Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest Class Action Settlement News!
Toyota RAV4 Class Action Settlement
By Mike Holter
Toyota has reached a class action lawsuit settlement over allegations that some 2001-2003 model year RAV4s have defective automatic transmissions. Under the RAV4 settlement, Toyota will provide a warranty enhancement and reimbursement to current and former RAV4 owners and lessees who submit valid claims.The Toyota RAV4 class action settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit, entitled Milligan v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., that claims some 2001-2003 RAV4s equipped with automatic transmissions have experienced a “harsh shift condition.” When this occurs, the vehicle may suddenly not shift smoothly and/or it may exhibit harshness in shifting operations during driving. The “harsh shift condition” may be attributed to a malfunctioning Electronic Control Module (ECM).
Toyota denies wrongdoing but has agreed to establish a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve the litigation.
Class Members of the Toyota RAV4 class action settlement include all persons in the United States, including the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, who currently own or lease or formerly owned or leased a model year 2001 through 2003 Toyota RAV4 equipped with an automatic transmission. (Toyota previously mailed a notice regarding this issue to current owners as part of a separate Customer Support Program. However, this class action settlement expands that Customer Service Support Program to include prior owners and lessees.)
Class Members can receive the following benefits under the Toyota RAV4 class action settlement:
(1) Warranty Enhancement. Toyota will continue to provide a warranty enhancement to any Class Member, for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles from the Class Vehicle’s in-service date, whichever occurs first, for a harsh shift condition and/or illumination of the check engine light with the following codes: P0750, P0753, P0755, P0758, and/or P1760.
(2) Reimbursement Under the Existing Customer Support Program. Toyota will continue to offer reimbursement to current owners pursuant to the existing Customer Support Program. The class action settlement will extend this reimbursement to prior owners.
(3) Reimbursement for Repair Costs. Class Members who paid for a repair or replacement of the ECM and/or automatic transmission for the specific condition covered by this settlement during the enhanced-warranty period will be reimbursed.
To submit a claim form for reimbursement, you must download a claim form at www.RAV4ECMSettlement.com and mail it, along with the required documentation, during the Reimbursement Period, which is from the date of the Final Approval Order and Judgment through December 31, 2014.
Class Members who fail to submit valid reimbursement claims during the Reimbursement Period will not receive a payment from the RAV4 ECM settlement.
Detailed instruction on how to file a claim for the Toyota RAV4 ECM Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found in our Open Lawsuit Settlements section.
Updated August 17th, 2012
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2010 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners.
27 thoughts onToyota RAV4 Class Action Settlement
Tuve que cambiar la computadora de mi vehículo que su numeración aparece en el recall y fue antes del 31 de diciembre del 2014 el dealer y Toyota de Puerto Rico se negó a rembolsar el dinero. Yo como clienta me enteré cuando prendió la luz de check energie y el dealer me notifica q9mi vehículo estaba en los defectuosos porque Toyota de Puerto Rico nunca lo hizo. Como me pueden explicar que derechos tengo.Guardo toda mi evidencia.Gracias !
How is this fair they should have to fix every rav4 between 2001-2003 one time til they are all fixed free of charge I say we reopen this class action suit till our needs have been met Allison in Vegas
I filed a claim back in December before the deadline. I had a 2002 RAV4 that began having the harsh shift condition in August 2008. I spent over $3400 having the transmission repaired, and a couple of weeks later, the harsh shifting was happening again. The mechanic I used then found out about the ECM issues. I was quoted another $1200 to replace the ECM, but the mechanic couldn’t guarantee that it would resolve the issue. I decided to trade in my car rather than put more money into it. I traded it to a Toyota dealership, who was aware of the existing problem, which significantly decreased my the trade value. There wasn’t a recall for the ECM at the time, or if there was, they didn’t tell me or offer to repair it at no cost. Anyway, Toyota denied my claim. As requested, I submitted an invoice from the transmission repair, proof of ownership at the time of the repair, and proof of payment (copy of the cleared check from the bank and a credit card statement). Now they are asking for a signed written statement from the servicing auto mechanic on company letterhead verifying the reason for the repair. The mechanic is no longer in business (retired), and I have no way of contacting him. I plan to file an appeal, but I’m not sure it will make a difference. Has anyone actually received a reimbursement for their claim?
I am just finding out about this settlement. My car is past the 150,000 mile mark. I’m so angry that Toyota has missed this. I had my car serviced in 2008 with this complaint and they did not fix the problem. Here I am with the car inoperable and needing to “fight” for this issue.
Look under the FAQ tab. http://www.rav4ecmsettlement.com/content.aspx?c=4724&sh=1#q6
There is a ton of answers there. (Who to contact…. Class Action Attorneys are:
Jeffrey B. Cereghino
Michael Ram
Ram, Olson, Cereghino & Kopczynski LLP
Beth E. Terrell
Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC
Steven Tindall
Rukin Hyland Doria & Tindall LLP
Jennie Lee Anderson
Andrus Anderson LLP
(it states Attorney fees are covered and we do not get charged… etc.)
I have left a message and will be pursuing this. Best of luck everyone!
Did any one receive a recall letter on time.Toyota sent me the recall letter with a wrong city and my name was mispelled .The mail came 3 months after the 10 year warranty.Have you hard of a city called Moscow in USA.I bougth the car brand new from toyota and i leave in the same city and adresse in MORROW.were they trying to defraud thier customers?.My car is 139,000 milles and they denied my claim too.I need a good lawyer .
Toyota failed to notify us about the transmission problem caused by the faulty computer system. …which requires both to be fixed. …
Just started having this problem. I took to aamco because they give a free estimate. then they needed $900 to take apart the transmission to get a real estimate. they called back & wanted 3500. I settled with them to fix it for 2500 but the problem still exists. I had the ecm updated in 2007 but it’s the ecu that needs fixing. ammco says bring it back & they want another 1000. it’s a nightmare. I have a 2002 with 91000 miles so I’m past the recall window. HELP i want to trade it in but it’s only worth 2000.
my 2003 rav4 now the transmission is not running good,it got stuck for a while then go slow
Just another Corporate sham. I took my 2001 Toyota Rav4 to an independent mechanic because my “engine light” has been on for months. Not one code is on the Toyota warranty list. Basically, they came up with a bunch of codes that will not be applicable to any reimbursement. Did we really think that Toyota is going to fix all those screwed up Ravs? Let’s get real.
I have a 2003 rav and just hit 112000 miles and the transmission started acting up on my lunch break.I called Toyota and since I bought in September of 2003 I’m past the 10 years.