Transmission Failure problems of the 2003 Toyota RAV4

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle was difficult to shift gears and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed it and stated that the transmission had failed and it was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000 . Jc.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact attempted to accelerate again and the vehicle responded very slowly to approximately 15 mph. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine control unit failed or there was possible transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,650.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed and the technician informed that the ecm needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

The ecm is making a transmission failure.

On 9/30/2014 was trying to pull out of a parking lot to turn left and my car would not accelerate. I almost got hit by approaching cars that I would have ordinarily had plenty of time to clear. I was able to steer into the left turn lane and stop to avoid collision but had trouble after that picking up enough speed to get to the right lane. I took my car in immediately for inspection and it was noted that the transmission and ecm needed replaced. I have since found information on a recall I never received for defective ecm's that cause transmission failure. Apparently a 10 year or 150,000 extended warranty was issued in 2010, but I was also never informed of that. My mileage qualifies but I bought my car in Dec 2002 so I am past the time limit. Since repairs exceed the blue book value of my car, it has no trade in value. This was an unsafe situation (that could have been worse on the freeway)' and an unfair outcome for me financially.

While driving approximately 0 - 5 mph, transmission failed. The failure recurred several times and check engine light came on. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the transmission computer would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74500.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota rav 4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, transmission failed. The failure recurred several times and without warning. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic twice, who diagnosed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,597.

2003 Toyota rav 4. Consumer writes in regards to transmission failure. The consumer learned Toyota knew there was an issue and extended the warranty on the transmission to 10 years/150,000 miles in 2006. The consumer had a 110,000 miles on his vehicle, but was five months over the extended warranty. The consumer stated it cost $800 plus tax, to locate the problem and would cost $4,000 to replace the transmission.

I was recently warned that my 2003 Toyota Rav4 had many, many transmission complaints. Not 2 days later, my rav began showing signs of transmission failure. I researched the issue on the internet to find that there were an unusually large number of owners with similar problems, but found no relief with Toyota. After taking my vehicle to the dealer for analyzing, I was informed it needed a new transmission to the tune of almost $4,000. This is on a vehicle that has been driven by only me and had preventive maintenance done regularly.

I own a 2003 Toyota Rav4 with only 63k miles on it. The transmission failed while my son was driving the car. We took it to a local transmission shop to have it fixed. The transmission shop had so many problems trying to install a rebuilt transmission that they contacted a Toyota dealership. They were told that the year and model Toyota I have was know to have a faulty computer that caused transmission failure. It was then towed to the dealership. They deemed the computer faulty and fixed the car free of charge. Once the Toyota dealership put in the new computer, the transmission still wouldn't work. It is back at the transmission shop. I have not had the car for over four weeks. I am now in the process of contacting Toyota to get reimbursed for the cost of the rebuilt transmission.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph, the vehicle began to hesitate and the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership to have the transmission replaced. While returning to pick up the vehicle from the dealership, the dealer stated that the computer that controlled the transmission also needed to be replaced; the computer was also replaced by the dealer. The contact did not feel that the transmission should have to be replaced after seven years. The failure mileage was 116,911.

Computer failed that led to transmission to fail. After fixing it still glitcheseses. It is ok one day and glitches another very unpredictable and transmission mechanic can not figure out the problem. Computer was put in new and transmission was rebuilt cost about $ 4000. It is hard to effort this during these economic hardships. Not to mention all this happened only on 88000 kms.

Toyota Rav4 with only 80,000 miles, the transmission has failed. There are thousands of complaints and here is yet another. Totally ridiculous that Toyota won't stand behind this known issue. All I can say is where do I sign on the lawsuit? quoted over 3,000 to replace and that's not going to happen. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say, there is something that needs to be done now. Car would not accelerate in the middle of an intersection causing a major safety hazard.

Car was having trouble shifting. It felt like the emergency brake was on. I pulled out into traffic and the car would not shift from 1st to 2nd gear. I had to pull over. I called my mechanic who said it sounded like the transmission and recommended a transmission specialist. The transmission was rebuilt. They also replaced the computer. They told me the computer failure is what caused the transmission failure. The parts listed are the computer, converter, overhaul kit for awd, and transaxle oil filter.

I own a 2003 Toyota rav 4, approx. Two months ago the transmission went out on it. As I have learned this is a common problem with 2001-2004 Toyota rav 4's. It seems many of the above noted year rav's have a faulty ecu in them, this ecu tells the transmission to do the wrong thing, therefore causing the transmission to fail. I have been quoted a price to repair my Rav4 it will cost me well over $5,000. 00, really? I cannot believe this is not a recall situation since so many rav 4 owners are suffering from the same situation. I believe the company should take care of its customers, at least they should have warned us about the faulty ecu. I had always loved my Rav4, I am so disappointed in the Toyota corporation.

We have a 2003 Toyota Rav4 that obviously has a defective part and safety issues. We bought this vehicle for our teenage daughter approximately 1 1/2 yrs ago from a dealer and it had 74,000 miles. Thankfully we did get a extended warranty, but not one that will cover this problem. This last November our daughter was driving the car and was stuck going up a hill as the car would not shift into the right gear. She was stranded on the mountain highway until we could come get her. Thankfully she did get off the road, but it scared us to think that this car could of done this if she was at a high speed or couldn't have got off the road in the dark mountain terrain. We had the vehicle towed to a local shop and they concluded that it needed a new transmission. We had only put maybe 10,000 miles on it since purchase. The warranty covered the $4000 replacement cost of a new transmission. After picking up the vehicle it seemed to run ok but still had shifting problems at the speed of 20-30. A harsh jerking. Our daughter was driving the car and again it stopped working in a business district. So back to the shop. Well now we are stumped on what could be wrong. Even had 2 sensors replaced and still the same problem. So we have a Toyota, which we bought for our teenage daughters because of their reputation of being a great vehicle, but now worried what it will do as they are driving it. So the latest is I did some of my own research on this year vehicle. Came across a website called Rav4world. There are pages off complaints on transmission failures for Rav4 2001-2003. I guess Toyota didn't do a recall for a supposedly defective ecm that is the main computer in car and it is leading to transmission failure. Toyota did put out an extended warranty on replacement which is 96months or 80,000 miles. Our car is at 84k. The problem with this is how many people are driving this car and have no idea that this defective ecm is destroying the transmission??? also it is a safety issue!.

Toyota rav 4 automatic transmission suddenly failed.

Toyota rav 4, 2003, failed to shift properly in lower gears leading to near rearenders. Looked on a car complaint site and found numerous people with the same problem. The ecm needs to be reflashed at the service centers to prevent transmission failure. Not listed as a recall but a technical problem. I am now having to have both the ecm replaced and the transmission rebuilt. 125000 miles which is better than most reported. Everyone having trouble with Toyota. Seems to have cropped up in the 2002 models first.

In September 2008, my Rav4 suddenly began having shifting problems. I pulled out of a shopping center and in the middle of street the car would not accelerate. It was a very frightening experience as other vehicles ware approaching and as I pressed on the gas peddle nothing happened. The car just idled high then it jolted into gear. I took it to aamco the next day. After further investigation by aamco, they provided me with the TSB tc002-06 issued by Toyota. Aamco advised me that the transmission needed to be replaced before they could determine if it was in fact the computer system that caused the transmission failure, which it did need a new ecm computer as per tc002-06. Also in Feb 2009 I needed to replace the ecm coolant temp sensor. My Rav4 at the time had 80,300 miles on it and the slone Toyota that I purchased it from would not honor the 80/8 warranty. They did however give me 50/50 goodwill assistance (if you can even call it that since it still cost over $900 for the computers. ) the new transmission cost $3,750 due to the malfunctioned computer. Now in April 2010, 18 months and 16,000 miles later, I am going through this all over again. I was driving on the PA turnpike and all of a sudden my vehicle would not go over 60 mph and then it went to 40 mph. I could not get it accelerate. I had 3 children in the car and was very scary for us as other vehicles were quickly approaching behind us and I could not get the vehicle to drive. The location were I was driving did not have anywhere for me to pull over. Again the car jolted into gear and the check engine light came on. Once again my car is at the aamco. At this time we are unsure if the computer failed again or if there is an issue with the new transmission I had installed. Regardless I need another transmission. I would like to know how Toyota claimed in 2006 steps were taken to prevent this from happening again. Once I receive a diagnosis for this latest incident I will post a complaint.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Rav4. Whenever the vehicle is at a complete stop, it lost power. If the air conditioning were to be on, the vehicle would not lose power. While driving when the vehicle changed gears there wasn't a smooth transition and the vehicle would jerk. He took the vehicle to aamco transmission and the mechanic stated that the vehicle has a worn clutch. Also, the second and third gears failed. The contact was informed that the cause for the transmission failure was due to a faulty power train control module. The dealer stated that there was no recall; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The dealer also stated that the vehicle would have to have less than 80,000 miles for the warranty to be in effect. The current mileage was 106,000 and failure mileage was 70,000.

My Toyota Rav4 wd, 2003, transmission failed in a major intersection and again traveling up a hill.