2002 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 555 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 39 involved a crash and 15 involved a fire. 50 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
93 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Dec 8, 2008
I BROUGHT MY RAV BRAND NEW IN 200. HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT UP UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. IT WAS RUNNING JUST FINE BUT THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD JERK WHEN I SHIFTED IN/OUT OF REVERSE. NOT ONLY THAT BUT IT HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING AND WOULD JERK FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE VIA WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM....THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD AND I AM SCARED OF DRIVING ANYWHERE BECAUSE IM SCARED OF PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC FOR THE FEAR THAT THE CAR WONT MOVE AND I MAY GET HIT.....THIS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED....*TR
Power train, Electrical system, Oct 13, 2008
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. *TR
Electrical system, Sep 8, 2008
CAR BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD BY A SHOP THAT THE ECM IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT OFTEN FAILS IN INTERSECTIONS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 29, 2008
I BROUGHT MY RAV BRAND NEW IN 2002. HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT UP UNTIL A FEW A YEAR AGO WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENT. EVERY TIME I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO GET CHECKED IT WOULD GO OUT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY PRESENT DUTY STATION I WAS DEPLOYED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF MY DEPLOYMENT MY WIFE TOLD ME THAT CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME MOVING AND COULD HEAR THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. SHE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. ONLY 52000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD MY WIFE THAT THERE COULD BE A TSB OUT ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, PART THAT TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT GEARS, "ECM"AND THERE WAS SEVERAL THAT PERTAINED THE PROBLEM AND WHAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BEING IN ITALY SHE CONTACTED THE STATES REP FOR TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T LOCATE OUR CAR BECAUSE WE BOUGHT IT FROM A LICENSED DEALER "AMERICAN SPEC VEHICLE" FROM GERMANY. SHE THEN CONTACT THE AGENCY THAT IS AUTHORIZED TO SELL "AMERICAN SPEC CARS" AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FELL UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THAT THEY "AMERICAN TOYOTA" SHOULD PAY FOR IT BASED ON AN AMERICAN TSB. CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN AND NOTHING. WHEN I CAME HOME, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS AN AMERICAN TSB THEY WOULD CONSIDER THE REPLACEMENT. IN THE MEAN TIME THEY ASSURED US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND BEING OUR ONLY VEHICLE MY WIFE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE IT. TOYOTA "ROME" OKED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM, THE ACTUAL FAULT OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THE RESULT OF THE FAULTY PART. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND LOOKING ON LINE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OUT TO REPLACE A PRODUCT THAT IS THE RESULT OF TOYOTA'S ENGINEERING FLAWS. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REPLACEMENT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUESTED. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 11, 2008
I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR ON 6-20-2008. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR & NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE IT WASN'T ACCELERATING PROPERLY. THEN I NOTICED THAT AS THE CAR WAS SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR IT WOULD STALL & THEN SUDDENLY SHIFT REALLY HARD INTO 3RD GEAR. SOMETIMES AS I WOULD ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD START SHAKING & THEN SHIFT HARD INTO 1ST GEAR. THIS MADE ME VERY NERVOUS BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC & FEARED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD CREATE AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IT WAS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. WE LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID THINKING IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS SHIFTING. WE CHECKED THE FLUID & FILLED THE FLUID. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT A LITTLE & IT DIDN'T ACT UP FOR HIM. SO I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WELL THEN I STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN & IT CONTINUED TO SHIFT HARD & NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. I HAD MY UNCLE LOOK AT IT & HE THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGING. SO I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. OF COURSE ($84 LATER) THEY COULDN'T GET THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP THE NEXT DAY & THEY SAID THEY FOUND A BULLETIN ON 2001-2003 TOYOTA RAV4'S THAT IF THERE WAS A HARD SHIFTING THAT THE ECM NEEDED REPLACING. $1500 LATER THE CAR IS FIXED. OF COURSE TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A BULLETIN & SUPPOSEDLY DID NOT CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE & COME TO FIND OUT MY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY IS PAST & MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT EITHER EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MAJOR PART THAT KEEPS THE CAR RUNNING & FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE TOYOTA SERVICE & THEIR WAYS OF HANDLING PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT THE CONSUMERS FAULT BUT TOYOTA'S MANUFACTURING FAULT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 7, 2008
CAR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR (SLIPPING) AND THEN BANGING AND JERKING INTO GEAR AT FIRST TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LATER AFTER I SAW THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND WITH MANY CALLS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE THEY PERFORMED FURTHER TEST AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE ECM THEY ARE REPLACING IT BUT ONLY PAYING FOR HALF OF THE COST CURRENT MILEAGE 89,000 THEY ARE SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 9,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPROGRAMMED LAST YEAR (APRIL 07) AT 72,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2002 RAV 4 AND TRULY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 5, 2008
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND MY LOCAL DEALER WOULD FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM TWICE. THE 3RD TIME TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. NOW THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PUSHING THE PEDAL OR IT WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC WITH THE HOPES OF NOT GETTING INTO A WRECK. BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT HAD A BAD MAIN COMPUTER FAILURE AND THE "SHIFT SOLENOID B" WAS BAD. ALL THIS WITH ONLY 83K MILES. THIS SEEMS SOMEWHAT VERY LOW TO BE HAVING THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, GAVE THEM THE INFO AND THEY INVESTIGATED AND SAID IT WAS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE CASE IS "CLOSED". THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS TO BE $4998 BUT WITH THE DEALER GIVING ME A "ONE TIME GOOD WILL 50% SPLIT AND A SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT", IT HAD A FINAL PRICE OF $3,725.63. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 24, 2008
TL*THE 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 THE COMPUTER FAILURE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4,600. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
Electrical system, Jun 4, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AT THE COST OF $1,225.69, WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S APPROVAL. THE REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN HER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY REFERRED HER BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 31, 2007
ECU OR ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THIS COMPUTER IS BAD. WHEN SHIFTING .THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE COMPUTER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT IN. THIS IS SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD START IN LETS SAY 2ND GEAR THEN BANG BACK TO 1ST GEAR. WHAT A JOLT FOR YOU AND THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Nov 30, 2006, fire
NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT. 63,000 MILES, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, 50K MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER JAN 2006. VIN HAS ZEROS AND LETTER O WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE. TRY BOTH. *JB
Electrical system, Mar 24, 2006, crash
THE CAR SUFFERED MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE FRONT END BAR WAS BROKEN, WHEN FRONT END BAR BROKE IT LOST DIRECTION AND HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO TAKE THE ACCIDENT REPORT. WE WERE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FREEWAY NUMBER 405. I HAVE CALLED MY AUTO INSURANCE AND I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE FULL COVER. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM MY AUTO INSURANCE TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE CONTATED TOYOTA AND I ALSO HAVE A CASE WITH THEM. THE CASE NUMBER IS 200603011457. I HAVE TOYOTA AND THE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE IS CHRISTY. CHRISTY HAVE SAID TO WAIT AT LEAST 60 DAYS. I CAN'T WAIT 60 DAYS. I NEED MY CAR. THE AUTO INSURANCE HAS NOT GIVEN ME A RENTAL. I HAVE COMPLAINT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF AUTO INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA. THEY WILL CONDUCT AND INVESTIGATION. THE CASE NUMBER WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE IS 10000148757. MY AUTO INSURANCE CARRIER IS INFINITY. WHAT I WANT IS TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY CAR. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THIS BROKEN BAR SHOULD BE RECALL.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Air bags, Back over prevention, Nov 1, 2005
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHANGES OF OIL AND FILTER. TWICE THEY SUGGESTED A WYNNS SYSTEM ENGINE CLEANING WHICH WE PAID FOR. THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON APRIL 2005. LAST OCTOBER 7, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO OUR HOUSE AND THE NEXT DAY WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ADRIEL TOYOTA IN RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THEY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE MOTOR STALLED AND THE WARRANTY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY SINCE I HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THEM FOR THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I REMINDED THEM THAT JUST NINE MONTHS EARLIER A WYNNS MOTOR ENGINE CLEANING HAD BE DONE BY THEM AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MOTOR OF THE CAR TO HAVE SLUDGE IF THEY HAD DONE THE JOB CORRECTLY. THE TOYOTA COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO CALLED TO TELL ME THE SAME THING. I MADE A COMPLAINT AT THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS IN PUERTO , I AM WAITING FOR A DECISION. TODAY I SHOWED THE PICTURES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT WHO STATES THAT THE MOTOR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OIL CHANGES AND THE WORST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BE CLEANED. THE DEALERS STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY MOTOR SLUDGING ON ANY RAV 4 IN PUERTO RICO BUT CONSUMER REPORT STATES THAT TOYOTA HAS THIS PROBLEM MOST COMMONLY WITH CAMRY'S . TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT RAV 4 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE CAMRY'S HAVE. AM I SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHATEVER PROBLEM TOYOTAS ENGINES HAVE?
Electrical system, Mar 21, 2005, fire
I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES THEN GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AT THAT TIME, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FINALLY, I GOT OFF THAT ROAD AND DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES BUT I AGAIN NOTICED THE BURNING SMELL. I CHECKED THE PANEL AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. NEXT, A SMALL CURL OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. THEN SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENT. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. THEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED. FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jul 17, 2003
ON JULY 7, 2003 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. I ALMOST HIT THE MEDIAN DIVIDER BEFORE I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED THE DEARLERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN, THEY DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TO HAVE IT TOWED. INCIDENTALLY THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1100 MILES ON IT AND I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ABOVE HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND I WENT TO GET MY RAV4 AND ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE DRIVE BELT PULLEYS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON MY NEW RAV4 AND THAT CAUSED THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS AND BROKE THE TENSIONER AND THE HOUSING GUIDE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE NEW RAV4 WOULD NOT START. I JUMPED SRTARTED THE RAV4 FROM MY WIFES VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THINKING THAT THE BATTERY JUST NEEDED A CHARGE. MY WIFE WAS GOING TO USE THE NEEW RAV4 VEHICLE THAT DAY TO SHOP. SHE CALLED ME ABOUT MID-MORNING AND INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW RAV4 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AS SHE HAD GONE TO THE MALL. THAT EVENING MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL AND JUM STARTED THE VEHICLE AGIN AND I FINALLY GOT IT HOME AND IT IS NOW IN MY GARAGE, IT JUST WILL NOT START. I CALLED AND TALAKED TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING WITH MY NEW RAV4 SUV. HE EQUATED MY BREAK-DOWNS TO GOING TO THE STORE AND BUYING A BOX OF FOUR LIGHT BULBS AND TAKING THE LIGHT BULBS HOME AND PUTTING A NEW LIGHT BULB IN A LAMP THAT HAD A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB AND WHEN THE LAMP IS TURNED ON THEN THE NEW LIGHT BULB BURNS OUT. THIS REALLY MADE ME ANGRY. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS BIG DIFFERENCE IN A FIFTY CENT LIGHT BULB AND A $25,000.00 NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. *AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Visibility, Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2003
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE VARIOUS FEATURES THAT WERE DISPLAYED ON THE UNIT. THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD, AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ABNORMAL AND THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM DID NOT PERMIT OUTSIDE AIR. *SCC *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, May 29, 2002
WHEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE SHAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE IS LOUD, WHEN STOPPING, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF THE POWER WINDOWS CONTINUE TO WORK AND THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. *SLC
Electrical system, Apr 25, 2002, fire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE RIGHT AFTER CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK