Automatic Transmission problems of the 1999 Toyota RAV4

1999 Toyota rav being driven by my 18 y/o daughter. She complained that the car would rev and then jolt when it would finally shift into gear. We brought it to a aamco dealer to have diagnostics done. They said it was the computer that needed to be replaced. Since we didn't have the money at the time we decided she should drive it home and park it. It died on the way home while she was on the freeway. It just wouldn't shift into gear and slowed down to a stop in the middle of parleys canyon (I-80) in utah. Not the best situation for a young girl to be in! shame on Toyota for not advising their customers of this problem and advising us on how to prevent a whole transmission replacement!.