2002 Toyota RAV4

My car engine light goes on and off due to transmission fault. It continuously has a hard time shifting gears in between 2500-3000 rpm and gives a jerky stop before continuing to speed up/accelerate despite when I have not let go of my foot from the pedal. After taking it to the auto shop, I was told this is the same problem other Toyota RAV 4 between 2001-2003 experiences and the mechanics told me that there was a lot of recall for the same code my car is giving (2 codes that the computer diagnosed were p0775 and p0161). While Toyota extended the warranty to 10years/150,000k and my car is 1-2 years past the warranty, it's only been barely 80,000mi and it should not be causing this problem. This transmission/ECM problem puts me and the passengers to risks because both the speed and RPM don't go past certain numbers which is low at most times, limiting myself as the driver to go even within the speed limits. All the more, with this happening more frequently these days than it had in the past, I am highly concerned for my safety and not feel safe to have someone in my car. I have been to 4 different mechanics and they have told me the same problem and that it's the same case as they saw from different RAV4's recall problem. This car was handled very carefully and this is the only occurring problem. With engine light being on and off, it is my concern that I need to have this car inspected, related to Toyota RAV4 recalls.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED; HOWEVER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ENDED IN 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,612. UPDATED 04/25/17 LJ *CN

I WAS DRIVING MY RAV4 DOWN MY ROAD WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL MY VEHICLE CONTINUED SPEEDING UP. I HAD MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKED WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN BUT COULDN'T STOP ME. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP BUT THE RPMS WENT UP TO 9000RPM'S IMMEDIATELY SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF IN HOPES SOMETHING WOULD RESET. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I NEARLY CRASHED INTO AN INTERSECTION WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED AND MAINTAINED MY CAR OTHERWISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I PURCHASED MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV IN AUGUST OF 2002. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE RAV4 SOMETHING HAS BEEN WRONG WITH IT. THE FIRST 3-MONTHS THAT I HAD THE RAV4 THE DRIVE BELT WAS CHEWED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES LIKE A GRINDING SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. SOMETIMES I WOULD JUST HAVE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE RAV4 TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. I CALLED AND TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY RAV4. I FINALLY JUST PARKED IT BECAUSE MY WIFE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT AND I WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX MY VEHICLE NOR WOULD THE DEALERSHIP. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT HE WOULD TRY TO FIND A USED TRANSMISSION AND PUT IT IN MY NEW RAV4 SUV. THE USED TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED AT A CAR PARTS AND SALVAGE PLACE FOR $1,700.00 AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW PUT THE USED TRANSMISSION INTO MY NEW TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT PAYING ME FOR THE USED TRANSMISSION THAT I HAD TO PURCHASE. CAN YOU SEE IF TOYOTA WILL LISTEN TO YOU ABOUT MY COMPLAINT? THAN K YOU. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND, WHILE ON THE "ON RAMP" TO THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO THIRD GEAR (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC TRANS). WITH THE ENGINE REVVING SHE LOOKED DOWN TO CHECK TO ASSURE IT WAS IN DRIVE ABOUT THE TIME IT LURCHED INTO 3RD, THEN SOON LURCHED INTO 4TH. COMING HOME SHE SHIFTED BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL TO TRY TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED, SAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE, WHILE ALLOWING HER TO GET HOME. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED $989 TO REPLACE THE ECM (COMPUTER), BUT COULDN'T ASSURE THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T LATER NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS NOT HELPFUL. I HAD RECORDS FROM THE PREVIOUS CAR OWNER THAT TOYOTA ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE ECM FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES AS A RESULT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT, "IF THEY FELT IT WAS WARRANTED." I ALSO HAD DOCUMENTATION THAT THE ECM WAS "REPROGRAMMED" AT 72K MILES. MY CONTENTION WAS THE ECM SHOULD'VE BEEN REPLACED, NOT REPROGRAMMED, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE REPROGRAMMING WAS DONE TO CORRECT A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. I ASKED IF I COULD SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE AT CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD EVERYONE WOULD GIVE ME THE SAME RESPONSE SINCE IT IS THEIR COMPANY POSITION. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF OWNERS WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FIRST, ONLY TO FIND THE ECM CAUSED THE NEWER TRANSMISSION TO FAIL ALSO, OR OWNERS WHO REPLACED THE ECM ONLY TO FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT OWNERS BY CREATING A RECALL TO ALLOW OWNERS TO GET THIS FIXED PRIOR TO SCARY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SHIFTING PROBLEMS. THE INTERNET IS ALSO FULL OF PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO WANT TO ENTER ANOTHER CLASS ACTION SUIT, BUT I AM HOPING TOYOTA APPRECIATES THEIR CUSTOMERS ENOUGH THAT LAW SUITS WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO GET THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING. BUT, I'M LOSING HOPE. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2014, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK THE CODES, BUT SHE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. ON JUNE 13, 2014 I WAS DRIVING N. ON HIGHWAY 101 NEAR REDWOOD CITY, CA. IT WAS ABOUT 6P.M. IN GOOD WEATHER; I WAS IN STOP-AND-GO COMMUTE TRAFFIC. I HAD SLOWED TO A STOP IN THE FAR LEFT LANE,OF 5 LANES, DUE TO SLOW TRAFFIC. WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN TO MOVE AGAIN, I ACCELERATED AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE "SLIPPING"; I REVVED THE ENGINE,BUT THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE WHEELS. THERE WERE MANY CARS BEHIND ME BLOWING THEIR HORNS. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO "CLANK" AND "CHUG" AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS AND PULLED VERY SLOWLY OVER TO THE SHOULDER ACROSS 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC! I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, BUT I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER! THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO VERY SLOWLY, BUT THE LOUD NOISES STOPPED, SO I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEAREST EXIT (WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE) . I WOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE SHOULDER IF THE CAR WAS STILL "CLANKING" FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA, BUT THE NOISE HAD SUBSIDED. I FELT THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL (TRANSMISSION) PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I CALLED MY DAUGHTER AND ASKED HER TO DRIVE TO MY LOCATION. I WAS GOING TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK WHEN SHE ARRIVED. SHE ARRIVED IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO "DRIVE" AND ACCELERATED GENTLY. THE CAR SOUNDER PERFECTLY NORMAL, AND ACCELERATED AT A NORMAL SPEED WITH PLENTY OF POWER. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR HOME IF IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. WE GOT HOME FINE, BUT JUST AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING LOT, THE CAR MADE LOUD NOISES AGAIN AND LURCHED A FEW TIMES AS I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THAT'S WHEN I BEGAN TO DISCOVER ALL THE PROBLEMS RAV 4'S HAD HAD WITH CLASS ACTION'S&ECM FAILURES. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND IMMEDIATELY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,329.