2003 Toyota RAV4 Power Train

I PULLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TO GET INTO TRAFFIC, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE INSTANTLY AS IT ALWAYS HAD DONE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, SLOWLY GETTING INTO GEAR, AND THEN ONLY GRADUALLY CAUGHT, CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET HIT IN THE INTERIM BY AT LEAST ONE CAR AND A TRACTOR TRAILER. TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL FOR TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS, HE SAID I SHOULD GO ONLINE AND SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. SURE ENOUGH, TOYOTA HAD, UNDER DURESS OF A LAW SUIT, ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, AND HAD ISSUED AN EXPANSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. ON THE ONLINE DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSMISSION/EMC PROBLEM, IT WAS STATED THAT THE PROBLEM USUALLY STARTED AROUND 80,000 MILES, WHICH IS WHAT MY 2003 RAV 4 HAS ON IT. AFTER FIRST CALLING TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS (TORRANCE, CA) TO GET THEM TO INCLUDE MY CAR UNDER THAT EXTENSION, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS TOO LATE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I THEN SENT THEM A REGISTERED LETTER BEGGING THEM TO HELP ME, AS THE CAR WAS ESSENTIALLY A DEATH TRAP WITH THE SLIPPAGE INTO THE FIRST TWO GEARS, AND THEY RESPONDED WITH A LETTER TELLING ME TO CALL THEM BACK. THIS WAS FRUITLESS, AS THE REITERATED EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME. I ASKED THEM TO PUT IT IN WRITING THAT THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT FAILURE, WHICH THE REP SAID HE WOULD DO. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM SINCE THAT CALL LAST WEEK. I TOLD HIM I DID NOT GET ANYTHING FROM THEIR COMPANY TELLING ME, THE OWNER, THAT THIS PROBLEM IN THE POWER TRAIN EXISTED, AND THAT IT WAS UNFAIR THAT BECAUSE I BABIED THE CAR OVER THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT, THE 80,000 MILES JUST OCCURRED RECENTLY, PAST THE 2013 DATE THAT WAS IN THE NEW WARRANTY EXTENSION. IN OTHER WORDS, A PROBLEM THAT WAS KNOWN BY TOYOTA TO MANIFEST ITSELF AROUND 80,000 MILES PENALIZED ME IN THIS CASE. *TR

THE CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARSHLY AND WITH A VERY STRONG SHAKING LIKE A SHIMMY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERS REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS RATHER THAN CONTINUE DRIVING. THE TECHNICIAN SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION ECU AND POSSIBLE A NEW TRANSMISSION. ECU COST $1300.00 AND TRANSMISSION, IF NEEDED, IS $4,000.00.NO ONE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA PAID TO HAVE THESE FIXED BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN CALIFORNIA. THAT WARRANTY HAS NOW ELAPSED YET MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND UPON ACCELERATION MY VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMED TO "JUMP" INTO GEAR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN IT WOULD ALMOST DO THE SAME THING, BEING SLUGGISH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MY VEHICLE, BUT I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THEM HAD BEEN RECALLED.

PRIMARY COMPLAINT: PURPOSEFUL DECEPTION REGARDING FULL BENEFITS OF EXTENDED WARRANTY OF ECM AND/OR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT UNDER CLASS ACTION MILLIGAN VTOYOTA.THE EVENTS LEADING TO MY TRANSMISSION ISSUES BEGAN IN 7/ 2012. I HAD PROBLEM GETTING OUT OF MY PARENTS STEEP DRIVEWAY SO I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE THAT HAD BEEN CHANGING MY OIL IN SISSONVILLE WV. UPON DIAGNOSTICS THEY REPORTED TO ME A SOLENOID CODE WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS REFERRED TO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS, HOWEVER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN RESET AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET ANY CODES. AFTER BEING TOLD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE SOMETHING WITH MY EXHAUST AS WELL, I WAS REFERRED TO QUALITY EXHAUSTS BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE SEEN. THEN PROCEEDED BARKER'S IN DUNBAR. AFTER TEST DRIVING AND EVALUATING HE STATED I HAD BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT 7/18/12. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN PLACED MY CAR ON THE RACK HE STATED HE WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS WRONG BUT IT WAS NOT MOTOR MOUNTS AND WITH THE SYMPTOMS IT WAS HAVING I SHOULD HAVE MY TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT. I HAD IT TOWED TO LOVE LEXUS IN SAINT ALBANS.THERE I WAS TOLD MY ECM WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT.HE EXPLAINED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD DUE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. HE WENT ON TO SAY THE RAVS HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THESE COMPUTERS AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PLACED AND APPLIED TO THEM.THE HARSH SHIFTING HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED. IN 9/12 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON.I TOOK IT BACK TO LOVE LEXUS AND EXPLAINED THE CONDITION AS STATED ABOVE.I ASKED IF THEY WOULD PLEASE TEST DRIVE IT TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD MY COMPLAINT.AFTER THE DIAGNOSTICS WERE COMPLETE I WAS TOLD A FUEL SENSOR HAD GONE BAD AND WAS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. PART 1 OF 2 *TR

PART 2 OF 3 THIS WAS AT MY COST AND AT THAT TIME I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN THAT IT WAS AN OLDER CAR AND WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRING, WHAT WAS HIS OPINION ON TRADING. HE DIDN'T SHOW ANY REAL INTEREST BUT DID STATE SOME HAVE HAD GREAT LONGEVITY AND OTHERS NOT SO MUCH. AFTER LEAVING THAT VISIT MY CAR STILL DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND WAS STILL HARSH IN REVERSE.WITHIN A MONTH OR SO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. WHILE I WAS EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO LOVE LEXUS I DID. I EXPRESSED MY COMPLAINT ONCE AGAIN ABOUT IT NOT BEING QUITE RIGHT AND REQUESTED THEY TAKE IT OUT ON THE FOUR LANE SO THAT IT COULD BE DRIVEN UP PAST 55MPH. HE DIAGNOSTICS RAN AGAIN AND INFORMED ME THAT MY FUEL CAP WASN''T ON TIGHT ENOUGH. I LEFT EMBARRASSED; HOWEVER, MY CAR STILL WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT.I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THE SAME ISSUES FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND IN OCTOBER 2013 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A & E SERVICE CENTER.THEY CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND STATED IN SMELLED BURNT, THEIR DIAGNOSTICS STATED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND THE ONLY THING THEY COULD RECOMMEND IN LIEU OF REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION WAS TO FLUSH IT AND REPLACE THE FILTER AND FLUID. THEY STATED THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF METAL SHAVINGS THEY FOUND WHICH THEY SHOWED ME, THIS WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF PUTTING A BANDAID ON A BROKEN BONE.THIS ONLY LASTED ABOUT A MONTH AND ON 11-12-13 I HAD IT TOWED TO AAMCO. THE ESTIMATE WAS $2767.19. DUE TO ME BEING IN A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP MY PARENTS GAVE ME THEIR 2002 4-RUNNER AND PURCHASED A NEW CAR FOR THEMSELVES.WE ORIGINALLY WAS TRADING THE RAV. . *TR

PART 3 OF 3THE SALESMAN ENCOURAGED MY PARENTS TO KEEP IT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T GET MUCH OF A TRADE IN, SO I HAD MY RAV TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I CALLED THE SM OF LOVE LEXUS TO INFORM HIM OF MY PROBLEM, TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECOURSE FROM HIM AND TO ALSO EXPRESS THAT I WAS COMPLETELY UNSATISFIED.I REMINDED HIM THAT I HAD REQUESTED THAT THEY TEST DRIVE ON THE FOUR LANE SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND MY COMPLAINT OF THE HESITATION OF GOING IN GEAR.HE STATED ON THE PHONE HE DID NOT RECALL, HOWEVER THEY DID DRIVE IT ON THE BACK LOT. I ASKED HIM CAN YOU OBTAIN A SPEED OF 55MPH IN YOUR LOT, HIS RESPONSE WAS ?NO?. AT THAT POINT I DECIDED I WOULD NOT BE DEALING WITH THAT SERVICE DEPARTMENT ANY LONGER.IN 2/2014 I BEGAN INVESTIGATING HOW TO GET RID OF MY RAV AND STUMBLED UPON THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS DESCRIBED ABOVE.I HAVE ONLY RECEIVED 50% OF THE BENEFITS AWARDED TO ME BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE WHOLE THING.I DIDN'T GET A NOTICE FROM THE CORPORATION OF THIS PROBLEM, LOVE LEXUS ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE MY RIGHTS TO HAVING MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ECM UNDER THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ECM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 0 - 5 MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74500. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A FAULTY ECM AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT VERY ERRATICALLY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS FAULTY PART AND THERE WAS NOT A PUBLIC RECALL; THEY REPLACED PARTS AS THEY FAILED AND EXTENDED THAT WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. NOW THE WARRANTY IS 10 YRS/150,000. SO I AM OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY BY MAYBE A YEAR AND NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE MILEAGE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO INFORM THEM THAT MY ECM HAD FAILED HOPING THEY WOULD AT LEAST APOLOGIZE (REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE WELCOME TOO) BUT THE LADY I TALKED TO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO MY VIN NUMBER, WHICH I KNOW TO BE A LIE! TOYOTA PUT OUT A FAULTY PART AND MUST BE MADE TO REPLACE ANY THAT FAIL NO MATTER THE MILEAGE OR LENGTH OF TIME! THIS FAULTY PART HAS ALSO DAMAGED SOME TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY MUST BE MADE TO REPLACE/REIMBURSE FOR THOSE AS WELL. MY ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED AND I AM NOT SURE BUT AM AFRAID I AM ONE OF THE ONES WITH A DAMAGED TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP! *TR

CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. TOOK EMERGENCY BRAKE OFF, STEPPED ON BRAKE, PUT CAR IN REVERSE. CAR GAVE A VIOLENT JERK BACKWARDS. BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR. CAR JERKED FORWARD A LITTLE, ENGINE REVVED UP, SLOW ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR. HAD TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR TO GAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO PULL FORWARD. STOPPED AT STOP SIGN, TRIED TO ACCELERATE, CAR JERKED FORWARD A LITTLE, ENGINE REVVED UP, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO ACCELERATION AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. MORE PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR RESULTED IN AN ADEQUATE SPEED TO PULL FORWARD. SAME SERIES OF EVENTS AFTER STOPPING AND/OR SLOWING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SAME HARD JERK WHEN PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE FOR ANY REASON FOLLOWED BY FORWARD JERK, ENGINE REV AND SLOW ACCELERATION WHEN PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA SERVICE ON 11-26-14. PROBLEM WITH ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE). MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. COST TO ME WAS $1590.63, INCLUDING TAX. DUE TO MY IN SERVICE DATE, TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED MY CAR WAS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISED ME THE VERY BEST THEY COULD DO WAS TO OFFER ME $500 TOWARDS A NEW TOYOTA, BUT NOT TOWARDS REPAIR. *TR

MY 2003 RAV4 DEVELOPED A VERY HARSH SHIFT TAKING OFF BETWEEN FIRST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (BERGLUND OAK RIDGE TOYOTA> LYNCHBURG, VA) AND THEY CONFIRMED A DIAGNOSED STORED TROUBLE CODE P0755-SHIFT "B" MALFUNCTION. THEY QUOTED ABOUT $4700.00 TO REPLACE THE ECM AND PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. NO FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE DEALER, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 2001-2003 RAV4'S. TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY A FEW YEARS AGO TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS A DOCUMENTED AND EXPECTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED I CONTACT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AT 1-800-331-4331 AND ASK THEM TO CONSIDER COVERING ALL OR PART OF THE COST. THE VEHICLE HAS A VALUE OF $7500.00 PER KBB. I CALLED AND GOT CASE # 1403130959. I SPOKE TO RASHINE . IT TOOK A FEW DAYS BUT THEY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE 10 YEAR WINDOW (2003-2013) THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COSTS. I PLEADED THAT I HAVE WELL UNDER THE 150,000 MILE MARK AND THAT THEY READILY SAY 80% OF ALL TOYOTA'S ARE ON THE ROAD FOR 20 YEARS. THIS HAS ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO GO. THEY KNOW THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A FACTORY DESIGN FAULT PER ALL THE RECORDED PROBLEMS. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $4700.00 IN REPAIRS FOR THEIR DESIGN FAILURE. IN THEIR 1.2 BILLION $ RECENT SETTLEMENT,THEY SAID" PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST", "WANT TO EARN OUR TRUST", "SERVE CUSTOMERS" "TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES SERIOUSLY". WOW, WHAT A LIE AND LET DOWN. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS? IT HAS HAPPENED TO COUNTLESS 1000'S OF PEOPLE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS A RECALL AND FIX FOR 0$. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. PLEASE HELP ME AND HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR A TERRIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON MAY 14, 2013, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION COMPUTER.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RAV4, ENTERING A HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN I ACCELERATED. IT HESITATED FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN FINALLY LURCHED FORWARD. I WAS VERY NEARLY STRUCK BY A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. NOW THE RAV FREQUENTLY BEHAVES ODDLY WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIMES REFUSING TO UPSHIFT, SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTING AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE DEALER ADVISES THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AS COVERED IN A TSB. FROM RESEARCH RECENTLY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS ECM DEFECT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BEGINNING IN 2006. I AM AMAZED THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL TO REPAIR THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOW IT APPEARS I WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR A VERY EXPENSIVE ECM REPLACEMENT. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER REGULARLY FOR MAINTENANCE, THEY NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. YET WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS BEHAVIOR WITH ONE OF THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISORS YESTERDAY, HE SEEMED QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE CALL FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,597.

TOYOTA HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT ITS ECM UNIT WOULD ULTIMATELY FAIL. THIS FAILURE HAS CAUSED TRANSMISSIONS TO FAIL AS WELL. PULLING OUT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION IN 3 RD GEAR, AS THEY ARE PRONE TO DO COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE. MY VEHICLE IS EXACTLY 3 MONTHS TOO OLD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TR

THE VEHICLE JERKS, MISSES GEARS. WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT..IT DOESN'T MOVE THEN SUDDENLY TAKES OFF. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN 02/03 & 04 RAV 4'S ALSO SAYS THE ECM IS A PROBLEM. HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED, REPLACED THE FILTER & TRANSMISSION FLUID ONLY TO HAVE IT STILL ACTING THE SAME WAY...WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. MY RESEARCH INDICATED TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM & EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OR 150,00 MILES. WHEN WE CONTACTED FREEDOM TOYOTA IN HAMBURG, PA. (THIS IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT *CHUCKLED* AT US. TOLD US, $91.00 JUST TO PULL IT IN THERE GARAGE TO LOOK AT IT!HOW SAFE IS IT TO DRIVE IF IT JERKS OR JUST WON'T GO? WHERE IS TOYOTAS LOYALTY TO IT'S CUSTOMERS IF THEY *CHUCKLE* AT US ? NEEDLESS TO SAY WE STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR RAV 4 AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR FROM FOLWER TOYOTA INC. 955 NORTH INTERSTATE NORMAN OKLAHOMA JANUARY 2005. WE WERE TOLD THE CERTIFIED USED CAR INCLUDED A 160-POINT QUALITY INSPECTION, CERTIFYING THE CAR IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD US ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND THEY NEVER TRANSFERRED THE NAME OF OWNERSHIP TO TOYOTA, INC. IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR WE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING FORWARD AND SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. IT ALSO SHIFTED HARD INTO REVERSE. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED THAT WE SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION AND SEE IF THAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WE CALLED TOYOTA AND TALKED TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT THAT INFORMED US THAT TOYOTA HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE WARRANTY FOR OUR CAR RAN OUT DECEMBER 31ST 2012 AND WE WOULD NOT QUALIFY. WE DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE COMPUTER UNTIL WE CALLED TOYOTA AND AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET DISCOVERING THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS THE RESULT OF A CLASS ACTION SUITE. TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER BUT FAILED TO INFORM US ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER IS BETWEEN $1500.00 AND $1900.00 AND IF THERE HAS BEEN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE COMPUTER IT WILL COST US $5000.00 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. WE BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA DEALER THAT SOLD US THE RAV 4 SHOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT OUR NAME AND ADDRESS WAS SENT TO TOYOTA INFORMING THEM OF OUR PURCHASE IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL OR IN THIS CASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING A DEFECTIVE PART. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT LISTEN TO OUR APPEAL BECAUSE WE CALLED AFTER THE WARRANTY TIME LIMIT.

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN JUNE 2003. THE CAR NOW HAS 103,000 MILES ON IT. IT RECENTLY BEGAN TO HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. ASIDE FROM THE ISSUE OF FAIRNESS TO THE CUSTOMER, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO ORDER A RECALL TO HAVE TOYOTA FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR OFTEN DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. WHEN HEADED UP EVEN A SLIGHT HILL AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR SPUTTERS BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATING. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THAT SITUATION AND ALMOST GOT BROADSIDED WHEN MY CAR SPUTTERED AND AN ONCOMING CAR BARELY SLOWED DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING ME. ALSO, WHEN ALREADY MOVING AND GOING UP EVEN A SLIGHT HILL, WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED, THE CAR SPUTTERS AS IT SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR BEFORE JERKING INTO THIRD GEAR. THE TOYOTA DEALER TO WHOM I TOOK THE CAR SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE ECM AND THE COST TO REPAIR IT IS ABOUT $1,000. THROUGH THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THE ECM IS A COMPUTER (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPONENTS, THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ECM MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON 2001 TO 2003 RAV4S SINCE AT LEAST 2006, THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETINS TO ITS DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THAT TOYOTA HAS EVEN EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES TO COVER THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME WHERE THE PROBLEM SURFACED JUST AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED. TO REITERATE, THIS IS A KNOWN WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2001 TO 2003 RAV4S, IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT AFFECTS THE CAR?S ABILITY TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY WHEN NEEDED, AND AS SUCH IT REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE RECALL THESE RAV4S BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED! *TR

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM ON 7/2/13. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE THAT DATE. ON 7/10/13 THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED AND FREQUENT. WHEN PROCEEDING FORWARD FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO ADVANCE, THEN SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. IT HAS RESULTED IN NEAR MISS REAREND AND SIDE CRASHES. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC FOR 7/15/13. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SHOWED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER. RESEARCH TURNED UP A TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 015610) DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO REPAIRS UNTIL THE PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF. *TR

TROUBLE WITH HARSH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING - DELAYS - CLUNKS - NOISE. DEALER SAYS 99% SURE TROUBLE IS ECM HENCE THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION NEED REPLACEMENT . TOYOTA CANADA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOODWILL WARRANTY ON THE PHONE - EVEN AFTER CHECKING WITH A MANAGER. AND SAYS IT IS ONLY A USA ISSUE EVEN THOUGHT THE DEALER READILY ACKNOWLEDGES AN WAB #### SERVICE BULLETIN. THE DEALER SAYS I WILL HAVE TO SUBPOENA THE SERVICE ADVISORY THROUGH A LAWYER TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT TOYOTA CANADA SAYS THEY DO NOT SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT? (IN 2013!!!) THE DEALER SAYS I AM 2 MONTHS PAST THEIR SECRET DEADLINE IN THE SECRET GOODWILL WARRANTY SO TOYOTA DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. FEELS LIKE VERY SHODDY CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT I FEEL WILL COST TOYOTA FAR MORE THAN THEIR ACTUAL MINUSCULE COST (<$200 THEIR COST?) TO REPLACE WITH A PROPER ECU - ENGINE CONTROL UNIT BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR! THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT TEST THE ECU UNITS AND DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONES ARE BAD UNTIL THE CUSTOMER (LIKE ME) COMES IN NEEDING MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. OK GO AHEAD AND WAIT BUT AT LEAST WARN THE CUSTOMER TO WATCH FOR ISSUES AND HAVE IT CHECKED IF ANY ISSUES ARISE RIGHT AWAY. - NOT WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER A SECRET TIME LINE PASSES HOW CONVENIENT FOR THEM! THIS IS A LUDICROUS SITUATION. LESS THAT 90,000 MILES AND TOYOTA HAS THE GALL TO TELL ME TO PAY THEM TO FIX A PART THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IS DEFECTIVE AND THEN PAY AN EXTRA LUMP OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE TRANSMISSION THEY THEMSELVES SAY IS 99% CERTAIN TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAULTY ECU PROBLEM FOR GOOD MEASURE! HAVE YOU NO SHAME TOYOTA CANADA, OR IS IT TOO MUCH FUN ROLLING AROUND IN A PILE OF MY MONEY? - THE CANADIAN BORDER SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING A GIANT ELEPHANT OF A COMPANY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HIDE BEHIND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. THE WAY TOYOTA CANADA IS HANDLING THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR FAIL FOR TOYOTA! *TR

I PURCHASED MY VEH IN JAN 2003.NEXT DAY, I NOTICED MY VEH WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE UPHILL. AT 50K MILES IN 2010, I WENT TO DEALER WITH A RECALL LETTER. MY COMPLAINT:CUST HAVING DIFFICULTY DRIVING UPHILL-WON'T ACCEL-GET STUCK AT 45-50 MPH. VEH IS SHIFTING HARSH & CUST STATED THAT SHE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANS.CUST THINKS THAT THIS IS PART OF THE ZTL LETTER SHE GOT IN MAIL. THEIR RESPONSE WAS:TEST DROVE VEH & DUPLICATED THE LACK OF POWER FOUND VEH HAD 3 FLOOR MATS UNDER THE ACCEL PEDAL NOT ALLOWING FULL TRAVEL REMOVED MATS & VEH RAN & SHIFTED FINE. I LEFT DISAPPOINTED & THEY CHARGED ME. PROBLEM GREW & MY CAR STARTED ACTING STRANGE EVEN THOUGH I WAS KEEPING UP WITH MAINTANENCE. IN MARCH 2013, MY CAR WOULDN'T EVEN START & I THOUGHT IT MUST BE THE BATTERY, & GOT IT TOWED & HAD BATTERY REPLACED.WHEN I WAS DRIVING, IT STARTED SHAKING. IT WAS STRANGE BUT I DIDN'T READ INTO IT UNTIL LATE APRIL 2013, I WAS WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE L TURN & MY CAR RESISTED & PULLED BACK HARSHLY. SINCE THEN I WAS SCARED OF DRIVING MY VEH. ONE DAY IT WAS FINE MOSTLY BUT ANOTHER DAY SIMILAR ISSUE, STOPPING & DRIVING WAS SCARY & IT COULDN'T GO HIGHER THAN 20 MPH. THE LAST TIME I DROVE, I COULD HARDLY PUT MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. MY CAR HAS 65K MILES & THEY TOLD ME ECU HAS TO BE REPLACED & IF DOESN'T WORK, I SHOULD PAY FOR A NEW TRANS. I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THEY WILL PAY FOR THE ECU BUT NOT FOR TRANSMISSION (IF NECESSARY) NOR FOR LABOR COST. I'M FRUSTRATED WITH THIS ISSUE, THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY TRANS EVEN IF NEW ECU MAKES IT LOOK LIKE MY CAR IS REPAIRED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT. THE DEFECT SHORTENED THE TRANSMISSION'S LIFE.I WILL NEVER FEEL SAFE AGAIN IN MY CAR WITH THE EXISTING TRANS. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY, PAY FOR DAMAGES, NOT DEMAND ON WARRANTY, INFORM CUSTOMERS & APOLOGIZE FOR ACTING LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER LEARNED TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES IN 2006. THE CONSUMER HAD A 110,000 MILES ON HIS VEHICLE, BUT WAS FIVE MONTHS OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER STATED IT COST $800 PLUS TAX, TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD COST $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. THIS WAS ALREADY COMPLAINED ABOUT ON 7/2010. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HONOR WHAT YOU TOLD THEM TO DO. TRANSMISSION/ECM. I WANT A REFUND FOR MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE ON THIS ISSUE $995.98. EXTENDED WARRANTY 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES ..UPDATED 01/17/2013 *BF