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2002 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RAV4 years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota RAV4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

478 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 376 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports15 fire reports26 injury reports

Power Train complaints

376 reports
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95,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SINCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER BACK IN 2002. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 202,000. MILES MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE FREEWAY AND BE EXPOSED TO YOUR TIRES…

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I HAVE HAD MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SINCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER BACK IN 2002. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW AT 202,000. MILES MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS ITS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE FREEWAY AND BE EXPOSED TO YOUR TIRES LOCKING UP. AND/OR YOUR CAR NOT GO IN GEAR AT A LIGHT EXPOSING YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343251

111,000 miles · Jul 11, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED JERKING AND SHAKING,, THEN SLOWING DOWN AT 111K MILES AT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CONCERNED FOR SAFETY, HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THAT IT COULD BE ECM, WHICH IS $1500, BUT NO GUARANTEES IT WOULD WORK. RESEARCHED ISSUE, AND F…

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2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED JERKING AND SHAKING,, THEN SLOWING DOWN AT 111K MILES AT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CONCERNED FOR SAFETY, HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW CAR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID THAT IT COULD BE ECM, WHICH IS $1500, BUT NO GUARANTEES IT WOULD WORK. RESEARCHED ISSUE, AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2006, BUT TOYOTA DIDN'T NOTIFY OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342474

75,000 miles · Jul 9, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE WITH AN EXTREMELY SLOW DELAY IN THE POWER RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS SCHEDULED PRIOR TO TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HESITATE WITH AN EXTREMELY SLOW DELAY IN THE POWER RESPONSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT WHICH WAS SCHEDULED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE SCHEDULED REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THAT WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10342168

142,000 miles · Jul 5, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainInjury

WHIPLASH AND CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF TOYOTA RAV 4 2002 TRANSMISSION AND ECM PROBLEMS. AROUND 4/20/10 I TOOK MY TOYOTA TO THIS DEALERSHIP DUE TO ONGOING JERKING AND FORWARD THRUST WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY KEPT MY TOYOTA FROM 4/19/10 TILL 4/21/10. RESET THE E…

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WHIPLASH AND CERVICAL DISC HERNIATION DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF TOYOTA RAV 4 2002 TRANSMISSION AND ECM PROBLEMS. AROUND 4/20/10 I TOOK MY TOYOTA TO THIS DEALERSHIP DUE TO ONGOING JERKING AND FORWARD THRUST WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION, ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY KEPT MY TOYOTA FROM 4/19/10 TILL 4/21/10. RESET THE ENGINE STATING THAT IT IS O2 SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED IT. ALSO DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP PERSONA,L" I DON'T WANT TO STAMP YOUR CAR AS CONDEMNED, TAKE IT BACK AND WHEN PROBLEM GETS WORSE BRING IT BACK" HE DID NOT WARN ME THAT IF I DID NOT GET IT CORRECTED RIGHT AWAY, I CAN BE JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE PAPERWORK THEY HANDED ME THAT THEY HAD DIAGNOSED A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED IT RIGHT AWAY. AROUND MIDDLE OF MAY THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION GOT WORSE, ON 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR STALLED COMPLETELY WHILE GOING AT 30 MPH AND THEN SEVERELY THRUST FORWARD AGAIN. IN ANOTHER 3-4 DAYS I STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS AND HEADACHES. SINCE THEN I HAD BEEN TO ER, RECEIVED CT AND MRI SHOWING DISC PROLAPSE AND TEAR OF MY 2 VERTEBRAL DISCS. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PHYSICAL THERAPY, CERVICAL TRACTION, PAIN MEDICATION, CERVICAL COLLAR, AND AM SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE AN EPIDURAL INJECTION IN 2 WEEKS. I HAVE SEEN MY PCP TWICE, A NEUROLOGIST, 2 NEURO SURGEONS AND HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS MEDICATION, SOME WITH SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THESE VISITS. I AM A PHYSICIAN AND DUE TO THIS PROBLEM HAVE MISSED DAYS AT WORK JEOPARDIZING MY CLINICAL CARE. YESTERDAY ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, THIS INCIDENT MADE ME REALIZE I CAN HURT OTHER PEOPLE IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO DEALER TODAY AND THEY ARE GOING TO RUN A DIAGNOSIS ON IT AGAIN, AND IT MIGHT COST ME 6,000 DOLLARS. PLEASE HELP.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10341512

95,565 miles · Jul 5, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE ECM PROBLEM. THE ENGINE REVS AND SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT ALSO LUNGES FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS CRIMINAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AND THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341506

73,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Power Train

2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ECM IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY MECHANIC AND SANPORT AUTO BROKEN ARROW, OK FOUND THE BULLETIN AND ADVISED ME MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE 96 MONTHS 80, 000 MILES. SHE EVEN CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM AND ADVISED THEM OF THE ISSUE. SHE SPOKE WITH KYLE AT JIM NORTON TOYOTA …

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2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ECM IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY MECHANIC AND SANPORT AUTO BROKEN ARROW, OK FOUND THE BULLETIN AND ADVISED ME MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE 96 MONTHS 80, 000 MILES. SHE EVEN CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM AND ADVISED THEM OF THE ISSUE. SHE SPOKE WITH KYLE AT JIM NORTON TOYOTA HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE BULLETIN SO MY MECHANIC MADE A COPY AND PUT IT ON MY SEAT TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. KYLE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND LET ME KNOW. IF SOMEONE COULD CALL JIM NORTON TOYOTA AND LEAN AND BIT ON THEM THAT WOULD BE GREAT. HE ACTED LIKE HE WAS NOT SURE THAT WAS THE ISSUE BUT THERE IS DOCUMENTATION ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE PROBLEM SO I AM NOT SURE HOW THEY COULD NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY MECHANIC AT SANPORT AUTO SAID IF I NEED ANY HELP TO LET HER KNOW. SHE SAID IT IS DEFINITELY THE ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. THANK GOODNESS FOR GOOD HONEST MECHANICS LIKE SANPORT AUTO IN BROKEN ARROW, OK. THEY DID THE RIGHT THING AND WILL ALWAYS GET MY BUSINESS. LET'S HOPE JIM NORTON DOES THE RIGHT THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340686

124,000 miles · Jun 29, 2010
Power Train

TOYOTA RAV4 2002- 50MPH ON A ROAD WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE HAD TO GO AROUND ME- AFTER THE VEHICLE PASSED, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO 3RD GEAR- CARS WERE ACCELERATING PAST ME CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER ALONG WITH THE CAR JERKING AND PULLING- TOYOTA ISSUED A "SERVICE BULL." FOR THIS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE…

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TOYOTA RAV4 2002- 50MPH ON A ROAD WHEN AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE HAD TO GO AROUND ME- AFTER THE VEHICLE PASSED, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO 3RD GEAR- CARS WERE ACCELERATING PAST ME CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER ALONG WITH THE CAR JERKING AND PULLING- TOYOTA ISSUED A "SERVICE BULL." FOR THIS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE FAULTY ECM- AND NOW THERE IS POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE- VERY DANGEROUS AS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE- THIS IS A INTERMITTENT ISSUE- MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET- NO RECALL AS OF YET-. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340615

118,817 miles · Jun 26, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED EXCELLENTLY WITH ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED AT TOYOTA DEALERS OR AUTHORIZED FACILITIES. IN 2009, TOYOTA SENT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT A "FAULTY ECM" (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THIS SERVIC…

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2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED EXCELLENTLY WITH ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED AT TOYOTA DEALERS OR AUTHORIZED FACILITIES. IN 2009, TOYOTA SENT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT A "FAULTY ECM" (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND THE ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THIS SERVICE, THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND AS OF JUNE 26, 2010, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITH 118,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THE ECM CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IS REFUSING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS LACK OF INTEGRITY AND FOR PUTTING CONSUMERS AT RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY, DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 2002 RAV4'S, CAMRY'S AND COROLLAS. GOOGLE THIS INFORMATION TO SEE THAT THIS IS BECOMING MORE COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR, NOW THAT THEY ARE REACHING 100,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10340240

75,000 miles · Jun 24, 2010
Power TrainCrash

I WAS COMING HOME AND WAITING FOR MY GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (EVEN THOUGH I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) AND CRASHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GARAGE DOOR SIDE-SWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO GET FIXED AND ALSO TOOK IT TO A SERVICE S…

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I WAS COMING HOME AND WAITING FOR MY GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (EVEN THOUGH I QUICKLY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) AND CRASHED THROUGH THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE GARAGE DOOR SIDE-SWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP TO GET FIXED AND ALSO TOOK IT TO A SERVICE SHOP, AND NEITHER PLACE COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED ON A FEW RARE OCCASIONS THAT, UPON SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A SUDDEN JERKING ACTION. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THIS ALL MY BE RELATED TO THE ECM TRANSMISSION MODULE THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT LATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339915

101,830 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SHIFTING. ALL OF THE GEARS WERE AFFECTED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SHIFTING. ALL OF THE GEARS WERE AFFECTED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,830. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10336485

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems