CarComplaints.com Notes: If you're looking for a vehicle with one of the most complained about transmission on the road, look no further than the 2001-2003 Toyota RAV4.

In 2001 Toyota completely redesigned the popular SUV. While some enjoyed the new look, they did not enjoy the harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear and eventual transmission failure that cost owners well over $3,000 to fix. The problem stems from a malfunctioning Electronic Control Module (ECM).

Consumer outrage coupled with pressure from different agencies led Toyota to extend the warranty nationwide back in 2010. The previous power train warranty only covered 5 years/60,000 miles, while the extended warranty now covers the transmission and ECM for 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota also pledged to reimburse any owners who had previously paid for repairs, if they had "proper proof". Good luck collecting on that one.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,381 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Toyota RAV4 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2002 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 5 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #37

Apr 222010

RAV4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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, 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, replacing the ECM and transmission. The vehicle is still being repaired and I will have it back next week.

- Bullhead City, AZ, USA

problem #36

May 092010

RAV4

  • 95,000 miles
The automatic transmission was shifting very hard from gear to gear and had problems starting in first gear from a stop. It looks like it is very common on 2001-2004 Rav4's per complaints online. A service bulletin was put out by Toyota in March of 2006 about the problem. The dealer is recommending replacement of the ECU. The bulletin proves Toyota knew about the defective ECU. Many people are being forced to buy a transmission also after the faulty ECU destroys theirs. This is a safety issue, such as driving onto a freeway and the transmission stalling when merging with traffic.

- Baraboo, WI, USA

problem #35

Apr 232010

RAV4

  • 141,000 miles
My 2002 Toyota Rav4's transmission is starting to fail to operate correctly. After coming to a complete stop, the car will not accelerate for several seconds even though I am pressing very hard on the accelerator. It just slowly moves during those seconds. This is very frightening when I attempt to merge with traffic after making a right turn. Sometime it feels like the turn will not complete before on coming traffic approaches. My mechanic has told me that I need a new transmission that will cost $3500.

- Sudbury, MA, USA

problem #34

Apr 112010

RAV4

  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2002 Toyota Rav4: ECM computer problem causes the transmission to burn out. The ECM has a design blunder which causes it to lose its ability to control the solenoids. The transmission is damaged quite suddenly.

- Frisco, Tx 75035, TX, USA

problem #33

Mar 012010

RAV4 4WD 8-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
Have a 2002 Toyota Rav4 with a transmission problem related to the ECM. The vehicles transmission hesitates, makes noises, does not shift correctly. There is a Toyota tech. Service bull. (tc-002-06) issued in 2006. Toyota never notified owners of this problem and therefore owners have driven past warranty time frames. (which is my case by 1 month) as there is only 73000 miles on the vehicle. Toyota should of contacted owners once they knew there was a problem.

- Stittville, NY, USA

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problem #32

Mar 022010

RAV4

  • 87,000 miles
I own a Toyota Rav4 2002.....it has been known by Toyota that this model has had problems with its ECU.....which makes the car shift at the wrong revs\times, at times at traffic lights or merging into highways the car completely looses power, sometimes at traffic lights it completely stalls leaving you completely vulnerable to other cars....it sometimes to revs to over 4000 revs and then suddenly engages into gear, which results in unintended acceleration. This might cause serious problems especially in congested traffic. I took the car to the Toyota dealer in acton, MA they told me I had to pay 4500 dollars to fix their own design flaw, which popestrous. There are soo many blogs that complain about this, type "Rav4 transmission problem" on google. You are bound to find thousands of blogs complaining about this. I'd like to think that this government does indeed take care of its people\ looking out for them and fighting for them in battles they can not win alone. All I ask for is for Toyota to be held responsible for their own flaws. They have put millions of people in serious risk, this is not something that should be overlooked, especially after discovery of their faulty acceleration pedals. This is what you get for trying to cut cost and then making the consumers pay for this mistake. Its high time Toyota came clean about their shady designs. Everyone and I mean everyone should boycott Toyota products until they once again become the trustworthy and reliable company it once was -do not buy the coffin car.

- Lowell, MA, USA

problem #31

Jan 012002

RAV4

  • 100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Transmission sticks from 1st to 2nd. Has done it since I bought it new in 2002. Took to dealer way back then they told me I had "special transmission fluid and I would have to pay to get it fixed". I never had it fixed and it still sticks. Takes about 1/4 mile to shift. Purchased from kissimmee Toyota which is now Toyota of orlando(?) adding complaint for engine seize.

- Louisville, GA, USA

problem #30

Feb 152010

RAV4

  • 52,200 miles
Very suddenly my transmission felt like it would not shift from 1st to 2nd gear. It would free spin, then force into gear. Toyota replaced ECM, apparently the problem referred to in a 2006 tsb. Unknown if my transmission was damaged.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #29

Jan 162010

RAV4

  • 86,000 miles
My 2002 Toyota Rav4 transmission is jerking at low speeds. It seemed that the automatic transmission was not working properly. The jerks would be particularly strong when going up or downhill. After releasing the brake pedal during a complete stop, the car does not roll forward normally either.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #28

Nov 212009

RAV4

  • 91,000 miles
Car jerks; hesitates; does not go into gear properly; revs loudly but starts like it's being moved off in third gear. Told it's the computer that is bad but if it does not get fixed after replacement of the computer, it could be the transmission. I am ordering a replacement computer but cannot afford to do it via the dealer because the initial cost is $1300. Problem is similar to many listed on various websites - spoke to Toyota 800-number: They can only take the complaint and give a reference number but nobody will contact me. No suggestion of a recall despite hundreds of complaints about cars with exact problems. I'm frustrated because there is no consideration of a discount being offered, knowing that so many cars have had this exact problem. I feel the cars should be recalled and Toyota should offer a good-faith discount, even if it's not the full amount being refunded because cars are over the 80,000 mile threshold, for such safety concerns as this.

- Sunrise, FL, USA

problem #27

Oct 102009

RAV4

  • 159,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This complaint is regarding the 2002 Toyota Rav4 about a year ago I noticed that the vehicle was stopping and having problems changing shifts. I researched and found a lot of people saying that it was the computer of the engine which was messing up my transmission. I went ahead and paid around $2000 to have the computer changed. The dealership told me that the old computer which was put at the factory had damaged my transmission. It ran well for a while but a couple of weeks back I was turning left and the vehicle unexpectedly stopped I was scared out of my mind because there were cars coming at a high speed I pushed the gas about 3 times for it to jerk into gear. A lot of other incidents like that have happened with this vehicle where the engine just wont react and place me in dangerous situation. Now its even worst where it is really staining itself to at least get to 40mph I'm going to once again have to take it to a shop to get fixed or maybe trade it in all together, because it's a danger to me and my family.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

problem #26

Oct 302009

RAV4

  • 99,935 miles
In 2004 we purchased a 2002 Rav4 Toyota after checking with consumer reports. The car has not turned over 100,000 miles and the transmission and the computer went out. The charge for replacing both was $3708. Research shows that the computer/transmission problem for 2001 to 2003 Toyota is growing. We are retired living on social security and did not have this kind of money for this problem. There should have been a recall or some type of adjustment by Toyota for the computer/transmission problems.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

problem #25

Oct 012009

RAV4

  • 59,897 miles
Our ECM, engine control module, is faulty and has been sending our transmission the wrong signals and telling the transmission to shift at the wrong intervals. This caused our transmission to hard shift and mis-shift between 1 and 2, and 2 and 3. as a result, my wife and I almost got into a accident because our SUV would not move until it finally went into gear.

- Van Nuys , CA, USA

problem #24

Oct 052009

RAV4

  • 105,132 miles
Problem with my Toyota Rav4's electronically controlled transmission. The computer was recalled in 2007 for reprogramming. Now it has failed, and the transmission potentially along with it. Toyota claims no responsibility for it, even though it was recalled and I had the reprogramming done, because I am not under warranty. Scary to be driving and have the car shift automatically down to first gear and not shift back. I'm a single mother driving two small children around - seriously scary.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #23

Oct 012009

RAV4

  • 84,000 miles
All of the sudden, my transmission started acting funny. The gears shifted really hard and it started slipping. I almost had an accident because the slipping kept me in an intersection for too long. It appears the problem is not uncommon: wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/Toyota-reaction-to-transmission-woes-draws-customers-ire/ I called you yesterday, and was told to call Toyota. Indeed, they sent me to a dealer who told me that I needed to spend $1546 to replace a computer in charge of the transmission. Once that was replaced, they could tell me if the transmission has other problems. A google search suggests this is a common problem that was recognized previously. Please hurry with this investigation, as someone may get killed if you go too slow. These computers need to be recalled and replaced. I am respectfully asking you to do your job, and keep americans safe by recalling these cars for repair of this transmission problem.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #22

Oct 012002

RAV4

  • 86,937 miles
Toyota Rav4 my transmission slips and jerks. I was just at a light, and it didn't work properly. I almost got hit. I am now scared to drive it.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #21

Sep 152009

RAV4

  • 115,000 miles
I have a 2002 Toyota Rav4 with transmission/ECM problems. My issue is that there was a technical service bulletin sent out to all of Toyota service departments it is as follows: Technical service bulletin is: TC002-06, revised March 3, 2006: "some 2001 " 2003 model year Rav4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or M.I.L. ?on" with dtc P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760 stored. Improvements have been made to the engine control module (ECM) (sae term: Powertrain control module/PCM) manufacturing process to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring. Use the following procedure to repair the vehicle" it goes on to say replace the ECM/ECU and possibly the transmission. My complaint is that Toyota did not notify any consumer about this issue and now that many of us are just now having a problem with this and after researching it learning that we are not alone and it is happening with many of the same model car- mainly the 2002. I have contacted Toyota Corp. As well as the dealership where my car was purchased. I was told the cost to repair my car would be a costly $9,000. This is something that Toyota intentionally kept from consumers to avoid costly repairs to themselves. Had I been notified I would have had the ECU/ECM replace in 2006 while my car was still under warranty. There are 121 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This just started with my car 3 weeks ago I was almost hit by another car because my car would not switch into gear once I reached about 20 mph and again at about 40 mph...the engine revved to about 6000 RPM's and just sat there if it were in neutral. I am very worried about the safety of driving this car. Toyota needs to own up to this problem and issue a recall. I am very upset and feel I was not dealt a fair hand with this car - Toyota would only repair this problem based on a customers specific complaint under 80K miles.

- Jefferson, GA, USA

problem #20

Jul 012009

RAV4

  • 104,000 miles
Around the 1st of July my Toyota rav 4 starting jerking and refused to go into second gear. The rav 4 has had all of the regular required maintenance and showed absolutely no signs of failure. The transmission and the ECM were going out. I had my 16 year old grandson in the car when this happened. I did not realized that Toyota has been aware of this problem for around 3 years until I started doing some research. This is definitely a safety hazard and should have been addressed by the Toyota company immediately. I am just now learning that there are several hundred Toyota customers that have filed complaints concerning the same issue but of course the Toyota company will not remedy the situation. If my grandson and I had been on a busy highway I do feel the outcome would have been much more devastating.

- Afton, TN, USA

problem #19

Jan 142006

RAV4

  • 67,313 miles
I had a Toyota RV4 2002, that was giving me transmission problems, the car star shaking in the middle of the freeway in various occasion, that really scared me, and my child, I had to paid $3462.52 dollars to have the transmission replaced, but that didn't fix the problem, and Toyota replaced the ECM, another 1, 200 dollars. I'm very unhappy because later I found out, that Toyota knew of this problem, but they didn't not notified the customer, I'm a single mother, and for me that was a lot of money to paid with my credit cards...

- San Jose , CA, USA

problem #18

Jul 012009

RAV4

  • 143,700 miles
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.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

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