2001 Toyota RAV4 from North America - Comments

It is the 5th time the check engine lignt turns on.

First at 55,000 miles with an oxygen valve problem with $600 cost repair. Three months later the light came up again in a different city with different Toyota dealer, the car passed the diagnostic and the dealer said the problem was with the computer, not the car's engine. Two months later again the check engine light came up and the dealer checked the evap system, but said nothing was wrong with it.

A week later the check engine light problem showed up again and being in a different city the Toyota dealer wants to change the charcoal canister and the vacuum switch valve, an $800 job.

Engine problem codes: PO440; PO441 and PO446.

Reading the postings here and elsewhere in the internet, it seems that the RAV4 engine and/or computer's reliability is very questionable. This gives a very bad reputation to both the Toyota car manufacturer and the dealers, who are making a good deal of money on the side.

I bought the RAV4 new because it was given great reviews as a low maintenance vehicle. I'm very disappointed.

Perhaps someone reading this could offer some advice.

It's very unusual for an ECU to fail, and this is almost always caused by physical abuse such as dropping it. The failure mode is generally complete failure (checksum error). You don't get "computers behaving oddly" or failures of individual parts of the ECU resulting in reduced engine performance (although ECU's can generally still operate minus some sensors on a strictly get you home basis)

The dealer should be able to determine the faults from those codes. If they are doing other things such as random component replacement at your expense I think you need to try another dealer.

I might be way off base with this, and someone out there can correct me if they know that I am wrong, but if it is a vacuum problem that you are having, maybe try something as simple as changing your gas cap; it may solve it.

We had the same problems with the ECU and false vacuum readings. Changed the fuel cap twice, but still gives a bad reading from time to time. Gave up on it, but still like the car mostly because of good drive ability and gas mileage.

Low maintenance? I think NOT. I have a 2001 RAV4 and this is my second time to replace the catalylic converter which costs about $900. Plus 4 oxygen senors since they were freezed up in the converter, it's another $700. My engine was on for at least 6 times now. I bought Toyota with the same mentality as other people did. I think Toyota might have improved the RAV4 over the years, but NOT year 2001 model. That's when it first came out, redesigned... That's my story, very sad...

I have a 01 RAV4 and my check engine light came on. I went to an auto parts store and they ran diagnostics on my car and it came up as <P1349>. I have had my check engine light come on for gas cap 80.00 for the diagnostic check I went ahead and got the tune up b/c it was time and the dealer "waived" that diagnostics charge since I had my tune up done. My light came on again and this time it was my catalytic converter for 700.00. This time I am going to ride this out b/c I went by and got a full tank of gas and made sure my gas cap was on tight and if it is the catalytic converter then there must be a problem with the computer or Toyota parts.

I have also had a great deal of trouble with the check engine light on my 2001 Rav4. It began coming on regularly when the car only had 12,000 miles on it. After 18 months and 5 trips to the dealer, they finally replaced the catalytic converter and the oxygen sensors at no charge. 45,000 miles later, the light was back on indicating the same bad parts. This time the charge was to be on me, because the dealer felt that they had adequately taken care of the original problem. I took the car to another mechanic for a second opinion and was told it would be highly unusual for a catalytic converter to fail twice in 80,000 miles. He believed the problem was most likely with the check engine system. I have driven it for nearly 2 years with the light (nearly) constantly on, and the car runs fine. Of course, I don't have the benefit of an early warning check engine system.

There is an issue with the check engine light. Toyota should have sent this recall notice some time between February 07 and now. Error codes p0141 p1346 and p1349 all have been related to this recall. Too bad they do not reimburse all the money for reject inspection stickers and repair cost so your vehicle can pass inspection.

I found a dealer in California who acknowledges an internal problem with the ecu (computer).Toyota called it a "special service campaign"not a "recall".It is a reprogramming which is free and takes a half hour. The URL is as fllows http://www.scionlife.com/forums/archive/o_t__t_151836__toyota-rav4-with-check-engine...

Good Luck.

I have a 2001 Toyota RAV4 and bought 3 months ago. I drove a friend of mine 250 miles away and when I got home from my trip, it starting shaking and losing power. I took it for diagnostic and the news was catalytic converter- cost $700 and to do a tune up $500. It is indeed expensive to own a 2001 Toyota RAV4.

We have an 2001 rav4, just replaced the transmission at 119,000 miles along with the ECM $3700.00 later :(

Yesterday took it to the Toyota dealer because the check engine light was on, code says catalytic converter replacement cost $800 with labor, doesn’t really affect operation but if you live in a city with emission restrictions you will have a hard time selling it.

I’m so disappointed with the rav, I drive a 06 Tacoma with no issues so far... knock on wood.

I got rid of my 2001 Rav4 when the transmission went out at 110 thousand miles. 4 months and 3 transmissions later the dealership found it to be the ECM which they replaced for free (still charging me 4200 for a transmission). I had also been in several times over the years for check engine light problems due to the ECM, which were fixed for free.

I now have a Suzuki SX4 which I love.