2004 Toyota RAV4 Problems

TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2019 AND SINCE THAT TIME HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS MAILED NOTICES FROM TOYOTA "SAFETY RECALL FOLLOW-UP NOTICE." I HAVE MADE AT LEAST 8 PHONE CALLS TO TOYOTA AND BEEN PROMISED REPEATEDLY THAT I WILL BE CONTACTED FOR AIRBAG REPLACEMENT...BUT HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. EACH PERSON WITH WHOM I SPEAK FAITHFULLY PROMISES THAT I WILL BE CONTACTED, THEN NOTHING. I LIVE IN RURAL ALASKA ON AN ISLAND WITHOUT A TOYOTA DEALER. THE CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALER IS IN ANCHORAGE. GETTING MY VEHICLE TO ANCHORAGE WILL ENTAIL A 12-24 HOUR FERRY RIDE AND A 2-8 HOUR HIGHWAY DRIVE.

"TAMARA RECALL". COMPLAINT #1 IN MAY 2016, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER TELEPHONE NUMBER TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE TO THE AIRBAGS. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE CONNECTED ME TO WOBURN TOYOTA TO HAVE ME SPEAK TO THEM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH I DID. ON MAY 24 2016 I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN 11 A.M. APPT. I WAS TOLD TO PARK IT OUTSIDE. WHEN I REGISTERED AT THE COUNTER, THE CLERK ASKED ME IF I WANTED NUMEROUS OTHER SERVICES DONE THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I DENIED ALL OF THEM. THE SERVICE DEPT WAS BUSY, HE TOLD ME TO COME BACK IN ABOUT 2 HOURS. I CAME BACK IN 2 HRS 30 MINS TO FIND MY CAR PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT I LEFT IT. I WENT TO THE COUNTER AND THE SAME CLERK TOLD ME, THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO WORK ON IT YET BUT THEY COULD GET TO IT SOON!!! UNACCEPTABLE I LEFT.I HAD AN APPT AT 3 P.M. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, I WAS SENT AN EMAIL TO TRY TO PHONE AGAIN AND RESCHEDULE. COMPLAINT #2 A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY SON IN LAW LOU INTOPPA, CALLED TO MAKE THE APPT FOR ME AT THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER NUMBER. HE WAS TOLD WOBURN TOYOTA , WHICH DID IT BEFORE, DOES NOT DO THE RECALLS AND HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO LEXINGTON WHICH IS FARTHER AWAY. HE WAS DROPPING MY CAR OFF ON HIS WAY TO WORK. LEXINGTON IS NOT ON THE WAY. HE CALLED WOBURN TOYOTA ON HIS OWN. THEY TOLD HIM THEY DO THE RECALLS BUT THEY HAD NO PARTS BUT WE'RE GETTING THEM IN. CALL BACK IN A FEW DAYS. HE DID BUT NO PARTS YET. COMPLAINT #3. WOBURN TOYOTA TOLD MY SON IN LAW TO CALL AGAIN TO SEE IF THE PARTS CAME IN, HE DID. NO PARTS YET SO THEY TOOK HIS NUMBER AND TOLD HIM THEY WOULD CALL HIM WHEN THEY CAME IN. THAT WAS 5 MONTHS AGO. HE HAS NEVER HEARD FROM THEM. WE KEEP GETTING THE TOYOTA RECORDED MESSAGES ON MY CELL , HIS CELL AND HIS HOME PHONE FOR THE RECALL BUT THEY DON'T MAKE IT EASY. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFIED RETURNED SIGNATURE LETTER FROM THEM TO TAKE MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING, GEAR SLIPPAGE, AND SOLENOID CODE WARNINGS ON MY 2004 RAV4 BEGINNING IN APRIL 2018. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY AN ASE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT ASSURES ME THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY ECM. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM OF A DEFECTIVE ECM (PER KEITH PIERSON TOYOTA JACKSONVILLE, FL) THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS IT POSES A RISK TO MYSELF AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN DUE TO ABRUPT, UNANTICIPATED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSA LIGHTS CAME ON AT ONCE. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO RISE, INDICATING THAT THE CAR WAS STARTING TO OVERHEAT. TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. APPARENTLY, THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT THREADING HAS BECOME STRIPPED DUE TO STRAIN FROM THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER BLOCK. THIS HAS LEAD TO THE ENGINE LEAKING COOLANT. THE ENGINE IS NOW PRONE TO OVERHEATING. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

The TRAC system which brakes the car when it senses the wheel loosing traction hits the breaks on curves, even when turned off. It is random. It is not part of the inspection. When the streets are rain slick it has caused my car to skid out of the lane I was in. It has not been reproduced by anyone as I have not turned the car in to an independent dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED EXCEEDED 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH ENDED UP DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE DEALER (WELLESLEY TOYOTA, 234 WORCESTER ST, WELLESLEY, MA 02481, (888) 577-6342) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO DETERMINED CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST AND THE COLLISION DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. *JS

I have 2003 registered as 2004.This vehicle that I has Manufactured November 2003 base on the sicker beside driver side door and it's been registered as 2004 .Now the problem that I have is slow moving to first gear suddenly jump to second gear (This is Automatic Trnasmission) I thought it was accelerator pedal issues but I replace the pedal and its the same not shifting properly.I cannot drive my car now due to shifting issue in first anf second gear.This my second Rav4 .I have 2001 toyota Rav4 all wheel drive I I have the same Issue not shifting properly first and second gear ,I purchase ECM module back in 2021,2022 amount of $775.00 at Toyota Parts Deal.com that is not calibrated and I pay $350 at DCH toyata in Torrance for calibration I bring this issues at BAR in 2021 ,2022 to reinburstment of the money to Toyota Headquaters until now no response .I need your help to resolves this Issues. I work Winston Tire and Firestone tire And I studies Automotive system at SCROC in Torrance,Ca. 90505 Diploma, profile.I need my money back for the 2001 toyota Rav4 and I need your help for this 2003,2004 transmission issues that I have right now .My 2001 toyota Rav4 has no issues in shifting since I purchase the ECM module.I currently own this 2 vehicle registered under my name.Thank you for kind Consideration, Respectfully yours [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving on a highway, there was a red light and I pressed on the brakes. The car kept going forward, the brakes became resistant to any pressure and the car continued to roll forward. There were no warning lights when the car was started or during the incident. I kept trying to brake the car, but the car kept moving forward and was about to hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the car behind me. The brakes and gas were not responsive. I took it to a mechanic right away, got new brakes, rotors, engine and transmission was checked. A couple months later this happened again.

DRIVER SIDE VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN AND BLOCKING VIEW AND WILL NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION. OTHER DRIVERS REPORT SAME ISSUE WITH THIS RAV4 -2004 AND BEYOND MODEL YEAR. NOT A RECALL ITEM AND WONDER WHY NOT?

SUN VISORS KEEP FALLING DOWN. REMOVING THEM PERMITS TOO MUCH SUN GLARE & IMPAIRS VISIBILITY, EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES. LEAVING THEM ALL THE WAY FALLEN DOWN GREATLY RESTRICTS VISIBILITY. THIS IS A PROBLEM LONG-ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA OWNERS. THIS OCCURRED IN 2012 - PRESENT. NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN BY TOYOTA. NEED VISORS THAT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

10 days ago transmission on 2004 Rav started to act funny. Slow/jerky to engage in lower gears. Check engine lights came on. Checked out by mechanic who said it looked like a transmission problem and should have it looked at by transmission specialist who said it was not safe to drive as is since it could simply die at any time, and it needed a new transmission. When replacing trans, the trans man found the ECM had to be replaced. He said this often happened with 2003 thru 2005 RAV4s. On looking through your site, discovered others had similar issues with their 2004 Ravs. I also found out that the electronic control module for these vehicles is defective and must be repaired to correct the transmission issues. What did Toyota have to say when you looked into this, or do you not think it’s a safety issue?

The TRAC system which brakes the car when it senses the wheel loosing traction hits the breaks on curves, even when turned off. It is random. It is not part of the inspection. When the streets are rain slick it has caused my car to skid out of the lane I was in. It has not been reproduced by anyone as I have not turned the car in to an independent dealer or mechanic. This vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. The TRAC light comes on and beeps when the car breaks.

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD AND FINALLY WOULDN'T GET IN GEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS AT FAULT (ERROR P0766- SHIFT SOLENOID D STUCK). THEY REPLACED THE ECM BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA CORP BUT THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT SOLENOID IS A "WHOLLY" SEPARATE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE 2001-2003 EXTENSION OF WARRANTY THAT TOYOTA DID THE RAV4 BUT THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CAN JUST DISENGAGE FROM THE MOTOR AND LEAVE YOU STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN YOU PULL OUT OF DRIVEWAY OR ON THE RAMP ENTERING A HIGHWAY. *TR

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE DEALER TO TWO DEALERS WHO GAVE HIM DIFFERENT STORIES AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLOW DOWN IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN ACTIVATE HARD IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A LETTER WAS MAILED REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES AT THE DEALER AND NO ONE MENTIONED IT. *JB

The inspection sticker mechanic inspected the car and found the rear brake hoses rubbing against the sway bar indicating that there should be a clip somewhere to prevent rubbing. See picture attached. See if a possible safety recall can be done on all Toyota RAV4 vehicles.

I was driving on a highway, there was a red light and I pressed on the brakes. The car kept going forward, the brakes became resistant to any pressure and the car continued to roll forward. There were no warning lights when the car was started or during the incident. I kept trying to brake the car, but the car kept moving forward and was about to hit the car in front of me. The cars around me started honking, trying to move out of the way; Luckily the light turned red and the car in front of me was able to move out of the way. I could not press on the gas or the break, I decided to turn the ignition off and the car was able to turn off. I re-started the car and then was able to go again. Had this been on the highway and I was moving at a faster speed, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now and would be in the ER with potentially others. This is the second time an issue like this happened. The first time the car was in reverse and it wouldn't brake and I almost slammed into the car behind me. The brakes and gas were not responsive. I took it to a mechanic right away, got new brakes, rotors, engine and transmission was checked. A couple months later this happened again.

THIS 10 YEAR OLD CAR HAD BEEN GARAGED ITS ENTIRE LIFE. IT WAS DRIVEN 4 OR 5 TIMES A WEEK IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION AND HOLDS THE WHEELS ON RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WERE LARGE HOLES IN THE FRAME. TOYOTA OF BUTTE MONTANA AND TOYOTA OF WENATCHEE WASHINGTON BOTH REQUIRED THAT I SIGN A STATEMENT THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE FRAME MEMBER WAS TOO RUSTED. TOYOTA OF WENATCHEE DID NOT WANT ANYONE EVEN STANDING UNDER IT. TOYOTA OF WENATCHEE OFFERED $1000 TOWARDS $2900 IN REPAIRS BUT REQUIRED THAT ALL THE REPAIRS BE DONE THROUGH THEM. I HAD THE CROSS MEMBER REPLACED AND THE OTHER REPAIRS DONE ELSEWHERE FOR $1200. TOYOTA CORPORATE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE AND SEES NO NEED OF A RECALL. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES IN HIGH SALT AREAS (LIKE NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE). I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CROSS MEMBER. *TR

I ENTERED MY CAR IN THE HOME GARAGE WHILE COASTING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I APPROACHED ABOUT 5 FEET WITHIN MY PARKING SPOT. AFTER THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, IT WAS A MATTER OF SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR CRASHED INTO A FLOOR CABINET AND REFRIGERATOR THAT RESTS AGAINST OUR GARAGE WALL STOPPING THE CAR'S FORWARD MOVEMENT AND ALLOWING ME PUT THE CAR IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED. THE CRASH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BOTH FRONT SIDE FENDERS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, THE GARAGE WALL, FLOOR CABINET AND REFRIGERATOR. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL INTERNAL DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD BUT AT THIS POINT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE CAR DAMAGES ARE SO EXTENSIVE THAT IT MAY BE A TOTAL LOSS. OBVIOUSLY, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS INCIDENT AND WILL NOT TRUST THE CAR IN THE FUTURE. I PROMPTLY REPORTED THIS TO MY INSURANCE CO. AND FILED AN INCIDENT WITH TOYOTA AND REQUESTED THAT THEY PERFORM A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS. *TR

MY SON AND I WERE ON WAY TO PEYTON MANNING CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED, WHICH MADE ME ABRUPTLY STOP, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND REAR ENDED ME AS I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND HE WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER BACK OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING ALMOST $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE, HOWEVER, MY SON NOR MY SEAT BELTS LOCKED INTO PLACE, THEREFORE, HE SUSTAINED A SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION, WHIP LASH, MILD MEMORY LOSS, AND NEEDING PHYSICAL THERAPY. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE WHEEL, BUT I SUSTAINED WHIP LASH, INJURY TO BOTH MY LEFT & RIGHT SHOULDERS, NECK, AND BACK. I MUST REINFORCE THAT STATEMENT THAT IF THE SEAT BELTS WOULD HAVE LOCKED PROPERLY MY SON AND I MAY HAVE NOT SUSTAINED THIS TYPE OF INJURY, THEREFORE, THIS ACCIDENT WAS LIKE WEARING NO SEATBELT WHEN WE WERE BOTH SECURELY BUCKLED IN AND THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING MADE IT LIKE WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO SEAT BELTS FOR PROTECTION.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CHILD WAS RESTRAINED IN A SAFETY SEAT, THE CHILD'S LEFT THUMB BECAME TRAPPED INSIDE THE SLOT FOR A REMOVABLE CUP HOLDER THAT ATTACHED TO THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE OCCUPANT'S FINGER FROM THE SLOT, BUT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE THUMB COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE CHILD INSIDE THE SEAT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THE SAFETY SEAT WAS LITERALLY CUT OFF OF THE OCCUPANT'S THUMB. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS A COSCO ALPHA OMEGA, MODEL # 22-151-BLA; DATE OF MANUFACTURE WAS NOV. 14, 2005. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

Rear suspension control arm assembly (that supports the springs, control arm rods, shocks, as well as the the hub, brakes and wheel ) breaks completely due to rust and corrosion. It is a poor design that you can see this would happen at the weakest and narrowest section of the part. This causes the entire wheel assembly to drop or twist off, as it did mine and fortunately not on highway however on a busy local road. This vehicle was bought in [XXX], but original owner primarily had it in [XXX] where I can understand there was lots of salt on the road during snow time. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

GOOD AFTERNOON! I JUST NOTICE TODAY THE REAR SUSPENSION IS VERY RUSTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IS ANY RECALL IN THIS CAR. THANKING IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING IN THIS MATTER.

TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37K BECAUSE THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. I REPLACED THE TIRES PER THE TIRE WARRANTY WITH THE SAME TIRES AND AT 95K MILES THEY ARE AGAIN DRY ROTTED. I RECOMMEND THAT TOYOTA STOP PUTTING TOYO TIRES ON ITS RAV4S. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TOYOTA ISSUED BATTERY TWO TIMES IN THE VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE SNOW, HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE BALD TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 30 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE RENTAL AGENCY TOWED THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANOTHER RENTAL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE RENTAL VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY INSPECTED BEFORE HE RENTED IT. THE MANAGER ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE RENTAL VEHICLE FAILURE. THE RENTAL VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IT WAS INSPECTED ON 2/11/10 AND THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 5 DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.

VEHICLE DECELERATE, IGNORES THROTTLE INPUT WITH ESP LIGHT FLASHING AND SOMETIMES A 'BEEPING' SOUND WITH VIOLENT SEQUENTIAL BRAKE APPLICATION BY ITSELF OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, WITH THE VIOLENT CONSEQUENCE THAT IT HAS ON STEERING WHEEL. MADE A 'RESET' OF STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR PROCEDURE BY TOYOTA STEPS. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. BY MY EXPERIENCE AS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I SUSPECTED OF AN ESP PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHTLY INCREASED INPUT OF STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO HAVE THE SAME EFFECT THAN BEFORE. BY VISUAL INSPECTION, WITH ANOTHER PERSON MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT (PLAY) OF STEERING 'RACK AND PINION' FROM ITS MOUNTING BUSHINGS TO THE BODY. Y PAY TO HAVE THOSE BUSHINGS REPLACED, AND PROBLEM SOLVED. IT IS A COMMON ISSUE. NOW 135,000 MILES AND STILL NO PROBLEMS. THE ESP, BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL ANGLE SENSOR READING (CAUSED BY THE ADDITIONAL INPUT REQUIRED BY RACK AND PINION DEFECTIVE MOUNTING BUSHINGS) BEHAVES LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING STRAIGHT, SLIDING, INSTEAD OF TAKING THE TURN, SO THE ESP TRY TO 'CORRECT' A CONDITION THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING. PROBLEMS COULD ALSO HAPPENS TO VEHICLES GOING STRAIGHT (DECELERATING, ESP LIGHT FLASHING, BEEPING SOUND AND/OR VIOLENT BRAKE APPLIED TO ONE OF FRONTAL WHEELS). *TR

WHEN I DRIVE MY AUTOMATIC AWD 2004 RAV4 (143,000 MILES, ONLY OWNER, MAINTAINED WELL THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE) ON THE FREEWAY AROUND SLIGHT CURVES, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNS ON AND BEEPS LOUDLY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY ENGINE STALLED, JERKED, AND THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SWERVED ME INTO THE NEXT LANE, ALMOST CAUSING A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT, I WAS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKE OR TURNING THE WHEEL. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR, BUT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ANY SOLID ANSWERS ON WHY MY CAR IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THE TECH ALMOST CRASHED MY CAR DURING THE TEST DRIVE. AFTER PAYING $100, THEY SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO BLOWN REAR STRUTS THAT ARE CAUSING THE BACK WHEELS TO BOUNCE AROUND FREEWAY CURVES WHICH MAKE THE SPEED SENSORS THINK ONE OF THE WHEELS IS SKIDDING AND ACTIVATES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY SURE. THEY SAID THE SENSORS WERE ALL GOOD. THEY WOULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS I STARTED OUT BY SPENDING OVER $2000 TO TRY FIXING RANDOM THINGS THEY RECOMMENDED. THEY TOLD ME IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. BEFORE THE DIAGNOSTIC AT TOYOTA, I HAD ALREADY CLEANED ALL THE SENSORS AND SPEED RINGS, AND ALL THE SPEED RINGS ARE INTACT. THE CAR DOES NOT THROW ANY CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS THE ONLY LIGHT THAT COMES ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND ONCE THE CAR GETS BACK TO NORMAL (IE PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR OFF THE FREEWAY), THE LIGHT AND ALARM TURN OFF. I HAVE TRIED DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE ON THE CAR, YET IT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND MAKING MY CAR INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! ALSO, I LIVE IN ARIZONA...THERE WAS NO RAIN, SNOW, ICE OR MUD WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY...THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN. PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY. FROM A STOP SIGN IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN START WITH A JERK. WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE RPMS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM READ THE ERROR CODE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SOLENOID PROBLEM WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND ORDERED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $4,600. SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS WITH SAME PROBLEM. TODAY, 1-23-17, I DROVE IT ABOUT 1 MILE AND VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND LEFT IT RUNNING. THEY CAME OUT AND TRIED TO USE THEIR SCANNER BUT HAD SOME DIFFICULTY SO THEY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO RESTART IT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. SO THE CAR NOW HAS BEEN TOWED TO TUNEX SINCE THEY HAVE MORE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. ON THE INTERNET I SEE ARTICLE THAT CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE 2001 THRU AT LEAST 2005 RAVS IS THE ECM. THE SITE OF OTHER DEAL.COM SAYS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ECMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA THAT COVERED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2001-2003 RAVS. SEEMS LIKE WHETHER IT IS THE ECM OR THE TRANSMISSION OR BOTH THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED AND THE WARNING CHIME BEGAN TO SOUND. THE VSC WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR

THERE IS A THROTTLE RESPONSE DELAY UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION, MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN ENGINE IS STILL COLD. MOST RESEMBLES A FLAT SPOT. ENGINE ACTUALLY STUMBLES, OR HESITATES WHEN STARTING OFF. ALSO HESITATES WHEN UNDERWAY UNTIL WARM. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR FUMES FILLED THE CABIN SINCE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CHARCOAL CANISTER. IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO PARTS OUT OF STOCK AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED ON SEPT. 24, 2004 UNDER WARRANTY. THIS HAPPENED TO A BRAND NEW TOYOTA RAV 4 AT 2300 MILES.*AK