KnownCarProblems2002 Toyota RAV4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 527 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota RAV4, most often about the transmission (71% of complaints, typically around 96,000 miles). It is 6th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints.
Complaints527
Recalls0
Crashes reported36
Fires reported15
Injuries reported48
Most common 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems
Transmission
376 complaints · 71%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
I drove my car saturday 8-1-08 and noticed that from park to reverse the car was shifting very hard. I had the tranny drained and filled and additive placed. The shifting was so violent that I called around and did internet research. After reading…
Vehicle would hesitate from a stop creating a potential hazard. Independent garage told US that it was a transmission issue. Transmission was covered under our extended warranty so we took vehicle to Toyota dealer. They advised US that issue was ECM (electronic control module) issue and not covered by the extended…
Electrical
92 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 93,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Toyota RAV4. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and became difficult to shift into first gear. The vehicle jerked and the engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician stated that the failures were related to…
Suddenly, my car starting shifting very roughly into reverse. It happens every time I put the car into reverse. I was told the ECM needed to be replaced because it was defective. This is the same ECM that had a factory recall issued that I had serviced last year.
Engine
63 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer where the dealer encountered sludge in the entire engine. The dealer determined the sludge was from poor maintenance. The contact stated the vehicle was regularly maintained by service dealers.…
Faulty engine control module. It has failed and caused transmission to fail as well. After $4k replacement transmission is shot again. Transmission misses gears and has stalled in the middle of intersection. Nothing was done to correct. Dealership is stating to replace transmission first then come back to fix…
Speed control
36 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 87,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Toyota RAV4. While attempting to accelerate from a stopped position, the contact noticed that the vehicle would hesitate to gain speed and would suddenly jerk forward when driving over 30 MPH. The vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were…
Dangerous transmission problems occurred in this car. The car would stall before going into second gear. Once it occurred as I was in an intersection. There are low miles on this so there should not be a need for repair or replacement at this time.
Other or unspecified
23 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles.
My 2002 Toyota RAV4 automatic is having serious transmission problems. It intermittently does not find the second gear, and when it does, lurches forward if the accelerator is applied. This is very dangerous, because prior to it slipping out of gear, it starts out slow, and you must apply the accelerator more than…
I just got a Toyota rav 4 2002 auto and when driving with family the vehicle started to run sluggish, jerks when pressing gas, starts slow real slow after coming to a stop and this situation almost got US into an accident in US 81 near front royal virginia. Additionally the check engine light came on. After taking…
Air bags
22 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota RAV4. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact and the passenger sustained arm and hand injuries and lacerations that required medical attention. The vehicle sustained extensive front end…
I was driving down tennessee street when a lady ran through a stop sign and hit US head-on. My air bags not did deploy which caused me and my wife injuries. The other vehicle that hit my Toyota 2002 RAV4 SUV. Air bags did deploy on impact, where my airbags did not deploy. If my air bags would have deployed like they…
Stability control
16 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles.
I have a 2002 Toyota rav 4,started driving erratic,while foot on gas pedal,car would slow down,then speed up with banging sound. Local Toyota dealership says computer bad replacing it,which included a tow is$ 1,440.00 .car is 8 years old with 91,000 miles.
During a recent rain I was transporting my grandkids from school when I noticed that my car seemed to slip and jolt forward each time I accelerated. Each time the car would hesitate and the slipping and jolting was significant. I was afraid that my car would stall in traffic. I was very glad to get my grandkids home…
Steering
8 complaints · 2%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion.
I purchased my 2002 Toyota RAV4 SUV in august of 2002. Ever since I bought the RAV4 something has been wrong with it. The first 3-months that I had the RAV4 the drive belt was chewed up and almost caused me to wreck. The transmission started making funny noises like a grinding sound and the transmission would not…
While driving a clicking noise came from front of the vehicle. The steering failed to turn properly, and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, and crashed into a concrete barrier. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. The driver refused medical attention and went to the hospital on her own.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Toyota RAV4 recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2002 Toyota RAV4
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (376 complaints, typically around 96,000 miles); electrical (92 complaints, typically around 93,500 miles); engine (63 complaints, typically around 89,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Toyota RAV4?
- It is 6th of 26 RAV4 model years by number of complaints, with 527 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.