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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.

About this comparison →
527Owner complaints

Model-year median: 258.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
62
199930
2000309
2001527
2002314
2003154
2004141
2005
Compare all RAV4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
376Electrical System
92Engine And Engine Cooling
41Vehicle Speed Control
36Unknown Or Other
23
All reported categories
Air Bags
22Engine
22Electronic Stability Control (esc)
16Steering
8Latches/locks/linkages
5Structure
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Suspension
4Tires
3Exterior Lighting
2Seat Belts
2Visibility
2Back Over Prevention
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Service Brakes, Electric complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, ElectricVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAVE 4, I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT STILL DOES AND I CAN REPRODUCE IT EVERY TIME ON THE SAME ROAD. I ALSO HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT STEPING ON THE BREAKES AND THE CAR NOT WANTING TO STOP. …

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAVE 4, I HAVE EVEN COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN I USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IT STILL DOES AND I CAN REPRODUCE IT EVERY TIME ON THE SAME ROAD. I ALSO HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT STEPING ON THE BREAKES AND THE CAR NOT WANTING TO STOP. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME "IT WAS IN MY HEAD, AND THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT." I WAS ACTUALLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON MY WAY INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I REPORTED IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THEM AN I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2005.

NHTSA ODI #10322909

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

Toyota RAV4 transmission problems →Toyota RAV4 electrical problems →