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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

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
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33,000 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashFireInjury

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-0N COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT HIT ME, THEIR AIRBAGS DEFLATED. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE IMPACT PUSHED EVERYTHING BACK FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH BLOCKED THE DOORS SO THAT WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF …

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TAKATA RECALL: I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-0N COLLISION AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEFLATE LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT HIT ME, THEIR AIRBAGS DEFLATED. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE IMPACT PUSHED EVERYTHING BACK FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH BLOCKED THE DOORS SO THAT WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OTHER PARTIES FAULT AND SHE WAS CITED FOR THE ACCIDENT. I RECEIVED SEVERAL INJURIES WHICH RESULTED WITH ME BEING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE AMBULANCE PEOPLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE ALL WONDERED WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE ON THE ACCIDENT SCENE SAID THAT MY AIRBAGS WERE PROBABLY MADE BY TAKATA AND WERE DEFECTIVE. AS THE RESULT OF MY AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING CAUSED ME TO HAVE EXTENSIVE INJURIES AND I AM HAVING TO HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY ON MY LEFT ARM AND HAND. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO PERFORM A CHECK ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 2002 SUV'S TO SEE IF THEY ALSO SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. AS THE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY SUV WAS TOTALED AND IT ONLY HAD 33,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10812000

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2002
Air BagsSeat BeltsSuspensionCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH TIRES SOMEHOW GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN PAVEMENT/GROVE ON SIDE OF ROAD. TRUCK THEN PULLED TO RIGHT, AND OWNER TRIED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY. TRUCK WENT OFF THE ROAD, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE, AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8012399

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