2001 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

MY 2001 SILVER TOYOTA RAV 4 HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DECELERATING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT AN ALREADY CONGESTED INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I WAS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE FROM 20 MPH, DOWN TO 15,10,5, DOWN TO 2 MPH, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, MY RAV 4 ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED TO REV-UP/RACE WILDLY AND VERY LOUD IN A MATTER OF 3, OR 4-5 SECONDS (THE ENGINE/RPM SOUNDED SIMILAR ONE WOULD HEAR WHEN YOU WOULD BE ACCELERATING ENTERING A FREEWAY VIA THE ENTRANCE RAMP). MY RAV 4 SHOT FORWARD SO FAST LIKE IT WAS ON SOME ROCKET LAUNCHING PAD. MY FOOT WAS ON MY BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST TO THE CAR FLOOR AND I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING INTO THE BACK - AND REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS ABOUT 10-15 FEET IN FRONT OF ME, THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN AT THE ALREADY CONGESTED STOP LIGHT INTERSECTION. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE REAR END OF THE SUV DOOR HATCH AND THE ATTACHED TIRE MOUNTED ON THE BACK OF THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE ON MY RAV 4 WAS CAR HOOD FOLDING BACK AND UP AND MY FRONT UPPER AND LOWER SECTION OF MY BUMPER AND PLASTIC GRILL AREA. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM TO T HE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SENT A 3RD PARTY ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO EXAMINE MY CAR. THE INVESTIGATOR SPENT 4-5 HOURS EXAMINING MY CAR AND COULDN'T ELABORATE HIS FINDINGS BUT HAS SUBMITTED THE INFORMATION HE WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE, BACK TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR CO. APPARENTLY, MY 2001 RAV 4 IS A FIRST GENERATION MODEL/VERSION AND DIDN'T HAVE THE ELABORATE DETAILED EDR DEVICES INSTALLED IN THEM, HOWEVER SOME OTHER DEVICE/DEVICES, COULD POSSIBLY BE RETRIEVED? THE FINAL REPORT BY TOYOTA TAKEN BY THE 3RD PARTY FIELD ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WILL TAKE 3-4 WEEKS FROM THIS REPORT I HAVE POSTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (PLEASE SEE THE SCANNED INFO- FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION).

NHTSA ID

11185532

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

Mileage

111,219 mi

THE CAR STARTED TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10981299

Incident

Apr 14, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN I CHANGE GEAR OR PRESS ACCELERATOR TO GIVE GAS, MY CAR DOESN'T PICK UP RACE AND DOESN'T SHIFT THE GEAR. IT WILL DO ON ITS OWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING TURNED ON, EVEN THOUGH THISNGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10824188

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL ON AN INCLINE MY RAV4 ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL SO I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO GET IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD THIS ON 2 RAV4S, BOTH 2001, ONE WAS 4WD AND THE OTHER 2WD. TOYOTA TRIED TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST VEHICLE BY SENDING IT HOME WITH A TECH WHO DROVE TO MODESTO. THEY COULD NOT REPEAT IT...ON MY CURRENT CAR IT DOES THE SAME AND TOYOTAS BEST ANSWER WAS NOT TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AFTER HE ASKED WHY I WAS USING IT ANYWAYS. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ECUS IN THESE CARS AND BEFORE BUYING IT, SENT THE PRIVATE DEALER TO TOYOTA TO REMEDY THIS. NOW I FIND OUT THEY ONLY FLASHED THE ECU UNDER THE RECALL WHICH THEY NEW DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING. NOW 2 YEARS LATER I FACE THE HARSH SHIFTING CONDITION....ALL ON ME. IM LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HURT BY EITHER OF THESE ISSUES NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY BY TOYOTA, AND THANK GOD MY 9 YEAR OLD WASN'T WITH ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679074

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

I PURCHASED MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 IN JULY 2012,. NOW 2 YEARS LATER AND STILL OWE A GOOD AMOUNT ON MY CAR I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE ECM AS THE OTHERS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ASSIST PEOPLE THAT ARE PURCHASING THESE CARS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THIS ISSUES I AM DEALING WITH INCLUDE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND REVVING HIGHER, OR THE LOSS OF POWER WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TOYOTA HELPED THE OWNERS, WITH AN " EXTENDED WARRANTY" 10 YEARS / 150000 MILES. THAT IS ALL GOOD BUT THE WARRANTY WAS FROM THE FIRST DATE. BASICALLY FROM DAY 1. THAT IS NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE THESE CARS SECOND HAND WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CASE AN ACCIDENT CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679047

Incident

Dec 11, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND CAME TO A STOP. WHEN I STARTED TO GO, MY RAV HAD NO POWER, THEN IT LURCHED AND ALMOST STOPPED. I HAD TO NURSE IT-SLOWLY ACCELERATE-IN ORDER FOR IT TO MOVE. EVERY TIME I STOPPED AND STARTED IT DID THIS. ONCE IT MADE A NOISE LIKE A HARD SHIFT FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON TO DRIVE IT SAFELY, AND DROVE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. IN SPEAKING WITH THEM, THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA HAS A KNOWN RECALL ON THIS SITUATION! THE COMPUTER LOCKS UP THE TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND GAVE THEM MY VIN, IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. ITS GOING TO COST ANYWHERE FROM $1500 TO $5000 TO FIX, DEPENDING ON IF THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTUALLY MESSED UP OR IF IT IS THE COMPUTER CAUSING THE PROBLEM. HE HAS TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION TO CHECK IT FIRST. IF IT IS THE COMPUTER THEY SAID ABOUT $1000. WHO DO I CONTACT TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS RECALL? WHEN I PUT MY VIN NUMBER IN YOUR SITE, IT SAYS THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS. THE INTERNET SAYS DIFFERENTLY. I NEED HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10632564

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

166,000 mi

JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 WITH ONLY 95,000 MILES. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SO IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $600. THEN TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE O2 SENSOR, THAT BILL WAS NEARLY $350. NOW FOR THE ICING ON THE CAKE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THAT REPAIR, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT IN TO GEAR, LUNGED FORWARD AND I NEARLY RAN OVER SOME CHILDREN AT A BUS STOP! THE DEALER SAID THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ECM AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE ECM WAS REPLACED AT NEARLY $1100 AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS! DEALER SAID NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. THAT COST IS $5700 AND I CAN'T AFFORD IT. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHY CAN'T THE GOVERNMENT MANDATE THAT TOYOTA HAS TO STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM? CHILDREN WERE NEARLY RAN OVER BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WILL NOT DO A [XXX] THING ABOUT IT. VERY SAD. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10551642

Incident

Sep 27, 2013

Mileage

95,000 mi

ECM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE...CALLED TOYOTA..REFUSED HELP..OWNED VEHICLE OVER 10 YEARS...KNOWN DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY...NEED TO REPLACE ECM AND TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533027

Incident

Jul 29, 2013

Mileage

119,510 mi

OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS YET. ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 2012 I TOOK MY RAV4 BACK TO CARMAX IN ATTLEBORO WITH MY COMPLAINT--I WILL BE LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH THEM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2012 SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TCM (THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WHICH HAS HAD THE RECALL). IF IT IS FOUND THAT MY RAV4 IS ONE OF MANY UNDER THIS RECALL, I WILL HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL HONOR ITS' COMMITMENT AND FIX MY RAV. I DO HOPE THAT LODGING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU WILL HELP ME IN THIS PLIGHT, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO AS TO THE ABOVE, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS A RECALL WITH TOYOTA. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479841

Incident

Oct 8, 2012

Mileage

114,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD NOISES COMING FROM THE TIRES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH CURVES. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, NEAR THE ENGINE AND WHEELS, STARTED TO RUST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL

NHTSA ID

10456838

Incident

Apr 23, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS BEGUN EXPERIENCING HARSH SHIFTING. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AND IT WILL JUMP FORWARD AT TIMES. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE 2001 RAV 4. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPENSATION AFTER ONE HAS THIS FIXED. AS ONE A PERSON WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS OUT OF POCKET THAT IS NOT A LOT OF HELP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10454270

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

109,008 mi

WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING, THE ENGINE JUMPS AND FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN SITUATIONS WHERE ONE MUST GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER CARS (GENERALLY EVERY TIME DRIVING). WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE INTERNAL ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450331

Incident

Feb 27, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ..UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF THERE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ONGOING HARSH SHIFT. AT TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN ONGOING SLUGGISH/SLIP. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL WEAR AND TEAR MALFUNCTION. THE FLUID WAS VERY DIRTY. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 12/30/11

NHTSA ID

10418587

Incident

Jul 26, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10416787

Incident

Jul 25, 2011

Mileage

113,000 mi

I NOTICED VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING OR GOING INTO PROPER GEAR. I WAS ALARMED WHEN I COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED TURNING LEFT. ENGINE LIGHT LIT WHEN I GOT HOME. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA TODAY ABOUT THE KNOWN ECU ISSUE WITH 2001-2003 RAV4S. MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN 2007 WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE NOW SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA NOT ADDRESSING THE ECU/ECM ISSUE TO A SATISFACTORY MANNER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD SHOW MORE CONCERN OVER. *KB

NHTSA ID

10410538

Incident

Jul 3, 2011

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO EXHIBIT SEVERE HESITATION IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, ECM MODULE AND A FAULTY TRANS AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THERE WAS A PRIOR VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE ECM MODULE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL EXPIRED IN JANUARY 2011 AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10404556

Incident

May 29, 2011

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FRONT ENGINE CROSS MEMBER COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND FORWARDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO SAFETY RISKS. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10390481

Incident

Sep 14, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WAS DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10340603

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

132,000 mi

TOYOTA 2001 RAV4: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE AT LEAST AUGUST, 2004 (DOCUMENTED). TOYOTA CLAIMED TO FIX PER A RECALL NOTICE. FROM FEBRUARY 2002 TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT GROANING BENEATH CAR, WHINING IN FIRST GEAR, AND WHAT FELT LIKE CLUNKING. COULD NOT PASS SMOG TESTS BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE. IN OCTOBER, 2009, CAR DIED. COULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO WAIT FOR TOW (MIDNIGHT ON A DARK ROAD). HAD WORK DONE IN OCT, 2009, AND I REQUESTED THE PARTS. THEY REPLACED MY COILS, PLUGS AND AIR FILTER FOR $1,330. I HAVE HAD BRAKES REPLACED , FLUIDS CHANGED, O2 SENSORS REPLACED ( SINCE THEN, THE CAR IS MIS-SHIFTING, CLUNKING OR GROANING, ROUGH ENGINE. ON 3/25/2010, I TOOK IT IN AND TOYOTA SERVICE RECOMMENDED THAT I "LET IT GO" AND BUY ANOTHER CAR. THEY TOLD ME TO JUST COME AND GET THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WORK DONE, BECAUSE IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $6,000-$7,000 FOR REPAIRS. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT I HAD ECM AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE VISITS TO TOYOTA SERVICE. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA "WAITED ME OUT" SO THAT THEY COULD JUST SELL ME ANOTHER CAR INSTEAD OF REVEALING THE TRUE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEMS. THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION FOR THIS CAR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS A NEW ITEM, SO I WOULD HAVE TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, WHICH THE DEFECTIVE ECM WOULD END UP DESTROYING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL. *CN

NHTSA ID

10322568

Incident

Mar 26, 2010

Mileage

125,841 mi

MY 2001 RAV4 TOYOTA JERKS FORWARD AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. HAD IT CHECKED AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY DIDN'T SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TOLD ME IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE ENGINE CONTROL. IF I DECIDE TO DO THE JOB, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS BUT IT WILL COST ABOUT $6,000. TOOK IT A LOCAL MECHANICS THEY COULD NOT HELP ME AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308533

Incident

Dec 20, 2009

Mileage

69,840 mi

MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 THREW A ROD, RESULTING IN A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONNECTING ROD ENDCAP BOLT BROKE. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM AND IT SHOULD NEVER BRAKE. THE ROD PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE WHOLE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308196

Incident

Dec 9, 2009

Mileage

128,881 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLE. VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING AT ANY POINT DURING DRIVING OPERATIONS. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS THE ENGINE/EMISSION/TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND ARE A SEVERE HAZARD TO OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE GROWING NUMBER OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE UNTIL ENOUGH DEATHS/SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281771

Incident

Aug 24, 2009

Mileage

69,400 mi

SOMEWHERE AROUND THE LATER PART OF JUNE, 2009 MY CAR BEGAN HESITATING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEN WAS INFORMED THE IT WAS MY ECM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM DURING PRODUCTION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT FIXED. MY VEHICLE HAS AROUND 97,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS. SEVERAL TIMES MY FAMILY AND I WERE ENDANGERED BECAUSE SOMEONE ALMOST HIT MY VEHICLE FROM THE BACK BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION. AS OF TODAY, I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT GETTING TOYOTA TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE ACCELERATION AND THE RPM SPIKED. WHENEVER THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, DUE TO A PROBLEM STEMMING FROM THE ECM, WHICH WAS NOT READING PROPERLY WHICH WAS AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED IVOQ. 08/07/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10279553

Incident

Jun 25, 2009

Mileage

97,323 mi

ON THE 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE FUEL-OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THE SENSOR WAS NOT REPLACED, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD DAMAGE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190789

Incident

Apr 23, 2007

Mileage

61,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 [XXX] THE ENGINE TYPE IS A 1AZFE. I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT A TOYOTA OIL GEL PROBLEM WITH ENGINE TYPE 5S-FE. THE MOTOR MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT MY STORY IS THE SAME. THIS IS A WORK VEHICLE THAT WAS MAINTAINED. IN SEPT 2006 I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE $2800 REPAIR DUE TO WHAT THEY HAD CALLED "OIL GEL". THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS CALL IS [XXX]. AT THE TIME I WAS UNAWARE OF THE LAW SUIT IN PROCESS FOR SOME TOYOTA ENGINES DUE TO THIS EXACT THING! JAN 19TH 2007, WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR'S ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND 30 SECONDS LATER THERE WAS A PLUME OF BLUE SMOKE ( THE BARTOW FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AS I WAS ON I-75 IN GEORGIA AND SOMEONE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE). THERE WAS NO FIRE, JUST SMOKE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME I HAD THROWN A ROD. THEY CLAIM THE TWO ARE UNRELATED OCCURRENCES. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON WEB SITES, THEY SEEM VERY RELATED TO ME. THE REPAIR IN SEPT WAS COSTLY, TO HAVE THE ROD THROWN 4 MONTHS LATER MAKES ME THINK THE 1AZFE ENGINE MAY HAVE SOME DEFECT AS WELL. THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A TOTALLY NEW ENGINE. WE CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IN SEPT 06 AND THE TOW IN JAN 07, AS I AM CONVINCED THIS IS A DEFECT. I CAN PROVIDE ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS AS THIS HAS BEEN A WORK VEHICLE FOR ME. I WONDER IF OTHER TOYOTA ENGINES SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND REPORTED. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA HAVE BOTH CLAIMED THIS ENGINE IS NOT INVOLVED. I DISAGREE. HAD I NOT PULLED OVER I AM CERTAIN A FIRE WOULD HAVE BEGUN WITH ALL THE ENGINE OIL ON THE MOTOR. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10181201

Incident

Sep 29, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi