NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
16 reportsClear category filter162,344 miles · Apr 10, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
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 YEA…
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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 ODI #11195491
74,000 miles · Jun 23, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
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 SH…
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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 ODI #11000853
107,000 miles · Jan 15, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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…
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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 ODI #10820587
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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 PROG…
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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 ODI #10778729
95,000 miles · Jan 4, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
ECM MALFUNCTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10669913
121,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other
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, …
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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 ODI #10421929
71,087 miles · Aug 8, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION JAMMED. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. TOLD IT WAS ECM PROBLEM AND REPAIR COST WAS $1440.94. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348065
91,500 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4,STARTED DRIVING ERRATIC,WHILE FOOT ON GAS PEDAL,CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN,THEN SPEED UP WITH BANGING SOUND. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS COMPUTER BAD REPLACING IT,WHICH INCLUDED A TOW IS$ 1,440.00 .CAR IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 91,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336356
56,000 miles · May 25, 2010
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULDN'T SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. TO OK IN IMMEDIATELY INTO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. SAID IT WAS THE ECM. IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN IN FOR RECALL AND IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION OF SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU DRIVE IT WILL RUIN YOUR TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ONLY S…
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2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULDN'T SHIFT BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. TO OK IN IMMEDIATELY INTO DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. SAID IT WAS THE ECM. IT WAS ALREADY TAKEN IN FOR RECALL AND IS ANOTHER MALFUNCTION OF SAME PROBLEM. IF YOU DRIVE IT WILL RUIN YOUR TRANSMISSION. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY ONLY SAID TO CALL TOYOTA. I HAVE DONE THAT AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND 220,000 TOYOTA VEHICLE HAVE ISSUES. MY CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD STILL BE COVERED BUT THEY STOP AT 8 YEARS. I AM 25 DAYS PAST WARRANTY. DUE TO THEM KNOWING AND ALREADY RECALLING THEM THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332157
82,170 miles · Dec 27, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 82K MILES ON IT. AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN I ACCELERATED BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT I HAD A COMMON PROB…
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I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 82K MILES ON IT. AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER, 2009, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN I ACCELERATED BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. I HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT I HAD A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 RAV 4'S -- A FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND LEARNED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM IN 2001 AND 2002 RAV 4'S. TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297086