2003 Toyota RAV4 Speed Control & Cruise Problems

10/28/11 WHILE DRIVING APPROX 25-30 MPH WITHOUT APPLYING THE GAS, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD BRAKING WAS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK RPM REVVED TO 4. MY HUSBAND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE THROTTLE WAS OUT A LITTLE AND WHEN HE TOUCHED THE AREA IT SNAPPED BACK. 10/29/11 DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, APPROX 35-40 MPH CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN REVVING WHEN PLACED IN PARK. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND TOUCHED THE AREA OF THE THROTTLE. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY AND I DROVE HOME CAUTIOUSLY. CAR TAKEN TO CERTIFIED TOYOTA GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS LIT WHEN TAKEN AND SERVICE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AND LUBRICATED CAR AND RETURNED TO US. 11/1/11 OCCURRENCE #3, I DROVE THE CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS THEN DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, I COULD FEEL CAR ACCELERATING UNINTENTIONALLY AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE PERSONAL EXPERIENCED CAR WHEN STARTED WAS REVVING WITHOUT APPLYING THE GAS. SERVICE FOUND SCRATCHES IN THE COVER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND FELT THIS CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK. HOLE WAS CUT IN THE COVER AND CAR RETURNED. 11/5/11 OCCURRENCE # 4, I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CITY CIRCLE AT APPROX 25 MPH THE CAR AGAIN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I GOT OFF THE ROAD, CAR REVVED TO A 5 WHEN PLACED IN PARK. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP ON FLAT BED. UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. CAR LEFT FOR REPAIRS. *TR

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HAD I NOT ALREADY HAD MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WITNESS' SAID VEHICLE LURCHED UPWARD JUST BEFORE ACCELERATION. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK AND CUT ENGINE TO MAKE IT STOP. AFTERWARDS, TRYING TO GET IT HOME, WHEN I TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER AND ALMOST DIE, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND REV ENGINE TO KEEP IT FROM DYING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SUDDENLY DECREASE IN SPEED WITHOUT THE CONTACT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160000.

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS CAR, A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 -L WHEN HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO FLOOR MATS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. HE WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE BROUGHT IN THE NEXT DAY AFTER THIS EVENT OCCURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS RESISTANCE WHEN HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS INCREASED INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58000.

OUR 2003 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS BEGUN TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD OR HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS INVESTIGATED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER NEEDED REPLACING AT A RIDICULOUS DOLLAR AMOUNT. THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS YET TO BE COMPLETED. MEANWHILE, WE'VE HAD TIME TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, ONLY TO FIND THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DANGEROUS LURCHING AND HESITATION OF THEIR VEHICLE. TOYOTA SAYS THAT OUR CAR IS EITHER TOO OLD OR HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED, AND NOW THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS SERIOUS UNCONTROLLABLE PROBLEM. WE JUST FELT YOU SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

I OWN A 2003 RAV 4 PURCHASED USED TWO YEARS AGO THIS APRIL 2010. THE CAR HAS 80,188 MILES THE VIN # IS XXXXX MY WIFE AND I ALONG WITH MY 1 YEAR OLD BOY IN THE BACK SEAT (CAR SEAT) WERE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT OF THE LOCAL GYM. WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING HER TO RUN OVER A PEDESTRIAN. (I REALLY MEAN RUN OVER, NOT JUST HIT). I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR... HE MENTIONED THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE... THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) MAKES THE CAR SHIFT IRREGULAR IN AND OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ( MY RAV 4 IS AUTOMATIC). BETTER SAID... WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS MOVING IN SECOND GEAR... WHICH MAKES IT VERY SLUGGISH.. WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL TO COMPENSATE, THE CAR THEN UNSUSPECTINGLY AND SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. THIS TIME WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THINGS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DIFFERENT... WE HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. THE REPAIRS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC CAN RANGE FROM $1500 TO $7000. CHANGING THE ECM MAY FIX THE ISSUE BUT THERE NOW MAY BE DAMAGE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. WE WILL NOT KNOW TILL I HAVE THE ECM CHANGED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2003. MY CAR IS RUNNING SO WEIRD AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PUT MY LIFE AT RISK. I AM DRIVING ON A FREEWAY (65-70 MPH ' 36MILES EVERYDAY) A DANGEROUS FAILURE TO SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOKING. WE TOOK MY CAR AT THE DEALER TWICE AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED. AT FIRST THEY TOLD US THE PROBLEM, THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE/CHANGE/REPAIR THE AIR FILTER/AIR PILOMETER, WE REPLACED IT. BUT THEN SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY (EVERYDAY), FAILURE SPEED UP AND SUDDENLY SLOWING DOWN AND CHOCKING WHILE I AM DRIVING'. WE BROUGHT IT AGAIN AT THE DEALER AND THEY JUST TOLD US THAT THEY ALREADY DIAGNOSED IT (TWICE) BUT THEIR COMPUTER CANNOT LOCATE THE 'CODE' THING FROM THE COMPUTER, WHICH TELLS THEM IF THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM OR NOT. I ASKED THEM THAT IF THEY DIAGNOSED IT HOW COME THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM? THE ONLY ANSWER THEY TOLD ME WAS 'THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT GIVING THEM A CODE' AND I TOLD THEM IF THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN MY CAR, THE ANSWER WAS 'THEY ARE NOT SURE'. THIS IS A REALLY 'SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS MATTER'. 'TOYOTA IS PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK'. ARE THEY GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM OF THE CAR IF THEY SEE US DEAD OR IF WE GOT IN ACCIDENT??? TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A FULL ATTENTION OF THIS MATTER AND GIVE US A FULL WARRANTY OF FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA RAV4 2001-2003. WE NEVER WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! *TR

PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION ON A HIGHWAY WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 80 KM/H. STOPPED. LIGHT GOES GREEN AND I STEP ON THE GAS ONLY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE LURCH FORWARD SLOWLY AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP IN SHORT SPURTS. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AS TRAFFIC CAME FLYING FROM BEHIND. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SITTING, I HIT THE GAS AGAIN AND GOT GOING LIKE NORMAL. PARKED THE CAR FOR FOUR HOURS AND THEN HEADED BACK HOME. WAS MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION ON THE WAY HOME AND PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. CAN'T GET GOING AND THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT'S STUCK BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. I SHIFT IT INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. I SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS. JUST AS I DRIVE UP A HILL CLOSE TO MY APARTMENT, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS TIME I TRY SHIFTING TO BOTH SECOND AND FIRST GEAR BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. I PULL OFF TO THE SIDE, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND WAIT FIVE MINUTES. I START THE CAR AND IT RUNS LIKE NORMAL. I MAKE IT BACK HOME AND PARK THE CAR ON THE STREET. IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE AND I OCCASIONALLY MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, I HAVE LEARNED IT IS PROBABLY THE ECM AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG RAV4'S BETWEEN 2001 AND 2003. I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE TRANSMISSION FURTHER. WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED INITIALLY, IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPEEDY HIGHWAY, UNABLE TO MOVE. *TR

ACCELERATION INCREASES WHILE USING BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP SLOW DOWN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT BEING APPLIED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT LIGHTLY ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT ALSO APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT A HIGHER SPEED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE, A TREE, AND A POLE WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW TO SHATTER. THE SHATTERED GLASS WAS LODGED IN THE CONTACT'S NOSE AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE CONTACT CANNOT CONFIRM IF THE FLOOR MATS CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 73,000. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 11/17/11*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 8 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND HER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED UP TO 35 MPH. THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL, INTO AN EMBANKMENT, AND INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING. SHE HAS MAILED A LETTER TO THE DEALER AND SHE HAS ALSO CALLED THEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAD A RUNAWAY GAS PEDAL ACCELERATION OF TOYOTA RAV4. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE AND AFTER BRAKING AND WORKING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT SLOWED DOWN. I WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 87 MPH IN A SPLIT SECOND AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE DEALER THAT WE BOUGHT THE TOYOTA FROM AND THEY ARE NOT OFFERING CONCERN OR A SOLUTION. ONE DEALER SUGGESTED WE CALL THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF TOYOTA, BUT AFTER DOING SO, I HAD NO WAY TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. IT WAS ALL PREPROGRAMMED TO DEAL ONLY WITH TOYOTA'S THAT WERE ON THE RECALL LIST. WE DON'T FEEL REAL SAFE WITH OUR FAMILY CAR AND FELT THE NEED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW. WE ALSO WANT TO LET OTHERS BEWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF TOYOTA RAV4. WE NOW HAVE A CAR THAT WE DO NOT TRUST IS SAFE AND NOBODY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

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

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

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

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE THAT HE PURCHASED DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL, SO THE DEALER OFFERED TO ADD IT, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FAULTY, WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTUATED TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN SPEED , IN ORDER TO STAY WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES 3-4 MPH ABOVE THE DESIRED SPEED THEN DROPS BACK 3-4 MPH BELOW THE DESIRED SPEED, THEN SLOWLY MOVES UP TO THE DESIRED SPEED, THE SECOND CRUISE CONTROL WAS INSTALLED AND ACTED EXACTLY AS THE FIRST, IN THE END THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNIVERSAL CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IF A UNIT BECAME AVAILABLE THE DEALER WOULD INSTALL THE NEW UNIT.*JB