NHTSA Complaint #10422752 — 2001 TOYOTA RAV4

WE RECEIVED A LETTER LAST YEAR FROM TOYOTA NOTIFYING US ABOUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON A PART THAT THEY EXPECTED TO MALFUNCTION, THE ECM - SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRANSAXLE AND A HARSH SHIFT CONDITION. WE WERE NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM, SO WE DID AS THE DOCUMENT RECOMMENDED AND FILED IT. LAST WEEK OUT OF NO WHERE, WE STARTED EXPERIENCING THIS HARSH SHIFT CONDITION. THE CAR STALLED OUT WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR QUICKLY AND ON TRAFFIC FILLED ROADS, DANGEROUSLY. WE PROMPTLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS NEEDING THAT PART REPLACED. THEN THEY TOLD US SORRY, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 2010. TWO MONTHS AFTER WE'D RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. I AM UNEMPLOYED, WE ARE A ONE CAR FAMILY AND NOW WE HAVE A VEHICLE WE CAN'T DRIVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN AND BECAUSE OF THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY INSTEAD OF A PROPER RECALL TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THEIR PRODUCT WHICH COULD CAUSE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, SO NOW DUE TO TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, MY HUSBAND'S JOB AND OUR ONE SOURCE OF INCOME IS AT STAKE. TOYOTA HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN A BAD SITUATION AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WANT THE ECM RECALLED AND FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR