Shifts hard, locks up (won't move) intermittently at slow speeds. Car locked up in a busy intersection, over 100 miles from home, yesterday nearly causing an accident. Once I got it moving by moving the shift lever from forward to reverse and then back again, it drove off in high gear and soon it started working normally again. Made it home without a problem. I Googled the problem and found it to be very common. Toyota has known about it for years and done nothing about it. I have been a devoted Toyota customer since the 1970's and have never had a complaint. I would have thought Toyota, being a Japanese company, would have more pride in their products.

i HAD BOUGHT THIS RAV4 FROM A VERY CLOSE FRIEND AND SHE WAS GOING TO TRAD IT IN ON HER NEW RAV 4. BUT SHE DIDN'T ! SHE SAID SHE WOULD SELL IT TO ME FOR THE TRADE IN PRICE THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE HER BUT SHE SAID SHE DECIDED SHE WOULD SELL IT TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDED A GOOD CAR! i HAVE BEEN O DISABILITY AND THOUGHT SHE TOOK GOOD CARE OF HER CAR AND IT WAS GARAGE KEPT BUT i WANTED TO TEST DRIVE IT FIRST. WELL THE DAY I WASD GOING TO TEST DRIVE IT SHE SAID IT WAS TOO WINDY????? i WAS REALLY HESITANT TO BUY IT FROM HER BECAUSE SHE IS A VERY DECEITFUL PERSON BY WHAT i KNOW SHE HAS DONE TO OTHER FRIENDS! sHE HAD CALLED ME A MONTH EARLIER THAT EXPECTED AND ASKED IF i WAS READY TO BUT THE VEHICLE! i REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRUST HER BUT NEEDED A VEHICLE FOR MY SON TO TAKE HIS DRIVING TEST IN! a DAY AFTER i BOUGHT IT iT STARTED BUCKING AND WOULD BE HESITANT TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1 AND SECOND GEAR. i SENT HER A MESAGE AND ASKED HER IF THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER AND SHE GOT REALLY SMART WITH ME AND i TOLD HER I WANTED TO MEET HER FACE TO FACE TO DISCUSS AND SHE DELETED ME AS A FRIEND AND HASN'T SPOKEN TO ME SINCE SO i KNEW SHE KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN SHE TOLD ME IT WAS IN TOP CONDITION!! SHE KNOWS i AM ON A LIMITED INCOME BUT AS LONG AS SHE GOT HER NEW rAVE 4 SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE! iT IS MY PROBLEM NOW! i HAD A MECHANIC WHO HOOKED IT UP TO SOMETHING AND SAID THE A AND B SOLENOID NEEDED REPLACED AND CHANGED THE TRANSMITTION FLUID AND HE SAID IT WAS REALLY DIRTY UP IN THERE! i TOOK MOST i HAD SAVED 800 DOLLARS AND A DAY AFTER i HAD THAT DONE IT IS BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS! i FEEL SO DEFEATED AND DEPRESSED i DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! i WENT TO THE DEALER WHO SHE GOT HER NEW RAVE THROUGH AND TO SEE WHY SHE DIDN'T TRADE IT IN AND THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION! i SEE WHERE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF THE TOYOTA AND A RECALL ON IT BUT DON'T KNOW WHY SHE DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED!! i AM AT A LOSS BECAUSE i DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY!! i AM HAVING A HARD TIME IN MY LIFE HERE AND WANT MY SON TO GET HIS LICENSE AND NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS! i AM ABOUT READY TO GO GET A PUBLIC DEFENDER TO HELP ME WITH THIS BECAUSE i WOULD HAVE NOT DONE THAT TO HER IN A MILLION YEARS AND i THINK TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS!! mY SON WANTS TO EVENTUALLY BY A TOYOTA TUNDRA AND FEEL LIKE i'M LETTING HIM DOWN! wITH MY HEALTH PROBLEMS THIS IS JUST MAKING THEM WORSE!! i AM PRAYING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN!! wOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE OR INPUT YOU COULD GIVE ME! i DO LIKE THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM! i HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BUSTED IN AND THAT COST ME 250 OUT OF POCKET AND THINK SHE PROBABLY HAD SOMEONE DO THAT TOO! i KNOW WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO OTHERS AND SHE EVEN SPENT TIME IN JAIL FOR KEYING HER EX'S CAR AND SLICING HIS TIRES SO i THINK SHE IS CAPABLE BUT NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD DO THAT TO ME!! i HAVEN'T CAUSED HER ANY PROBLEMS BUT ABOUT READY TO1! PLEASE HELP! tHANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME!! pATRICIA FRENCH!! IF YOU NEED TO CALL MY NUMBER IS 717-765-4227!

Update from Aug 30, 2016: I recieved your reply and even though they extended the recall for 10 years it is still under the mileage of 150,000 and I just bought the car and think it should be fixed under the recall because they knew of the problem! Will be taking this further!

I have owned this car since Sept, 2006 as I bought used from the dealer. The car recently starts hesitate sometimes when I push the gas gear from stop (not always). The mechanic said the transmission may need to be checked.

From the internet, I learned that this particular car is one of three cars with the defect transmission problem (RAV4 2001-2003 with automatic transmission). Toyota noticed this problem even as early as 2006. There is a class action lawsuit against Toyota which was settled in 2012. There was a notice from Toyota to the owner of this car to be checked. However, I have never received any notice regarding the transmission defect from Toyota.

I called Toyota customer service looking for the help from them. I was told that my car is over 10 yrs and Toyota can not assist since it is out of warranty provided by Toyota. I told them that I should be informed by Toyota regarding the transmission defect long time ago so that the transmission could be fixed by then. Toyota said that they do not have any of my record saying that I own the car even I have owned this car since I bought it. They might have sent the notice to the previous owner. However, I received recall notice from Toyota years ago to fix the "engine light on" problem and they fixed it by re-programing the computer of the car suggesting they have my record.

Thus, I believe that Toyota should pay for the checking and repair (if needed) of my transmission. Because they did not inform me (owner) about this transmission defect and I, as an owner, missed the right time to check and fix the problem.

Sure there's a TSB report on the harsh shift issue on the transmission and an extended warranty was offered for the DTC P0750 but it does me no good!!!! THANKS!!!! The extened warranty is a 10 years or 150,000 miles from date of first use!!!! I've got 97,000 and I'm "S.O.L!" What about those of us that just don't drive their vehicles as much as others?!!!! Why are we punished for being more on the casual side of driving! This is B.S.! Now I'm stuck with an excellent vehicle that's a piece of "crap" because I'm over the 10 years!!!! NOW I WISH I COULD THROW THIS PIECE OF CRAP OFF THE BRIDGE! It's going to cost me $1800 to change the ECU for the transmission issue "BUT" (as the Toyota dealer stated) "IF" this doesn't work and the problem persists I have to replace the TRANSMISSION!!!!! AGAIN ALL ON MY DIME!

HOW IS THIS DEFECT NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR COMPANY!!!! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE "BY DEFAULT" TAKEN CARE OF FOR ALL 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 OWNERS!!!!

I know I'm just venting but I DON'T have this kind of $$$$$$$! Hmmmm.... what kind of car will I buy next... I KNOW ONE THAT WON'T BE ON MY LIST!

This is the only problem we've had with what has otherwise been the best car we've ever owned and it still was driving just like it did when it was brand new until we were heading to the grocery store day before yesterday and the car felt like I was putting on the brakes hard as I gently slowed to a stop at a stop sign. Upon taking off from the sign, the car was very sluggish & then again felt like the parking brake was on for a second or two when it shifted. I immediately drove it home & parked it.

At home I googled the problem & discovered all the horror stories about 2001-2003 RAV4's Engine Control Modules and how they malfunction, ruining the car's transmissions.

After several hours research I decided, since I'm handy, to replace the Control Module in my RAV4 with a rebuilt module, since I could get one for $100, rather than risk driving the car to my nearest dealer, which is 25 miles away and risk more transmission damage than I might already have. The stories I found of folks being charged thousands of dollars by dealers also helped my decision, as my dealer certainly likes to charge!!

If this works, great! If not, I'll only be out $100 & apparently a module replacement is the first thing they try anyhow.

The replacement module should be here in a couple of days, so I'll post my results after I get it installed & drive the car enough to see what happens.

Update from Jul 11, 2013: Received a supposedly rebuilt module from Auto Module Source in Davie, Florida yesterday and installed it. Something is wrong with it as the car won't start now, so pulled it back out & sent it back. They are supposed to be sending another. Car has been out of service for a week at this point. Guess we'll try installing another & if that doesn't work put the original ecm back in have the car towed to the local Toyota dealer...

Update from Jul 15, 2013: Received the 2nd rebuilt ECM model from Auto Module Source awhile ago & installed it. (Getting pretty good at pulling these things in & out by now!) The car started immediately and seems to be running and shifting perfectly now! Actually, it is shifting smoother than I ever remember it shifting before the trouble began.

Auto Module Source was great to quickly send a replacement for the defective module they had sent and I see they have issued a credit on my credit card. I'll drive the RAV4 for a few days & make sure everything continues to work great before I send my car's original module back to them, but it looks like it's fixed for $99.00!

I'll post any further developments, but hopefully this car will be good for another 124,000 miles!

Update from Jan 27, 2014: 129,000 miles & 6 months later it's still running & shifting great!

I was really disappointed when I found that this was a known problem and Toyota recalled it in USA but not Australia. If they had warned me, I would have happily replaced the ECU before it totally stuffed the transmission without warning. I found it extremely dangerous and I had my seven year old daughter in the car who was frightened by the sudden jerking. I will be selling the vehicle immediately, that is when I finally get it back, it has been in the shop for over a week. I will never purchase a Toyota again. The original price for a new Toyota transmission was quoted at $8,000, what a joke. I hate you Toyota.

I purchased a 2002 Rav4 July 15, 2002 and basically have never had any other problems other than a water pump go out and that was still under my warranty so Toyota did not have any hesitation to fix the problem. Problem I have now is the ECM which has gone out and will be costly to fix. I actually got onto the computer to troubleshoot the problem on Saturday 7/28/2012 when I started having this problem and this carcomplaints site popped up so I started to read about all the Rav4 from 2001-03 that had these ECM problems. I took my car to the dealership on Monday 7/30/12 and they ran a diagnostic test and "Wow" it was the ECM (go figure). I was told that it will cost 1035.46 to fix and that maybe it wont fix the problem if it is the transmission too but they wont know that until the new ECM is installed. Toyota knew of these problems due to a class action suit which they settled with an extended warranty to these vehicles that has this problem but it is 10 years or 150,000 miles which ever comes first. Well I purchased the Car July 15, 2002 and it started acting up on July 28, 2012 which according to toyota is past the 10 year mark even though it is 13 days and still in the same month as originally purchased. I called toyota's customer service number that the dealership gave me and not just 1 time but 3 times in a hour and a half period and spoke with 3 different representatives. They all said the same thing even though my point was valid since I am a LOYAL toyota owner having purchased 3 cars from this dealership. They (Toyota Customer Care Service) don't care if it is one day past the 10 year mark, they will not pay a dime to have this "known problem" taken care of for LOYAL owners. I was told information had to been sent regarding the extended warranty but that would not take care of the problem before it happened, what they should have done is recalled the vehicles to prevent thousands of dollars in repairs to their LOYAL customers and uphold their reputation for "Customer Satisfaction" which they have not done for me. If it was a safety issue it would have been addressed like the floor mat situation with the gas pedal but since its mechanical and doesn't pose a "Safety" issue then you basically are on your own and hope your vehicle didn't get the "Lemon" part. I am waiting on a phone call back from a supervisor in the Toyota Customer Satisfaction Dept to see what their explanation will be.....hopefully not the same as the 3 others however my dealership has been very "helpful" and will give me a percentage off of the part and labor since I have been their "LOYAL" customer and they have no control over what "Corporate" dictates to them. I was looking to trade in my Rav4 for another toyota but now I am very hesitate and may look to buying either Kia or a GM vehicle. After this experience with Toyota I have a bad taste in my mouth for them and how they treat their "LOYAL" customers.

I have a 2002 Rav4. About a month ago it starting jerking and sticking in gear, Some days it hardly does it at all, other days it does. I took it to two Toyota dealerships which the first one told me there is an extended warranty on the ECU, and both dealerships told me that because there is no check engine light on the cannot get any codes and to bring it back when the check engine light comes on. I contacted the Toyota company which basically told me the same thing. The extended warranty is for 10 yrs or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. My vehicle 10 yr anniversary is in two weeks. If the check engine light doesn't come on before then I am not covered. What can I do?

My daughter purchased a used 2002 Rav4 mid January 2010. Within DAYS her check engine light came on. We drove it from Chicago to Camp Pendleton and stopped in Nebraska to have a diagnostic done. They fixed the issue, no charge, and engine light went out. Within a month, it came back on. Took it to a Toyota dearlership June 30th for another diagnostic - transmission was "shot" - nearly $6,000 to replace with ECM. My daughter was in the Navy at the time and did not have $6,000 plus it was not in the existing extended warranty period. She took to a local transmission shop and had a rebuilt transmission put in for $2,300. Although this didn't solve the jerking and hesitating it didn't feel like the transmission was going to fall out! Long story short, she left the Navy and we drove the car to Pennsylvania - terrible, terrible condition with the transmission, but we made it. Took it to a local shop who said they had another one in there not long ago, same year, and heard that there was a recall or something about this vehicle. I searched the internet and found that there was another extended warranty! Took it to the local Toyota dealership and they ran a diagnostic - she met ALL the codes and they replaced her transmission and ECM with the warranty. Runs great now! The problem? The warrantly expressly says that they will reimburse any vehicle owner who previously paid for repairs by way of a claim. We submitted the claim - DENIED by Toyota. I found there is a Class Action Settlement for this very vehicle and very same problem. We are submitting an Appeal to the Court. I am very disappointed in Toyota for not standing behind their warranty and product. This was a young girl, in a new town, driving on freeways in a vehicle that wouldn't shift properly, putting herself in more danger than working at the Navy on an Assault Craft Unit! I feared for her safety and they will not even reimburse her for the $2,300 she spent to try to fix this condition so it was driveable. I am currently in the market for a new vehicle.....it won't be a Toyota product!

Here's the last straw from something else I discovered. We had her car in on June 30th. All the dealerships were sent notification of the extended warranty on JULY 9th! One would think that she would be contacted to bring her vehicle back in, but they did not and Toyota did not notify her of this extention as they clam they did. I was able to contact this dealership to get the results of the diagnostic (just last month) and they still had it in their system! I heard that the dealerships were not "permitted" to notify any car owners of this extention. Not surprised. I must say, however, that all the dearlerships were great to work with- but not Toyota Corporate! They should take some tips from their franchisees.