NHTSA Complaint #10388868 — 2003 TOYOTA RAV4

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR BEGAN HESITATING UPON ACCELERATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE SO THEY COULD GIVE ME A QUICK DIAGNOSIS. THEY SAID ONE OF THE CODES THAT CAME UP HAD TO DO WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT WOULD BE CAUSING THE STALLING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ONE OF THE DMV'S G2 REPAIR STATIONS AND HAD THE CATALYTIC REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THE ECM REFLASHED. THE CAR WORKED FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS TURNED BACK ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN. I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE STALLING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ECM REFLASHED BUT THE VERY RUDE SERVICE ADVISOR AT TOYOTA LET ME KNOW THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. HE LET ME KNOW THAT MY PREVIOUS REPAIR STATION SENT ME THERE TO COVER THEMSELVES WHEN IN FACT THEY SENT ME THERE DUE TO TOYOTA'S SERVICE BULLETIN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A FAULTY ECM REFLASHED. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE THAT SERVICES FOR FREE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT A FAULTY ECM CAN RUIN THE TRANSMISSION SO I MAY HAVE SOME COSTLY REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE DUE TO A FAULTY PART BY TOYOTA. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE ECMS ON ALL 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4S SINCE THEY KNOW THEY ARE FAULTY AND COVER THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR CAUSED BY THEIR FAULTY ECM. TOYOTA IS BEING VERY UNDERHANDED BY SENDING OUT THE SERVICES BULLETIN TO CERTAIN REPAIR SHOPS AND NOT TO ACTUAL TOYOTA OWNERS. THEY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. ARE THEY GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES? THE UNEXPECTED STALLING CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND TOYOTA OWNERS SHOULD BE INFORMED. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A TOYOTA FOR MY TEENAGER. THE STALLING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING BUT IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY CAUSED ONE FOR SOMEONE WITH LESS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. IT'S A SHAME THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT.