Rav 4 Ecm Disaster. Read

[mojo1961]

Would still like to hear from ANYONE who has owned the 2001-2003 RAV 4 that has succumbed to the ECM factory fault on Auto transmissions in the UK who has attempted or successfully get Toyota to pay for either repair/replacement to the ECM or even the Transmission.

For those that don't know about this and are on the market for a RAV4 2001-2003........be VERY AWARE.

On these models only between these years, Toyota produced a production fault in the ECM. The engine management computer.

Only after a few years when poor owners were treated to their gears not knowing where to put themselves did Toyota extend the warranty to address the problem. No recall on this, when owners were literally

writing off their transmissions at the cost of thousands!!

The problem got so bad in the States where an estimated 240,000 were affected that the warranty went to 150.000miles and 10 years.

So....here we have a major MAJOR fault accepted by Toyota....but did the warranty extend to Europe and UK..............not a chance it seems.

I recently spent a small inheritance on a lovely 2001 that i really thought i had investigated through What car etc.

On Tuesday i stopped at lights....and on accelerating it was like the car was being held back, then whack...the trans engaged like a sledeghammer.

I made it up a hill, but the sound was terrible with shunting also.

Well the AA helped out and it's at a dealership now, i've waited 3 days for Toyota to give me their diagnostic, but at the end of the day it's the ECM and i'm desperately stressed at the prospect of the financial

outlay. Especially if it has ruined the Trans.

Toyota has no right in hell to exclude the UK owners from their admitted balls up on this. And if the US has an extended warranty, then why not us??

Well i have to go now and look after my wife that had a stroke in Jan!!

I'll forget taking the car to Europe for our only holiday full stop.

Thanks Toyota..........love yer!!!!

[bothwell_buyer]

think i read about this on some other models.

did you post this in the rav section?

[paula57]

Hello ...well yes had exactly the same problem!!took my car to local dealer last week with engine light on and was told I needed 2 new oxygen sensors drove off and when I returned home up steep hill car was smoking and revving.Returned to Toyota dealer and was told I NOW NEED NEW ECU AT A COST OF £800!!I had already paid £435 for sensors!Researched the inherent fault on line in USA and called TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE but they werent interested.Have contacted consumer credit and trading standards as this is a safety issue!Paid £14000 7 years ago for car and never had any trouble up to now 85000 on clock.Would suggest you contact trading standards ,lets all protest and see if we can get warranty for UK and Europe for 150000.

These faults only seem to be starting in this country but I am sure there will be plenty more...

[Parts-King]

Have any of you actually contacted Toyota, by letter, giving instances of the extended warranty in the USA? It might be better to putting your efforts into a carefully constructed letter, perhaps you could both mention each others issues? State facts, not heresay, keep calm. Why would trading standards want to be informed? They dont need to know unless you just bought the car, it's not their problem. You could maybe write to VOSA. My first point would be Toyota, get as much info as you can and be brief, to the point and without waffling and threatening. You have cars are ten years old, they dont have to offer warranty on a car that old, the issue in the USA might not be the exact same issue in Europe so stay calm and get your letter in to TGB

Kingo