NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
309 reports101,000 miles · May 26, 2010
Power Train
TOYOTA RAV4 CAR JERKS UPON ACCELERATING FROM STOP. CAR IS SLUGGISH TO ACCELERATE. COULD CASE WRECK WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS A STREET OR HIT FROM BEHIND IF RAV4 DOES NOT ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. FAILURE STARTED TO OCCUR SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP STATES ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BASED ON TSB FROM TOYOTA (TSB # 00…
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TOYOTA RAV4 CAR JERKS UPON ACCELERATING FROM STOP. CAR IS SLUGGISH TO ACCELERATE. COULD CASE WRECK WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS A STREET OR HIT FROM BEHIND IF RAV4 DOES NOT ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. FAILURE STARTED TO OCCUR SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP STATES ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BASED ON TSB FROM TOYOTA (TSB # 000206), TSB STATES "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" -- THIS INDICATES THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE, THAT IS OCCURRING DUE TO A POOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES WHERE OTHER 2001-2003 RAV4 OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332395
67,400 miles · May 24, 2010
Power Train
WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 L, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT/SIGN OR BASICALLY ACCELERATING, IT ACTED AS IF IT DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO GEAR, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO POWER, THEN THE ENGINE WOULD REVVED, FINALLY IT LUNGED AND JERKED INTO GEAR. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I TOO…
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WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 L, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT/SIGN OR BASICALLY ACCELERATING, IT ACTED AS IF IT DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO GEAR, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO POWER, THEN THE ENGINE WOULD REVVED, FINALLY IT LUNGED AND JERKED INTO GEAR. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY CAR RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 3000 MILES. HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, IN FACT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NOTHING. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE I READ ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING ONE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES--I'M UPSET TO FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA CORP. A COMPANY WHO I HAVE TRUSTED FOR MANY YEARS HAS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ECM. DRIVING THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION POSES A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION WHEREAS THIS IS AN "ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN" WITH SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332050
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2010
Electrical System
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ALLEGED SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE ECM COMPUTER ON HIS 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE ECM CAUSED A PAUSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. TOYOTA CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED IN 2004. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10331734
82,500 miles · May 14, 2010
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY ECM ON 2001 TOYOTA RAV 4. TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2006 TO THE DEALERS BUT FAILED TO NOTIFY ME, THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330394
81,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Power Train
2001 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 81,000 MILES. ECM FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. SAFETY ISSUE CREATED DUE TO POOR ACCELERATION AND ERRATIC SHIFTING. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE ECM FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328895
90,000 miles · Apr 28, 2010
Power Train
MY SPOUSE HAS A TOYOTA RAV4, 2001 AND IT EXPERIENCED MAJOR STALLING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TEAM IN BERKELEY, CA THREE TIMES FOR A POTENTIAL FIX. FIRST IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR (ECM AT $1,040), THEN IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT $266, THEN…
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MY SPOUSE HAS A TOYOTA RAV4, 2001 AND IT EXPERIENCED MAJOR STALLING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT. WE TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE TEAM IN BERKELEY, CA THREE TIMES FOR A POTENTIAL FIX. FIRST IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR (ECM AT $1,040), THEN IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT $266, THEN IT WAS A BEND PIPE/TUBE LEADING TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ONE MONTH LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10327933
144,480 miles · Apr 21, 2010
Power Train
2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, SHIFTING HARD AT LOW SPEEDS. HAS 144,480 MILES. AAMCO SHOP DIAGNOSED IT AS A KNOWN COMPUTER DEFECT, SENT FAULTY INFORMATION THAT FRIED THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR IS UNDERWAY, TAKES 4 DAYS AND COSTS $3,900 FOR NEW COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326913
125,000 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Power Train
MY TOYOTA RAV4 2001 MODEL, 125000 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN TURNED GREEN TRIED TO MOVE , BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT JUST DID A LITTLE, THEN I SOME HOW PARKED IN THE ROAD SIDE. TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT GARAGES, MIENEKE SAID 6000 DOLLAR REPAIR ON THE TRANSMISSION, ANOTHER SAID 4800 DOLLAR FOR REFURBISHED TRANSMISS…
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MY TOYOTA RAV4 2001 MODEL, 125000 MILES ON IT. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN TURNED GREEN TRIED TO MOVE , BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT JUST DID A LITTLE, THEN I SOME HOW PARKED IN THE ROAD SIDE. TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT GARAGES, MIENEKE SAID 6000 DOLLAR REPAIR ON THE TRANSMISSION, ANOTHER SAID 4800 DOLLAR FOR REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION, AAMCO DID A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FOR 2800 DOLLAR.... ALL THESE PLACES THEY ARE NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS TRANSMISSION OR ECM PROBLEM. I JUST CHOOSE TO GET IT DONE WITH THE CHEAPEST ONE. I FEEL LIKE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION OF TOYOTA. BEING A CUSTOMER I HAVE NO WAY KNOWING WHO SAYS THE RIGHT THING? NOW I HEAR THAT TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS DEFECTIVE ECM THAT CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS? NOW I AM WORRIED IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THAT CAR ANY FURTHER? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326118
99,500 miles · Apr 16, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train
TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING AND SLIPPING IN SECOND GEAR THEN JUMPING TO THIRD GEAR, THEN TAKING OFF IN THIRD GEAR, FLUSH TRANNY AND REPROGRAM ECM, DIN"T 'HELP ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FOR CODE P0758, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ECM AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS ECM PROBLEM AND FAIL TO NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS
NHTSA ODI #10325997
71,000 miles · Apr 15, 2010
Power Train
2001 RAV4 TRANSMISSION DID NOT WANT TO CHANGE GEARS. TOOK TO DEALER, DENIED PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP, CHANGED TO NEW ECM IN TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM FIXED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO BAD PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325868
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