2002 TOYOTA RAV4 Problems & Complaints
Real owner complaints and problems reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). View common issues by component.
555
Complaints Reported
Complaints by Component
POWER TRAIN
290 complaints
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Oct 03, 2023
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.
May 05, 2022
The contact owned a 2002 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle spun 360 degrees and stopped on the opposite side of the road. No warning light illuminated. The contact called the independent mechanic who advised her to turn off the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and drove the vehicle approximately 3-feet before the rear wheels locked up. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic and diagnosed with rear differential failure. The contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the contact took the vehicle back to the used car dealer. The contact stated that the used car dealer stated that the mechanic did not diagnose the correct failure. The dealer's independent mechanic diagnosed the failure as a transmission transfer case failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.
Jan 07, 2022
2002 TOYOTA RAV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *LD *JS
Mar 03, 2021
ERRATIC SHIFTING ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR MAY LOCK IN HIGH GEAR (4 SPEED AUTOMATIC) OR SEEM TO BE STUCK IN 2 GEARS AT ONCE AND REFUSE TO MOVE AT ALL. CAN BANG HARSHLY WHEN SHIFTING. LOCKED UP AT A BUSY INTERSECTION NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AT OTHER TIMES IT WORKS PERFECTLY. HAS NOT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM JUST BEGAN A FEW DAYS AGO. BEFORE THAT THERE WAS NO HINT OF A PROBLEM.
Aug 11, 2020
+ 285 more complaints for this component
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
41 complaints
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.*JB
Nov 23, 2018
CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE NEGOTIATING AN INTERSECTION ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS. HAS BUCKED STALLED PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND FAILED TO SHIFT WHILE PASSING, IM TOLD ITS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH ECU, BUT TOYOTA CUT A DEAL AND DID NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY OWNERS! BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW NOW THERE TELLING ME 6000 TO 9000$
Nov 06, 2015
WE BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF MY MOM (WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAS TAKEN IMMACULATE CARE OF IT!) JUST TWO MONTHS AGO! OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR STARTED TO EXPERIENCE "HARD SHIFTING". BECAUSE IT COULDN'T SHIFT LIKE IT SHOULD, IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD/SAFETY ISSUE! WE TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT VERY DAY. THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE ECM AND MAYBE EVEN THE TRANSMISSION! THE APPROX. COST WOULD BE $1,100 TO REPLACE THE ECM, AND THOUSANDS MORE IF IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE IT DONE BY TUESDAY (CHRISTMAS EVE.) I STARTED RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE THAT THIS CAR THAT HAD SUCH LOW MILES WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WELL, I FOUND OUT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE RAV4. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT AND HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART! THERE WAS EVEN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM, BUT THAT ONLY LED TO AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST! OUR CAR ONLY HAS 88,900 MILES BUT BECAUSE IT IS 11 YEARS OLD, IT WON'T BE COVERED BY A WARRANTY! WE ARE OUT $1,180 RIGHT AT CHRISTMAS TIME! AND THEY DID NOT GET THE CAR FIXED UNTIL DEC. 27TH! (KIND OF PUTS A DAMPER ON CHRISTMAS PLANS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR CAR!):( I CALLED TOYOTA IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD HELP US BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS PART IS FAULTY, BUT I WAS MET WITH AN UNSYMPATHETIC RESPONSE! BASICALLY, "ITS OUT OF WARRANTY SO IT WON'T BE COVERED!" TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART, AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD TO FIX IT, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS THEIR MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO SO, BUT ALSO BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF THEY DON'T! PLEASE RECALL THIS PART, BE DECENT HUMAN BEINGS, INSTEAD OF BEING WORRIED ABOUT YOUR BOTTOM LINE! THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN MONEY, TOYOTA! AS MAD AS I AM ABOUT BEING OUT THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM (THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT) I AM GLAD THAT I AM ONLY OUT THE MONEY, RATHER THAN MOURNING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. *TR
Dec 30, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON HWY I85 AT 70MPH MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO SKID OFF THE ROAD. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND ESTIMATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE MAY BE CAUSE...SINCE THEN I HAVE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THEIR ECM FOR RAV 4 CARS 2001-2003 THAT RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS YET I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WAS N/A INDICATING THAT MY CAR WOULD NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND LOCK-UP PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COMPUTER FAULTY DESIGN OF TOYOTA'S ECM AND YET THEY ARE NOT TAKING ANY MORAL OR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY REPAIRS. I'M FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS THAT WERE NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE ECM RECALL SUCH AS MYSELF THAT ALSO LIKE ME, COULD BE DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD IN A WELL MAINTAINED CAR AND SUDDENLY SKID OUT OF CONTROL PERHAPS NEXT TIME CAUSING A FATALITY THAT COULD BE AVOIDED! PROPER NOTIFICATION REGARDLESS OF VIN NUMBERS SO CONSUMERS CAN HAVE CARS INSPECTED SPECIFICALLY FOR RECALL ISSUES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND POTENTIALLY OFFSET THE CAR REPAIR ISSUES I CURRENTLY FACE. *TR
Jul 08, 2013
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
Jun 07, 2013
+ 36 more complaints for this component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
25 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12
Jan 11, 2012
I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 RAV4 TO TOYOTA ON A FEW OCCASIONS. EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN AN OXYGEN SENSOR OR FUEL SENSOR. WE HAD THESE REPLACED AND NOW TOYOTA IS TELLING US WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1000). THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THEM, IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. *TR
Dec 30, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE ELECTRIC CONTROL UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FOREIGN GARAGE SPECIALIST WHO REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR THE ECU FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE 150,000 MILE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 11/28/11 *CN
Nov 18, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING LESS THEN 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR YET THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THEY WERE UNAWARE OF HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,178 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,515.
Aug 26, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY, THE "SERVICE ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN ENGINE OIL SLUDGE AND LOW OIL PRESSURE. ALSO, HE RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.
Aug 13, 2010
+ 20 more complaints for this component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23 complaints
THE ECM MALFUNCTION. *TR
Oct 27, 2014
AUTO: 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ISSUE: ECU OR ECM COMPLAINT: TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR ANY TRANSMISSION DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY COMPUTER PART. DESCRIPTION: WHEN PRESSING THE GAS WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. JERKY MOVEMENTS IN THE LOWEST GEARS AND REVERSE; SLUGGISH WHEN PEDAL FULLY PRESSED. CURRENT RESOLVE: TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE ECM, THOUGH THE PART WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS DUE TO HIGH DEMANDS. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR ANY OTHER TRANSMISSION DAMAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAULTY PART. *TR
Dec 01, 2010
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 AND ITS COMPUTER BROKE. WE TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURE AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER IS FREE TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY CHARGE US REPAIR COST AROUND $700. IS IT LEGAL TO CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR FOR ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY? *TR
Oct 26, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING IN APRIL 2010. IT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND WASN'T CAUSE FOR CONCERN UNTIL MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MAY 2010. THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE ARE THAT IT STALLS, HESITATES, AND HAS A STOP / GO (JERKING) TYPE OF ACTION WHILE DRIVING IT. AT THAT TIME, I TOOK IT TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED BOTH OF MY TOYOTAS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ECM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST AROUND 1,300 DOLLARS. MIND YOU, I HAD TO PAY 75 DOLLARS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I TOOK MY RAV4 TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP, HAD IT DIAGNOSED FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE ECM UNIT WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH COST ME YET, ANOTHER 75 DOLLARS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. HE ALSO INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT COULD POSSIBLY HARM THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE DOING SO, I HAVE BEEN DOWN TO ONE CAR FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS BECAUSE I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC, OR TRYING TO MOVE FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, AS YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR OR NOT. TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, NOR HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I AM DISGUSTED THAT IN 2006 TOYOTA REALIZED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECM, WHICH COULD RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD OF LETTING CONSUMERS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS THEY REALIZED, THEY SENT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERSHIPS AND SERVICE AREAS, BUT FAILED TO LET THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS KNOW. ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY STARTS AROUND 90,000 MILES AND CAUSES CONSIDERABLE DANGER WITH JERKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. ACCORDING TO INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM GENERALLY STARTS AROUND 90,000 MILES AND CAUSES CONSIDERABLE DANGER WITH JERKING AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS. *TR
Jul 27, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT WENT OFF A FEW DAYS LATER, BUT MY HUSBAND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ECU (COMPUTER) FAILED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING, AND IT STARTED BUCKING ON THE HIGHWAY. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THERE WAS A TOYOTA INTERNAL MEMO WRITTEN IN 2006 ADMITTING THE DEFECT. MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. THE CAR HAS ONLY 60,000. MILES ON IT. WE CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY (WE ARE THREE MONTHS OVER THE WARRANTY) AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID NO, AND TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS GAVE US A CASE NUMBER, AND REFERRED US BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS. WE ALSO BOUGHT A 2007 TOYOTA SIENNA. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A COMPANY IS PUTTING ITS CUSTOMERS AT RISK WITH A DEFECTIVE PART, AND THEN HIDING IT FROM THE VEHICLE OWNER. WE NEVER RECEIVED A MEMO ABOUT THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED IN ORDER FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED? TOYOTA SHOULD BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT IT WILLFULLY SOLD TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND THEN TRIED TO COVER IT UP! *TR
May 19, 2010
+ 18 more complaints for this component
AIR BAGS
18 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTIPLE VEHICLE CRASH. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS WERE THE ONLY ONES NOT TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN FINGER, MULTIPLE BUMPS, AND BRUISES ALL OVER THE BODY. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Feb 05, 2018
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN JUNE 2016 WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD VEERED INTO MY LANE AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND ME AND MY SPOUSE SUSTAINED INJURIES. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE THAT HIT US HEAD ON WERE DEPLOYED, PROTECTING THE DRIVER. HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED ME AND MY SPOUSE TO HAVE SEVERAL INJURIES INVOLVING ME BEING ADMITTED TO THAT HOSPITAL.MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT HIT US HEAD-ON WAS GOING MUCH FASTER. IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO THEN MY SPOUSE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED LIKE WE WERE. THERE HAS TO BE A REASON THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Sep 29, 2017
TAKATA RECALL! MARCH 28, 2017 [XXX] [XXX] TELEPHONE: [XXX] EMAIL: [XXX] MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY! DEAR SIR: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN JUNE 2015 WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV AND I HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD RUN A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER VEERED INTO MY LANE AND HIT ME. I WAS STUCK IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION HAD PUSHED THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE BACK AND THE FRONT DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND PEOPLE STANDING AROUND SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN THE POLICE CAME, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL TRIED TO PRY OPEN THE FRONT DOORS AND FINALLY AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FIRE I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV FAILED TO DEPLOY AND I SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, CHEST, STOMACH AND LEFT HAND. ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ALL ASKED THE SAME QUESTION: WHY DID YOUR AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT KNOW. MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV WAS TOTALED AND I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS DRIVEN BY A LADY WHO WAS TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE AND DID NOT SEE THE RED STOP LIGHT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE AND SHE RAMMED INTO ME GOING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT MY VEHICLE, ALL OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE LADY DRIVING HAD NO INJURIES. I AM STILL RECEIVING CARE FOR MY INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT THE IMPRINT OF THE TOYOTA EMBLEM ON MY CHEST (THIS IS WHERE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY FROM). I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, AND LEFT HAND AND TO MY STOMACH AREA. PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU. [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Mar 28, 2017
TAKATA RECALL: ME AND MY WIFE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN JUNE, 2015. A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE LOST CONTROL OF HER SUV AND HIT MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV HEAD-ON. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, I SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, RIGHT KNEE AND LEFT ARM AND HAND. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACKWARD WHICH BLOCKED THE TWO FRONT DOORS FROM OPENING. MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND SOMEONE CALLED THE POLICE, THE FIRED DEPARTMENT, AND AN AMBULANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT IN MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO PRY THE TWO FRONT DOORS OPEN TO GET ME AND MY WIFE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. EVERYONE THAT CAME TO MY RESCUE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ALL ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, WHY DID YOUR AIRBAGS WORK. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT KNOW. EVERY ONE OF THE RESCUE PEOPLE SAID THAT I PROBABLY HAD TAKATA AIRBAGS WHICH HAD FAILED TO DEPLOY BECAUSE DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN WEST VIRGINIA ARE EITHER VERY HOT OR VERY COLD. IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE WORKED IN MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. THEN MY WIFE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED. AS THE RESULT OF THE WRECK, MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUB WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER SUV THAT HIT US HEAD ON DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AND PROTECTED THE LADY DRIVING HER SUV. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR AGENCY TO FIND OUT WHY MY TAKATA AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM VERY CERTAIN THAT THERE A LOT OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH AND THE LADY WHO HIT US HEAD ON WAS DRIVING MUCH FASTER. THE IMPACT WAS LIKE HITTING A STONE WALL. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR
Dec 09, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV IN JUNE AND I WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ME TO BE INJURED. MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD, MY KNEE HIT SOMETHING WHICH CUT IT, MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE ONE OF THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND I HAD TWO DAMAGED RIBS AND ALSO I HAD INTERNAL INJURIES ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO MY LEFT HAND. MY WIFE AND I WERE WEARING OUR SEATBELTS AND MY WIFE ONLY INCURRED BRUISES TO HER RIGHT ARM. WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IMPACT HAD PUSHED THE FRONT OF MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV BACK WHICH BLOCKED MY FRONT DOORS. MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND WE COULD NOT GET OUT. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRES DEPARTMENT, AMBULANCE, AND A WRECKER. THE FIREMEN HAD TO FORCE THE FRONT DOORS OPEN TO GET US OUT. THE POLICE, THE FIREMEN, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ASKED WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I TOLD THAT I DO NOT KNOW. THEY SAID THAT I PROBABLY HAD DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SPENT TIME IN THE HOSPITAL AND I HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED YET. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NHTSA HAS INSPECTED TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS THAT HAVE FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION. MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV HAD ONLY 33,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS IN MINT CONDITION. I THINK THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD GO BACK AND INSPECT EARLIER MODELS OF TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE TAKATA AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY. WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND I WAS GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR. EVERYONE THAT KNOWS ABOUT MY ACCIDENT HAS SAID THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. PLEASE FOR MY SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AND DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV PLEASE CHECK INTO WHY MY AIRBAGS FAILED. *TR ...UPDATED 03/29/17 *BF UPDATED 9/5/18*JB
Oct 21, 2016
+ 13 more complaints for this component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13 complaints
MPG ISN'T AS RATED. RATED 25 CITY/30 HWY. IM GETTING 18 CITY/22 HWY. IV HAD IT CHECKED AT THE TOYOTA RAV4 2002 DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I'VE REPLACED ALL O2 SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER. THE CAR RUNS PERFECT BUT THE MILEAGE SUCKS!! THERE MIST BE A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. I'VE SEEN THAT THERE SEVERAL OTHER RAV4 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. YET THERE MANY THAT GET THE RATED MPG.
Aug 04, 2017
THIS CAR IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEATH TRAP AND LEMON BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY EVEN THOUGH MY USED RAV4 ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT. WHAT A BLACK EYE ON TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA FOR NOT RECALLING THIS MESS OF A CAR! THIS IS A TRAVESTY...WE BOUGHT A TOYOTA FOR $8200 BECAUSE WE THOUGHT TOYOTA WAS A GOOD CAR...NOW WITH ONLY 75K MILES BUT 13 YRS OLD IT IS A TOTAL DANGEROUS LEMON....WHY WON'T YOU FORCE TOYOTA TO DO A MANDATORY RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED IN THIS DEATH TRAP? NOT RIGHT, PLEASE ACT....
Nov 03, 2015
THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT ITS GEAR. IT RUNS ONLY IN FIRST GEAR. THERE ARE NO REVERSE EITHER. IT IS HARD TO CONTROL IN ROAD.
Sep 09, 2015
WHILE ON AN ONRAMP, GOING INTO THICK, FAST TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY (95) OUR RAV4 HAD WHAT I GUESS IS CALLED A "HARSH SHIFT" AND STALLED IN NEWTON, MA. WE THINK THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM OR TRANSMISSION (WE ALREADY HAD THE ECM REPLACED ONCE, IN PASADENA, CA AT THE END OF 2008, AND IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET TOYOTA TO DO IT!) I CAN'T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, AGAIN!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED! A QUICK SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS (CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS 3 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE!) AND A LOVELY NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WRITTEN ON JULY 13, 2010 BY CHRISTOPHER JENSEN ABOUT TOYOTA EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ECM'S TELLS ME THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
Jun 24, 2011
THE ECM FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TRANSMISSION (2ND GEAR SPECIALLY). ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HAD DECREASED POWER; GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND THE CAR WERE JERK FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOYOTA APPARENTLY WAS AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150K MILES. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, I AM NOT COVERED. IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A FAULT, WHY DIDN'T THEY DO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM?
Jun 20, 2011
+ 8 more complaints for this component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Dec 14, 2015
2002 RAV4 ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES VEHICLES NOT TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA. TOYOTA HAS NOT REACHED OUT TO RAV4 OWNERS TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Sep 28, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO GAIN SPEED AND WOULD SUDDENLY JERK FORWARD WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
May 19, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE SITTING IDLE, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THERE WAS AN ATYPICAL SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS OF UP TO 4,000. THE VEHICLE THEN ATTEMPTED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, HOWEVER SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS AND ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DECREASE VEHICLE SPEED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ADVISED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE ENCOUNTERED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,900 AND THE CURRENT WAS 87,000.
Mar 11, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A LOCAL ROAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 25 MPH TO 85 MPH. SHE QUICKLY MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID A COLLISION AND CRASHED INTO AN ISLAND AND A CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DIDN'T GIVE HER A REPORT ON WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. SHE BROKE HER RIGHT ANKLE, AND HER LOWER BACK WAS INJURED. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT HAND AND INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE POLICE REPORT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Feb 04, 2010
+ 5 more complaints for this component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
9 complaints
DEFECTIVE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). AS A RESULT OF SENDING THE WRONG SIGNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION, IT GOT RUINED AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ECM FOR THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4, I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT, OR I STILL DID NOT OWNED THE VEHICLE. *TR
Jun 26, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,600. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ
Sep 21, 2012
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY SKIPPING/JERKING AND BEING STUCK IN GEAR. I TOOK IT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THE FIRST ONE INFORMED ME OF A FACTORY WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE ECU FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON THEY CANNOT GET ANY CODES, THE SECOND DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS WELL AS THE TOYOTA COMPANY. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 10YRS OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I HAVE 70,000 MILES AND IT WILL BE 10YRS THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF, ASAP BECAUSE OF THE 10YR WARRANTY THAT WILL NO LONGER COVER ME FOR THIS? *TR
Apr 15, 2012
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/08/09.
Sep 11, 2009
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON; I WOULD CARRY IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD RE-SET. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN TWICE. FINALLY, WHAT I THOUGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW, BUT FOUND OUT LATER THAT IS JUST SOUNDED AND REACTED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. BUT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHICH HAD FAILED. OF COURSE THE WARRANTY WAS OFF AND AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA I GET NO ASSISTANCE. THIS IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION I FOUND OUT: ) THAT TOYOTA HQ HAS BEEN AWARE FOR AT LEAST A FEW (2,3?) YEARS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ECM INSTALLED IN 2001/2002 TOYOTA RAV4?S > > 2) THAT THE DEFECT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING MECHANISM > > 3) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS ARE NOT DUE TO ?NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR? OF THE VEHICLES. THEY ARE CAUSED DIRECTLY BY THE DEFECT IN THE ECM. > > 4) THAT THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION OR GEAR-CHANGING PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY. (A CASUAL READ OF OWNER COMPLAINTS SUGGESTS MANY OF THEM HAVE SPENT ANYWHERE BETWEEN $3000 AND $5000). > > 5) THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR COSTS OF FIXING THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY A DEFECT THEY WERE AWARE OF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION AND A ENGINE IN THIS CAR. *TR
Aug 27, 2009
+ 4 more complaints for this component
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
8 complaints
WHEN TRAVELING THE TRANSMISSION IS SLAMMING INTO GEAR. IN 2012 THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THE LAW SUIT WAS WON AND RAV 4 OWNERS WHOM FILED WERE REIMBURSED FOR COST OF FIXING. TOYOTA ALSO AGREE TO EXTEND WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA FAILED TO INFORM OWNERS OF TOYOTA RAV 4 OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT OWNED THIS RAV 4 FOR LONG BUT FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE ADVISE IF WE CAN EXTEND CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT OR ADD THIS TO THE RECALL LIST AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THANK YOU *TR
Sep 15, 2015
CAR SEEMED TO STRUGGLE GETTING TO 1ST GEAR THEN LURCHED INTO 4TH GEAR. STRUGGLED TO GET IT DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. ENDED UP BEING A FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM), FAILED CODE PO 755. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT OF A NHTSA ID#10037585 KNOWN PROBLEM THAT EXPIRED AFTER 10 YEARS FROM PURCHASE OR 150,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2003 FROM THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE REPAIR. TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD NOT OFFER ANY HELP IN FIXING THIS KNOWN MALFUNCTION PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH MY MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 43,000 MILES. I FEEL A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN SOME WAY BY TOYOTA BEYOND THEIR STRINGENT TIME LIMITS. 1-9-2015 COST TO REPLACE ECM...$1,435....WITH NO GUARANTEES IT DID NOT RUIN THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Jan 09, 2015
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. *TR
Nov 22, 2014
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. SUV. AND WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNING IT, MY DRIVE BELT BROKE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK AND HIT THREE OTHER VEHICLES. I HAD MY NEW CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVE BELT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY.A FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A WEIRD GRINDING SOUND AND WAS HARD TO SHIFT. SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND IT WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK VIA HITTING OTHER VEHICLES OR OTHER VEHICLES HITTING ME. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAD SOLD ME A LEMON AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THEY WOULD GIVE ME ANOTHER RAV4, THAT IS DEPENDABLE. THEY TOLD ME NO. I LET THE RAV 4 SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR TWO YEARS AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT IF HE COULD FIND A USED TRANSMISSION FROM A WRECKED VEHICLE THEN HE WOULD INSTALL IT IN MY RAV 4. HE FOUND A TRANSMISSION AND I HAD TO PAY IN CASH $1,300.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND I GAVE HIM $400.00 TO INSTALL THE TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY I FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS RECALLED 2001, 2002 AND 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV'S FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA SALES USA ABOUT THEIR RECALLS OF MY VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF BUYING A USED TRANSMISSION AND FOR PAYING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION PUT IN MY RAV4SUV. PLEASE ADVISE. *JS
Jul 28, 2014
ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HIGHWAY, CAR LOST POWER, EVENTUALLY KICKED IN, IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER. THEY SERVICED FUEL INJECTION, FUEL SYSTEM, SPARK PLUGS. FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. 4 WEEKS FOLLOWING REPAIR, HESITATION HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION AND ECM UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. GOING THROUGH ALL MY PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS, CAME ACROSS A SERVICE TICKET DATED 05/18/2012, SHOWING A SERVICE PERFORMED ON A FAULTY ECM UNIT. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NEVER INFORMED CONSUMERS THAT THE FAULTY UNITS COULD AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION, AND DRIVING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. I AM STUCK WITH A $5,000. REPAIR BILL, BUT I ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, HAD I BEEN MERGING ONTO A BUSIER HIGHWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FILED, BUT YET NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION...WILL IT TAKE A LOSS OF LIFE, OR SERIOUS INJURY BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? *TR
Nov 15, 2013
+ 3 more complaints for this component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
8 complaints
THE ACTUATOR IN LEFT & RIGHT FRONT DOOR FOR 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 NOT WORKING. *TR
Apr 09, 2010
THE LOCK FOR MY PASSENGER DOOR AND DRIVERS DOOR IS DEFECTED. WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR, IT WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING THE KEY TAG; THE DRIVERS DOOR DOES THE SAME, HOWEVER ONCE LOCKED YOU CAN'T UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. YOU HAVE TO GET INSIDE THROUGH ANOTHER DOOR AND UNLOCK IT FROM WITHIN. *TR
Apr 07, 2009
DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR POWER LOCK FAILS TO LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH AUTO LOCK BUTTON. HAS TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED BY HAND. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK ALSO STARTING TO FAIL. *TR
Dec 20, 2008
ACTUATOR FOR DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK FAILED TO WORK WITH IN CAR ELECTRONIC BUTTON .ALL OTHER LOCKS WORK CORRECTLY. *TR
Aug 05, 2008
I PURACHASE MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN AUGUST 2003 FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTH THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVE THAT MUCH, BECAUSE OF MY WIFE'S ILLNESS. WITHIN EIGHT MONTHS THE FRONT DOOR HANDLE BROKE, IT WAS UNDERWARRANTY AND I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT, IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR 2005, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND AGAIN I DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. THREE WEEKS AGO ON SUNDAY ONE OF THE MEMBER FROM THE CHURCH WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETREIVE HIS BAG AND THE HANDLE BROKE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP TO ASK ABOUT REPAIR THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE $300.00, AND 200.00 TO FIX THE PASSANGER SIDE. MY COMMENT TO THEM WAS CONCERNING THE REAR DOOR, WHICH I HAD NOT USED THAT MUCH AND OVER THE LAST 6 MONTH MAYBE 3 TIME AT THE MOST PER WEEK, CERTAINLY NOT ALOT. WHAT WAS AMAZING TO ME WAS THAT THE DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND SO IS THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE. MY CONCERN AS A CONSUMER THAT TOYOTA DID NOT DO DUE DILIGENCE TO USE A PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE AND MECHANISM AND GIVEN THAT THINGS BREAK SHOULD NOT HAVE A PRICE TAG OF 300.00 TO REPLACE. I CONTEND THAT METAL PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND CONSIDERATION OF THE USE OF THE HANDLES. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE AT THE MERCY OF CAR MANUFACTURES TO PUT ANYTHING INTO A CAR THAT WOULD UTIMATELY WOULD PROVE NOT IN THE CONSUMERS BEST INTEREST. I AM SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL TOYOTA' DOOR HANDLES. PARTICULARLY THE TRUCK WHICH BY DESIGN ARE SUPPOSE TO ENDURE TOUGH USESAGE.
Jul 26, 2005
+ 3 more complaints for this component
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED; HOWEVER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ENDED IN 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,612. UPDATED 04/25/17 LJ *CN
Mar 02, 2017
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. *TR
Sep 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,329.
Jun 17, 2014
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 - WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR MAY AUTOMATICALLY GO FROM 60 TO 40 MPR IN MATTER OF SECONDS. OR MY CAR WILL GET STUCK ON 60MPR & VIOLENTLY JERK. TWICE HAVE I TAKEN IT IN FOR AN ECM RECALL. MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE 60,000 MILES AND NOW IT'S AT 150,000. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN ISSUED BUT MY CAR IS OVER THE LIMIT (154,000 MILES). THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED "YEARS AGO" NOW IT'S TOO LATE. MY CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED ON AT 60K. *TR
Oct 12, 2010
FOR A LONG TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT TURNING ON IN MY 2002 RAV4. I WENT TO A DEALER IMMEDIATELY. HE SAID THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE I DIDN'T SCREW THE GAS CAP TIGHTLY ENOUGH. HE MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE LIGHT AND I WENT ON MY WAY. THE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND I KEPT GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEN SUDDENLY, IN MAY OF 2009, THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND SHAKING WHILE I DROVE. AT TIMES IT WOULD STALL ALMOST TO A STOP AND NOTHING I DID, EVEN APPLYING THE GAS DID MUCH MORE THAN REV THE ENGINE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO FORK OVER MORE THAN $3K TO GET IT FIXED, BUT THAT WASN'T THE END OF IT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT UP AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT SHOP, AS I HAD MOVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME. THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE MY 02 SENSORS, ALL 4 OF THEM. THAT COST ME ANOTHER $500. I ONLY FOUND OUT LATER FROM A FRIEND THAT TOYOTA HAD SENT OUT A RECALL ON THE ECU AND TRANSMISSIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 80K MILES ON IT. MINE WAS ALREADY OVER 100K AND DID NOT HELP ME ONE BIT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I NO LONGER HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS COMPANY. MY FAMILY BOUGHT TOYOTAS FOR YEARS. I RECENTLY GOT A NOTE EXPLAINING THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR MY REPAIRS... NOW I'M SCRAMBLING TO FIND THE RECEIPTS AND HOPE THEY WILL HONOR THEIR PROMISE. THEY CANNOT UNDO THE POTENTIAL DANGER THEIR MISTAKES COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY PASSENGERS. THERE IS NOT ONE NOTE OF APOLOGY IN THE RECALL EITHER. I FELT THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT DESPITE THE RECALL BECAUSE TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO FULLY REIMBURSE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH NOT ONLY THE HEADACHE OF DEALING WITH THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE AND FAMILIES THIS NEGLIGENCE MAY HAVE PHYSICALLY HURT, OR GOD FORBID, KILLED. THE FEAR AND DANGER OF DRIVING THIS ROAD HAZARD IS ALSO MOTIVATION ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE AS MANY COMPLAINTS ARE HEARD AND ADDRESSED. *TR
Aug 20, 2010
+ 1 more complaint for this component
STRUCTURE
6 complaints
FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED AND ROTTED THROUGH. CALLED TOYOTA AND FILED A CLAIM BUT NO REAL HELP, AS I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO REGISTER WITH THEM. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE GIVEN THE TROUBLE THEY HAD WITH THE TACOMA FRAMES. THOUGHT I WOULD GET AT LEAST ANOTHER 10 YEARS OUT OF THIS CAR. CURRENTLY AT 191,000 MILES AND RUNNING STRONG NO RUST ANYWHERE VISIBLE. *JS
Apr 19, 2012
I HAVE A '02 TOYOTA RAV 4 WHOSE K- FRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING MECHANISM, RUSTED COMPLETELY IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD WHEN I BRAKED SUDDENLY AND IT CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS 150K AND I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE AND HAD NO IDEA THE RUST WAS THAT BAD. TOYOTA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE COVERING EVEN OLDER TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS BECAUSE OF THEIR RUSTING FRAMES. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISCONCERTED IN TOYOTA PRODUCTS ,ESPECIALLY SINCE THEIR LATEST AD CAMPAIGN TOUTS THEIR LONGEVITY AND DEPENDABILITY. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER, I'M SURE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY RAV4 OWNER WITH THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
Nov 04, 2009
PURCHASED USED 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IN OCT 2004. BOTH VISORS WERE ALREADY SAGGING A BIT AND WERE A HAZARD TO DRIVING WITHIN 8 MONTHS. I PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT VISORS FROM THE DEALER IN JULY 2005 FOR A TOTAL OF $131.27. THEY TOLD ME THE ORIGINAL OWNER MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CAREFUL AND I NEEDED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING THE VISORS. I TOOK THEIR WORD AND WAS GENTLE WHEN I PUT THE VISORS UP AND DOWN. LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER AND I ALREADY NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN!! I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO ONLY SIT IN THE BACK SEAT, SO THE PASSENGER VISOR DOESN'T GET USED VERY OFTEN AND IT IS JUST AS BAD AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR THAT GETS USED EVERY DAY. I HAD MY LAST VEHICLE FOR 13 YEARS AND BOTH VISORS WERE STILL IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS ONE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOYOTA MODELS. I CAN'T FIND ANY SOLUTIONS AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT ALL I CAN DO IS PURCHASE ANOTHER SET - WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WON'T BREAK AGAIN. *TR
May 26, 2008
THE BOLTS IN THE ROOF RACK FALL OUT. WE HAVE NEVER USED THE ROOF RACK. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, WE HAVE LOST 4 BOLTS. FORTUNATELY, THE LOSS OF THE BOLT CAUSES RATTLING. OTHERWISE, OVER TIME, IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF! *NM
Dec 13, 2005
I DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WENT BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME (2000 DODGE NEON) DIDN'T SO I REAR-ENDED HER. HER CAR WAS UNSCRATCHED, MY FRONT BUMPER PLATE WAS SMUSHED. AS A RESULT OF THIS COLLISION...I WAS, MAYBE, GOING 10 MPH...MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. APPARENTLY THERE ARE WEAK SEALS AND CONNECTIONS IN THE RAV, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND OIL LEAKAGE (AS YOU CAN GUESS, 3 HOURS AFTER THE FENDER BENDER, WHEN I WENT OUT TO LUNCH, THE CAR WAS SMOKING LIKE CRAZY!). I DON'T THINK A 10 MPH ACCIDENT SHOULD CAUSE THAT MUCH DAMAGE. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU I WON'T BUY A RAV4 AGAIN...WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A REAL ACCIDENT? WOULD I BE DEAD?
Feb 09, 2004
+ 1 more complaint for this component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6 complaints
TL*THE CONTACT 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE MADE A NOISE WHEN APPLIED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEED VARIES WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED HE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE WAS NEVER A RESOLUTION. THE CONTACT HAS SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. THE VEHICLE HAD 112 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,530. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. UPDATED 04/30/10
Mar 01, 2010
STRONG VIBRATIONS FROM FRONT BRAKES
May 16, 2005
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED. THE BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AT 21000 MILES.THIS IS CONCIDERED NORMAL , FOR THIS HEAVY CAR. THE DEALER REQUESTED $330.00 TO REPLACE PADS I SHOPPED AROUND GOT THE JOB DONE FOR $250.00. BUT THE BRAKES STARTED VIBRATING WHENEVER I APPLIED THEM. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR CENTER THEY RE-DID THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB WITH DIFFERENT FACTORY PADS (26000 MI) , SAME RESULT. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (33000 MI) , THEY CHECKED IT OUT, PROBLEM NOT OCCURING AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIR DONE. I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE CENTER I ALWAYS USE FOR TIRES, THEY REPLACED REAR ROTORS, PROBLEM NOT FIXED. I THEN REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS & PADS MYSELF. VIBRATION STILL OCCURING. I HAVE SPENT $800.00 TO FIX THE VIBRATION. TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT THERE IS A SERVICE BULITTEN ABOUT THIS COMPLANT, IT SHOULD BE FIXED FREE OF CHARGE. BUT THE CAR IS AT 41000 MI NOW. THE WARRANTY IS 36000 MILES.TOYOTA REFUSED TO MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH COMPLAINT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. REPAIR COST APPROX $2000.00 PER SERVICE WRITER. I WILL NEVER DEAL WITH TOYOTA AGAIN! *AK
Jan 26, 2005
2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES VIBRATE SEVERELY. VSC SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FREQUENTLY COMES ON. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE CAR HAD 10,000 MILES, NOW HAS 36,000 AND DEALER AND TOYOTA CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT CAR HAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, NO SAFETY PROBLEMS AT ALL, AND THAT ORIGINAL BRAKES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. I AM INFORMED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, ALTHOUGH TOYOTA DENIED THIS THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT IT EXISTED, BUT I HAD TO SPECIFICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT AND DID NOT ADVISE ME OF THE REMEDY. THESE BRAKE ISSUES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK
Dec 21, 2004
WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA A CLANGING SOUND IS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD FRONT BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACING AND ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED AT A COST OF $250.00.+ TAX. CAR HAD ONLY 10,250 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. I WAS FINALLY TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE UNTIL THE CAR REACHED 7500 AND THE FIRST TIRE ROTATION WAS PERFORMED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER. *JB
Mar 28, 2004
+ 1 more complaint for this component
SUSPENSION
5 complaints
RETURNED CAR TO DEALER DUE TO EXPERIENCING HANDLING DIFFICULTY A FEW DAYS AFTER DEALER PERFORMED FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT REAR WHEELS WERE ONCE AGAIN OUT OF ALIGNMENT DUE TO BEING FROZEN WITH RUST AND BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND CAM KIT/PLATE NEEDED REPLACEMENT . MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT SINCE MINE IS AN EARLIER MODEL, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL OF LATER MODELS EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSON DID SAY THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY PERFORMED THIS REPAIR ON A NUMBER OF PRE-2006 RAV4 MODELS. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE "REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM "RECALL NOTICE OUGHT TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE EARLIER YEAR MODELS. *TR
Jan 08, 2013
1:40 PM, JAN 20, 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY SEQUOIA N/B ON SIERRA HWY IN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 40-45 MPH. I NOTICED A SLIGHT STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE LEFT FRONT OF MY VEHICLE VIOLENTLY FELL TO THE GROUND. THERE WERE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND WITH DIFFICULTY I STEERED TO THE CURB. WHEN THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND, I HEARD A LOUD 'BANG', AND I FELT THAT I LOST SOME OF MY BRAKES. ONE OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME TOLD ME SHE SAW SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED AT THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I SAW THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, WHEEL & HUB (ALL STILL ATTACHED) FOLDED UNDER THE LEFT RUNNING BOARD PREVENTING THE FRONT FENDER AND BUMPER FROM FALLING DIRECTLY TO THE ROADWAY. I SAW THAT THE BRAKE LINES APPEARED TO BE BROKEN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA ON MON, JAN 22, 2007. I WAS TOLD THAT IT APPEARED THE LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE WHAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE MADE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA HAD 'NO LIABILITY' TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS APPROX $5,000. + THE RENTAL VEHICLE THEY ARRANGED. I WAS TOLD A REGIONAL SERVICE INSPECTOR WOULD LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED THE OLD PARTS IF REPAIRS WERE TO BE MADE. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE TOYOTA WEB SITE AND NOTICED NUMEROUS RECALL NOTICES FROM TOYOTA FOR FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES ON MY TYPE OF VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICES FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA STATED MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR ANY RECALL NOTICES. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT STATED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR' THAT WOULD REQUIRE ME TO HAVE THIS ITEM CHECKED DURING ALL OF MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICES. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE REGIONAL INSPECTOR HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE. *JB
Feb 02, 2007
DT: 2002 TOYOTA RUNNER. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEELS WERE CUTTING THE TIRES ON FRONT WHERE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOCATED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA, WHO SAID IT IS NOT RELATED TO LOWER BALL JOINT, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS HAS BEING HAPPENING SINCE THE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE. IT HAS 30,000 MILES , AND NEEDED NEW TIRES.*AK
Sep 27, 2005
DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL HAS EXTREME TOE-OUT. HAVE OBSERVED THIS CONDITION ON ALL 2002 VIEWED,2WD AND 4WD.CAUSES EXTREME TIRE WEAR TO INSIDE TREAD.*AK
Jan 29, 2004
CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, TOOK IN CAR TODAY AND TOLD THEM TO ADJUST ALIGNMENT AND HAVE OIL CHANGED, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED BACK AND SAID THEIR WAS A MANUFACTURE RECALL AND THE CAR HAD TO STAY OVERNIGHT. IF IT HAD A RECALL NO NOTICE WAS SENT OUT THIS IS WHAT I'M UPSET ABOUT. CONSUMERS ARE SOPOSED TO BE NOTIFIED IF THERE IS A RECALL NOT FIND OUT AFTER THEY DAMAGE OTHER COMPONENTS AND FIND OUT WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGES.*AK
Jun 12, 2002
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
5 complaints
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION JAMMED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. TOLD IT WAS ECM PROBLEM AND REPAIR COST WAS $1440.94. *TR
Aug 08, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4,STARTED DRIVING ERRATIC,WHILE FOOT ON GAS PEDAL,CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN,THEN SPEED UP WITH BANGING SOUND. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS COMPUTER BAD REPLACING IT,WHICH INCLUDED A TOW IS$ 1,440.00 .CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 91,000 MILES. *TR
Jun 15, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 RAV4 THAT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE IT WOULD JERK AND JOLT THIS IS HOW IT STARTED. THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT STARTED DOING THIS WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND SO ON. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS OF THIS I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM TO PLEASE LOOK AT IT. THEY CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY SAYING THAT THEY THOUGHT I NEEDED NEW ENGINE MOUNTS. THAT THEY WERE CAUSING CAR TO JERK WHEN IT CHANGED GEARS. HE SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE ORDERED AND THAT THEY NEEDED THE CAR OVERNIGHT. SO THE NEXT DAY GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING THAT THEY DROVE THE CAR SOME MORE AND REALIZED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS IT. THIS WOULD COST ME $5200.00. I CALLED A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAS BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 30 YEARS AND HE CALLED A FRIEND OF HIS WHO WORKS PARTS AT TOYOTA. THE PERSON WHO WORKS FOR TOYOTA TOLD MY FRIEND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV AND THAT IT IS ONLY THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT, NOT THE TRANSMISSION. SO, HE SOLD US THE PART AND MY FRIEND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMPUTER. NOW MY CAR DRIVES PERFECTLY. SO, I INSTEAD SPENT ONLY $1100.00 AS OPPOSED TO THE $5200.00 THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE ME WHEN IT WAS NOT MY TRANSMISSION AT ALL. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FROM THE DEALER SHOWING WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO REPLACE AND SPEND. I AM VERY UPSET THAT AN ACCREDITED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO HAVE ME SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING WHEN IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT MY CAR THERE AND I HAVE HAD IT SERVICED THERE EVER SINCE- 7 YEARS! *TR
Aug 28, 2009
DURING A RECENT RAIN I WAS TRANSPORTING MY GRANDKIDS FROM SCHOOL WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CAR SEEMED TO SLIP AND JOLT FORWARD EACH TIME I ACCELERATED. EACH TIME THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND THE SLIPPING AND JOLTING WAS SIGNIFICANT. I WAS AFRAID THAT MY CAR WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY GLAD TO GET MY GRANDKIDS HOME SAFELY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND MADE AN IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE ECU AT A COST OF OVER $6,000! I WAS VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE YEAR BEFORE AND DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE "ENGINE" TROUBLE LIGHT WHICH KEPT COMING ON. EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT EITHER AN ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I ALSO CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL HEADQUARTERS AGAIN. I FELT LIKE A PING-PONG BALL. IN THE END NO ONE COULD OR WOULD HELP ME. I ENDED UP GOING TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE JUST THE ECU REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500. THE CAR STILL JOLTS WHENEVER I ACCELERATE, HOWEVER I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD $4000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THIS TIME. *TR
Aug 28, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 IS HAVING A HARD TIME SHIFTING AND SOMETIMES IT ALMOST DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE WITH AN A/C ON... BUT WHEN I TURN OFF THE A/C IT RUNS FINE... LIVING IN ARIZONA WE NEED AS MUCH A/C AS WE GET... AND TOYOTA WON'T MAKE ANY RECALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOPE YOU GUYS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP US REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR
Aug 02, 2009
TIRES
4 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER FUTURA SCRAMBLER C14L TIRES, SIZE: P215/70/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT?S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Jul 31, 2018
PURCHASED TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER IN AUGUST OF 2002. CAR NOW HAS 18,300 MILES AND BOTH FRONT TIRES (YOKOHAMA ADVAN A043 185/50R15) ARE WORN BEYOND RECOMMENDED TREAD DEPTH AND BLISTERED ON INSIDE(BECAUSE OF FRONT-END MISALIGNMENT ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP). *AK
Dec 26, 2003
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40MPH, REAR PASSENGER TIRE WITH OUT BLEW OUT. TOYOTA, TRANPATHS SIZE# 21570R16-99S DOT#- - - - - - - - - - - - - -DEALER NOTHING WE COULD DO. *AK
Jun 03, 2003
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SIDEWALL WAS TORN. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T REFUND THEM. THE TEAR IS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE SIZE OF THE TIRE IS 205/65R15 92T. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92. NLM
Oct 03, 2002
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
4 complaints
RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SO HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE. CODES INDICATE THERE MAY A PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 107K MILES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE MAINTAINED ALL SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS. MECHANIC INDICATED I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A CAMPAIGN NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. NOW LOOKING AT A REPAIR BILL OF APPROX. $2K. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS. I HAVE HAD THE SAME ADDRESS FOR YEARS.
Jan 15, 2016
I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA RECALL THE ECM IN ALL 2002 TOYOTA RAV4S. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AFTER A BADLY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED ECM IN OUR RAV4 FAILED AND ALSO DESTROYED OUR TRANSMISSION, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNEW THE PART WAS BAD, BUT THEY HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO AVOID A RECALL BY OFFERING A SHORT TERM CONSUMER SUPPORT PROGRAM (CSP 01-03MY RAV4 TRANSAXLE ECM)--AND THAT PROGRAM IS OVER. THEY OFFERED NO HELP, ONLY AN EMPTY APOLOGY. TOYOTA MADE A BAD PART THAT COST MY FAMILY OVER $3500 FOR PARTS AND REPAIRS'AND DEBORAH A. HOUSTON OF THE TOYOTA MOTOR SALES EXECUTIVE OFFICE VERY CLEARLY ADMITTED THAT TO ME; YET BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL, TOYOTA DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPENSATE US FOR THE WORK. THEY MADE A BAD PART, YET THEY WERE REWARDED FOR IT WHEN WE HAD TO BUY A NEW ECM BEFORE WE COULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT THE CONSUMER SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND TOYOTA ALSO ADMITTED THAT MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T DUE TO ADDRESS ISSUES, ETC. HUNDREDS OF 2002 RAV4 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE, AND AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT FOR MOST OF US, PROBABILITY SAYS THAT MANY MORE OF THE CARS HAVE BEEN FIXED OR JUNKED WITHOUT THE ISSUES REPORTED. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH YIELDS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. IT SHOULD BE CUT AND DRY: MAKE A BAD PART--PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WORN OUT PART AND SHODDY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP OWNER WHO REPAIRED OUR CAR SAID THAT HE'D BEEN BROUGHT SEVERAL RAV4S FROM 2002 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THAT'S SEVERAL IN ONE, SMALL TOWN. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO RECALL THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ECM. THE PEOPLE STILL NEEDING THESE CARS FOR TRANSPORTATION ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD $3500 PLUS REPAIRS.
Sep 30, 2015
I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON TOYOTA RAV4 2002. I ALMOST GOT KILL A COUPLE OF TIMES WHILE DRIVE THIS CAR. THE ECM MODULE FAILURE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, PLEASE STEP IN AND HAVE TOYOTA RECALL ON THE RAV4. THANK YOU! *TR
Jun 30, 2008
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A DEFECT IN THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT I FEEL COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. I JUST FINISHED HAVING MY CAR REPAIRED, AND I KNOW THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET REFUSES TO RECALL THE MODEL. THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE, WHICH IS CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT WHEN ACCELERATING AND THEN SHIFT VERY HARD. I MYSELF, WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR, WENT TO PULL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MY RAV4 DECIDED TO PRESENT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALMOST HIT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR, AND TOYOTA HAS EVEN PUT OUT A MECHANICS STATEMENT WHICH SHOWS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN: OTHERS WHO DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB, AND PULL OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN THEIR TOYOTA DECIDES TO MALFUNCTION. JUST AS AN FYI--EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION, I HAD TO PAY $1300 FOR A NEW ECM, AND IF MY TRANSMISSION WAS ULTIMATELY DAMAGED WILL HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR THAT AS WELL FOR A COST OF ANOTHER $3,600. *TR
May 02, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4 complaints
ON STARTING, THE CAR THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. A MONTH OR SO LATER I NOTICED A CLUNKING IN THE TRANSMISSION AS THE AUTOMATIC WENT TO A HIGHER GEAR. THIS PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *TR
Nov 30, 2012
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR RAV 4 WITH MY SON ABOARD. THE CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE ACCELERATING, CAR WOULD HESITATE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD. IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THAT POINT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM WHICH HAS CAUSED THIS VEHICLE TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. II TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND SURE ENOUGH THE CAR SHOWED THE P0755 OBD II CODE WHICH INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ECM. F LEFT UNATTENDED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $4000 - $5000. I TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID A REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER A CUSTOMER SUPPORT WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM (*CASE # 1010011845). HOWEVER, NOW I TALK TO FITZGERALD TOYOTA IN GAITHERSBURG (JUDITH) AND THEY INDICATE THAT THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD OF THIS PROGRAM. *TR
Oct 03, 2010
IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD ON ANY LONG TRIP THEN WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. SOMETIMES CANNOT GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CANNOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE MECHANIC STATES EVERYTHING IS FINE. DUE TO SEMI-FUNCTIONAL CRUISE, THE MILEAGE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP HAS DECREASED FROM 30-32 MPG TO 24-26MPG.REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2009 AND GIVEN A CASE # WHICH I HAVE MISPLACED. THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED OR ADMIT THEY HAD A PROBLEM. EXTENDED WARRANTY (TO 100,000 MILES) WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THERE IS INDEED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE GOING ON, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CARE. IN SEARCHING I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED COMMENTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR
Mar 04, 2010
AT 84,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED SURGING FOR NO REASON, STALLING WHILE MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND STALLING WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS. HAPPENED TWO TO THREE TIMES DAILY, CAUSING A NUMBER NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS, REAR ENDS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED 07/26/10.*JB
May 25, 2009
STEERING
3 complaints
POWER STEERING STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE MANUALLY STEERED TO LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. SHOP STATED THEY HADN'T SEEN POWER STEERING SPEWING FROM POWER STEERING FLUID WELL UPON REMOVAL OF LID WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON.
Jun 15, 2019
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA PRIUS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 10 MPH, IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE SHAKES ROUGHLY AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 20040604 WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND STEERING COMPUTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Oct 03, 2007
STEERING COLUMN WILL STEER TO LEFT AND RIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE IS UNCONTROLLABLE IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Jun 11, 2002
ENGINE
3 complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABNORMALLY LOUD WHILE IDLING AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,789.
Jan 17, 2019
COMPUTER FAILS. *TR
Jan 26, 2015
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN NOVEMBER. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY NUMEROUS PLACES. THEY ALL TOLD ME IT WAS MY OXYGEN SENSOR (BANK 1 SENSOR 1), SO I REPLACED THAT TWICE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS STILL NOT SHUT OFF. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PURCHASE GAS DAILY AND CAR IS NOT RUNNING AS WELL. *TR
Feb 19, 2013
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 complaints
THE CAR RECENTLY STARTS HESITATE AND SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSH THE GAS GEAR FROM STOP (NOT ALWAYS). THE MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE CHECKED. FROM THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS KNOWN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT (RAV4 2001-2003 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION).
May 11, 2015
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD TC002-06 PERFORMED ON IT IN JANUARY 2007. THE RECALL WAS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 85,000. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A LOGIC UPDATE WAS PERFORMED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THE ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOT UPDATED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE ECM CARRIES AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ECM NOT BEING REPLACED. ALL MAJOR SERVICE WORK ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE AGENT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AND THE ECM REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $4200. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND A ROUGH ESTIAMTE FOR THIS REPAIR IS $5000-$6000. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ASKED ABOUT THIS TSB, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS SIMPLY A MANUAL ADDENDUM AND NOTHING ELSE. THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AT ALL. IT IS SERIOUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT ACCERLERATE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE ONTO A MAJOR ROAD FROM BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP!
Mar 25, 2010
MY CAR STARTED ACTING UP IN MARCH 2008. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN APRIL AND GOT THE CAR BACK STILL ACTING UP! I AM TRYING TO GO BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME AND GET THEIR MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT AND HE IS TOO BUSY WHEN IT IS MESSING UP. IT ONLY DOES IT SOMETIMES NOW BUT IT SEEMS TO GET MORE FREQUENT. THE TSB I READ MENTIONED THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION GOING BAD SO IS THAT MY NEXT COSTLY EXPENSE? *TR
Jun 04, 2008
VISIBILITY
3 complaints
DURING HEAVY RAIN STORM PASSENGER SIDE WIPER LINKAGE/MECHANISM BROKE. LUCKILY, THIS WAS WHILE THE BLADE WAS ON THE DOWN STROKE, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLADE. WAS TOLD ENTIRE MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF ABOUT $450. *JB
Aug 14, 2007
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN NOVEMBER 2002. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE SALES PERSON TOLD ME THAT THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE A POORLY DESIGNED, BUT I DID NOT THINK THAT A BIG OBSTACLE TO MY PURCHASE. I HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS TRYING TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS EITHER 65 DEGREES AND THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN WAS COLD. I WAS ALWAYS FLIPPING THE KNOB BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE. THIS WAS NOT A BIG SAFETY ISSUE UNLESS TAKING MY EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR THESE ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS. BUT I LIVE IN A SOMEWHAT COLD CLIMATE AND I HAVE HAD TROUBLE KEEPING THE WINDOWS DEFROSTED ON SOME DAYS PARTICULARLY IF THE HUMIDITY WAS HIGH. THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I JUST TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT WAS BLINKING. LOOKING AT A REPAIR BILL OF AROUND $1,600.00 FOR A NEW COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH. OF COURSE, I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THIS WAS MY SIXTH TOYOTA ,AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS IS THE PAST. SINCE I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS I WOULD URGE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. *AK
May 22, 2007
BY ACCIDENT, I PUT MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW APPROX. 1/2 WAY DOWN . UNKNOWINGLY, I LEFT THE WINDOW DOWN. WHEN I REACHED AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 40MILES PER HOUR, A VERY SEVERE NOISE AND VIBRATION OCCURRED. IT WAS SO SEVERE, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT A TIRE HAD BLOWN. THE VIBRATION AND NOISE IS VERY INTENSE. ONCE THE WINDOW IS UP, THE NOISE AND VIBRATION STOPS. IF A COMBINATION FRONT/REAR WINDOW DOWN HAPPENS, IT IS NOT AS NOTICABLE. I CALLED TOYOTA, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. FLAW OR NO, IT IS HORRIBLE. IT COULD BE TRAGIC IF A DRIVER UNAWARE PULLS OVER QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY FEAR A TIRE IS GOING TO BLOW.AT THE MINIMUM, I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD SEND OWNERS A LETTER DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM S THEY WILL NOT BE ALARMED. I WILL NOT PUT MY REAR WINDOWS DOWN, AND THAT IN ITSELF IS SAD TO SPEND 23 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON A NEW VEHICLE AND BE LIMITED IN THAT RESPECT. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. LINDA JONES. *AK
Aug 08, 2002
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
2 complaints
My car engine light goes on and off due to transmission fault. It continuously has a hard time shifting gears in between 2500-3000 rpm and gives a jerky stop before continuing to speed up/accelerate despite when I have not let go of my foot from the pedal. After taking it to the auto shop, I was told this is the same problem other Toyota RAV 4 between 2001-2003 experiences and the mechanics told me that there was a lot of recall for the same code my car is giving (2 codes that the computer diagnosed were p0775 and p0161). While Toyota extended the warranty to 10years/150,000k and my car is 1-2 years past the warranty, it's only been barely 80,000mi and it should not be causing this problem. This transmission/ECM problem puts me and the passengers to risks because both the speed and RPM don't go past certain numbers which is low at most times, limiting myself as the driver to go even within the speed limits. All the more, with this happening more frequently these days than it had in the past, I am highly concerned for my safety and not feel safe to have someone in my car. I have been to 4 different mechanics and they have told me the same problem and that it's the same case as they saw from different RAV4's recall problem. This car was handled very carefully and this is the only occurring problem. With engine light being on and off, it is my concern that I need to have this car inspected, related to Toyota RAV4 recalls.
May 24, 2024
OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING, JERKING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR, NOT ACCELERATING, AND AT TIMES IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED WHEN I STEPPED THE GAS. WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A DAY AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING A TEST DRIVE. LITERALLY MINUTES AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP AND DRIVING OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT, IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THIS TIME IT WAS MUCH WORSE AND I WAS AFRAID AS THE PERSON BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME I EITHER NEED A NEW ECM OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS. AND WE AS THE OWNERS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE UNKNOWN - THIS HAPPENS OUT OF NO WHERE AND IS HORRIBLY UNSAFE AND YET TOYOTA TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Nov 06, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2 complaints
THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS MY CAR HAD BEEN LAGHING MORE AN MORE WHEN AT COMPLETE STOP. THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS BEEN THE WORST. WHENEVER I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM.A COMPLETE STOP MY CAR WITH LAG AND JERK LIKE IT IS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR BUT CANT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THEY SAID IT WAS MY ECM AND THAT THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY HAS HAD PROBLEMS RECORDED FRON OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE EMC. ONE INCIDENT I HAD SPECIFICALY WAS WHEN INWAS TRYING TO GO UP A MOUNTAIN TO GET TO WORK MY RPMS WERE SPIKING AS MY RAV WAS TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS TO GET UP THE MOUNTAIN AND MY CAR STALLER OUT. I HAD NO CLUE IT DIED UNTILL I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME A STRUGGLE. I HAD TO PUT ON MY E BREAK JUST TO STOP AND TRY AND TURN IT ON TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL SO I COULD GET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. I HAVE HAD SERVERAL CASES WHEN I HAVE ALMOST BEEN RE ENDED BECAUSE OF THE JERKING HAS BEEN SO ROUGH.
Apr 10, 2019
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULDN'T SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. TO OK IN IMMEDIATELY INTO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. SAID IT WAS THE ECM. IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN IN FOR RECALL AND IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION OF SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU DRIVE IT WILL RUIN YOUR TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ONLY SAID TO CALL TOYOTA. I HAVE DONE THAT AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND 220,000 TOYOTA VEHICLE HAVE ISSUES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD STILL BE COVERED BUT THEY STOP AT 8 YEARS. I AM 25 DAYS PAST WARRANTY. DUE TO THEM KNOWING AND ALREADY RECALLING THEM THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR
May 25, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
2 complaints
FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY FOR THE ECM ON 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S PALM SPRINGS TOYOTA FAILED TO NOTIFY OR ADVISE THAT THIS MUCH NEEDED REPAIR NEEDED TO BE DONE, HOWEVER DID NOTIFY AND REPAIR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF OTHER REPAIRS IN THE OPEN AVAILABLE AND ALLOTTED TIME FRAME THAT THIS ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
Feb 12, 2016
MY MOTHER HAD THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FIXED JUNE OF 2013. SHE HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR HERSELF BECAUSE TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY SENT LETTERS OUT TO PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN ISSUE. AFTER 1900.00 LATER, SHE PAID FOR IT. A YEAR LATER I OWN THIS SAME VEHICLE AND THE SAME THING HAS GONE BAD. ITS JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY. I ALMOST GOT HIT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING WHEN I PULLED OUT AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND IT WAS PAID FOR BY ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER. YET IT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. HORRIBLE COSTUMER SERVICE. *TR
Nov 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaints
THE ECM WHICH CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Dec 07, 2015
ECU OR ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THIS COMPUTER IS BAD. WHEN SHIFTING .THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE COMPUTER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT IN. THIS IS SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD START IN LETS SAY 2ND GEAR THEN BANG BACK TO 1ST GEAR. WHAT A JOLT FOR YOU AND THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU. *JB
Mar 31, 2007
STEERING,POWER TRAIN
2 complaints
I PURCHASED THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK I ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE THE DRIVE BELT GOT HUNG UP ON SOMETHING AND IT CHEWED UP MY DRIVE BELT. ALSO, I STARTED NOTICING EVERY TIME THAT I WANTED TO SPEED UP MY RAV4 WOULD HESITATE AND NOT GO IN GEAR. IF IT DID GO IN GEAR IT MADE A NOISE LIKE A GRINDING TYPE OF NOISE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOTHING. I CALLED THE TOYOTA MOTOR USA AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT MANUFACTURE ANY DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THE I READ WHERE THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON ALL 2001, 2002 AND 2003 RAV4 TOYOTA VEHICLES BECAUSE OF FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. I THEN SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION USA AND AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THE RAV4 HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND IT HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT AND EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I THOUGHT THAT WHEN A CAR MANUFACTURER HAS A RECALL THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE DEFECT. IN MY CASE TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. CAN YOU AGENCY ASK TOYOTA WHY THEY HAVE NEVER OFFERED TO DO ANYTHING FOR A LEGITIMATE RECALL WHICH INVOLES THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. THANK YOU.
May 22, 2015
I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA RAV4 IN AUGUST, 2002. ELEVEN MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING BY THE STATE CAPITAL I WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WHEN I DID, I ALMOST HIT THREE PARKED CARS BECAUSE THE MAIN DRIVE BELT HAD BROKEN. THIS DRIVE BELT CONTROLS ABOUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH STEERING, AIR CONDITIONING AND ETC. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND NEW BELT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS. THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV4 TRANSMISSION. IT STARTED TO MAKE A GROWLING SOUNDS AND WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS CORRECTLY. SOME TIMES I HAD TO COMPLETELY STOP, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED OTHER CARS TO HIT ME OR ME TO HIT OTHER CARS. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD NOT.I CALLED TOYOTA MOTORS CORP. USA AND TRIED TO EXPLAIN MY PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTA PEOPLE. THEY TOTALLY BLEW ME OFF AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I QUIT DRIVING THE RAV4 FOR THREE YEARS BECAUSE IT WAS UNTRUSTWORTHY AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX THE TRANSMISSION. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT HE COULD PROBABLY FIND A USED TRANSMISSION FROM A VEHICLE PARTS PLACE AND THAT HE WOULD INSTALL IT FOR ME AT NO CHARGE. I ENDED UP PAYING $1200.00 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION THAT WAS FROM A WRECKED 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE USED TRANSMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA OVER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN THEIR 2001, 2002 AND 2003 RAV4 SUV'S. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT I HAVE INCURRED. *TR
Jul 18, 2014
STEERING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
I PURCHASED MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV IN AUGUST OF 2002. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE RAV4 SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH IT. THE FIRST 3-MONTHS THAT I HAD THE RAV4 THE DRIVE BELT WAS CHEWED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES LIKE A GRINDING SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. SOMETIMES I WOULD JUST HAVE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE RAV4 TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. I CALLED AND TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY RAV4. I FINALLY JUST PARKED IT BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT AND I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX MY VEHICLE NOR WOULD THE DEALERSHIP. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT HE WOULD TRY TO FIND A USED TRANSMISSION AND PUT IT IN MY NEW RAV4 SUV. THE USED TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED AT A CAR PARTS AND SALVAGE PLACE FOR $1,700.00 AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW PUT THE USED TRANSMISSION INTO MY NEW TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT PAYING ME FOR THE USED TRANSMISSION THAT I HAD TO PURCHASE. CAN YOU SEE IF TOYOTA WILL LISTEN TO YOU ABOUT MY COMPLAINT? THAN K YOU. *TR
Oct 21, 2014
DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN THIS CAR. THE CAR WOULD STALL BEFORE GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. ONCE IT OCCURRED AS I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION. THERE ARE LOW MILES ON THIS SO THERE SHOULD NOT BE A NEED FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. *TR
Sep 07, 2012
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 complaints
SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2014, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK THE CODES, BUT SHE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ON JUNE 13, 2014 I WAS DRIVING N. ON HIGHWAY 101 NEAR REDWOOD CITY, CA. IT WAS ABOUT 6P.M. IN GOOD WEATHER; I WAS IN STOP-AND-GO COMMUTE TRAFFIC. I HAD SLOWED TO A STOP IN THE FAR LEFT LANE,OF 5 LANES, DUE TO SLOW TRAFFIC. WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN TO MOVE AGAIN, I ACCELERATED AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE "SLIPPING"; I REVVED THE ENGINE,BUT THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS. THERE WERE MANY CARS BEHIND ME BLOWING THEIR HORNS. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO "CLANK" AND "CHUG" AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS AND PULLED VERY SLOWLY OVER TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC! I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, BUT I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER! THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO VERY SLOWLY, BUT THE LOUD NOISES STOPPED, SO I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEAREST EXIT (WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE) . I WOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE SHOULDER IF THE CAR WAS STILL "CLANKING" FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA, BUT THE NOISE HAD SUBSIDED. I FELT THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL (TRANSMISSION) PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I CALLED MY DAUGHTER AND ASKED HER TO DRIVE TO MY LOCATION. I WAS GOING TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK WHEN SHE ARRIVED. SHE ARRIVED IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO "DRIVE" AND ACCELERATED GENTLY. THE CAR SOUNDER PERFECTLY NORMAL, AND ACCELERATED AT A NORMAL SPEED WITH PLENTY OF POWER. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR HOME IF IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. WE GOT HOME FINE, BUT JUST AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING LOT, THE CAR MADE LOUD NOISES AGAIN AND LURCHED A FEW TIMES AS I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THAT'S WHEN I BEGAN TO DISCOVER ALL THE PROBLEMS RAV 4'S HAD HAD WITH CLASS ACTION'S&ECM FAILURES. *JS
Jul 08, 2014
I JUST GOT A TOYOTA RAV 4 2002 AUTO AND WHEN DRIVING WITH FAMILY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN SLUGGISH, JERKS WHEN PRESSING GAS, STARTS SLOW REAL SLOW AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND THIS SITUATION ALMOST GOT US INTO AN ACCIDENT IN US 81 NEAR FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA. ADDITIONALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC IT SHOWS A CODE P0755 AND READING ABOUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT A SOLENOID BUT IT IS ECM OR ECU MALFUNCTION THAT THE TOYOTAS RAV 2001-2003 ARE PRESENTING WHICH MAKES THE CAR SHOW A GHOST CODE NOT A TRANSMISSION CODE BUT RATHER A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER MALFUNCTION THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED BUT REPLACED. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I DO NOT SEE TOYOTA ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY AND HAD PASSED THE COST TO VEHICLES OWNERS AND NOT A GENERAL RECALL TO BE FIXED AT MANUFACTURE EXPENSES. PLEASE RESEARCH AND MAKE THIS ISSUE A IMMEDIATE RECALL BECAUSE IT HAD CAUSED ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION. *TR
Sep 11, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
2 complaints
WHEN I WENT ON MERGER RAMP ON HIGHWAY .THE CAR NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH OR TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THE CAR BEHIND ME HIT MY CAR. *JS
Apr 30, 2014
FIRST THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN SHIFTS HARD AND JERKS THE CAR FORWARD. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE CAR HESITATES AND ACCELERATION IS AFFECTED SO IT IS UNSAFE TO TRY TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY WITH ONCOMING CARS BEHIND YOU. I TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT THEY STATED MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL OF (HARSH SHIFT CONDITION AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT). *TR
May 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 complaints
TODAY MY TOYOTA RAV4 2002 BEGAN TO HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. IT HAS AN EXCESSIVE JERK WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, IT IS SLOW TO SHIFT FROM 1 TO 2, AND IT JERKS LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED WHEN SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON MY CAR, THE ECM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT USED. I ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR AND I WAS TOLD "NO". THEY RECOMMENDED I BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FOR $104 JUST TO CHECK IT OUT. AFTERWARDS I THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK THE NET. I FOUND NUMEROUS THREADS REGARDING THE 2001-3 ECM/TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT APPEARS A NUMBER OF OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA. PLEASE ADD ME. THEY ARE IGNORING THIS ISSUE AND PRETENDING THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Sep 21, 2013
ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 AWD. WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND STOPPED OFF NEAR MY HOME FOR AN ERRAND. LEFT THE STORE, (CAR WAS RUNNING, FAMILY INSIDE) AND PROCEED TO DRIVE TOWARDS MY HOUSE. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. THE TACH WAS AT 4,000 AND I WAS BARELY GOING 5 MPH. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR RACED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION. AFTER IT WAS SAFE TO MOVE, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AGAIN AND THE CAR SLUGGISHLY MOVED AT ABOUT 5MPH AGAIN. THE WHOLE RIDE HOME (LESS THAN 5 MINUTES) THE CAR WAS EITHER SLOW OR FAST WITHOUT MUCH PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME AND TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLUGGISH AND MADE LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THIS WASN'T NORMAL AND IT TROUBLED ME. I LOOKED UP ONLINE THE SYMPTOMS AND SAW THE TSB AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING ABOUT THIS. OK 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES FROM 1ST DRIVE. HERE'S MY PROBLEM - I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 11/2001 - I AM OVER THE YEARS AND UNDER THE MILEAGE, SO I DON'T QUALIFY? THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED IN JAN/FEB 2012. TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THEIR CAR BEFORE JAN/FEN 2002 - ARE THE OUT OF LUCK? I AM NO LONGER DRIVING THIS CAR TILL THIS IS FIXED AND SAFE. PLEASE NHTSA - MAKE IT A MANDATORY RECALL - OVER 250,000 SUV'S ARE AFFECTED. MAKE IT RIGHT - MAKE IT SAFE!! *TR
Sep 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
2 complaints
IN 2009, 2010, AND 2011 MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 EXHIBITED SHARP, ROUGH SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF GEAR, OFTEN WHEN ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT REPEATEDLY CAME ON. I WAS INITIALLY ADVISED BY A NON-TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, UPON TAKING THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ECM. IN 2009 THEY RE-PROGRAMMED THE ECM, IN 2010 THEY RE-PROGRAMMED THE ECM AND IN 2011 (AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA CORP) THEY REPLACED THE ECM. THEY NEVER DID ANY SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION. NOW IN APRIL 2013 JUST 17MONTHS AFTER THEY REPLACED THE ECM IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SINCE THE ECM WAS THROWING THE TRANSMISSION IN & OUT OF GEAR FOR 3 YEARS, ISN'T IT OBVIOUS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED BY THE ECM? IT WAS EVEN MENTIONED IN THE SERVICE BULLETINS THAT THE ECM WAS POSSIBLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALERSHIPS MAY ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME THE ECM WAS REPLACED. YET BECAUSE THEY CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR IN 2011 WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I NOW HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006 YET THEY NEVER ISSUED A RECALL OR NOTIFIED OWNERS UNTIL A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO SATISFY THEIR CUSTOMERS BY ISSUING A RECALL AND ADMITTING THAT BOTH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED ON ANY 2001-2003 RAV4 THAT EXPERIENCES ROUGH SHIFTING, OR SHIFTING IN & OUT OF GEAR, OR CODES THAT REFLECT A PROBLEM WITH THE ECM OR TRANSMISSION. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS AND TOYOTA IS NEGLIGENT IN PREVENTING INJURIES AND DEATHS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
Apr 12, 2013
THIS PAST SUMMER THE 2002 RAV 4 STARTED GIVING INDICATIONS THAT SOMETHING MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT. THE CAR HAD ALWAYS GOTTEN ITS REQUIRED MILEAGE MAINTENANCE WHICH WAS ALSO DUE AT THE TIME. SO THOSE THINGS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS THE FOLLOWING STARTED: --THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN OFF; --THERE WAS HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING/ A HARSH JERK AND SHIFT WHEN CHANGING GEARS --THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES SLIP BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND STALL WHILE DRIVING THREE INDEPENDENT TOYOTA-CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SO WE TOOK IT TO DARCARS TOYOTA WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE TECHNICIAN THERE CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS BUT SAID WE NEEDED TO CONTACT THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT DEPARTMENT. AFTER PLACING ME ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, SHE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD EXCEEDED THE TIME FOR THE WARRANTY BY ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND THEREFORE NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IS TOYOTA WILLING TO JEOPARDIZE THE LONG-TERM CUSTOMER LOYALTY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, JUST BECAUSE THE CAR CHOSE TO DISPLAY ITS PROBLEMS 3 MONTHS LATER? *TR
Dec 06, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
2 complaints
I RECENTLY HAD A FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE (ECU), I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CAME UP FREQUENTLY FOR RAV 4S OF YEARS 2002 AND 2003 AND THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SINCE 2006 ' BUT NEVER RECALLED THE CARS! AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE SAME MATTER FILED IN 2009. THE REPLACEMENT COST ME $758.50 TO REPLACE (WITH A REFURBISHED ONE) AND I HAD TO RENT A CAR DURING THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS ' WHICH COST ME $131.32 ' THEREFORE A TOTAL OF $889.82. *TR
Jul 06, 2010
WAS DRIVING IN A 55 MILE HIGHWAY CAR FELT LIKE WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLUDGE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEN CAR STARED JERKING GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD AND HAD TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER SHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION CHIP WAS BAD COST AROUND $1300.. AND NEW TRANSMISSION ALTOGETHER WOULD COST ME $6000.*TR
Feb 10, 2010
PARKING BRAKE
2 complaints
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE MINUTES AND WITHOUT WARNING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. (MODEL/MR2 SPYDER) SCC *JB
May 15, 2003
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INCLINED SPOT. PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND CAR ROLLED OVER A CURB INTO A METAL POLE ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED. *PH (2002 TOYOTA MR2) *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768022
Oct 02, 2002
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
2002 RAV4 ECU SHIFTING PROBLEM (DTC CODE P0755). THE CAR JITTERS WHEN SWITCHING FROM GEAR 1 TO 2 AS WELL ON REVERSE. IT ALSO JITTERS WHEN IT DRIVES ON LOW GEAR. THERE IS AN WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RAV4 2001-2003 BUT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO RECALL IT, DESPITE BEING A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND BODILY INJURY. IT HAS THE HIGH LIKELIHOOD TO DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION.
Aug 19, 2019
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
FAULTY ECU COMPUTERS CAUSEING VARIATIONS IN SPEED AND PROBLEMS WITH HARD SHIFTING, DAMAGEING TRANSMISSONS, CAUSEING VEHICLES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN AN INTERSECTION AND I WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHILE TURNING LEFT. I FELT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ON COMMING TRAFFIC WITH NO ABILITY TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALER AND MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT AND PROBLEM KNOW TO TOYOTA WITH RAV 4 2001-2003. ALSO, 02 SESSORS GO BAD EARLY LEADING TO HAZARDOUS EMISSIONS TO PUBLIC AND THIS BURNS OUT CATALITIC CONVERTERS WHICH CAN ALSO CAUSE HARMFUL EMISSIONS. RAV 4 2001 TO 2003 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING FAULTY ECU'S, AUTO TRANSMISSIONS AND 02 SENSOR DEFICITS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM ACCIDENTS RELATED TO POOR SHIFTING, UNSAFE SPEED CONTROL AND HARMFUL EMISSIONS TO THE PUBLIC. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARNETY BUT THAT EXPIRED AFTER 10 YEARS AND THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF ANY PROBLEMS TO LOOK OUT FOR WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL THESE VEHICLES MAY BE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO BUILT IN ENGINEERING DEFECTS THAT AFFECT SPEED CONTROL AND EMISSIONS. THEY ALSO LEAD TO VERY COSTLY REPAIRS FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
Jun 23, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaint
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON, BUT AFTER CHECKING, NO ISSUES ARE TOUND
Jan 27, 2017
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY RAV4 DOWN MY ROAD WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL MY VEHICLE CONTINUED SPEEDING UP. I HAD MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKED WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN BUT COULDN'T STOP ME. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP BUT THE RPMS WENT UP TO 9000RPM'S IMMEDIATELY SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF IN HOPES SOMETHING WOULD RESET. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I NEARLY CRASHED INTO AN INTERSECTION WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED AND MAINTAINED MY CAR OTHERWISE. *TR
Jan 09, 2017
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,ENGINE
1 complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER. ALL OF A SUDDEN, A LADY RAN A STOP SIGN AND SWERVED AND HIT US HEAD-ON. WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE, THE DOORS WERE JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE CAME AND QUICKLY PUT THE FIRE OUT AND PRIED THE FRONT DOORS OPEN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. I INCURRED SEVERE INJURIES TO MY HEAD, CHEST, NECK AND LEFT ARM. MY TOYOTA WAS TOTALED AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR THE WRECK. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE WRECK HAPPENED AND IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERELY INJURED. MY TOYOTA WAS TOTALED AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR THE WRECK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY VEHICLE. I PROBABLY HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH DID NOT WORK.
Jun 01, 2016
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
1 complaint
TAKATA RECALL: I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-0N COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT HIT ME, THEIR AIRBAGS DEFLATED. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE IMPACT PUSHED EVERYTHING BACK FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH BLOCKED THE DOORS SO THAT WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OTHER PARTIES FAULT AND SHE WAS CITED FOR THE ACCIDENT. I RECEIVED SEVERAL INJURIES WHICH RESULTED WITH ME BEING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE AMBULANCE PEOPLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE ALL WONDERED WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE ON THE ACCIDENT SCENE SAID THAT MY AIRBAGS WERE PROBABLY MADE BY TAKATA AND WERE DEFECTIVE. AS THE RESULT OF MY AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING CAUSED ME TO HAVE EXTENSIVE INJURIES AND I AM HAVING TO HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY ON MY LEFT ARM AND HAND. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO PERFORM A CHECK ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 2002 SUV'S TO SEE IF THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. AS THE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY SUV WAS TOTALED AND IT ONLY HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT.
Dec 23, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
1 complaint
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.
Jun 20, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
1 complaint
ECM MALFUNCTION. *TR
Jan 04, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING, PARTICULARILY 1ST & 2ND GEAR SLOW TO ACCELERATE LAUNCHING AND BUCKING HARD ENGAGEMENT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE REVS UP FROM 2 TO 3 - 4 RPMS. *TR
Mar 06, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
TOYOTA 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN SWITCHING INTO FIRST / SECOND GEAR, CAR WILL HICCUP, AND OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. AAMCO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS CONFIRMED DEFECTIVE ECM MODULE FAILURE, AND REQUIRE A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILT. TOYOTA APPARANTY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE ADVISORY, BUT NO RECALL. PROBLEM CAN RESURFACE ANY ANYTIME, VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS AS CAR WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE OR JUST STALL WHEN ENTERING INTERSECTIONS AND OR FREEWAYS.
Aug 22, 2011
STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1 complaint
2002 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, I CAN HEAR IT UNLATCH BUT REMAINS SHUT. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE REAR PART OF THE DOOR BACK IN UNTIL YOU HEAR A CLICK, THEN YOU HAVE TO VIOLENTLY PULL THE HANDLE AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN. *TR
Nov 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
MAY 19TH OF 2007, MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 4X4 WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOING 25-30 MPH. AFTER STRUCK, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TWICE, WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT AN INCREASING HIGH SPEED, RESULTING IN HITTING A GLASS BUS STOP ENDING UP HITTING A BRICK SCHOOL. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH I WAS UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *TR
Sep 01, 2010
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
1 complaint
I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE A 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC, NEW. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. APPROXIMATELY IN MARCH OF 2010 MY VEHICLE STARTING JERKING, I LOOK AT MY GAS GAUGE AND THOUGHT I MUST BE LOWER ON GAS THEN THE GAUGE IS SHOWING. I GOT GAS AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM. I GOT GAS AND THE SITUATION STOPPED. SPORADICALLY, IN THE 2 WEEK TIME FRAME MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. I DID TAKE MY CAR INTO MY MECHANIC AND HE HAD THE CAR AND DID TEST DRIVES WITH NO PROBLEMS. AGAIN, IN APRIL THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN AND THE CAR WHEN TO MY MECHANIC AND AGAIN THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. ON APRIL 22, 2010 UPON LEAVING WORK I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE JERKING, SHAKING AND AT TIMES SEEMED TO HAVE NO POWER I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME (1 MILE AWAY) WITH THE TIRES BARELY ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY, THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND AS WE WERE DOING A TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE BEGAN THE JERKING, SHAKING AND LOST POWER, THE CAR WAS NOT OPERABLE ANY LONGER. THE DIAGNOSIS: TRANSMISSION BURNT AND NEW ECM (MY THIRD IN THIS VEHICLE). THE VEHICLES ENGINE CHECK LIGHT NEVER CAME ON OR ANY OTHER SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ECM WAS TESTED IT DID NOT DISPLAY ANY CODES OR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED TO BRING IT IN FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT DOES NOT RUN AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND WOULD THESE (I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED WITH AN EXPENSE OF ANYWHERE FROM $250 TO $300.00, A HOURS DRIVE AWAY) EXPENSES BE COVERED. RESPONSE "WARRANTY EXPIRED 60 DAYS AGO." AFTER MANY DAYS OF AN AGONIZING DECISION, I ADVISED MY MECHANIC TO GO AHEAD AND FIX THE CAR AT THE TUNE OF $3500.00, REPLACING THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL HAVE IT BACK NEXT WEEK. *TR
May 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
1 complaint
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAVE 4, I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT STILL DOES AND I CAN REPRODUCE IT EVERY TIME ON THE SAME ROAD. I ALSO HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT STEPING ON THE BREAKES AND THE CAR NOT WANTING TO STOP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "IT WAS IN MY HEAD, AND THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT." I WAS ACTUALLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON MY WAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I REPORTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THEM AN I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2005.
Mar 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 82K MILES ON IT. AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN I ACCELERATED BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT I HAD A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 RAV 4'S -- A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND LEARNED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2001 AND 2002 RAV 4'S. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Dec 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1 complaint
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2002. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A NIGHTMARE. A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING GEARS, SHAKING, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT IT TO HYANNIS TOYOTA. THE CSR TOLD ME IT WAS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. APPROX. 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR STARTED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SHAKING, MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO HYANNIS TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD, "THIS IS NOT THE SAME PROBLEM." YOU NEED A NEW COIL. IT WILL COST YOU $250.00. ALSO, I HAD TO RENT A CAR. OF COURSE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. NOW, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY. IF THE COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WAS REPLACED. WHY AM I STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS? *TR
Nov 02, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1 complaint
FOUND FUEL LEAKS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA TRUCK RAV4. MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY FIXED IT AND STATED "SECURE THE FITTING" ON THE INVOICE. THEY CHARGED ME $ 62.50. I ALWAYS SENT TO MY CAR TO THE DEALERS FOR MAINTENANCE. II DO NOT PERFORM ANY MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. *TR
Jul 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN,INTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaint
IN THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I NOTICED MY RAV4 WOULD SLIGHTLY PAUSE WHEN I PRES THE GAS PEDAL AND WOULD JERK WHEN IT'S SUPPOSE TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT GEARS, MY REGISTRATION IS DUE & OF COURSE I NEED A SMOG CERTIFICATE. THE "TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP" ONLY SOMETIMES. I'M JUST GUESSING IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. NOT SURE YET... OF COURSE MY "EXTRA CARE" EXPIRED 05/30/08 MILEAGE 100,000 BUT MY MILEAGE IS ONLY 91,000. I FIGURE THIS IS GOING TO COST ME A LOAD OF MONEY THAT I DON'T HAVE AND THIS CAR HELPS ME GET TO WORK. WITH THE ECONOMY BEING SO BAD THIS DOESN'T HELP OUT MUCH AT ALL IT'S ALWAYS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER ESPECIALLY WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A CAR THAT IS ACTUALLY WORTH IT AND I THOUGHT SINCE I WAS BUYING IT BRAND NEW I WAS MAKING A GOOD CHOICE. MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AND I WAS ON THE HWY 880 SB GOING ABOUT 65 MPH MY RPM SEEM A LITTLE HIGH BUT I WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THAN MY CAR STARTING MAKING A NOISE, THAN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND SOMETHING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR FLEW OFF AND AS I LOOK IN MY REAR MIRROR I SAW PIECES OF AN OBJECT WENT FLYING AND I NOTICE CARS SWERVING TO MOVE FROM THE FLYING OBJECTS THAT WERE BURNING AND I WAS SOOO SCARED AS MY FIANCE SAID TO PULL OVER SLOWLY. I CUT CARS OFF AND I COULDN'T PRESS THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLOW LANE I CALLED AAA AND TOWED MY CAR TO MY HOUSE AND UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC YET B/C I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. I FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE HAND OR NO SENSOR. FOR EXAMPLE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I NEED OIL/CHANGE, ETC. WHAT TYPE OF PAPERWORK DO I NEED TO SEND B/C I HAVEN'T TOOK IT TO THE SHOP YET AND MAY I ADD THAT THE LIGHTER DOESN'T WORK. ONCE I FIND OUT WHAT THE ACTUALLY PROBLEM IS THAN I WILL MAIL COPIES.I I TRULY BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *TR
Jul 01, 2009
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1 complaint
THE TOYOTA RAV4 (YEAR 2002) INDISCRIMINATELY SPEEDS UP AND MAXES OUT THE RPMS (6000) FOR NOT REASON. I WAS GOING 65 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPMS WENT UP TO 6000 FROM 3000 AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 AND THEN WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITH ME TOUCHING ANY GEARS OR ANY PEDALS. LUCKILY I WAS ALLOWING ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER VEHICLES TO SAFELY GET IT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT FROM CRASHING INTO SOMEONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND BOTH SIDES AND THE REAR HAD VEHICLES IN THEM. THE ECM, TRANSMISSION AND VSS (VARIABLE SPEED SENSOR) WERE REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. TOYOTA DISAVOWS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES; HOWEVER, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT TO SOLVE THEM AND IT'S NOT BEING SOLVED. THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE HERE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. THE MODELS EFFECTED ARE THE TOYOTA RAV4'S FROM 1999 TO 2009. AND IT APPEARS THAT IT'S STILL AN ISSUE AND STILL BEING PUSHED UNDER THE RUG SO TO SPEAK. ACTION OR LIVES....THAT'S WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO NOW. INCIDENT DATE IS MOST CURRENT. NUMEROUS PAST DATES. *TR
Jun 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT
1 complaint
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2002-IN MAY 2006 I WENT TO MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOL, I GOT BACK OCT 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE FAILED ON THE HWY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 420 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. I DID ALL MY REQUIRED UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE AND TO MY SURPRISE IT HAD OIL SLUDGE. HE CLAIMS ITS FROM SITTING BUT ALOT OF VEHICLES SIT AND DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY MILITARY MEMBERS THAT ARE DEPLOYED. I HAD TO PAY 3989.00 FOR A USED ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING OUT 2001 -03 CAMRY AND LEXUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WERE RECALLED. I FOUGHT GOT AND ATTORNEY AND STILL NO RECALL. I HOPE TO HAVE A CIVIL LAWSUIT WITH TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THIS BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. MARCH 2007 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE ON THE HWY. I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICE IT KEPT JERKING. THEN IT WOULD HESITATE GETTING INTO GEAR AND REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD COST 4980.00. OK LET ME BREAK DOWN THE EXISTING PROBLEMS UP UNTIL THIS POINT. THE DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKING SYSTEM WENT OUT IT WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF SAID ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE ALARMS COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN DOOR KEY OR KEY PAD IS INDICATED. SO I HAD TO UNHOOK. YESTERDAY MARCH 31ST I WAS DONE WITH THE RAV 4. I HAVE NOTICE THAT MORE THAN 35 % OF OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL. *TR
Apr 01, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaint
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 62,000 MI. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERS TO FIGURE OUT MY PROBLEM. THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON. FINALLY AFTER @$700 OF MY MONEY, THEY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE ECU. THIS WILL NOW COST ME @1800 FOR PARTS, AND WHO KNOWS YET FOR LABOR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE SITUATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE THE EXT. WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MAYBE RECALL THIS AND FIX THESE CARS BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I LIVE IN NEW YORK WHERE THERE IS ALOT OF SNOW. MY VSC WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I GET THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE TO RELAY ON STANDARD BRAKES IN THE SNOW UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR REPUTABLE NAME AND FIX THESE PROBLEMS ASAP..... *TR
Nov 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT. 63,000 MILES, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, 50K MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER JAN 2006. VIN HAS ZEROS AND LETTER O WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE. TRY BOTH. *JB
Nov 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,BACK OVER PREVENTION
1 complaint
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHANGES OF OIL AND FILTER. TWICE THEY SUGGESTED A WYNNS SYSTEM ENGINE CLEANING WHICH WE PAID FOR. THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON APRIL 2005. LAST OCTOBER 7, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO OUR HOUSE AND THE NEXT DAY WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ADRIEL TOYOTA IN RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THEY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE MOTOR STALLED AND THE WARRANTY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY SINCE I HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THEM FOR THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I REMINDED THEM THAT JUST NINE MONTHS EARLIER A WYNNS MOTOR ENGINE CLEANING HAD BE DONE BY THEM AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MOTOR OF THE CAR TO HAVE SLUDGE IF THEY HAD DONE THE JOB CORRECTLY. THE TOYOTA COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO CALLED TO TELL ME THE SAME THING. I MADE A COMPLAINT AT THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS IN PUERTO , I AM WAITING FOR A DECISION. TODAY I SHOWED THE PICTURES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT WHO STATES THAT THE MOTOR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OIL CHANGES AND THE WORST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BE CLEANED. THE DEALERS STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY MOTOR SLUDGING ON ANY RAV 4 IN PUERTO RICO BUT CONSUMER REPORT STATES THAT TOYOTA HAS THIS PROBLEM MOST COMMONLY WITH CAMRY'S . TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT RAV 4 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE CAMRY'S HAVE. AM I SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHATEVER PROBLEM TOYOTAS ENGINES HAVE?
Nov 01, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
1 complaint
I AM DEALING WITH UNDERSIZED BRAKE CALIPER AND ASSOCIATED ROTOR AND BRAKE PAD QUALITY PROBLEMS. THE CARS SHAKES VIOLENTLY QWHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THEY ARE CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP AND EXCESS WEAR. WHILE TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT THE CALIPERS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE 2002 SEQUOIA, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. NOT SURE WHY THEY ARE ONLY TOO SMALL UNDER WARRANTY. DO THEY GROW AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES? THIS IS BAD POLICY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED I SPEND THE $2000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH TOYOTA SAYS IS NOT A PROBLEM AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER,BOULDER TOYOTA, HE STATED IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, ONLY A QUALITY QUESTION. I SEEM TO GET TWO DIFFERENT STORIES FROM THE DEALER AND TOYOTA "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE". I HAVE RESEARCHED A NUMBER OF SITES INCLUDING NHTS AND AUTOBYTEL. APPARTENTLY I AM NOT UNIQUE AND MANY OTHERS ARE CLAIMING PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIA BRAKES. THIS IS NOT THE QUALITY I EXPECTED FROM A TOYOTA.
May 18, 2005
STEERING,AIR BAGS
1 complaint
WHILE DRIVING A CLICKING NOISE CAME FROM FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING FAILED TO TURN PROPERLY, AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HER OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PASSING LANE GOING AT A RATE OF 56-57 MPH WHEN THE CLICK WAS HEARD, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GLIDE TO THE LEFT, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING BUT THE WHEEL CONTINUED TO GO AROUND. THERE WAS NO STEERING POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RACK AN PINION SNAPPED. *SC *JB
Apr 28, 2005
EQUIPMENT
1 complaint
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA SAQUOIA IN THE YEAR OF 2002,IN THE YEAR 2003 MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WENT OUT IN MY NEW VEHICAL UPON TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLETE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,I HAVE WENT A COMPLETE YEAR WITH OUT AN AIR CONDITION SYSTEM MIND YOU I LIVE IN AUGUSTA GEORGIA,THIS CAUSES SEVERAL THINGS TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY SUCH AS GAS GAGE NOT PROPERLT WORKING,WHEN YOU DRIVE THE CAR 60 MPH OR OVER THE TRUCK BEGAN TO BURN,THE AIR COMES ON AUTOMATICLLY AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO JUMP VERY BADLY LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO BLOW UP,THE HEAT ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU SET IT AT 80 DEGREES OR HIGHER SO YOU CAN ONLY LEAVE IT ON FOR SO LONG THEN YOU MUST TURN IT OFF AND WHEN IT GETS COLD AGAIN YOU HALF TO TURN IT ON AGAIN THIS GOES ON ALL DAY LONG.I CAN'T SEM TO GET ANY ONE FROM TOYOTA TO HELP ME WITH THERE DEFAULT, MY WIFE WON'T EVEN DRIVE THE CAR.SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO A NOTHER DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM HE TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM WAS REALLY BLOWEN.SIRS I WORK VERY HARD FOR MY MONEY AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF IT TO GIVE AWAY,IREALLY DON'T APPRICIATE A PRESTEGIOUS COMPANY SUCH AS TOYOTA TO PRAY ON ON IT'S CONSUMER. WHEN THE VEHICAL WAS CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AT MY REQUEST THERE WAS WHAT YOU CALL A BULLITEN ON THIS PROBLEM,I THEN ASKED IF YOU KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM ENOUGH WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL I REALLY DON THINK THAT I THE CONSUMER SHOULD HALF TO FOOT A $2000 BILLL ON SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT I AM VERY SORRY THAT I PICKED A TOYOTA SEQUOIA THIS IS NOT A CHEAP VEHICAL IF YOU CAN HELP ME AND MY FAMILY PLEASE DO SO.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK
Dec 07, 2004
STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaint
ON JULY 7, 2003 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. I ALMOST HIT THE MEDIAN DIVIDER BEFORE I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED THE DEARLERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN, THEY DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TO HAVE IT TOWED. INCIDENTALLY THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1100 MILES ON IT AND I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ABOVE HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND I WENT TO GET MY RAV4 AND ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE DRIVE BELT PULLEYS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON MY NEW RAV4 AND THAT CAUSED THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS AND BROKE THE TENSIONER AND THE HOUSING GUIDE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE NEW RAV4 WOULD NOT START. I JUMPED SRTARTED THE RAV4 FROM MY WIFES VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THINKING THAT THE BATTERY JUST NEEDED A CHARGE. MY WIFE WAS GOING TO USE THE NEEW RAV4 VEHICLE THAT DAY TO SHOP. SHE CALLED ME ABOUT MID-MORNING AND INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW RAV4 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AS SHE HAD GONE TO THE MALL. THAT EVENING MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL AND JUM STARTED THE VEHICLE AGIN AND I FINALLY GOT IT HOME AND IT IS NOW IN MY GARAGE, IT JUST WILL NOT START. I CALLED AND TALAKED TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING WITH MY NEW RAV4 SUV. HE EQUATED MY BREAK-DOWNS TO GOING TO THE STORE AND BUYING A BOX OF FOUR LIGHT BULBS AND TAKING THE LIGHT BULBS HOME AND PUTTING A NEW LIGHT BULB IN A LAMP THAT HAD A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB AND WHEN THE LAMP IS TURNED ON THEN THE NEW LIGHT BULB BURNS OUT. THIS REALLY MADE ME ANGRY. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS BIG DIFFERENCE IN A FIFTY CENT LIGHT BULB AND A $25,000.00 NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. *AK
Jul 17, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaint
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD DUE TO FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB
Feb 19, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaint
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE VARIOUS FEATURES THAT WERE DISPLAYED ON THE UNIT. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD, AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABNORMAL AND THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM DID NOT PERMIT OUTSIDE AIR. *SCC *JB
Feb 13, 2003
TIRES,EQUIPMENT
1 complaint
DEFECTIVE TIRES, VEHICLE JACK EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRE EXPLODED WHEN IT RAN OVER AN ORANGE IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE AND WOULD LIKE THE REMAINING 4 TIRES REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RETAINED THE TIRE FOR INSPECTION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE BLOWN TIRE THE CONSUMER REALIZED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE. WITH THE JACK PROPERLY PLACED AND FULLY EXTENDED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE JACK BE REPLACED. *NM
Dec 20, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
1 complaint
THE DASHBOARD RATTLES WHEN DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DASHBOARD ABOUT FOUR TIMES. THE DASH IS STILL RATTLING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Dec 04, 2002
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
1 complaint
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH TIRES SOMEHOW GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN PAVEMENT/GROVE ON SIDE OF ROAD. TRUCK THEN PULLED TO RIGHT, AND OWNER TRIED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY. TRUCK WENT OFF THE ROAD, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE, AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Jun 21, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 complaint
WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE SHAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE IS LOUD, WHEN STOPPING, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THE POWER WINDOWS CONTINUE TO WORK AND THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. *SLC
May 29, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT
1 complaint
RE: FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGE FAILURE: HIGH IDLE SPEED; UNPREDICTABLE IDLE SPEED OSCILLATION / SURGES, UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION / DECELERATION (PARTICULARLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). CAR WILL SOMETIMES FAIL TO DECELERATE AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS (10-25 MPH), FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WILL SOMETIMES DRIVE/LURCH FORWARD ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, ONCE RPMS DROP TO ABOUT 1500. TOLD BY THE DEALER AND TOYOTA THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A NEW EMISSIONS CONTROL COMPUTER, AND THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. RE: STRUCTURE - ROOF RACK: PIECE OF THE COVERING TO THE ROOF RACK FELL OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR DRIVING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME.*AK
Feb 05, 2002
Frequently Asked Questions
How many problems does the 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 have?
The 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 currently has 555 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.
What are the most common problems with 2002 TOYOTA RAV4?
The most common problems reported for the 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.
Where does this 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 problem data come from?
All problem and complaint data for the 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.
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