Automatic Transmission problems of the 2003 Toyota RAV4 - part 1

Vehicle started to begin off takeoff really slow and hesitant, and then shift really hard with a jerking motion into second. Not safe for taking off with traffic or crossing intersections. Very scary to operate. Could ruin transmission, shafts, and other parts. Quote from dealership to replace ecm is around 1500+. Then transmission around 3000+. I am currently dealing with Toyota back and forth on getting repair approved. Parts are available. All necessary calls have been done up the chain of command. They are not warranting this claim at this time.

Hi about my 2003 Toyota Rav4, its seems to stall and shutting off the engine while driving. For exaple it happen more then 5 time on me this month7/1/2011, and almost getting bump in rear end. I took it to Toyota dealer, and paying $100 for what they could find anything wrong. This model should be recall or accident will happen.

2003 Toyota Rav4. Started having vague problems last year with the car not wanting to shift at the appropriate times. On Dec 22, 2010 we took it to greentree Toyota in danbury CT and they replaced an ecu unit. It seemed to be working better but not optimal. It started shifting bad again and at times not wanting to shift at all so we returned the car to milton ruben Toyota in augusta GA on 4/25/11. These symptoms are sporatic and some days it runs better than others. Upon driving the car they are telling me that because the check engine light is not on and the codes are fine, as well as the fact that they can not get it to reproduce any of the symptoms I am complaining of I. E. Difficulty merging into traffic b/c it will hardley go at times, upon taking off on an incline, at times, it will not go over 30 mph with the gas pedal to the floor, at times it will go over 4. 5 rpm before it decides to shift, I will not let my daughter drive this car because I am afraid she will pull out and not be able to go in time. The symptoms are very obvious but I am being told that that they don't see any symptoms at all and the car is running beatifully and that they can not put forth a claim to Toyota for this issue without a set criteria. This is so frustrating and now I will have to pay them money to tell me that the car is fine when it is not. I so wish I had not bought this Toyota and will never buy a Toyota again.

I have 2003 Rav4 with 70000 miles, all of sudden the gear started jump and jerk, I asked a dealer how to fix it, the dealer told me to pay $4000, this is very bad I hope there shuold be a recall because everybody with rav 4 has the same problem. . This is so bad. .

In October, 2010 my 2003 Rav4 started acting sluggish and shifting poorly. It would almost stall out in traffic and several times I was almost rear ended because the car would balk shifting from second to third gear. I took it to arlington Toyota in palatine, iiinois. They could find nothing wrong. In January, 2011 the problem got worse. The dealer reflashed the ecm module which controls the transmission. The problem got worse. They told me that I would need a new ecm . Cost $1400. Mileage out of warranty so it would not be covered. They contacted Toyota regional who also said they would not cover it. I contacted Toyota customer relations but they also said even though I had received a recall notice, they would not cover the cost.

Toyota Rav4 2003, transmission issue, during driving, the car sometimes slowdown, in highway, during driving time, the car sudden slowdown, just like deep step on the brake pad. It is happen all the time during driving.

2003 Toyota Rav4 at 90,000 miles the vehicle showed signs of an issue with the transmission or computer that controls the transmission, symptoms include rough shifting and delayed engagement (3-9 seconds) of the drive train on acceleration.

My wife's' 2003 Toyota Rav4 just started having transmission problems. We took it immediately to a repair shop. On the way there were serious problems with the transmission shifting which was particularly dangerous during the acceleration and deceleration in intersections. The dealer repair shop said the computer and transmission would need to be replaced. I called Toyota customer service and they told me a service bulletins had gone out, but that our particular VIN was not part of the bulletin, even though the problem is exactly the same as has been widely noted and recognized by Toyota.

Toyota Rav4 2003 has transmission problems. The mechanic said this is common with this car so I did some research and quickly found that many other people had the same problem. There is a problem with the computer asking the car to shift to first and second gear at the same time. This causes the car to slow down then rapidly accelerate.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The vehicle began to hesitate and then rapidly accelerate after the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where he was informed that the ecu and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 83,000. Updated 11/05/10. Updated 02/03/lj updated 02/04/jb.

Transmission problem on a 2003 Rav4 4 wheel drive. It started at 100,456 miles. Never had problem with the car before. It started to occur once in a while in first gear, then the engine light came on, got it check. Came up code po755. Now is occurring more often. Light goes off and after a couple of day goes on again. Took it to Toyota. They said it needs a remanufacture transmission and they need to change the ecm. Cost 5,995 they told me I'm better off trading the car.

Car suddenly started having shifting problem, hesitates from a start, very jerky, then difficulty shifting into second gear.

My Toyota Rav4 2003 has 85,200 miles and transmission is giving me a lot of problems. It's jerking the first and second speed and when I took the car to the dealer(findlay Toyota) they told me there is no warranty so I have to spend $1,600 buying a new computer and if the problem persist I will have to spend money fixing the transmission. There is a bulletin from Toyota about this fails(rav4 2001-2003) but was sent to dealers and no to owners.

My 2003 Toyota Rav4 is slipping, bucking, and dragging: transmission problems, just like all the rest! what more is there to say? besides the fact that I don't feel safe driving it with my 6 month old daughter in there, and I have no money to have it fixed!.

My 2003 Rav4, suddenly began having intermittent transmission problems - the transmission sticks in first gear then bangs into second; jerking sporadically - not moving, then lunging forward. It is dangerous. My mechanic said that it was a common problem with my Toyota and that the transmission would have to be replaced along with the computer that controls it. $3,500. My car has just over 100,000 miles. It is "young. I looked online and it turns out that the new york times did an article in August 2009. Toyota knew about this since 2006. The article mentioned something about a "bulletin" that said they would repair the problem up to 80,000 miles and 8 years. I was never notified and now my car is under the years and over the miles. At carcomplaints. Com I found a lot of others that have been through this. Most of the mileage is over 80,000. I called Toyota and they told me that because of my mileage. . . They can't help me. But, it was their defect. It should have been recalled. Why wasn't I notified earlier so it could be replaced? they told me that there isn't a recall. Is that because no one died because of it yet? updated ivoq 10/01/10 the consumer was informed the transmission along with the ecm needed to be replaced. Updated ivoq 10/08/10.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the vehicle experienced trouble shifting from first to second gear and would abruptly jerk when doing so. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the transmission and electronic control module (ecm) would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted intermittently. The failure and current mileages were 101,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. While driving at speeds of 25 mph, the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal and after twenty seconds of the vehicle maintaining 25 mph, it accelerated. The dealer advised the connection from the engine block to the body exhibited a broken electrical ground connection. The vehicle was repaired at no cost to the contact. The failure persisted. The dealer then advised the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair facility where the transmission was rebuilt. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage 68,000. Updated 10/27/10.

Driving on the highway my 2003 Toyota Rav4 transmission jerks and change gears for no reason all the time very dangerous! almost caused an accident has 91k miles not repaired yet (waiting to find more information about a recall for the problem) it is a common problem for this year Rav4.

Driving my rav 4 2003 when all of a sudden it had no power struggled to shift it felt like I was riding a bull. It is very scary. When you have no power and need to accelerate at a light. Please protect the people. Force Toyota to so a recall. This is a known issue. Do not wait till someone gets hurt or killed. I am now having to replace a transmission and computer. $3300. My car is in the shop so I do not have the VIN# plus when you take it to the repair shop they do not know what is wrong with it. It does not show on the computer that it is the transmission or the ecu.

Vehicle jerks, sometimes fails to accelerate or it will suddenly slow down while in motion and then suddenly surges forward. It is really a scary situation everytime it happens.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota rav 4. The contact stated that the vehicle stalls while in park. Also while driving 25mph the vehicle does not pick up speed. He took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer informed him that the transmission needs to be replaced. The contact notice numerous complaints regarding the transmission for this year make and model and make and feels the manufacturer should issue a recall. The failure mileage was 126,000.

Transmission was burned up by a faulty ecm.

My problem is with my 2003 Toyota rav 4. Recently I was driving and the vehicle started to have some problems. First, the vehicle would not accelerate as I would be entering traffic, for example, on highways. A number of times it would start accelerating and then slow down or lose acceleration, this caused many anxious moments as often a car/truck would be coming up behind me. I would try to accelerate and step on the gas and the car would not really move until all of a sudden the gears would shift and the car would jump forward and suddenly start moving. This was scary on a number of occasions, especially when I had my son in the car. Also, the car would automatically shift gears, or drop gears while driving. I would be in traffic and we would be moving along when suddenly the car would jump into gear and literally jump forward sometimes propelling the car forward a little. Also while driving, both local roads and on highways the car would drop gears and suddenly slow down and then shift back into gear. The car has 95000 miles on it. We were told by a mechanic (who is not fixing the car) that Toyota had advised that there is a problem with a computer-the ecm- in the rav 4, that will cause the car to jump and shift gears and possibly ruin the transmission. We have recently been informed by Toyota that the ecm needs to be replaced and that the transmission in damaged and also needs to be replaced.

I was driving my 2003 Rav4 about 2 weeks ago when it refused to accelerate from a stop at a red light, I was in the middle of the intersection(coasting basically) with a line of unhappy traffic behind me before it slammed violently into high gear and almost caused me to crash into the overpass walls. It has since then been intermittent, being fine for a day or so then doing the same thing, in varying degrees of severity. The check engine light went on, and I made an appointment to bring it in to Toyota for diagnostics. They quoted me $6800 to replace the ecm computer and the transmission. This vehicle has been regularly maintained and only has 119,000 miles. I have since found out that this is a very dangerous and common problem with this year of Toyota that they have known about for a while now. I can't drive the car at all until the computer is replaced, and then it will need a transmission shortly afterward according to both Toyota and the other Rav4 owners in this situation. If the computer had been replaced prior to the problem demonstrating itself in the shifting difficulties, there would have been no damage to the transmission at all. I think that Toyota is to blame for not advising Rav4 drivers of this dangerous defect and the relatively cheap repair that could have saved me much time and money. I need a car to work, so I either pay Toyota $6800 or buy a new car, and in this economy I don't know if I'll be able to get the financing to do either.

1. Jerking transmission at low speed 2. Loss of power 3. Dealer replaced ecm to transmission (warranty) in accordance with TSB.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact was driving 5 mph out of a parking space. The rpms rapidly began to increase. Whenever shifting from second gear to third gear range there was a jerking sensation. The vehicle was able to continue in operation. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician stated that the failure could be possibly related to the electronic control module (ecu). The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction at this time. The failure mileage was 103,000.

Transmission on 2003 rav 4 (Toyota) does not work properly it hesitates and does not move the auto when the accelerator is pressed it also jumps and shifts gears roughly when accelerating this could well lead to problems and possible crashes on freeway ramps and at stop lights and signs.

2003 Toyota Rav4 with automatic transmission & 4wd. Transmission will not allow proper acceleration from standing stop, rough shifting resulting in a "slam" into gear, hangs between gears when trying to shift. Flush of fluid alleviated problem for 1 week (approx 200 miles 0 but it has returned. Ecu error code: p0755.

How many times does a person have to file a complaint?? my 2003 Toyota rav 4 has a major transmission problem that Toyota has known about for several years!! it wasn't until I pulled out on a highway and my vehicle would not move (and just missed getting plowed into by an oncoming vehicle) that I discovered there was a very serious issue with my car!! I took the vehicle to a transmission specialist that informed me about a bulletin that was sent out in 2006 about a defect in the computer component that operates the transmission!! what good is a bulletin if the consumer knows nothing about it?? OH thats right. . . It's just another way for Toyota to get off cheap!! a recall would have cost them millions!! I did get the component replaced (since I only have 79,100 miles on my car) at no charge. However, the transmission is shot!! Toyota deserves everything they get right now!! they are dishonest and could care less about the safety of the consumer!!!!!.

Ecm and transmission problem in 2003 Toyota Rav4 create a very dangerous condition - severe hesitation and delay/disruption in shifting when other vehicles are behind you or when you are trying to cross lanes of traffic in low gears.

Car has been revving at high rpm levels periodically. Just recently the transmission went into low gear while driving on the highway. It was like the brakes were put on me, went from going 45 mph to 1 mph on a busy highway heading towards the off ramp. Very scary.

My Toyota Rav4 automatic suddenly began to run roughly, and clunk when shifting. I attempted a left turn at a light into a parking lot to check the car when it hesitated for several seconds in the middle of the busy intersection. The oncoming traffic was alert enough to avoid me but it was close. I would not have attempted that turn if I had known the extent of the car's problem. I was able to get the car home and the hard shifting, hesitating and skipping gears continued. I researched the problem on the internet and found this to be a common problem with '01-03 Rav4's. Well known to the owners as well Toyota since 2006. I bought the car new in '03 and this is the first I have heard of it. I had the ecm rebuilt-not by Toyota-and the car seems to be running fine now.

I have a 2003 Toyota Rav4 that I bought used and luckily have not had any problems with until now. 2 days before christmas I was in town running errands and had stopped at a traffic light. When the light changed and I pressed on the gas, the vehicles engine revved up but the truck hardly moved. Then it jerked as if someone had rear ended me. I thought it was weird but went on. Stopped at another light and same thing. Only this time I was almost rear ended twice before I could get the vehicle to move. So I drove straight home and called the dealership. I took it in on christmas eve (almost getting rear ended at every intersection I went through between my house and the dealer ship 32 miles away) only to be told it was the engine control unit and would cost me $1350. 00 to repair. Since then I have gone online and realized that there are numerous others with the same complaint. How can there be a question as to whether this is a safety issue or not. Any vehicle that stalls in the middle of an intersection is a safety hazard. My vehicle is readily available for NHTSA to test and determine this is a safety hazard.

2003 Toyota rav was stop instead of accelerating on highway starting 12/17, brought to dealership on 12/22/09 and they changed spark plugs; brought back 12/29 they changed water pump and then test drove and called me to tell me it could be transmission but to replace the ecm first since they knew it could cause transmission problems.

2003 Toyota Rav4 automatic transmission jerking, stopping and going by itself.