NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
190 reportsClear category filter84,795 miles · Jan 30, 2010
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING IN AUG. 2009. THE CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ALMOST STALL OUT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE CODES SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD…
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MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING IN AUG. 2009. THE CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ALMOST STALL OUT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE CODES SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN OR BRING IT BACK WHAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I LEFT THE LOT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE P0755 WAS THE CODE USED TO REPAIR THE CAR. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I BEGAN TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. I CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT HELP FIX THE ISSUE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE AND NEEDED TO GO TO WORK I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS ALONG WITH THE CURRENT ISSUES THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE RECALL MODELS NOW. JUST BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED FROM THIS ISSUE DOES NOT MEAN NO ONE WILL, IF THE OWNER DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE CAR WITH THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303380
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train
I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2004. IN JULY 2009, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAN IT WOULD T…
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I BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2004. IN JULY 2009, MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND BUCKING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHERS WITH A 2001-2003 RAV4. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE. IT WOULD COST ME MORE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THAN IT WOULD TO JUST PAY IT OFF. I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AS I DO A LOT OF COMMUTING. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH MONEY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. I HEARD ABOUT TOYOTA'S RECALL ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY AND I AM DISGUSTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AS PERTINENT AS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR. I BOUGHT MY TOYOTA BECAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT THEY HAD A REPUTATION FOR SAFE, WELL-MADE VEHICLES. MY LIFE IS PUT ON THE LINE EVERYTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE THAT CONTRAPTION, AND I EXPECT THAT IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO ENSURE A COMPENSATION OR EXTENDED WARRANTY OF SOME KIND, TOYOTA WILL LOSE MY BUSINESS( AMONG MANY, MANY OTHERS, I'M SURE.). MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYTIME ANYONE WHO IS HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH A TOYOTA RAV 4 GETS IN THE CAR, THEY ARE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT FROM THIS CHEAP, FAULTY, UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE WHEN REVIEWING TOYOTA'S LACK OF CONCERN FOR THEIR DRIVER'S SAFETY. I AM SURE THAT SOME BIGWIG IS SITTING IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, PROFITING FROM THE MONEY THAT TOYOTA SAVED BY USING DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303145
114,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train
IN OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WE RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GEARS. THE CAR JERKS AND TAKES A MOMENT TO SHIFT. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 200…
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IN OUR 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WE RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY TRANSITIONING BETWEEN GEARS. THE CAR JERKS AND TAKES A MOMENT TO SHIFT. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS ON CASES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS. *CN
NHTSA ODI #10302881
68,860 miles · Jan 23, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train
I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2001 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED THE HARD SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THEN IT STARTED TO LURCH AND STALL. IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. THEN WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME EVERY INSTANCE YOU DROVE IT THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK TWO TIMES BEFORE MY MECHANIC SAW THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND A NEW COMPUTER THAT TAL…
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I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2001 RAV4. WHILE DRIVING WE NOTICED THE HARD SHIFTING INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THEN IT STARTED TO LURCH AND STALL. IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY. THEN WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME EVERY INSTANCE YOU DROVE IT THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK TWO TIMES BEFORE MY MECHANIC SAW THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND A NEW COMPUTER THAT TALKS TO THE TRANSMISSION(ECM ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) WHICH THEY INSTALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10302053
134,000 miles · Jan 23, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train
MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 RAV4 DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10302032
110,500 miles · Jan 19, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMAL. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOAR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMAL. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NEVER ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FAILURE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,500. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/30/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10300308
90,800 miles · Jan 19, 2010
Power Train
HARSH SHIFTING IN 2001 RAV4. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10300275
61,000 miles · Jan 8, 2010
Power Train
I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD…
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I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD ANY PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S A BIG ONE. I USE THIS VEHICLE DAILY TO DROP MY KID AT SCHOOL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS A SAFETY CONCERN. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD BE TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AS WELL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298793
139,768 miles · Jan 3, 2010
Power Train
2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE …
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2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. [XXX], CA. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC
NHTSA ODI #10297921
78,100 miles · Dec 30, 2009
Power Train
1. TRANSMISSION FAILED DESPITE TOYOTA DEALER HAVING REPLACED THE ECM ON THE 2001 RAV4. 2. CAR NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED (IN 2007) ECM. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 3. TOYOTA REPLACED THE PART IN 2007, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. HAVE SINCE DISCOVE…
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1. TRANSMISSION FAILED DESPITE TOYOTA DEALER HAVING REPLACED THE ECM ON THE 2001 RAV4. 2. CAR NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED (IN 2007) ECM. COULD BE DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 3. TOYOTA REPLACED THE PART IN 2007, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THEY RETOOLED THIS PART 3 TIMES SINCE 2007, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE NEW PART WAS JUST AS FAULTY AS THE ORIGINAL. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND THE NEW PART ONLY HAD A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297538