Harsh shifting on Toyota RAV4 automatic transmission

If you own a Toyota Rav4 from 2001 through 2005 with automatic transmission, and you are experiencing problems with the transmission, like harsh shifting, loss of power, launching on third gear and/or slamming into gear when it is put in reverse, then you should know that those problems are caused by a defective engine control module (Engine Computer, ECM or ECU), which also controls the automatic transmission.

These problems are erratic and may occur intermittently or only when the vehicle is warm or has been driven for a specific time. Sometimes it shows up one day, and the next morning it works flawlessly. Sometimes the problem occurs only in the morning, and sometimes only at night.

In addition to the issues mentioned above, it may also show trouble codes P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760, though most of the time it shows no codes at all. The trouble codes (check engine codes) a vehicle shows when scanned are generated by the same computer that is failing, and we are trying to diagnose.

Description of what happens

The ECM controls shifting on an “electronic” automatic transmission by sending electrical pulses to solenoids in the transmission’s valve body. These solenoids gradually open and close the transmission fluid path under pressure, depending on the pulses they receive from the ECM.

A defective ECM can no longer control the transmission correctly and starts sending erratic pulses to the solenoids, which in turn transfers the ECM’s erratic behavior to the transmission, causing erratic mechanical changes and movements inside the transmission. This is why some customers with ECM problems describe the transmission as feeling like it is falling apart. At this point, the ECM must be repaired before the transmission suffers an internal failure, commonly caused by using defective ECMs for long periods.

Reprogramming or updating the computer software will NOT fix the problem. It must be PROPERLY repaired.

What does the ECM look like?

Below is the 2001-2003 ECM box:

Where is the ECM located?

Location of the ECM in your 2001-2003 Toyota RAV4:

Common scenario examples

You stop at a red traffic light, and when continuing, your RAV4 hardly moves, as if it is carrying a very heavy load. This happens because, at that moment, the damaged ECM fails to send the electrical pulse to the transmission solenoids to shift down to first gear, often keeping it in third gear instead.

When you try to move your RAV4 and it hardly moves and feels sluggish, the natural response is to accelerate harder, but the RPMs go up, and it still moves slowly. It doesn’t pick up and move normally until a certain speed. This can quickly burn the transmission’s internal clutches and will require service not only for the ECM but for the transmission too. That is why, when you notice any of these symptoms, you must act quickly and have your ECM serviced as soon as possible. If you do, the problem will be only a damaged ECM. If you do not service it and instead keep using your vehicle with a failing ECM, soon a transmission repair or replacement job will add up to the bill, which, at the time of writing this, may go up to $4000. For these models, letting the transmission fail this way is rarely economical to repair. DO NOT TAKE CHANCES AND ACT NOW!

This RAV4 transmission problem is very common and affects more than a million Toyota RAV4 vehicles worldwide. In the USA alone, an estimated 246,000 units are affected. The units affected are either four-wheel drive (4WD) or two-wheel drive (2WD) models. Either left-sided or right-sided steering wheel. Either 2.0L engine (1AZ-FE and 1AZ-FSE) or 2.4L engine (2AZ-FE).

Symptoms of the problem

Below is a list of the most common symptoms of a failing ECM in your 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4. You may experience only one of these symptoms or a combination of more than one of them:

• Shifts erratically or slips gears
• Slamming into gear when putting it in reverse
• Starts in 3rd gear instead of 1st gear
• Sluggish when moving after stopping
• A rattling or clicking noise coming from the front
• False solenoid DTC error codes (P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758 and/or P1760)
• Sometimes feels like it is applying the brakes by itself
• In many cases, low fuel economy

ECM Part Numbers

Below is a partial list of the Toyota part numbers affected by this issue, but many others are not included at this time.

What about those low-cost services offered on eBay and other Internet sites?

In most cases, low cost goes hand in hand with low quality. You may stumble upon an ever-growing list of individuals and “companies” offering this service, including eBay and other marketplaces. Many do a very poor or incomplete job, perhaps because they don’t fully understand the problem causing the ECM failure. This makes the ECM fail again soon.

We can tell because we have received many ECMs that were previously “fixed” by any of our competitors. Those ECMs get here because the ECMs failed, and the owners are making a second attempt to have their ECM repaired after the other shop failed.

One curious case is when the ECM circuit was covered with epoxy resin, making it inaccessible for a second revision if the ECM fails. I am not sure why they cover the circuit with epoxy, but when their serviced ECMs end up here in our shop, we need to remove the epoxy, and many parts need to be replaced because the epoxy corroded them.

Removing the epoxy takes a lot of time and patience. We always do our best, and while we have succeeded in many of these cases, there is always a chance the ECM will need replacement. Below are examples of what has been found.

In the picture below, you can see three control chips for the transmission’s solenoids. All three are the same chip type, but in different situations. These chips are mounted on the circuit board of the 2001-2003 RAV4 ECM. From the image below:

1. (Chip 1) This chip was replaced in an ECM that came covered in epoxy. Notice the corrosion on the solder tab. This solder tab is tightly soldered to the circuit board for heat dissipation, but corrosion from the epoxy on the other side of the circuit board still reached it.
2. (Chip 2) The second chip from the top was a chip replaced from an ECM WITHOUT epoxy. Notice the difference. The chip is no good, but it wasn’t corroded and still had clean solder remnants on its tab, which made it easy to replace.
3. (Chip 3) The third chip from the top is an unused, brand-new chip for comparison.

So if you send your ECM to a shop to do this, or buy a replacement ECM from them, you can be sure it will eventually fail if they use their epoxy “solution.”

A Reliable and Affordable Solution

ECM repair isn’t expensive, and we offer professional service to repair your 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4 ECM. Check it out at the link below. While it may take a little more time, we also accept previously repaired ECMs at no extra cost. At  Rav4Repair.com, we charge $159, including free shipping to the USA and a free 5-year warranty. The labor rate covers the repair job, any needed parts, programming, and testing.

\Our Facebook page for information and unsolicited testimonials is:

Facebook: Rav4Repair.

General reviews on Trustpilot:

TechnicalDomain (QCWO): Trustpilot

Bulletin from Toyota

If you are interested in the original Toyota bulletin, you may download it in PDF format from here:

2001-2003 Toyota RAV4 Bulletin on Harsh Shifting

Some geeky information for techs

A partial schematic of the wiring of the solenoids on the RAV4 automatic transmission from the ECM.

Location of the solenoids in the automatic transmission.

Solenoid terminal connector and solenoid coil resistance

These are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) that we receive about the 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4.

Q. Is my RAV4 a 2-wheel (2WD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD)?

If you don’t know whether your RAV4 is a 4×4 or 4×2, you can easily tell by looking at your RAV4’s VIN. All 2001-2003 4×4 RAV4 vehicles’ VINs start with “JTEHH20“, while 4×2 vehicles’ VINs start with “JTEGH20“. The key character is the 4th. An “H” means 4×4, while a “G” means 4×2.

Q. How do I know if my Toyota RAV4 has the immobilizer system active?

You may know if the immobilizer is enabled or disabled in your Rav4 by looking at the article in the link below, which was published for that purpose.

Does my 2001-2003 RAV4 have immobilizer or not?

Q. Can a Toyota RAV4 ECU cause transmission problems?

A. Yes. In the 2001 through 2005 models, most transmission problems are caused by a failing ECU (also known as ECM). When the ECU circuit is damaged, it becomes erratic. Since solenoids control the transmission, those solenoids receive erratic pulses from the damaged ECU, making the transmission behave as if it were damaged. The good news is that the situation is completely reversible if you act in time.

Q. What is the transmission problem on the Toyota RAV4?

A. The transmission problem in the Toyota RAV4, specifically the 2001 through 2005 models, is primarily a problem with the ECM (Engine Control Module), and it is 100% repairable if action is taken in time, which consists of repairing the ECM as soon as the symptoms in the transmission show, like harsh shifting. Otherwise, the transmission may develop an internal failure, adding a damaged transmission to the bill when it was only the ECM. Check the answer to the above question for more details.

Q. How to reset a RAV4 ECU?

A. A soft reset is when the battery of the vehicle is disconnected for more than 15 minutes. This differs from a hard reset, which you can do with a scan tool. In the RAV4, you can do a soft reset the same way: disconnect the battery for 15 minutes or more. It will enter relearn mode as soon as you reconnect the battery and start the engine.

Q. How long does a transmission last in a Toyota RAV4?

A. Applying this question to the 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4, the transmission is a long-lasting one. We have seen these models with around 200K miles, and the transmission is doing just fine. The problem is that if the ECM (Engine Control Module) gets damaged (which happens often), you will need to service the ECM so the transmission doesn’t get damaged too. The good news is that the ECM can be repaired to last the rest of the vehicle’s life, preserving the transmission’s function for the same period.

Q. Can a bad ECM affect the transmission?

A. Yes. In the case of the Toyota RAV4 and, in fact, many other Toyota models, the ECM (Engine Control Module), also known as ECU, controls the engine and the automatic transmission. If the ECM gets damaged, it may affect the engine, the transmission, or both.

Q. Does the ECM control the transmission?

A. In many models, yes. Some other models have a separate control module for the transmission (TCM). In the 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4, yes, the ECM controls the automatic transmission.

Q. What can be mistaken for a transmission issue?

A. The ECM (Engine Control Module). In the 2001-2005 RAV4 models (and many other Toyota models), the ECM controls the transmission, and it often gets damaged. In most cases, the automatic transmission shows symptoms like harsh shifting, and when scanned, it throws error codes indicating a problem with the transmission’s solenoids. In this case, the diagnosis is often a transmission issue when, in fact, it is an ECM issue.

Q. How much does it cost to repair a Toyota ECM?

A. The price for the repair service varies from place to place. For example, we do the job for $159, which includes free shipping, covers any programming needed, and includes a 5-year warranty as of the date we are writing this, but we plan to extend the warranty in the future.

Q. How much does it cost to replace the ECM in a Toyota RAV4?

A. A brand new ECM for the Toyota RAV4 can cost anything from $600 to over $1500. A refurbished ECM will cost less, from $300 to $700, and a used or recycled ECM will cost a bit less, but it will need to be programmed and its circuit checked or repaired to avoid the common issue on those ECM models.

Q. What is the ECM failure of Toyota?

A. Several ECMs fail in some Toyota models. For example, the 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4 ECM. Many solder joints on the circuit can be damaged, along with parts of the automatic transmission controller. This may happen because of a combination of heat, vibration, and/or the properties of the materials used to solder the parts in the circuit. Other ECMs for other Toyota models may fail in the same way.

Q. Can a bad ECM be repaired?

A. Yes. The ECM is an electronic module and can be repaired the same as any other electronic circuit, given that (1) the technician knows the inner workings of the specific module, (2) the technician has the needed information and the right tools, like diagrams and tools for programming the module, and (3) the electronic parts to be replaced are available. We offer repair service for the 2001-2005 Toyota RAV4 and some other models, as well as some Lexus models.

Q. Can I replace an ECM myself?

A. Yes. It is a fairly easy job for most models. It boils down to removing the bolts holding the ECM and disconnecting the terminals. You can’t mix up the terminals when you reinstall the ECM because each terminal has a specific shape and won’t fit unless it is in the correct connector. Also, if the ECM was sold to you as a “plug-n-Play” unit, meaning no programming is needed, then that is all it is. Otherwise, you must program the ECM to match your car’s security system after installation.