Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-51
Well, add another to the list of people who have 2001 RAVs with "Engine light" problems. It's been going on since 2003 at 51,000 miles when it was still under warranty. "A computer problem" is what I was first told. The light stayed off for less than a year and has been on and off ever since. Last year it stayed on the whole year and only passed inspection after a re-set of the computer. This year, the same independent mechanic and a Toyota dealership have both told me the reading is indicating that I need a new catalytic converter to the tune of $1,000+. The car now has 122,000 miles on it and is in the shop now having that done. It runs perfectly well and there is no glow from the converter indicating it is hot after driving it long distances. However, it will not pass inspection with the engine light on. If the problem isn't rectified after changing the C.C., I can see from reading other entries that it will cost thousands more with no guarantee that the light will go off or that there really is a mechanical problem. Shame on you, Toyota, for choosing to ignore this problem and not addressing it fairly. I've been a Toyota fan for many years, but after this experience, will never purchase another. The person who suggested that the dealer can install software for $65 to correct the problem, makes me wonder why this isn't being done at every dealership before all of these other costly guessing games are put into action.
People you need to see about getting a brand new CPU for your Rav my engine light was on forever. Then my tranny started slipping, changing the cpu fixed everything and the engine light is still off.
It sounds like a new CPU is a promising solution for the many problems some owners have had with the RAV4. I am hesitant to put that kind of money into a vehicle that has already required so many expensive repairs. By the time my RAV4 had 85K miles, the catalytic converter had to be replaced twice. The first time the warranty covered it, the second time I had to pay for it. Now my transmission is slipping and my inclination is to get something new that will be more reliable. This Toyota has given me 6 1/2 years in which there has almost always been something causing the engine light to be on. What I need to decide now is whether or not I'm willing to invest in another Toyota.
2001 was an early model year for RAV4. I drive low miles and the catalytic converter
Goes out with just like one month left in Warranty. (Yeah.) Point is they are going out on a time not a mileage basis which makes the root cause of the problem the CPU.
Paid a couple three bills to Toyota in last year for re-setting codes and cleaning sensors
Replacing O2 sensors etc. Recent re-programming recalls of CPU have shows none of this really needed to happen.
It appears the CPU on early RAV4 has reached life expectancy and the best thing to do would be to replace the CPU. If Toyota keeps trying to solve a hardware problem with a software patch it will just drag on. The software patch is cheaper and after 7 years all statue of limitations run out on the CPU. Smart lawyers at Toyota.
Add another unhappy 2001 RAV4 customer... same problem here: check engine on and off since the first month of owning this car. The engine light would not stay on for more than 1-2 days in a row; therefore we were not very concerned in the beginning. We phoned the service department several times (car was serviced at the same dealership) and the answer was always that there should be no concerns, that the car is fine and it's probably a fuel tank cap too tight or a gas tank too full...
It was not until we received the "customer satisfaction campaign" letter from Toyota in Jan. 2007, advising us of a problem with the ECM module, that we started worrying about this problem. We took the car back to the dealership and they re-set the ECM module in March 2007. For about a month it was all fine, but after that, the engine light would go on and off again, totally random and for short periods of time. It was 2 weeks ago that the engine light remained on constantly and few days later the speedometer stopped working (constantly indicating "0" km/hr), the odometer stopped working (no mileage recorded) and of course the cruise control was not working as well.
Called the dealership and made an appointment for today. The car was tested and I was told that this is a computer failure and it would need to be replaced. They also mentioned that this is no longer covered by warranty (car has 125,000 km and it's less than 6 years old!). The service advisor seemed extremely surprised that a car with no previous accidents could have a faulty computer...
This is extremely upsetting; we certainly expected more from our Toyota vehicle... we just finished paying it off!
Does anyone here know if the ECM module-computer would be covered under the "specified major emission components" warranty, which provides coverage for 130,000km or 96 months? Or any ideas of what can be done?
I own a 2002 Rav4 and while on a road trip, it died on the highway. The Low Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light came on while we were on the road. We pulled over and checked that nothing was wrong. The light went off when we started the car. We decided to go and get an oil change just in case. The car died after being on the road for a little over an hour after the oil change. We checked and the vehicle was not leaking any oil. The car has been towed to a Toyota Dealership and I am told that the engine has seized and I am looking at a repair bill of $2,000.00 to $6,000.00. Did anyone experience the same problem. Can an engine be repaired after it has seized?
Another unhappy 2001 RAV4 customer... same problem here: check engine on all time now the car only 35K mils. The engine light on whenever you are in the car looks very guilty with light on. I had came to dealer several times, but can't fix the problem, then I Just run it with light on. Now It's time to have the car for Smog check, I don't know waht to do now for pass inspection. Can anyone have a common on this.
Another unhappy 2001 RAV4 customer... same problem here: check engine on all time now the car only 35K mils. The engine light on whenever you are in the car looks very guilty with light on. I had came to dealer several times, but can't fix the problem, then I Just run it with light on. Now It's time to have the car for Smog check, I don't know waht to do now for pass inspection. Can anyone have a common on this.
Hello, I own the Toyota RAV4 2001 AWD and it has now about 68000 miles. The engine check light came on for the first time 2 days ago and I was very worried after reading the comments in here. Yesterday I took it to the mechanic and it happened that the fuel injectors were dirty. The engine check light was gone after the service. I had very few problems with this vehicle and I'm very happy with it. I guess Toyota makes different versions of the RAV4 even for the same year model and the reliability differs from version to version.
I've spent the past year in check engine light hell with my 2001 Rav4. Passing an annual emissions test with this car took 7 visits to the dealer. And then the light only stayed off long enough to pass the test before it went back on the next day. I've fixed all the oxygen sensors, and replaced the convertor, had the ECM reprogrammed and the light always comes back on. The latest diagnosis is ANOTHER oxygen sensor. My mechanic looked me straight in the eye and said "Yes, it is completely normal for one sensor to fail a month exactly 3 weeks after the last one was replaced." It's obvious that the reprogramming is not addressing this widespread problem. Do not buy this car if you live in an area with strict emissions testing requirements - you will spend a lot of money trying to make your car LEGAL to drive! Here's how to pursue complaints
http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?did=556&scid=59.
Toyota RAV 4 2001-2003 were built with defective engine computer ECU/ECM units (brain of the car). It then affects the transmission by sending the wrong signals (the heart of your computer). Toyota lets these cars leave the factory knowingly that they are made with weak and defective components.
They have a type of recall on this part, I have it in writing from them. They also made sure that when I requested they change this part at 73,000 miles, that they reprogramed it and said nothing was wrong. I come back at 83,000 miles and they admitted that I needed the part replaced as well as the transmission... but now it will cost me!
Write to the Attorney General, Better Business Bureau, and Consumer Affairs. I did. The government needs to protect us from this.
I am the original owner of a 2001 RAV4. Since it was 6 months old, we have had 'check engine light' problems. We have replaced several sensors, had the injectors cleaned, you name it, it has been done. We took it in for the recall this year, and still the light comes on. Every November, we have to spend a fortune to get the car to pass inspection. The car has run great, and we have never had any other problems...
I own a 2002 rav 4 l and have had recent problems with my check engine light (38,500 miles), 3 months ago had the ecm software done and fixed problem then 2 months later check engine light again and 1 of my oxygen sensors $320, then very next day light again and dealer said air fuel sensor = no charge, 4 weeks later check engine light again and this time my 2nd fuel sensor and 2nd oxygen sensor needs replacing and dealer is willing to cut cost down from $650 to $325 (split cost). I did not agree to this and called Toyota customer satisfaction and recieved call back from dealer, and they are staying their ground at $325, Waiting for Touyota U.S.A. to call me back with their resolution. I will write to atorney general and better business bureau and consumer affairs If I have to pay another $325 for this issue, anyone else have some thoughts on this? By the way my car drives perfectly and engine sounds like a kitten!! S.C.
Still I did not find the solution of the problem for check engine light on. Whether it is a manufacturing defect or some thing wrong in the car. Please, I will be very thankful if somebody can tell me how this problem can be solved permanently?
I have a 2001 Rav4 and have had the engine light on for the past four years. When it first went on I had a diagnostic done and was told it was the sensors and I decided that I was not investing in sensors. During the first four years I was fine because I was in a state that did not require that the engine light be out for inspection and then I moved. I went to a dealer had 120 miles maintenance done and gave them the recall so they shut off the light, but could not inspect for 100 miles - went back at 125 miles with the light back on - they did a diagnostic - could not figure what was wrong shut the light out again - went back immediately at 100 miles got inspected and then - about 50 miles later light on again. Having minor problem now - when to mechanic who tells me this is the converter - told him no way - will go to Toyota and at this point my contact a lawyer. This is Toyota's problem.