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: power train
381 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 19, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD THREE TIMES. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD THREE TIMES AGAIN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Aug 19, 2008
TOYOTA RAV4 2002, 98367 MILES, TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR RECALL ON ECM REPROGRAM, AFTER DONE THE RECALL BY TOYOTA DEALER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY ERRATICALLY. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO LOSS OF TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Aug 15, 2008
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - SLIPPAGE OF TRANSMISSION. EVALUATED BY DEALER AND INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE ECM/TRANSMISSION. ECM WAS ADJUSTED AND FAILED TO ALTER PROBLEM. RECOMMENDATION REPLACEMENT OF ECU/ECU. *TR
Power train, Aug 11, 2008
VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED HESITATING AND HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST REPAIR, TRANSMISSION FLUSHING, DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO ERRATIC SHIFTING PROBLEM OF RAV4 2002. APPARENTLY RELATED TO THE ECM. THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY SLUGGISH START FROM A STANDSTILL AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ON. ATTEMPTING TO TURN ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOYOTA DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AWARE OF THIS VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE AT AUTOBEEF.COM. *TR
Power train, Aug 8, 2008
I OWN A TOYOTA 2002 RAV4. IT IS EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT JERKS AND HESITATES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO PROCEED FORWARD OR NOT. PULLING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Power train, Aug 7, 2008
I DROVE MY CAR SATURDAY 8-1-08 AND NOTICED THAT FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD. I HAD THE TRANNY DRAINED AND FILLED AND ADDITIVE PLACED. THE SHIFTING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT I CALLED AROUND AND DID INTERNET RESEARCH. AFTER READING HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML AND HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?S=EEC4529E47F582CEC0A62327B81DBE0C&SHOWTOPIC=28020&PID=308037&ST=450&#ENTRY308037 IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF MALFUNCTION EXISTS WITH THIS TOYTOA TRANSMISSION. I HAVE THUS FAR HAD THE DRAIN AND FILL PERFORMED AND AM GOING TO SEE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. I WORRY THAT MY CAR WILL HAVE THE SHIFTING AND JERKING AND FAILURES DURING THE TRAVEL, AS IS DESCRIBED ELSEWHERE. BECAUSE OF MY SAFETY CONCERNS AND INABILITY TO PAY FOR $4,000 IN REPAIRS, I INTEND TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCE A HARDSHIP AS A RESULT. *TR
Power train, Aug 4, 2008
I BOUGHT MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 NEW AT TOYOTA OF HOLLYWOOD, FL IN 2002. MY WIFE HAS BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE PERFORMED ALL SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAS ONLY 55K MILES ON IT. RECENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER "UNDER WARRANTY". THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE 2 YEARS AGO WHEN THE TSB WAS FIRST PUT OUT. THE TSB WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FROM APPEARING. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY MUST REPLACE THE SOLENOIDS BUT THE ARE NOT SURE IF THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. HAD THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER 2 YEARS AGO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM NOW. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION ON A TOYOTA SHOULD NOT FAIL IN 55K MILES. THAT'S THE REASON I BOUGHT A TOYOTA. THIS IS WELL KNOW ISSUE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AR WRITING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET EVERY DAY. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE LINKS. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0C4213/0 HTTP://RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=15515 TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY FOR FREE SINCE I WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM NOW IF THE DEALERSHIP HAD PERFORMED THE WORK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. *TR
Power train, Jul 31, 2008
2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 2 WHEEL DRIVE, DRIVEN FOR 2 YEARS BY MY WIFE, LAST WEEK STARTED SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO 3RD. ALSO IT SLIPS NOW. *TR
Power train, Jul 29, 2008
THIS "CERTIFIED, PRE-OWNED" VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED HESITATING AND HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST REPAIR, TRANSMISSION FLUSHING, DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP WITH A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOR A "CHECK ENGINE" CODE FOR SOLENOID/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, CODE 1760 AND/OR 770 - NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST MECHANIC STATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS "BURNT." THERE ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR 20,000 MILES AND OWE ALOT OF MONEY ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ, PEOPLE ARE LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, OUT-OF-POCKET TRYING TO FIX THEIR VEHICLES. I AM NEXT. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WON'T KICK IN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS. *TR
Power train, Jul 27, 2008
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND COMPLETELY LOSES POWER AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I WAS COMING OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND SLOWED DOWN FOR MY EXIT WHEN IT LOST ALL POWER . WHEN I GOT POWER AGAIN IT BEGAN JERKING AND SHIFTING ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS REALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THERE WERE MANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME THAT HAD TO BASICALLY STOP ON THE EXIT OF THE FREEWAY. PLEASE HELP US RAV4 DRIVERS GET A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM TOYOTA. *TR
Power train, Jul 24, 2008
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WAS SCARED THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY AND BE STUCK ON THE ROAD OR REAR-ENDED DUE TO IT HESITATING BADLY BETWEEN GEARS. IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY I WAS THROWN OFF BY WHAT I SHOULD DO BUT I DID MANAGE TO MAKE IT HOME THEN I PARKED IT UNTIL I COULD GET IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 23, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE GAINED POWER. IN ADDITION, THE GEARS SHIFTED ROUGHLY AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS JERKING AND VIBRATING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,846. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB
Power train, Jul 22, 2008
2002 RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ECM/TRANSMISSION ISSUE!!: THE PROBLEMS STARTED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNING ON AND OFF ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. WE GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA TO HAVE THE ECM REPROGRAMMED AND WENT TO FULFILL THE RECALL. THE LIGHT THEN CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT A MONTH LATER. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT COULD BE A GAS CAP ISSUE, SO WE MADE SURE WE TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP AND THAT TURNED THE LIGHT OFF FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT THEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT WE HAD THE FIRST SIGNS OF A SHIFTING PROBLEM. ALL IN THE SAME DAY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES AND SHIFT ROUGH BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS (ITS AN AUTO TRANS). .ONCE WE GOT THE CAR GOING FORWARD, WE WORKED OUR WAY BACK HOME, AND THAT WAS IT FOR THE CAR. I FOUND THE WEBSITE OF WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 RECALL FOR THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE ----THE BRAIN---)IS LEADING TO THE PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUE THAT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS NOT ADDRESSING. WE HOPE THAT BY FILING THE COMPLAINT, AND BRINGING THIS WEBSITE TO YOU, YOU CAN BRING THIS TO CORPORATE TOYOTA'S ATTENTION TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE REFERENCED REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MY 2002 RAV 4 WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY HAS 46K MILES IN IT TO HAVE SUCH A GRAND PROBLEM. I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT DOES NOT WANT TO COMPLETELY FIX THE ECM ISSUE. (THEY ONLY RE-FLASH IT WHEN POSSIBLY THE CAR NEEDS A "NEW" ONE). PLEASE HELP! *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, Jul 9, 2008
1. DRIVING THE CAR, AS NORMAL, I CAME TO A RED LIGHT. WHEN I BEGAN ACCELERATING AND THE CAR WENT TO SHIFT GEARS IT HAD TROUBLE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT QUICKLY GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD. WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT HOME I DECIDED TO TRY AND FIND A MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY. WHEN DRIVING IT I FELT THE CAR HAD SHUT OFF 1ST GEAR AND STARTED RIGHT INTO 2ND GEAR SHIFTING TO 3RD OK BUT THEN WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. THEN AFTER NOT FINDING A MECHANIC OPEN ON JULY 4TH I WAS DRIVING HOME AND 1ST GEAR WAS BACK BUT HAVING A REAL HARD TIME CHANGING INTO 2ND AND 3RD BUT SMOOTH IN 4TH GEAR. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/PROBLEMS_SHIFTING.SHTML. THIS WEBSITE SHOWS MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND FOR MANY ON THIS SITE THE FAULTY COMPUTER HAS DESTROYED THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AND FORCED THEM TO NOT ONLY GET A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT A NEW ECM AS WELL. THIS FAULTY ECM IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. AS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ALSO HAVE A BAD TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE ECM, LIKE MYSELF, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THAT AT NO COST AS WELL. AGAIN, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE ECM THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSION DAMAGE AND SHOULD NOT BE A CONSUMER ISSUE. TOYOTA EVEN DID A RECALL ON THE 2001-2003 RAV4 BECAUSE OF THE ECM AND THEY WOULD REPROGRAM THE ECM TO TRY AND SOLVE THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND STILL HAVE TO GET A NEW ECM. *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, Jul 2, 2008
TRANSMISSION FAILURE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT FOR THE 3RD TIME AND NOT COMPLETED AND WAS NEVER FIXED. *TR
Power train, Jul 1, 2008
I WAS DRIVING MY RAV4 ONE DAY AND IT STARTED TO JUMP AND WENT INTO A 'WRONG GEAR START.' IT WOULD START IN ABOUT 3RD GEAR AND JUMP INTO GEAR WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY CATCH UP. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. SURE ENOUGH, I HAD METAL IN MY PAN AND A BAD PLANETARY GEAR AND MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. $3,300 LATER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER, THE ECM TO BE EXACT. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR A RECALL THAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THIS EXACT PART OF THE COMPUTER BRAIN AND THEY DID A RE-FLASH FOR FREE, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX IT. NOW THAT IT IS CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS, TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX IT FOR FREE, I GUESS THEY FELT THEY DID THEIR PART BY DOING THE 'RE-FLASH' WHICH DIDN'T DO JACK. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A TOYOTA AND I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT THAT EARLY WAS VERY POSSIBLY DUE TO THIS DEFECT. IF THEY FURTHER REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM TAKING THEM TO COURT. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON THIS MODEL. BE AWARE! *TR
Power train, Jun 24, 2008
MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING HARD ON 6-20-2008 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 6-24-08 AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, $3,542.00 SO I CAME HOME GOT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT IT MIGHT COST ELSE WHERE. AND I CAME ACROSS A SITE FOR COMPLAINT FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, SO I CHECKED IT OUT. I FOUND 56 COMPLAINTS THAT WERE JUST LIKE MINE. I PRINTED OUT THIS INFORMATION AND CALLED AN 800 TOYOTA NUMBER. THEY SAID THE ECM HAD BEEN RECALLED. SO I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY ADJUSTED THE ECM. CAR HAS SAME PROBLEM, ACTUALLY RUNS A LITTLE ROUGHER, ANYWAY I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF HE HAD ANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND HE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT NEWS TO HIM. HE THEN SUGGESTED I HAVE BOTH TRANSMISSION AND ECM REPLACED $5,000. SO NOW I AM COMPLAINING TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE. TOYOTA KNOWINGLY SELLS THESE CARS WITH PROBLEMS AND EXPECTS US (THE CONSUMER) TO SUCK IT UP AND THAT'S JUST PLAIN WRONG! *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.
Power train, Jun 23, 2008
2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 - TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - AAMCO SERVICE REP STATES COMPUTER PROBLEM AND TOTAL TRANS REBUILD COSTING ABOUT $4000. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALER AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *TR
Power train, Jun 13, 2008
SLUGGISH TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND. *TR
Power train, Jun 13, 2008
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT. OCCASIONALLY IT SHIFT BY ITSELF, HESITATION IN SHIFTING. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RAV4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2002/TRANSMISSION/. *TR
Power train, Jun 9, 2008
WRITTEN IN EARLY MAY TO PLANETFEEDBACK.COM: MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2002 RAV4 NEW AT PENN TOYOTA IN GREENVALE, NY AND IT NOW HAS 97,981 MILES ON IT. IN LATE APRIL IT STARTED JERKING/JUMPING WHEN TRYING TO UPSHIFT AND WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AT PENN TOYOTA. ONCE THERE THE SERVICE CENTER ADVISED US TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUIDS FLUSHED AND REFILLED, WHICH WE DID. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD DO AN UPDATE TO THE ECM, WHICH THEY ALSO DID. WHILE DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME (AFTER THE REPAIRS), THE CAR WAS JUMPING/JERKING WORSE THAN WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN. WE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT BACK WHERE IT WAS RE-EVALUATED AND WE WERE NOW TOLD THAT ECM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1589.00. MY WIFE AND I DID SOME RESEARCH AND ARE FINDING THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN SEVERAL OF THE SAME TYPE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND TOYOTA ITSELF HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PRODUCT TO 96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. WE FALL OUT OF THAT RANGE, BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS PRODUCT (WHICH IS WHY TOYOTA PUT OUT THE NOTICE AND EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY) AND WE WOULD LIKE FIXED AS "IN WARRANTY". THERE IS NO REASON FOR A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED TO HAVE A FAILURE OF THIS KIND BEFORE 100,000 MILES. UPDATE (6/9/08): PENN TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE ECM AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE BUT WE STILL ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH JERKING/JUMPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AS WELL AS WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THEY HAVE SAID THAT WE COULD REPLACE THE FAULTY ECM PROBABLY CAUSED AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND WE SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND HARNESS AS WELL. THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO COVER THIS AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE BUT IT WOULD COST AN ESTIMATED $3800 FOR ME AND MY WIFE. *TR