2002 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11590615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11170658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10825802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #10763870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10726370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

COMPUTER FAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10678907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10671418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ECM MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10669913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10660272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10659408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10616923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10606141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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?

NHTSA complaint #10552441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 WHILE DRIVING MY RAV 4 TO WORK , I EXPERIENCED A STRANGE BEHAVIOR , THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND I HAD TO PRESS ON GAS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD MOVE AS IF LIKE IT IS CHOKED , IN A MINUTE EVERYTHING WENT NORMAL AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED BUT THEN AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 MILES AND STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT , THIS THING HAPPENS AGAIN AND WHEN I TRY TO PUSH ON GAS IT STARTED MOVING A LITTLE AND THEN THERE IS THIS "THUD" SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS HOLDING WHEELS OF MY RAV 4 FROM MOVING AND THEN SUDDENLY IT LET THE WHEELS RUN. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER (TOYOTA SCION OF CONCORD) AND BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR NEEDS A ECM TO BEGIN WITH AND THAT TOYOTA HAS A TSB OUT THERE AS WELL "EXTENDED WARRANTY" WHICH IN MY CASE IS EXPIRED SINCE MY CAR IS 2002 AND THE WARRANTY IS 10Y/150 K MILES , WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHY THIS DISCREPANCY , TOYOTA KNOWS OR HAD KNOWN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEIR VEHICLE HAD AN ISSUE AND THEY CANT BE PUTTING LIFE'S OF BUYERS AT RISK BY NOT DOING A RECALL OF THAT . PLEASE I AM REQUESTING THAT SOME ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON THIS AND SUCH CONTINUED ACTS OF CONCEALING INFORMATION WITH OWNERS / SUB-OWNERS OF VEHICLES AND THAT THIS CONDITION LEAVES AT LOT OF LIVES AT RISK BESIDES FINANCIAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10546511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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).

NHTSA complaint #10511952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10508084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY CAR BEGAN HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS. IF I PULLED INTO A TURN LANE I WOULD SLOW AND START CREATING A DANGER FOR BOTH ME AND OTHER DRIVERS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. HE LET ME KNOW THAT 2002 RAV4'S HAVE A RECALL ON THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO SAID THAT IN CERTAIN CASES HE KNEW TOYOTA HAD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS 19 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST LET ME KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DIRECTLY DAMAGED BY THE COMPUTER. WHEN I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE PROGRAM, THOUGHT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL INSTEAD OF EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS IN MY SAME SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10504441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10499229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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?

NHTSA complaint #10487613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10483506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

NHTSA complaint #10476680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WE HAD JUST LEFT A PARKING LOT IN OUR 2002 RAV 4 AND AS WE CAME UP TO SPEED THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK AND TRY TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. I ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO POWER AND A TRUCK COMING DOWN THE ROAD ALMOST HIT US. AS I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR REVVED UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGAGED AND SPUN OUT. VERY SCARY AND WE WERE LUCKY!.

NHTSA complaint #10469921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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?

NHTSA complaint #10455280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10450537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

NHTSA complaint #10443410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10373573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

NHTSA complaint #10366747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10351953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.