CarComplaints.com Notes: If you're looking for a vehicle with one of the most complained about transmission on the road, look no further than the 2001-2003 Toyota RAV4.
In 2001 Toyota completely redesigned the popular SUV. While some enjoyed the new look, they did not enjoy the harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear and eventual transmission failure that cost owners well over $3,000 to fix. The problem stems from a malfunctioning Electronic Control Module (ECM).
Consumer outrage coupled with pressure from different agencies led Toyota to extend the warranty nationwide back in 2010. The previous power train warranty only covered 5 years/60,000 miles, while the extended warranty now covers the transmission and ECM for 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota also pledged to reimburse any owners who had previously paid for repairs, if they had "proper proof". Good luck collecting on that one.
Toyota Extends Warranty on Troubled 2001-3 RAV4 - Toyota is extending the warranty on automatic transmissions and electronic control modules on almost one quarter of a million 2001-2003 RAV4s and offering to reimburse owners who had already paid for repairs.
Well it is another complaint on the same issue that you can read about here, but what can we do about this as consumers?
My husband and I bought this car for our teenage daughters. We thought lets spend the extra money and get a Toyota as they are known to last forever, and a reliable vehicle. We even did our research (we thought) and it showed no recalls and a good safety record. Unfortunately we didn't find this website.
We bought the car from a KIA/Mazda dealer. They said the mechanics checked it out, and gave us a 30 day warranty. Well we decided to get an extended warranty...thank goodness. So only put 10,000 miles on the car and our daughter said it wasn't shifting right, and soon after that it wouldn't go at all. We took it to a local mechanic as we are far from any Toyota dealer. Long story short...needed a new transmission, replaced with a new transmission from Toyota. Still doesn't shift right. Replaced the sensor twice, still not shifting right. So I decided to research myself and found out about the faulty ECM. Now why didn't the dealer we bought it from replace it? The car had 74000 then, and now we are over the mileage for the warranty. Thought Toyota would maybe honer the warranty as we are under the 96 months, but NO they won't. They must start the 96 month from the manufacturing date, not year of car...who knows.
So now 6 weeks without a car, and it needs a new ECM. Who knows if this will even solve the problem. I'm very disappointed in Toyota as this is a safety issue! Our teenage daughters drive this car, and were stranded several times. Luckily the problem didn't happen on a freeway at high speeds. How can this not be a recall problem? I didn't know about it, and it doesn't show up on the recall list.
I just think that we need to make our complaints on this issue. I have sent mine in to the NHTSA, and really think this issue should be made public. It is just too wide spread and people are suffering huge financial loss. Not to mention someone could be killed...if not already. I'm generally concerned on how safe this car is for our daughters. Please let me know of the steps to take.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Well it is another complaint on the same issue that you can read about here, but what can we do about this as consumers?
My husband and I bought this car for our teenage daughters. We thought lets spend the extra money and get a Toyota as they are known to last forever, and a reliable vehicle. We even did our research (we thought) and it showed no recalls and a good safety record. Unfortunately we didn't find this website.
We bought the car from a KIA/Mazda dealer. They said the mechanics checked it out, and gave us a 30 day warranty. Well we decided to get an extended warranty...thank goodness. So only put 10,000 miles on the car and our daughter said it wasn't shifting right, and soon after that it wouldn't go at all. We took it to a local mechanic as we are far from any Toyota dealer. Long story short...needed a new transmission, replaced with a new transmission from Toyota. Still doesn't shift right. Replaced the sensor twice, still not shifting right. So I decided to research myself and found out about the faulty ECM. Now why didn't the dealer we bought it from replace it? The car had 74000 then, and now we are over the mileage for the warranty. Thought Toyota would maybe honer the warranty as we are under the 96 months, but NO they won't. They must start the 96 month from the manufacturing date, not year of car...who knows.
So now 6 weeks without a car, and it needs a new ECM. Who knows if this will even solve the problem. I'm very disappointed in Toyota as this is a safety issue! Our teenage daughters drive this car, and were stranded several times. Luckily the problem didn't happen on a freeway at high speeds. How can this not be a recall problem? I didn't know about it, and it doesn't show up on the recall list.
I just think that we need to make our complaints on this issue. I have sent mine in to the NHTSA, and really think this issue should be made public. It is just too wide spread and people are suffering huge financial loss. Not to mention someone could be killed...if not already. I'm generally concerned on how safe this car is for our daughters. Please let me know of the steps to take.
- krystalca, Chico, CA, US