2002 Toyota RAV4 Driver assistance Problems

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 ID

11590615

Incident

May 9, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11195491

Incident

Mar 24, 2019

Mileage

162,344 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11000853

Incident

May 3, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10958029

Incident

Oct 26, 2016

Mileage

53,612 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10943935

Incident

Jan 8, 2017

Mileage

134,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10820587

Incident

Dec 31, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10810155

Incident

Dec 8, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10778729

Incident

Jun 3, 2015

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 ID

10726370

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

82,264 mi

ECM MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669913

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10649116

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

22,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10638793

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

167,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10608824

Incident

Jun 13, 2014

Mileage

74,123 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10598937

Incident

Apr 19, 2014

Mileage

84,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10585773

Incident

Apr 28, 2014

Mileage

115,800 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10544801

Incident

Sep 21, 2013

Mileage

163,340 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10543808

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

129,714 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10543049

Incident

Sep 8, 2013

Mileage

109,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10511952

Incident

Oct 30, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10486582

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

88,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10483506

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

165,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10474268

Incident

Aug 30, 2012

Mileage

88,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10421929

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

121,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10360172

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10358940

Incident

Sep 30, 2010

Mileage

90,400 mi