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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

What owners actually said

527 reports
33,000 miles · Mar 28, 2017
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TAKATA RECALL! MARCH 28, 2017 [XXX] [XXX] TELEPHONE: [XXX] EMAIL: [XXX] MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY! DEAR SIR: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN JUNE 2015 WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV AND I HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD RUN A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER VEERED INTO MY LANE AND HIT ME. I W…

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TAKATA RECALL! MARCH 28, 2017 [XXX] [XXX] TELEPHONE: [XXX] EMAIL: [XXX] MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY! DEAR SIR: I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN JUNE 2015 WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV AND I HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD RUN A STOP SIGN AND THE DRIVER VEERED INTO MY LANE AND HIT ME. I WAS STUCK IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF THE COLLISION HAD PUSHED THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE BACK AND THE FRONT DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN AND PEOPLE STANDING AROUND SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. WHEN THE POLICE CAME, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL TRIED TO PRY OPEN THE FRONT DOORS AND FINALLY AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FIRE I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV FAILED TO DEPLOY AND I SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, CHEST, STOMACH AND LEFT HAND. ALL OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ALL ASKED THE SAME QUESTION: WHY DID YOUR AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT KNOW. MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV WAS TOTALED AND I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS DRIVEN BY A LADY WHO WAS TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE AND DID NOT SEE THE RED STOP LIGHT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE AND SHE RAMMED INTO ME GOING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT MY VEHICLE, ALL OF THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE LADY DRIVING HAD NO INJURIES. I AM STILL RECEIVING CARE FOR MY INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT THE IMPRINT OF THE TOYOTA EMBLEM ON MY CHEST (THIS IS WHERE THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY FROM). I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, AND LEFT HAND AND TO MY STOMACH AREA. PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU. [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI #10969094

53,612 miles · Mar 2, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED; HOWEVER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ENDED IN 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,612. UPDATED 04/25/17 LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10958029

120,000 miles · Feb 10, 2017
Power Train

TSB = TC002-06. KNOWN ECM ISSUES CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY AND RUINED TRANSMISSION. ECM HAS TO BE REPLACE AND TRANSMISSION REBUILT. SEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY GENERATION RAV4. IF A FAULTY PRODUCT CAUSES SO MANY PEOPLE TO RISK DRIVING SAFELY AND BE OUT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLL…

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TSB = TC002-06. KNOWN ECM ISSUES CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INCORRECTLY AND RUINED TRANSMISSION. ECM HAS TO BE REPLACE AND TRANSMISSION REBUILT. SEARCHING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR MY GENERATION RAV4. IF A FAULTY PRODUCT CAUSES SO MANY PEOPLE TO RISK DRIVING SAFELY AND BE OUT SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL PLACED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED. HTTPS://MBEACH1B.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM/2010/10/TC002-061.PDF HTTP://WWW.TOYOTAPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/RAV4-TRANSMISSION/

NHTSA ODI #10953872

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2017
Exterior Lighting

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON, BUT AFTER CHECKING, NO ISSUES ARE TOUND

NHTSA ODI #10947996

134,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017
Fuel System, GasolineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING MY RAV4 DOWN MY ROAD WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL MY VEHICLE CONTINUED SPEEDING UP. I HAD MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKED WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN BUT COULDN'T STOP ME. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP BUT THE RPMS WENT U…

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I WAS DRIVING MY RAV4 DOWN MY ROAD WHEN I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL MY VEHICLE CONTINUED SPEEDING UP. I HAD MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKED WHICH SLOWED ME DOWN BUT COULDN'T STOP ME. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP BUT THE RPMS WENT UP TO 9000RPM'S IMMEDIATELY SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF IN HOPES SOMETHING WOULD RESET. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR AND I NEARLY CRASHED INTO AN INTERSECTION WHICH IS WHY I AM REPORTING THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED AND MAINTAINED MY CAR OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10943935

33,000 miles · Dec 9, 2016
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TAKATA RECALL: ME AND MY WIFE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN JUNE, 2015. A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE LOST CONTROL OF HER SUV AND HIT MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV HEAD-ON. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, I SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, RIGHT KNEE AND LEFT ARM AND HAND. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD…

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TAKATA RECALL: ME AND MY WIFE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN JUNE, 2015. A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE LOST CONTROL OF HER SUV AND HIT MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV HEAD-ON. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, I SUSTAINED SEVERAL INJURIES TO MY HEAD, NECK, RIGHT KNEE AND LEFT ARM AND HAND. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACKWARD WHICH BLOCKED THE TWO FRONT DOORS FROM OPENING. MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND SOMEONE CALLED THE POLICE, THE FIRED DEPARTMENT, AND AN AMBULANCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT IN MY VEHICLE AND HAD TO PRY THE TWO FRONT DOORS OPEN TO GET ME AND MY WIFE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. EVERYONE THAT CAME TO MY RESCUE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ALL ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, WHY DID YOUR AIRBAGS WORK. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT KNOW. EVERY ONE OF THE RESCUE PEOPLE SAID THAT I PROBABLY HAD TAKATA AIRBAGS WHICH HAD FAILED TO DEPLOY BECAUSE DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES IN WEST VIRGINIA ARE EITHER VERY HOT OR VERY COLD. IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE WORKED IN MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. THEN MY WIFE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED. AS THE RESULT OF THE WRECK, MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUB WAS TOTALED. THE AIRBAGS IN THE OTHER SUV THAT HIT US HEAD ON DEPLOYED LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AND PROTECTED THE LADY DRIVING HER SUV. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR AGENCY TO FIND OUT WHY MY TAKATA AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM VERY CERTAIN THAT THERE A LOT OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS ON THE ROAD THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MPH AND THE LADY WHO HIT US HEAD ON WAS DRIVING MUCH FASTER. THE IMPACT WAS LIKE HITTING A STONE WALL. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10934266

33,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV IN JUNE AND I WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ME TO BE INJURED. MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD, MY KNEE HIT SOMETHING WHICH CUT IT, MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE ONE OF THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HA…

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TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV IN JUNE AND I WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY A LADY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED ME TO BE INJURED. MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD, MY KNEE HIT SOMETHING WHICH CUT IT, MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE ONE OF THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND I HAD TWO DAMAGED RIBS AND ALSO I HAD INTERNAL INJURIES ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO MY LEFT HAND. MY WIFE AND I WERE WEARING OUR SEATBELTS AND MY WIFE ONLY INCURRED BRUISES TO HER RIGHT ARM. WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE IMPACT HAD PUSHED THE FRONT OF MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV BACK WHICH BLOCKED MY FRONT DOORS. MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND WE COULD NOT GET OUT. SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRES DEPARTMENT, AMBULANCE, AND A WRECKER. THE FIREMEN HAD TO FORCE THE FRONT DOORS OPEN TO GET US OUT. THE POLICE, THE FIREMEN, AND THE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL ASKED WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I TOLD THAT I DO NOT KNOW. THEY SAID THAT I PROBABLY HAD DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND I SPENT TIME IN THE HOSPITAL AND I HAVE NOT FULLY RECOVERED YET. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NHTSA HAS INSPECTED TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS THAT HAVE FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION. MY TOYOTA RAV4 SUV HAD ONLY 33,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS IN MINT CONDITION. I THINK THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD GO BACK AND INSPECT EARLIER MODELS OF TOYOTA RAV4 SUVS FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE TAKATA AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY. WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND I WAS GOING 45 MILES PER HOUR. EVERYONE THAT KNOWS ABOUT MY ACCIDENT HAS SAID THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV. PLEASE FOR MY SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AND DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 SUV PLEASE CHECK INTO WHY MY AIRBAGS FAILED. *TR ...UPDATED 03/29/17 *BF UPDATED 9/5/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10917962

136,639 miles · Aug 30, 2016
Power Train

I BOUGHT MY FRIENDS 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT BACK IN MARCH HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I GO TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC IT HAS NO POWER AND PULLS OUT TOOOO SLOW AND BUCKS! I HAVE TO WAIT TILL THERE IS NO TRAFFIC TO SAFELY PULL OUT! I READ WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROB…

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I BOUGHT MY FRIENDS 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT BACK IN MARCH HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I GO TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC IT HAS NO POWER AND PULLS OUT TOOOO SLOW AND BUCKS! I HAVE TO WAIT TILL THERE IS NO TRAFFIC TO SAFELY PULL OUT! I READ WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT WAS EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD 136,000 MILES ON IT! I THINK THIS WAS HAPPENING TO HER BEFORE SHE SOLD IT TO ME AND SHE WAS GOING TO TRADE IT IN BUT DECIDED TO SELL IT PRIVATE! DON'T KNOW IF SHE EVER GOT THE RECALL LETTER OR NOT BUT I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED IF SHE DID. ANYWAY I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THE PART IT SAYS IT NEEDS AND THINK THAT SINCE TOYOTA HAD A MILEAGE OF UP TO 150,000 THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT! I DID PAY 700 DOLLARS TO HAVE 2 OF THE SOLENOIDS REPLACED BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM! THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AS FAR AS CHANGING THE OIL AND UPKEEP BUT AM REALLY UPSET! I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY SON TO TAKE HIS DRIVING TEST IN BUT HE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT WITH THIS HAPPENING! MY CONCERN IS I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO FIX ALL RECALLS IF IT IS UNDER THE MILAGE AND THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM! ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED! THANK-YOU

NHTSA ODI #10899522

33,000 miles · Jun 15, 2016
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

TAKATA RECALL. I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION LAST JUNE, 2015 AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED ME EXTENSIVE INJURIES AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND REMAINED A PATIENT. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IF ANY OF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THEN I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE SEVERELY INJURED.

NHTSA ODI #10874455

33,000 miles · Jun 1, 2016
Air BagsEngineSuspensionCrashFireInjury

I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER. ALL OF A SUDDEN, A LADY RAN A STOP SIGN AND SWERVED AND HIT US HEAD-ON. WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE, THE DOORS WERE JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE CAME AND QUICKLY PUT THE FIRE OUT AND PRIED THE FRONT DOORS OPEN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY …

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I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER. ALL OF A SUDDEN, A LADY RAN A STOP SIGN AND SWERVED AND HIT US HEAD-ON. WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE, THE DOORS WERE JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. AND POLICE CAME AND QUICKLY PUT THE FIRE OUT AND PRIED THE FRONT DOORS OPEN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. I INCURRED SEVERE INJURIES TO MY HEAD, CHEST, NECK AND LEFT ARM. MY TOYOTA WAS TOTALED AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR THE WRECK. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE WRECK HAPPENED AND IF MY AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERELY INJURED. MY TOYOTA WAS TOTALED AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED FOR THE WRECK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY VEHICLE. I PROBABLY HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10871965

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