NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
309 reports193,000 miles · Sep 11, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train
I AM NEWLY EMPLOYED WITH THE POST OFFICE SO I NEED MY CAR. I WAS OUT DRIVING MY ROUTE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS LAGGING A LITTLE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE OFF. THEN WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME SPEED BETWEEN BOXES IT WAS LIKE IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN JERKED REALLY HARD AND KICKED INTO GEAR, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND ALSO…
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I AM NEWLY EMPLOYED WITH THE POST OFFICE SO I NEED MY CAR. I WAS OUT DRIVING MY ROUTE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS LAGGING A LITTLE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE OFF. THEN WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME SPEED BETWEEN BOXES IT WAS LIKE IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN JERKED REALLY HARD AND KICKED INTO GEAR, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND ALSO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN PUT OUT IN 2010 ABOUT THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING THE MECHANIC DID AND THAT MY CAR WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE BULLETIN BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE 10 YEAR OR 150,000 MILE RANGE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE TO PAY THIS OUT OF POCKET AND I NEED MY CAR. THE ESTIMATE THAT I GOT WAS $1536 FROM TOYOTA AND THEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION CHANGED TOO. THIS IS CRAZY ESPECIALLY SEEING AS TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND NOTIFIED SOME PEOPLE BUT NOT ALL RAV4 OWNERS. I AM OUT THERE DRIVING MY CAR AND COULD PULL OUT AT THE WRONG TIME AND GET HIT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO PICK UP AND GO IN THIS CAR ANYMORE. I LOVE MY CAR AND NEED MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10543178
129,000 miles · Aug 3, 2013
Power Train
ECM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 129000 MILES. CANT SAY MUCH MORE THAN HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BY SO MANY OTHERS. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF ABOUT 3500.00. IN THE SHOP NOW BUT AS I READ THESE I'M WONDERING IF I SHOULD BE FIXING IT AS IT SEEMS TO REOCCUR. NO HELP FROM TOYOTA AND THEY WANTED OVER 5000.00 TO FIX IT. RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION…
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ECM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 129000 MILES. CANT SAY MUCH MORE THAN HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BY SO MANY OTHERS. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF ABOUT 3500.00. IN THE SHOP NOW BUT AS I READ THESE I'M WONDERING IF I SHOULD BE FIXING IT AS IT SEEMS TO REOCCUR. NO HELP FROM TOYOTA AND THEY WANTED OVER 5000.00 TO FIX IT. RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM TOYOTA. MISSED THE WARRANTY BY 9000 MILES. SEEMS IF YOU OWN ONE ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME AND IT WILL HAPPEN....STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT TOYOTA!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533356
119,510 miles · Aug 1, 2013
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train
ECM/TRANSMISSION FAILURE...CALLED TOYOTA..REFUSED HELP..OWNED VEHICLE OVER 10 YEARS...KNOWN DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED PROPERLY...NEED TO REPLACE ECM AND TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533027
105,431 miles · May 29, 2013
Power Train
I HAVE A 2001 RAV4 THAT IN 2010 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR AND THE DEALER CHANGE THE REMAN TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY BUT KNOW I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER PART AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN THE KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD ALL THESE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGH THE CAR FOR 28,000 DOLLARS THEY WE…
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I HAVE A 2001 RAV4 THAT IN 2010 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR AND THE DEALER CHANGE THE REMAN TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY BUT KNOW I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE CAR NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND SOME OTHER PART AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT WHEN THE KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD ALL THESE PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGH THE CAR FOR 28,000 DOLLARS THEY WERE HAPPY IF THESE IS THE WAY THAT TOYOTA GET RICH STEALING FROM PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE BUYING A GOOD PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514176
79,996 miles · May 7, 2013
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT NO LONGER SNAPS IN ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE, ADDITIONALLY THE BELT FREYED WITHOUT ONLY NORMAL WEAR. DEALER WONT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR AS A SAFETY ISSUE. $700 QUOTED FOR REPAIR BY TOYOTA DEALER. UNABLE TO AFFORD REPAIR AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510963
82,045 miles · Mar 1, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD AND JERKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED VERY HARD AND JERKED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,045.
NHTSA ODI #10500896
114,000 miles · Jan 17, 2013
Unknown Or Other
DEFECTIVE ECM CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARSHLY. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW GETTING FIXED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY AM I PAYING OVER $1,000.00 FOR THE NEW ECM FROM THE DEALER I AM HAVING TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THAT IS COSTING ME OVER $2500.00. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS TOYOTA'S PROBLEM. I SHOUL…
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DEFECTIVE ECM CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT HARSHLY. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW GETTING FIXED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY AM I PAYING OVER $1,000.00 FOR THE NEW ECM FROM THE DEALER I AM HAVING TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THAT IS COSTING ME OVER $2500.00. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS TOYOTA'S PROBLEM. I SHOULDNT HAVE TO PUT OUT OVER $4000.00 TO GET IT FIXED. WHY DOESNT TOYOTA OWN UP TO THIS AND PAY ME AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS HAD TO GET THESE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS DONE?
NHTSA ODI #10494161
119,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train
HARSH VEHICLE JERKING WITH BAD AUTOMATIC SHIFTING/ACCELERATION. USED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT WITH BADLY PERFORMING VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECM. *TR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (TOYOTA DOCUMENT T-SB-0156-10) BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS. ECM FAILURE IN MY CAR CAUSED A VERY DANGE…
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HARSH VEHICLE JERKING WITH BAD AUTOMATIC SHIFTING/ACCELERATION. USED EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND NARROWLY AVOIDED ACCIDENT WITH BADLY PERFORMING VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ECM. *TR MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE (TOYOTA DOCUMENT T-SB-0156-10) BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS. ECM FAILURE IN MY CAR CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED BY PRO-ACTIVELY REPLACING THE FACTORY INSTALLED ECM IF I HAD BEEN GIVEN THE T-SB-0156-10 INFORMATION. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 AND 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS AT THE TIME. THIS PART FAILURE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA NOTIFY OWNERS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. THANKS.
NHTSA ODI #10488641
111,000 miles · Nov 16, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility
ON 10/13/2012 WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WE HEADED SOUTH ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN AS WE PROCEEDED UP THE ENTRANCE RAMP GAINING SPEED TO SAFELY MOVE ON THE FREEWAY WE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE POWER WINDOW BY PULLING UP ON THE DESIGNATED SWITCH AND EXPERIENCED THIS WINDOW AS SOON AS IT CLOSED WOULD INS…
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ON 10/13/2012 WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WE HEADED SOUTH ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN AS WE PROCEEDED UP THE ENTRANCE RAMP GAINING SPEED TO SAFELY MOVE ON THE FREEWAY WE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE POWER WINDOW BY PULLING UP ON THE DESIGNATED SWITCH AND EXPERIENCED THIS WINDOW AS SOON AS IT CLOSED WOULD INSTANTLY GO BACK DOWN. REPEATED ATTEMPTS SAME OUTCOME. CARS WERE ON ALL SIDES, THE GUST OF RAIN HITTING MY FACE MADE IT HARD TO SEE WHILE MY ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON GETTING THIS WINDOW TO STAY CLOSED AND AT THE SAME TIME AVOID COLLISIONS DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF A WINDOW THAT WOULD NOT STAY SHUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484982
114,800 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAV…
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OCTOBER 11, 2012. ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 8 2012 I BEGAN HAVING HESITATION AND JUMPING INTO GEAR AS I AM DRIVING MY 2001 RAV4. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN/LIGHT. I AM AWARE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MANY 2001 RAV4 VEHICLES. I BOUGHT MY RAV4 FROM CARMAX IN NORTH ATTLEBORO MASS ON APRIL 19 2012. SO, I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS YET. ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 2012 I TOOK MY RAV4 BACK TO CARMAX IN ATTLEBORO WITH MY COMPLAINT--I WILL BE LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH THEM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 2012 SO THEY CAN DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TCM (THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WHICH HAS HAD THE RECALL). IF IT IS FOUND THAT MY RAV4 IS ONE OF MANY UNDER THIS RECALL, I WILL HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL HONOR ITS' COMMITMENT AND FIX MY RAV. I DO HOPE THAT LODGING THIS COMPLAINT WITH YOU WILL HELP ME IN THIS PLIGHT, AS I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO AS TO THE ABOVE, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS WAS A RECALL WITH TOYOTA. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479841