2003 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN NO GAS, TURNED DOWN HILL IN SNOW CAR ACCELERATED GOING STRAIGHT INTO DOWNED TREE. MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND HAS HAD STICKING ACCELERATOR, REAR END CLUNKING NOISE AND POWER STEERING HAS MADE IT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. MY SERVICE ANIMAL HIT THE WINDSHIELD THAT SHATTERED WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES AT ANOTHER TIME. I'VE HAD OTHER NEAR MISSES AND TWO LEFT OF CENTER TICKETS WITH POWER STEERING ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN INTO TOYOTA FOR STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN WRITE SERVICE TICKET. THEY FILLED POWER STEERING FLUID SAID NO PROBLEM. THEY KEEP RESETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STATING ITS GAS CAP. THIS CAR IS A LEMON, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, COMPUTER. THIS IS THE FIRST NEW VEHICLE I EVER BOUGHT AND WISH I WOULD HAVE STUCK WITH USED. *TR

I BECAME AWARE OF YOUR SITE AFTER A READING A NY TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HARD SHIFTING AND LURCHING BEGAN IN MY 2003 RAV 4 WHEN IT WAS AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE COMPUTER CODE THAT WAS DIAGNOSED INDICATED SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I RESEARCHED IT ON THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM FOR MANY RAV OWNERS. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD THE WORK DONE BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THAT MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED. I PAID $1100 FOR THE NEW ECU AND $2400 FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR ANY OF THE REPAIR WORK THAT WAS DONE. *TR

CAR DOES NOT PROCEED INTO DRIVE AFTER BEING AT A STOP. SLOW TO TURN CORNERS - SLOW TO MOVE FORWARD -NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 2003, TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICE A SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, MORE SO FROM A STOP AND GO MOTION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TRANSMISSION EXPERT, HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER NEEDS CHANGING. A DAY LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, TOOK THE CAR BACK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A WEEK LATER I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT BACK. NOW THEY TOLD ME THE TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER, THAT MAY AT THIS POINT CONTRIBUTED TO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND IF I WANTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I NEED TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER, WHICH CAN RUN TO THOUSAND OF DOLLARS, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AT THIS TIME. MY QUESTION IS IF TOYOTA KNOW THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WHY NOT RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM? I HAVE GONE TO CARCOMPLAINT.COM AND READ MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THOSE OWNERS PAID ALOT MONEY UP FRONT TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIX, UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR CARS HAD HIGH MILEAGE, AND OUT WARRANTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, I AM FOR WHATEVER ACTIONS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST TOYOTA TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DANIEL *TR

TOYOTA RAV 4, 2003, FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY IN LOWER GEARS LEADING TO NEAR REARENDERS. LOOKED ON A CAR COMPLAINT SITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REFLASHED AT THE SERVICE CENTERS TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NOT LISTED AS A RECALL BUT A TECHNICAL PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO HAVE BOTH THE ECM REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. 125000 MILES WHICH IS BETTER THAN MOST REPORTED. EVERYONE HAVING TROUBLE WITH TOYOTA. SEEMS TO HAVE CROPPED UP IN THE 2002 MODELS FIRST. *TR

JERKING AND SHIFTING TO THE WRONG GEAR. DEALER FOUND OUT BAD TRANSMISSION . NEED TO SPEND $5000. I'M SURPRISE FOR TOYOTA PRODUCT. *TR

INSTRUCTIONS SAY A 12 YR. OLD OR UNDER SHOULD SIT IN THE BACK SEAT DUE TO THE FACT AN AIRBAG COULD KILL THE CHILD. HOWEVER, WE ARE ONLY 5 FEET 2 INCHES WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A 12 YR OLD. SHOULDN'T OUR AIRBAGS BE DISCONNECTED?? *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, 138000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2003. THIS CAR JERKS, JUMPS GEARS, AND SUDDENLY SLOWS WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO COME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. NOW IT WON'T GO OVER 40 AND IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE. I CALLED CONTINENTAL TRANSMISSION AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY HAVE REPAIRED MANY TOYOTA RAV4'S FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME APPROX $3500.00. IT SEEMS THE DEFECTIVE ECU BURNS UP THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, WHEN SEARCHING ON LINE THEIR ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RAV4 OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT A RANDOM PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE OF THESE TIMES SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT AND/OR GET HURT AND HOPEFULLY NOT KILLED. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO DO A RECALL. MY HUSBAND HAS CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR HELP COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY. WE HAD BELIEVED IN TOYOTA FOR QUALITY, AFTER THIS I WILL NOT EVER CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER TOYOTA. WITH TODAY'S ECONOMY IN SUCH A FINANCIAL DISASTER IT IS A SHAME THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS. *TR

IN SEPTEMBER 2008, MY RAV4 SUDDENLY BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I PULLED OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER AND IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AS OTHER VEHICLES WARE APPROACHING AND AS I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR JUST IDLED HIGH THEN IT JOLTED INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO THE NEXT DAY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY AAMCO, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE TSB TC002-06 ISSUED BY TOYOTA. AAMCO ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY COULD DETERMINE IF IT WAS IN FACT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH IT DID NEED A NEW ECM COMPUTER AS PER TC002-06. ALSO IN FEB 2009 I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ECM COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. MY RAV4 AT THE TIME HAD 80,300 MILES ON IT AND THE SLONE TOYOTA THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM WOULD NOT HONOR THE 80/8 WARRANTY. THEY DID HOWEVER GIVE ME 50/50 GOODWILL ASSISTANCE (IF YOU CAN EVEN CALL IT THAT SINCE IT STILL COST OVER $900 FOR THE COMPUTERS.) THE NEW TRANSMISSION COST $3,750 DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONED COMPUTER. NOW IN APRIL 2010, 18 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES LATER, I AM GOING THROUGH THIS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 60 MPH AND THEN IT WENT TO 40 MPH. I COULD NOT GET IT ACCELERATE. I HAD 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS VERY SCARY FOR US AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE QUICKLY APPROACHING BEHIND US AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. THE LOCATION WERE I WAS DRIVING DID NOT HAVE ANYWHERE FOR ME TO PULL OVER. AGAIN THE CAR JOLTED INTO GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE AGAIN MY CAR IS AT THE AAMCO. AT THIS TIME WE ARE UNSURE IF THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN OR IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION I HAD INSTALLED. REGARDLESS I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TOYOTA CLAIMED IN 2006 STEPS WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. ONCE I RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT I WILL POST A COMPLAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT AND UPSHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. TOYOTA DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID. AFTER INTERNET SEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I ASKED THAT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACE THE COMPUTER (MUCH LESS COSTLY) AND THE CAR STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AN INTERNAL MEMO TO DEALERS STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE MAKE/MODEL BUT THE LOCAL DEALER DID NOT MENTION SUCH A MEMO. I ONLY FOUND IT AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SQUEAKING/CRUNCHING NOISE IN THE DASHBOARD THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF. MY MECHANIC HAS PUT PACKING BEHIND MY RADIO AND IN THE VICINITY AND FOR THE FIRST DAY THE NOISE IS GONE BUT IT ALWAYS RETURNS. IT IS HORRIBLE IN THE WINTER IN THE MIDWEST WHEN EVERYTHING IS COLD AND STIFF BUT GETS A LITTLE MORE TOLERABLE WHEN ITS HOT AND HUMID. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN BRAIN OF THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4 WITH 103,000 MILES ON IT IS HAVING SEVERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND WITHOUT LUNGING, CLUNKING, AND HESITATING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HARDLY MOVES. JUST HAD THE 90,000 MILE TUNE UP DONE AND THE DEALER COULD NOT ID THE PROBLEM. AFTER GETTING THE CAR HOME IT IS UNDRIVABLE-WE DID NOT THINK WE WOULD MAKE IT TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY TELL ME IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM-VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND A CLEAR MANUF. DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING IN THE SHOP WITH NO HOPE OF A SOLUTION. *TR

TOYOTA RAV-4 HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AT INTERSECTIONS ETC. HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC ON TWO OCCASIONS. TOYOTA WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4, AT 86600 MILES IT APPEARED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ANYONE IT WAS STALL AND SLIP WHILE GOING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA) SAID IT WAS INTERNAL IN THE TRANSMISSION SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER REVIEW THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH TOYOTA'S 2001 THRU 2003 AND IT IS THE ECM THAT GOES BAD AND IF YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR IT WILL TARE UP THE TRANSMISSION. I WENT BACK TO TOYOTA AND SHOWED THEM THE BULLETIN PUT OUT BY TOYOTA AND AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM THEY INSTALLED ME A NEW ECM, THIS WAS JUST 2 DAYS AGO, THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOT, BUT I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED, THIS IS A REAL EXPENSE TO THE CAR OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP, IT LOST POWER. IF THE AIR CONDITIONING WERE TO BE ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LOSE POWER. WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS THERE WASN'T A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A WORN CLUTCH. ALSO, THE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES FOR THE WARRANTY TO BE IN EFFECT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. WHEN IN PARK OR STOPPED THE CAR IDLES HIGH. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THE SHIFT OF GEARS IS NOT SMOOTH, IT IS JUMPY AND JERKY. ALSO WHEN SWITCHING TO DRIVE, REVERSE ETC, ITS NOT A SMOOTH TRANSITION. I FEEL LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SAFE AND COULD FAIL WHILE IM DRIVING. MY PASSENGERS OFTEN TELL ME I AM A CRAZY DRIVER AS OF LATE, BECAUSE THE CAR IS JERKING THEM AROUND, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY WAY OF DRIVING. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 RAV 4 THE CHECK OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES IT WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND IT WILL COST ABOUT 8,000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AFTER THIS HAPPENED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4, AT 140,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE CAR NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAD REPAIRS DONE, LIGHT CAME BACK ON AT 160,00 . DEALER SAYS NEEDS NEED TRANSMISSION. STARTED DOING MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS FORUM AT WWW.CARCOMPLAINS.COM AND DISCOVERED THERE ARE A LOT OF RAV 4 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS IGNORING OUR CRY FOR HELP. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4- SEEMS TO BE EXACT SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING--NO PROBLEMS UNTIL EARLY THIS YEAR 2008, TRANSMISSION WAS SKIPPING GEAR 2 TO 3, TOOK TO MECHANIC THEN TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, WHERE THE SAME PROCEDURE OCCURRED. COMPUTER CHIP REPLACED, FEW DAYS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 89,000 MILES, 3400 DOLLARS TOTAL. OTHERWISE, THE CAR IS GREAT. NO ACCIDENT, JUST TOO MUCH HASSLE, MONEY, AND SEVERAL STRESSFUL, SCARY RIDES HOME. *TR

MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING BACK FROM HER SECOND HOME ON THE 60 FREEWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAME UP UPON STOPPED TRAFFIC. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES HARD BUT RAN INTO THE BACK OF ONE VEHICLE WHICH WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE LANE AND THEN MY MOTHER CONTINUED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. IN NEITHER OF THE 2 SEPARATE COLLISIONS DID ANY OF THE AIRBAGS IN HER 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEPLOY. BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT SHE BROKE HER NECK BETWEEN C5 AND C6 IN HER SPINAL COLUMN AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU UNIT OF THE LOCAL HOSPITAL EVER SINCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. OVER TIME, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 184,000.

2003 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE SLOWLY, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A BRICK WALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, HE BELIEVED THE CARPET BECAME STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL. *JB UPDATED 06/02/10 *JB

MY TOYOTA RAV4 WD, 2003, TRANSMISSION FAILED IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND AGAIN TRAVELING UP A HILL. *JB

AFTER SITTING IN GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS, RAV4 WOULD NOT START. CHECKED BATTERY, BUT IT WAS WORKING. ALSO TRIED TO JUMP-START CAR, BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A COMPUTER FAILED.*AK

I HAVE TOYOTA RAV 4 2003 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGE. *TR

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY '03 TOYOTA RAV4: - CURRENT MILEAGE: 93K MILES - AFTER COMING TO A FULL STOP AT A STREET LIGHT I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED MY CAR STARTED TO STALL. I FIGURED MY FOOT MAY HAVE SLIPPED OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. - LATER THAT WEEK THE STALLING WORSENED AND MY CAR WOULD THEN START TO SHUTTER UNCONTROLLABLY. - THIS LED ME TO TAKE NOTICE THAT THE STALLING/SHUTTERING OCCURRED AFTER MY CAR WAS WARMED UP AND I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MINS. - I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. - DIAGNOSTICS TESTS WERE PERFORMED AND I WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING/SHUTTERING. - THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE "TOYOTA" RECOMMENDS TO DO SO INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE IS. - THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME IT WOULD COST ME $4,000 TO REPLACE WHICH HAS LED ME TO THIS POINT IN POSTING THIS COMPLAINT. - I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE OPTIONS I WAS GIVEN AND WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT TOYOTA IS A DEPENDABLE CAR. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE RAV 4 ON COUNTRY ROADS, THE CAR STALLED AT A STOP. AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, WE WERE ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AND DRIVE IT HOME ALTHOUGH IT RAN VERY ROUGH. TOWED CAR TO DEALER WHO EVENTUALLY DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY A INTERMITTENT GROUND-WIRE CONNECTION BETWEEN COMPUTERS. CAR HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WENT UP HILL AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE DROVE UP THE SAME HILL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. 3/12/2010 UPDATE*CW UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

I HAVE A 2003 RAVA4. I USE SYNTHETIC OIL IN IT WHEN I GET MY REGULAR OIL CHANGE. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT AN OIL CHANGE AROUND TWO MONTHS AGO. I BECAME VERY ALARMED. I WENT BACK TO MY HOME AND PUT MORE OIL IN THE ENGINE. I THEN WENT TO THE STORE NOW I AM HEARING A SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS A BOMB. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANICS SAYS I HAVE SLUDGE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I USE SYNTHETIC OIL. TOYOTA DEALER WANT ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE WITH LABOR IT WILL COST ME 8,000.00. I HAVE 39,000 MILES. SHOULD THE DEALER FIX THIS FOR ME BECAUSE MY ENGINE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY? *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH OIL HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE A WEEK BEFORE. THE ENGINE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN JULY OF 2006 DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

WE HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 ELECTRIC VEHICLE. CAR ROLLED AWAY FROM CHARGING STATION WHILE PLUGGED IN - PERSON IN CAR SHIFTED INTO 'NEUTRAL' BY MISTAKE. RIPPED OUT CHARGING PADDLE DOWN TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES - POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL HAZARD. COULD BE AVOIDED BY A SIMPLE RELAY THAT WILL PREVENT PEOPLE FROM SHIFTING OUT OF 'PARK' WHEN CAR IS PLUGGED IN. HAPPENS TO MANY TOYOTA ELECTRIC VEHICLES - I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. PICTURE (JPEG) AVAILABLE IF NEEDED PLEASE DO PASS ON THIS COMPLAINT TO TOYOTA. *JB

SLUDGE IN TOYOTA ENGINE. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 IN 2006. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT DID NOT STOP VERY EASILY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON EVEN MILDLY SLIPPER ROADS. IT ALSO MAKES A HORRIFIC CHATTERING NOISE WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKES (ONLY WITH SLIPPERY CONDITIONS). I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2006 OR 2007 WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT WAS HOW THE BRAKES WERE DESIGNED. THIS BRAKING ISSUE HAS CONTINUED. I HAVE EVEN CHECKED IN TO BUYING NEW TIRES (LAST FALL AND AGAIN THIS WINTER) AND THE MECHANIC SAID MY TIRES WERE FINE. I HAVE SORT OF LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THIS BRAKING ISSUE BY MAKING SURE WHENEVER THERE IS EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT I SLOW DOWN BY DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND OR 1ST RATHER THAN USING THE BRAKES. *TR

ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2006 WHILE DRIVING FROM RHODE ISLAND, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - IMMEDIATELY I PULLED OVER TO THE NEXT EXIT TO A GAS STATION. I PUT ONE QUART OF OIL IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE THAT IS ALL IT STATED IT NEEDED. AT WHICH TIME THE OIL LIGHT WENT OFF. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON - THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES A CLICKING SOUND STARTED - SO IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN - HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AAA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM RHODE ISLAND TO NORTH CARY AUTO. THE MECHANIC TRIED STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD. I ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE CAR OVER TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS THE CASE. HE STATED THAT AFTER CHECKING THE CAR - HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED IRA TOYOTA AND THE TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE AT WHICH TIME THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ON FEBRUARY 2 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45 P.M. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM CHARLENE TO INFORM ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE $10,000 TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS GONE. SHE STATED THAT A ROD BROKE AND WENT UP INTO ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO HER MANAGER, CATHY KITIK, WHO ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS "GUNK" IN THE ENGINE. AT WHICH TIME I INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS SLUDGE AND IT IS KNOWN THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE V4 AND V6 ENGINES. SHE STATED THAT IT NEVER OCCURRED IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4. AT WHICH TIME I ASKED HER "IS IT A TOYOTA ENGINE" AND SHE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS. SHE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT A ROD BROKE AND WENT INTO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED IT TO SHUT DOWN. I INFORMED HER THAT I HAD RECEIPTS WHICH SHOWED THE OIL WAS CHANGED APPROPRIATELY. *NM

MY WIFE'S 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS 85000 MILES. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO IT STARTED SHIFTING POORLY AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT MOVE EASILY FROM REST. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. WE COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL COTTMAN TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIR. AFTER 2 WEEKS AND THE REPLACEMENT OF MANY INTERNAL PARTS, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL, WE PAID $4000 FOR OUR CAR AND DROVE IT AWAY. WITHIN 100 MILES THE SAME SYMPTOMS RETURNED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE COTTMAN TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY WANTED ANOTHER $1100 TO REPLACE IT. WHETHER COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IS BEING HONEST OR NOT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. SO FAR TOYOTA USA HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL OR UNRESPONSIVE. I DISCOVERED A TSB (TC002-06) THAT DISCUSSES THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE TSB STATES THAT IT IS PART OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM AND THAT REPLACEMENT WILL BE COVERED BY WARRANTY UP UNTIL 96 MONTHS OR 80000 MILES. LEAVES US OUT BUT OTHERS MAY BE INTERESTED. *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE DRY HIGHWAY THERE WERE FUNNY NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT AT 16,000 MILES, THERE W 40,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. CONSUMER HAD TO CHANGE TIRES. DID NOT REPORT TO THE DEALER, BUT DID REPORT TO DUNLOP MANUFACTURER. DUNLOP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT AND THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. DUNLOP, ST20, GRANTREC 215/70/R16, DOT# EUYN2V94002. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WHICH CAUSED A VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR END OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ECM ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP HER WITH THE REPAIRS. THEY ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1227. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AND WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE CONSUMER 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER HAVING OIL CHANGED, DESTROYING VEHICLE. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER'S SERVICE PRIOR TO THIS FIRE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE TOLD THE THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT SEVERAL RAV4'S WERE CATCHING ON FIR DUE TO A FAULTY REMOTE START AND ALARM, WHICH THE CONSUMER HAD INSTALLED IN HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGE. *NM

IN THE LAST WEEK AFTER SOME HEAVY RAINS IN SAN DIEGO, CA, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2003 RAV 4 WERE VERY WET. THERE WASN'T ANY WATER ON THE GROUND, THE SEATS NOR WERE THE WINDOWS OR MOON ROOF LEFT OPEN. WHEN THE CAR WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE, THERE WAS A SWOOSHING SOUND OF RUNNING WATER SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DASHBOARD (IT SOUNDED LIKE). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN NOV 2002 BRAND NEW WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CURRENTLY HAVE 52,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I CALLED SEVERAL TOYOTA CAR DEALERSHIPS ABOUT WHAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE AND NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN THIS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH ANY CAR WHETHER OLD OR NEW SINCE 1966 NOR HAVE I HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I STATED THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL PROBLEM OF WEAR AND TEAR, OTHERWISE MECHANICS WOULD BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AND BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CARPETING WAS TOTALLY RUINED (ITS MOLDY) AND ALL OF IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I AM ASTHMATIC AND VERY ALLERGIC TO MOLD, THEREFORE ITS A HEALTH HAZARD. SINCE THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY MY NEGLIGENCE, NOR IS IT A PART THAT IS EXPECTED TO WEAR WITH NORMAL USE IF EVER, I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR, EVEN MORE SO THAT THE MECHANICS ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THE SOURCE. THIS PART OR PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WILL TRY TO SPEAK WITH THE FACTORY TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE BUT AT THIS POINT ITS UNKNOWN. THERE HAS BEEN PROPER MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AS REQUIRED AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 MPH THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHETR VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAINT THE DRIVER, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING TO SAN ANTONIO ON 11-26 2004 MY TOYOTA RAV4 JUST LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-37 I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP.I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT NOTHING WRONG COULD BE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE.ON 11-28-04 ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM SAN ANTONIO IT DID IT AGAIN ONCE AGAIN I PULLED OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TOYOTA COMPANY IS TAKING THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY.*AK

OWNER OF 2003 TOYOTA RAV4S, PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE NOVEMBER 2003. IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED INCREASING MEDICAL PROBLEMS ( RESPIRATORY, GASTROINTESTINAL, NEUROLOGIC, ETC.) AND HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE MEDICAL TESTING WITHOUT CLEAR DIAGNOSIS. TEST HAVE ALSO BEEN PERFORMED IN THE HOME WHICH FAIL TO SUGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSE WITHIN THE HOUSE. OWNER HAS PROGRESSIVELY ASSOCIATED ISSUES OF ILLNESS WITH DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, EVEN FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND SHORT DURATIONS. ALTHOUGH HAVING ONLY 17, 500 MILES DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE IS BASICALLY NOW NOT USEABLE. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR HAS SUGGESTED THAT AN ODOR IS DEFINITELY BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HEATING AND AARI CONDITIONING SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SAY WHAT IT MIGHT BE. AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT RAN A FEW TESTS, INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISCERN A PROBLEM, AND HAS BASICALLY WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE PROBLEM. NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT DATE WOULD BE APPLICABLE, AS THE SYMPTOMS HAVE ACCELERRATED OVER TIME. OTHER DETAILS TO BE PROVIDED AS NEEDED.*AK

AS MY HUSBAND AND I DROVE WE SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE AIR OUTSIDE. MY HUSBAND NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD. HE DROVE TO THE SHOULDER AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SPARKS BEGAN TO APPEAR AND VERY QUICKLY THE ENTIRE CAR BECAME ENGULFED. WE WERE VERY LUCKILY NOT TO BE INJURED. WE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR BELONGINGS. WE WERE GOING AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND TO OUR HOME IN PA. AND WERE CARRYING CLOTHING, LUGGAGE,ETC. TO STORE. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE COMPUTER WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $400. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

I AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY 2003 RAV4 ECM/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I BROUGHT OUR RAV4 INTO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES EARLIER THIS YEAR, COMPLAINING OF A LURCHING ISSUE. AFTER MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO BRING IT IN AT 68,827 MILES, MIND YOU I HAD THE PLATINUM WARRANTY WHICH COVERS UP TO 75,000 MILES, ON JUNE 9, 2009. AFTER ONLY BEING GONE FOR 20 MINUTES AFTER DROPPING IT OFF, I GOT A PHONE CALL STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, WHEN CLEARLY, IN THE TSB IT STATES IT WOULD TAKE ATLEAST 30 MIN TO DETECT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS DETECTED LATER THAT DAY. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN THAT FIXED IT, GAVE THE CAR BACK TO MY WIFE, HE TOLD HER THAT IF THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR SO GOOD....UNTIL TODAY, OCTOBER 16. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE AND SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY FINALLY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION AFTER HAVING TO TAKE IT OUT TWICE. WHEN I LEFT THE LAST TIME, IN JUNE, THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS UNDER THIS ECM CHIP WOULD BE COVERED UNDER 80000 MILES. I WAS AT 79515 WHEN I TOOK IT IN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY, INCLUDING MY PLATINUM WARRANTY THAT I HAD. I ASKED THEM IF THE ECM CHIP WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DAMAGE, AND ATLEAST THREE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RELATION BETWEEN THE CHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, TOYOTA STATED IN A NYTIMES ARTICLE THAT THE CHIP WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM EXPECTED TO PAY $3700 DOLLARS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED DUE TO THE LACK OF ATTENTION IN CHANGING THE ECM CHIP. YEAH!!!! *TR

2003 TOYOTA RAV4, 5SP, 4WD. THROTTLE BODY WHINE BETWEEN 2700 AND 3000 RPM. THE NOISE IS SO ANNOYING THAT YOU EITHER NEED TO TURN THE STEREO UP LOUD OR WEAR EAR PLUGS. TOYOTA STATES THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *LA *PH