27 responses so far ↓

• 1 Athena // Sep 2, 2009 at 6:46 pm

  Toyota **did** send out a service bulletin about the faulty RAV4 transmissions – in March 2006.

  You can see it here: http://rav4world.com/tsb/2006/BO021-06.pdf

  I am currently living this nightmare and the customer service from Toyota and from the local dealer is nothing short of criminal. These RAV4s are deathtraps and Toyota has known about this for at least three years.

• 2 michael // Sep 20, 2009 at 11:54 am

  I have just purchased a top of the range Rav 4 for £25,000 in London England. After 190 miles all the warning lights came on and the gear box started to jump around. I have owned the car for ten days and Toyota are saying i should not get a refund!

• 3 Norm Rech // Sep 21, 2009 at 3:07 pm

  We own a 2003 Rav4 with about 73000 miles on it. The automatic transmission just started acting up.

• 4 Dani // Sep 24, 2009 at 6:35 pm

  Just learned today that my 2002 RAV4 needs a new engine — a $7000 repair. A message to Toyota: NEVER AGAIN!

• 5 Toydisappointed // Oct 2, 2009 at 9:31 am

  Read this NYTimes from August 2009.

  http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/toyotas-reaction-to-transmission-woes-draws-customers-ire/

  This is a defect and IMHO people will be killed in auto accidents due to this defect. It appears theat the computer tells the transmission to do the wrong thing, and that ruins the transmission with time.

  Friendly Advice:

  1)If all the sudden your transmission acts like it is possessed, take it immediately to a shop and show them the NYTimes article.

  2)Make a full report to document the problem and get USGOV to investigate. Here is the link:

  http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

  3) Keep all paperwork and receipts. Pretty good chance for class action or recall that may get your $$$ back.

  4)Think twice before buying Toyota. They appear to be losing their stellar reputation.

• 6 Chad // Oct 2, 2009 at 10:07 am

  Toyota has a huge problem on it’s hands and needs to own up to it. My 2002 Rav4 transmission is slipping between 2nd and 3rd and is jerking in 1st and 2nd. Problem started Sept 10th. Now I can’t drive it and Toyota said they won’t help. By the way the complaints on 2001-2003 with the NHTSA is now 488. Toyota’s reputation has turned to poop.

• 7 Tanya // Oct 5, 2009 at 5:08 am

  Now I must deal with a jerking, slipping transmission issue. My 2001 Rav4 with 125,000 miles, started acting up recently. My husband called the 800 number for Toyota, and all they told him was “Sorry, but your vehicle is out of warranty”. ..they even said “You can’t trust what you read in the forums. People tend to exaggerate”. I saw what these repairs are costing other owners and there’s no way I can afford to pay this. I also doubt these owners are “exaggerating” the repair estimates either. With no recall issued, it sounds like small claims court may be the only answer. Toyota needs to make this right. They made their big money selling Rav4’s with defects included.

• 8 M and G // Oct 6, 2009 at 11:48 am

  We have a 2003 Rav4 with 71,000 and same as everyone, transmission is starting to go. I thought they’re customer svc was horrible, this is the final nail….We’ll never buy another Toyota again….Jeep, here we come.

• 9 Teresa // Oct 8, 2009 at 4:07 pm

  Same transmission problems with our 2001 RAV4

• 10 Mikey // Oct 15, 2009 at 4:42 pm

  well i’m on 50,000 miles and i can hear there’s a problem with my 2003 RAV 4 cos it sure don’t sound like when i first bought the damn vehicle. Jerking between 15-20 mph – yep! took it to 2 mechanics – 1 says the car is fine – the other says it’s the ECU (brain of the car) so 600 odd UK pounds worth of damage. Great ! let’s spend my hard earned money on your pile of trash !!

• 11 Bobbie // Oct 16, 2009 at 8:15 pm

  I have a 2002 Rav 4 with 85k. It is slipping and jerking all over the place. I take it to Toyota, they want to charge $98. just to tell me what is wrong with it,, DUH,, the transmission is crap,,
  I take it to another mechanic who tells me this is common with Toyota Rav 4’s and the parts are 4x the cost of other trans parts. Wait, lets see if I understand this,, they build a crappy,defective trans and charge 4x the price of other tranny parts.. wow, they have found a way to legally rob us.. I am through with Toyota..
  TOYOTA YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT BY YOUR CUSTOMERS..or soon you won’t have any…

• 12 weezy // Oct 17, 2009 at 4:41 am

  Also have problems with my 2003 Rav 4 and have got no help by Toyota. I will never buy another Toyota nor will any of my family. Toyota is ruining their reputation.

• 13 calvin // Oct 29, 2009 at 9:45 pm

  i have 2003 rav4 and have transmisson problem with the mileage of 73000, don’t know how much will cost me yet, i guess it won’t be cheap. may be $2400 for a new transmission. never buy toyota again.

• 14 Linda Rhodes // Oct 31, 2009 at 2:26 am

  Just had my 2003 Rav 4 with less than 70,000 miles on it towed away because the tranny is shot. Unbelievable, the repair will come close to $3000 and then they tell me that will put the computer out of wack and cost another $800 on top of that. I used to loved Toyota, my last one had 115,00 miles on it with no real trouble. I hate Toyota now.

• 15 wendy // Nov 1, 2009 at 5:39 pm

  Just started having problems with my Rav 4. The gears from 2nd and 3rd are slipping, scared to take it in but the engine light went on and am afraid its the transmission. Only 130,000 kms, 2002, where does one go to get Toyota to be liable?

• 16 Mickey // Nov 1, 2009 at 7:09 pm

  I am looking for people with this problem and problems with their cat converters under 80 k miles and tranny problems. We do have grounds for a class action suit. You can find me on twitter and Direct message me there @corebodypilates

• 17 laura bianchi // Nov 2, 2009 at 10:45 am

  I just had my computer replaced on my rav4 a few weeks ago. It was still under warrenty, however, three days ago, it all started again.

  The car started to shake, then it was shifting uncontrollably, and the engine light was on. I brought is back to Hyannis, Toyota. I was told it was not the same problem. The CSR told my a COIL needed to be replaced it would be $250.00. Also, I had to rent a car for four days. Of course Hyannis Toyota will not take care of that because they state it was another problem.

  Toyota WAS a good automobile when it was actually made in JAPAN. Now, it is American made. Cheaper everything, more profits for the company. Just awful. The CSR I dealt with on Saturday was patronizing , sarcastic, and tried to antagonize me. No more Toyota’s for me. Never Again!!!!!!!
  Laura B.
  Cape Cod, MA

• 18 Gene // Nov 2, 2009 at 8:49 pm

  I have 2002 Rav4 which we purchased in 2004 after checking first with Consumer Reports. Last we the transmission went out and the ECM had to be replaced. Toyota would not take any reponsibility for this problem for which I paid $3708 to fix. I am sick of Toyota and hope there is some kind of class action soon.

• 19 Gene // Nov 2, 2009 at 8:51 pm

  How can we work together to get some justice out of Toyota? Gene

• 20 deb in so cal // Nov 3, 2009 at 11:29 am

  Bought my Certified used 02 Rav 4 in 06.
  Service bulletin came out 3 months before I purchased my CERTIFIED USED Rav4. Nothing was said to me about the problem and never rec’d any info in the mail even though it’s a KNOWN and dangerous issue! At 101k (1k miles after ext warranty ended) started experiencing EXACTLY same shifting problem as above complaints. I was almost reared ended by a 18 wheeler while getting on the freeway due to the tranny not shifting properly!!

  Talked to 2 different Toyota service mgrs- the dealership where I bought it and the dealership where I get my service done.
  Both answered that it’s out of warranty but gave me the number and advised me to call toyota corp.
  I didn’t bother with them instead I filed a complaint with BBB which toyota corp responded same: out of warranty. cannot help.
  Took it to a friend of my son’s at a toyota dealer 85 miles from home who gave me a no charge diagnostic and found that the computer was bad, but tranny is still good. Swapped out my computer at his employee cost of $800 (compared to 1200 quote from both previous service ctrs). The car now runs perfectly and I am happy with it again.
  NOTE TO TOYOTA: The service center who stepped up to help me has won my future business because the service manager allowed the service tech to STEP OUT OF THE BOX and help a toyota owner in trouble. IF I ever buy a toyota again, I will drive 85 miles to the dealer who got my car fixed at a decent cost….even though I’m still out the $800 for a KNOWN ISSUE!!TOYOTA CORP YOU BETTER GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, YOU ARE LOSING A LOT OF CUSTOMERS WHO CAN READ WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE INTERNET. DO YOU THINK WE ARE ALL STUPID??????????

• 21 EK // Nov 4, 2009 at 11:09 am

  I am having the same problems as everybody else here,with my 2002 Rav4 88k miles on it. Unbelievable. Go figured, that’s why they are out of F1 competition and the owner Mr. Toyoda was crying like a baby when he announced the situation last night. Not good not cool from Toyota pretty soon they will not have a single customer.

• 22 AJ // Nov 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm

  Had my 2002 Rav 4 since Aug 2004…never heard anything about faulty transmissions. Apparently there is a safety issue that they need to address. I could have been stalled on any of these SoCal fwys in the #1 lane! Costing me $1400 to fix…how do we get the class action suit going?

  Note to Deb in Socal…wish I had your good fortune in this matter. But, we should be able to get this into court, agree?

• 23 KG // Nov 12, 2009 at 7:17 am

  I own Toyota Rav4 2002, excellent condition 78,000 miles. For 4 years had no problem and recently the gear box began acting up, in Toyota they told me that computer needs to be replaced that’s under 80,000 miles warranty (10% out 100%) that’s the cause, but we all know that it will not solve the problem …. I certainly need to fix the gear transmission, used box costs $1700,new $3600. I can’t drive my car till I get the money together to fix it!!!! Thanks a lot, TOYOTA!!!!:(((((

• 24 Brian Issa // Nov 18, 2009 at 4:12 pm

  I just got done paying $3700 for a new computer and transmission for my 2002 Rav with 128K miles. The best part is that I was told by the mechanic that Toyota has not fixed the problem with the computers and that the new one will almost certainly do the same thing. Oh what a feeling..being reemed by Toyota.

• 25 HF // Nov 19, 2009 at 10:03 am

  Just started having trouble with my 2003 RAV4. Just replace the transmission and it’s still slipping and bucking. Service light has gone on and the car started slipping. Bought a Toyota because it was supposed to be reliable. This car has been a nightmare since I drove it off the lot. NEVER AGAIN TOYOTA!!!!!

• 26 dv // Nov 19, 2009 at 4:07 pm

  Just having this issue arise in my 2001 Rav4. Exactly as others have stated. I actually had the transmission replaced last week with another Rav4 transmission…one week later..worse than before. As of now, I am having a diagnostic run on it and after some research I can now let them know about the ECM. Of course, I have already spent 1300 on the second transmission, not counting the labor! Luckly, the place I got the transmission is actually fixing it for me. No telling how much more this is going to cost me! Toyota will be hearing from me!

• 27 davew // Nov 20, 2009 at 1:11 pm

  Same issue here in LA. Only 40k on 2002 Rav4. Dealer replaced ECM under warranty but transmissoin was toast as a result of the ECM and Toyota refused to accept any responsibility. I find it odd that their owner’s manual calls for tranny fluid to be changed at 100k miles yet the trans itself needs to be changed at 40k. I buy at least one car a year…never again will toyota or lexus be on the purchase list unless they step up and address this issue fast. A Kia would be more reliable.

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