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, Jul 27, 2006
VEHICLE WAS PLUGGED IN TO A CHARGER, CHARGING NORMALLY. DRIVER RETURNED TO THE CAR, AND NEGLECTED TO REMOVE THE CHARGING CABLE. DRIVER TURNED THE KEY, AND SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE CHARGING STATION AND DAMAGED THE CABLE AND THE CHARGING STATION, DISABLING THE CHARGING STATION UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED (AT A COST OF $1200 TO $1500). VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN CONNECTED TO A CHARGING STATION. (DATE IS APPROXIMATE.) *NM
Power train, Apr 21, 2005
TOYOTA 2002 MR2 SPYDER: SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION (SMT) CREEPING WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. THIS HAPPEN TO THE CAR IN DEC OF 2004 BUT WENT AWAY BY ITSELF AFTER A WEEK. I REPORTED TO FREMONT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CA BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. AGAIN ON APRIL 15TH 2005, THE SMT CREEPING RECURRED. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE ECU BUT CREEP IS STILL EXIST. AGAIN, THE DEALER PERSISTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. ACCORDING THE MANUAL BOOK, IT STATES THAT UNLIKE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SMT DOES NOT CREEP. PLEASE HELP. *NM
Power train, Jan 4, 2005
ONCE YOU COME TO A STOP DURING NORMAL BREAKING, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL TO START MOVING FORWARD, THERE IS A ?THUMP? AS IF YOU ARE BEING HIT FROM THE REAR. THIS IS SIMILAR AS BEING REPORTED IN ODI?S 10089480 AND 10092834. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL IN TRUCKS, THAT IT IS THE NATURAL SPACING IN THE DRIVE SHAFT WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE.THE ONLY WAY FOR THE PROBLEM NOT TO OCCUR, IT TO GLIDE TO A SMOOTH STOP.*AK
Power train, Mar 10, 2004
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2004, I TOOK MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A PROBLEM THAT INVOLVED THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGING FORWARD. AND FAILING TO SHIFT GEARS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO ME. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED THAT DAY AND I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 20, 2004. I WAS TOLD THAT A PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE PART WAS IN. I WAS TOLD THAT IN THE MEANTIME, THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004, MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION. WE IMMEDIATELY PHONED TOYOTA, TELLING THEM THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND REQUESTED THAT THEY TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE FEBRUARY 23, 2004. PRINCIPLE COMPLAINT: MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SURGES OR ACCELERATES AND FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS. *AK
Power train, Oct 6, 2003
WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. *AK
Power train, Feb 12, 2003
THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR, AND IF IT DID MOVE OUT OF GEAR, IT ABRUPTLY DOWN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*AK 2002 TOYOTA SPYDER) *JB