NHTSA Complaint #10342473 — 2001 TOYOTA RAV4

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA RAV4 (71K MILES) WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY ONRAMP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE CARS IN BACK OF ME ALMOST REARENDED ME. THE CARS BEHIND ME BEGIN HONKING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE, BUCK, AND HESITATE THE WHOLE WAY HOME(FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY ONE EXIT AWAY); MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE VERY SHAKEN UP. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC, WHO DID A TRANSMISSION SERVICE. THE CAR DROVE FINE FOR A COUPLE DAYS THEN AGAIN OUT OF NOWHERE BEGAN HESITATING AND LUNGING/THUDDING. MY MECHANIC RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO AAMCO, WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3129. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. AAMCO DROVE IT AROUND BUT SAID IT DROVE FINE AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AGAIN IN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, AND I TOOK IT BACK TO AAMCO. THEY OPENED THE TRANSMISSION UP AND SAID THE SAME PARTS THEY REPLACED ARE BAD AGAIN, AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER REBUILD PLUS A VALVE BODY AND ECM. I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL $ FOR THIS SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING (NOT IN RUNNING CONDITION) FOR 3 MONTHS. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF 2001-2003 RAVS ARE HAVING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION/ECM FAILURES. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ALARMING DEFECT. *TR