Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My 2001 silver Toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when I was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. I was applying brake pressure from 20 MPH, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 MPH, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a matter of 3, or 4-5 seconds (the engine/RPM sounded similar one would hear when you would be accelerating entering a freeway via the entrance ramp). My rav 4 shot forward so fast like it was on some rocket launching pad. My foot was on my brake pedal almost to the car floor and I could not stop the car from moving into the back - and rear ending the car in front of me which was about 10-15 feet in front of me, that was stopped waiting for the light to turn green at the already congested stop light intersection. …
My rav 4 2001 has about 140,000 miles on it and has developed a serious problem. To clarify, a massive acceleration problem is occurring when I've been driving the car for 15 to 20 minutes, then suddenly - while I'm at a stop light, the SUV's engine races wildly loud like what you hear at the indy 500... It jerked and felt like it internally controlled my accelerator foot pad! I had to apply a massive amount of pressure on the brake pad before I had a chance to quickly shift my car into park to prevent running over pedestrians and hitting cars in front of me at the stop light! My rav 4 engine was still racing loudly wanting to shoot forward like a rocket! I have had the faulty ECM replacement recall done when Toyota issued a warning to have the RAV4 ECU unit replaced several years ago. Now I'm experiencing this engine racing/acceleration problem with my rav 4. …
Have been experiencing harsh shifting for the last week or so but the most debilitating transmission problem occurred on 6/5/2015 while driving 35 MPH. I ended up driving directly home using "low" gear because I was afraid of damaging the car further. I am the original owner of this car and purchased it new in 2001. 7 years after purchase, back on 3/10/2008, it was serviced by Toyota under a "special service campaign" where they reprogrammed the ECM under warranty. I imagine it was for the harsh shifting problem (see t-sb-0156-10). It has obviously come back 7 years later. Programming only good for 7 years?
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Toyota RAV4. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift gears without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ECM computer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 147,295.
We were almost hit at a street light. Upon accelerating our car the engine died due the transmission or malfunction of the electric control module. We were lucky if the person behind had not slammed on brakes we would have been hit. Also the car has problems with shifting while drive on freeway. We always now stay in the slow lane because we fear to pass,
My wife was driving car and it started doing strange changes with the transmission, such as slipping between gear changes and jerking movements. At one point, she told me getting on freway on ramp was a hazard, because of irratic behavior of transmission!!
RAV4 do not shift gear. Some times it was like jerked shifting and I searched about this problem in internet and found several problem reported in carcomplaints.com site. This is what happened to me. "I took car to a dealer - lombard Toyota, il, and told about gear shifting problem. At first they did not say anything about the known problem with RAV4. When I said, I researched about this problem in internet and found that RAV4 has a gear shifting problem and Toyota knows about it, and there is a tsr-tech service bulletin, and it needs to repair free. They told me let us take a look at. After half an hour, they told me I am lucky it is still under warranty 8yr/80000. I purchased this one on 2/??/2001. So I am luckily covered. I did a little argued that even if I am out of warranty, Toyota should take care of this problem because it is a defect. They did not care much. …
The computer in my RAV4 failed. It was giving my transmission intermittent commands to drive in the wrong gear. For example, my mechanic said there were times the car was essentially in 2 gears at the same time. I was nearly in an accident because the car bucked and almost stalled as I tried to move forward from a stop. Once it started happening I drove to the nearest mechanic I could find and only made right turns because I was afraid and didn't know what the car would do. It burned up the transmission and I had to have it replaced. When the computer was reset (as when the battery is disconnected) the car would drive normally for a few miles and then the ECM would begin giving the wrong commands again. The mechanic had to drive the car to the nearby Toyota dealer to get the ECM repaired and he got to experience the problem. He said it was a scary ride, which it was. …
My transmission started slipping and bucking in aug. 2009. The car would loose power and almost stall out. While driving on the highway I came close to being rear ended due to loss of power. I had taken my car in to have it looked at and was told that I didn't have codes so they could not tell me what the problem was and would have to wait for it to happen again or bring it back what the check engine light came on. Before I left the lot the light came on and the code p0755 was the code used to repair the car. This however did not fix the problem, and I began to do some research and it seems that this has been an issue for many others with a 2001-2003 RAV4. I called the Toyota company and was told that this is a known issue, but because my car was out of warranty they would not help fix the issue. …
Toyota 2001 RAV4: check engine light has been on since at least August, 2004 (documented). Toyota claimed to fix per a recall notice. From February 2002 to date, there has been intermittent groaning beneath car, whining in first gear, and what felt like clunking. Could not pass smog tests because of check engine light code. In October, 2009, car died. Could not restart, had to wait for tow (midnight on a dark road). Had work done in oct, 2009, and I requested the parts. They replaced my coils, plugs and air filter for $1,330. I have had brakes replaced , fluids changed, o2 sensors replaced ( since then, the car is mis-shifting, clunking or groaning, rough engine. On 3/25/2010, I took it in and Toyota service recommended that I "let it go" and buy another car. They told me to just come and get the car without any work done, because it would cost me between $6,000-$7,000 for repairs. …
Transmission complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2001 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 190 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2001 Toyota RAV4, 61% of the model year's 309 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (121 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2001 Toyota RAV4. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.