended acceleration" I have experienced with this vehicle. This was the most serious episode. The other two events were similar. In the first instance the car again accelerated while I was parking at low speed and hit a fence. In the second instance there was no damage or injury as I was able to put the car into park.

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · Transmission · 136,600 miles · TX

As my family and I were leaving my house to go to the coast, my 2004 toyota rav4 suddenly, without any prior warning or indication, jerked and sputtered and felt as if it were downshifting, as if the transmission were slipping or not engaging or maintaining gear. Upon taking it to the dealership, I was told that the diagnostic revealed that the transmission had to be replaced. I was also informed that toyota would not allow it to be opened up, only replaced. I mentioned the ECM and was told that they found nothing to indicate anything other than the transmission needed to be replaced. Were it not a higher power caring for me and my loved ones that day, I believe it could have become an even more dangerous situation than it already was.

Filed Jun 26, 2015 · Transmission · 39,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. After stopping, the vehicle jerked forward. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.

Filed Jan 27, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 115,000 miles · MD

My cars check engine and vsc trac lights came on at the same time when I started the car. I then put it in drive and pressed on the gas pedal and nothing happened, but sometimes the car suddenly accelerates. My husband had to drive my car and I had to follow him home b/c the car was so unpredictable. He would have to push down hard on the gas pedal and it would hesitate but then all of a sudden it would then jerk forward. He was terrified that he would get stuck in the middle of an intersection! I found an article online about how toyota provided extended warrantys to 2001-2003 rav4 vehicle owners for this exact issue. Please see article: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/toyota-owners-complain-this-time-about-the-rav4/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0 please help me with this! Its not fair that people with a 2004 or later can't benefit from this! I also called toyota and left a complaint.

Filed May 7, 2013 · Body, Transmission · 1,000 miles · NY · crash

I was starting to make a k-turn in a parking lot. I put on the brakes to shift into reverse. I moved back in reverse a little bit. Then I stopped the car and put it in drive, when the car suddenly lurched forward out of my control crashing into a garbage dumpster, frightening me and damaging my vehicle severely. I am certain I did not give the car any gas to make it go forward and cause that accident. I feel very fortunate that I suffered only minor aches and pains as I was 75 at the time. I still own the rav4 and have had no other accidents or problems since that time. Now that I see there are recalls on later year vehicles, I wonder about the safety of the 2004 rav4. I hope the federal safety agency can help me.

Filed Oct 31, 2012 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 143,000 miles · AZ

When I drive my automatic awd 2004 rav4 (143,000 miles, only owner, maintained well throughout the life of the vehicle) on the freeway around slight curves, the traction control light turns on and beeps loudly. The last time this happened my engine stalled, jerked, and the car automatically swerved me into the next lane, almost causing a horrible accident, I was not applying the brake or turning the wheel. It was like the car had a mind of its own. I took the car into the toyota dealership for a diagnostic on the car, but they could not give any solid answers on why my car is having this problem, and that the tech almost crashed my car during the test drive. After paying $100, they said it could possibly be due to blown rear struts that are causing the back wheels to bounce around freeway curves which make the speed sensors think one of the wheels is skidding and activates the traction control system, but they were not completely sure. They said the sensors were all good. They wouldn't tell me anything else unless I started out by spending over $2000 to try fixing random things they recommended. They told me it is too dangerous to drive. Before the diagnostic at toyota, I had already cleaned all the sensors and speed rings, and all the speed rings are intact. The car does not throw any codes or check engine lights. The traction control light is the only light that comes on when this happens and once the car gets back to normal (ie pulling over to the side of the road or off the freeway), the light and alarm turn off. I have tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. This is supposed to be a safety feature on the car, yet it is malfunctioning and making my car incredibly dangerous to drive! Also, I live in arizona...there was no rain, snow, ice or mud when this happened while driving on the freeway...the system activates on its own. Please help!

Filed Dec 27, 2010 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked violently while the gears were changed and there was trouble accelerating. The failure occurred at any speed. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the transmission fluid was black; the fluid was replaced. The failure occurred intermittently. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000 and the current mileage was 62,600.