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, Vehicle speed control, Apr 14, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THE INCIDENT ONLY OCCURRED ONCE TO DATE. IN AUGUST 2008 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A HARSH SHIFTING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS GIVEN A COPY OF A TSB THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STATED IF THE HARSH SHIFTING PERSISTS AFTER THE ECM REPLACEMENT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY MAY ALSO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 04/29/10. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND EVENTUALLY REPLACED. HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE NEW COMPUTER IS ALSO DEFECTIVE IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TOYOTA RECALLS. UPDATED 05/04/10. *JB
Power train, Apr 8, 2010
RAV 4 2002 OWNER. I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH SHIFTING ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RAV 4. WHEN STARTING OUT TO DRIVE, IT DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. IT FEELS LIKE THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS ON (IT ISN'T) THEN IT "JUMPS" OR SURGES FORWARD. FINALLY, AFTER A WEEK OR TWO OF THIS THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON AND THE CAR WILL L NOT SHIFT THRU ALL THE GEARS. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF RAV 4'S (2001 THRU 2003, BUT APPARENTLY ESPECIALLY 2002) HAVE DESCRIBED MY EXACT EXPERIENCE. THE PART REQUIRED COSTS $1,000 ( AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR!). THEN, ONCE IT IS PUT IN, YOU GET TO LEARN IF YOUR GEAR BOX HAS BEEN DESTROYED! IF SO, ANOTHER $5,000 TO $7,000 REPAIR! AND TOYOTA KNEW!!!!! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! *TR
Power train, Apr 6, 2010
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS 103K MILES. IN THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, 2010, AS I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO VISIT A FRIEND, I NOTICED AN ABRUPT OCCURRENCE OF TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE FROM 1ST -2ND GEARS. THERE WAS A FEELING OF DOWNSHIFTING THAT EVENED OFF AT 3RD GEAR. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS ACCELERATED AFTER A STOP, GOING UP A HILL. THERE WAS A CLUNK SOUND WHEN THE CARE WAS PUT IN REVERSE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING SINCE THIS CAME ABOUT OVERNIGHT. NO WARNING LIGHTS HAVE EVER COME ON, EVEN NOW. MY BOYFRIEND SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $5100. I AM UNEMPLOYED AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW BLOCKS, TO MY BOYFRIEND'S, AS THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE SLIPPAGE. I CAN NOT ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH AFTER A STOP, AND OTHER CARS COME BOUNDING DOWN ON ME, HONKING AND SWITCHING LANES AT THE LAST MINUTE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME, RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF COMPLAINTS PEOPLE HAVE ON THIS ISSUE. THEN I FIND OUT ABOUT TC002-06, IN WHICH CONSUMERS WERE NOT MADE PRIVY TO. THIS IS DELIBERATE CONSUMER FRAUD, COSTING TRUSTING CONSUMERS TO PAY FOR DEFECTS THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF, BUT REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THEIR DEFECT. THIS SEEMS TO ME, JUST AS ILLEGAL AS INSIDER TRADING, KNOWING SOMETHING, MAKING A PROFIT, AND NOT TELLING HOW THEY KNOW. *TR
Power train, Apr 6, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT IN SEPT. 2006. NOTICED SOMETIMES A SLIPPAGE BUT IT DID NOT OCCUR REGULARLY SO I IGNORED IT. WENT TO GET INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY FIXED THE ECM OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE MARCH 2009 BECAUSE I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I AM STILL PAYING $380 A MONTH PLUS INSURANCE ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I CANNOT DRIVE AND I SEE WHERE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE VERY SAME COMPLAINT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THEIR 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS DEFECT? I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE PAYING $500 A MONTH FOR A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE AND DEFINITELY CANNOT HAVE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $5000!!! PLEASE HELP! *TR
Power train, Apr 3, 2010
HAVING ISSUES WITH TOYOTA RAV 4 GEAR SHIFTING TRANSMISSION ISSUE VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS REPORT INDICATES P0750 FAILURE TOYOTA RELEASE A TSB IN MARCH 06 AND YET MY DEALER DID NOTHING TO REPLACE THE ECM EVEN IN MY SERVICE DONE IN 2008 I AM NOW AT 101K MILES
Power train, Apr 3, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN SUDDENLY JERKING WHEN I SLOWED DOWN THEN WOULD LAG WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. IT HAD LESS THAN 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4800. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR AN EXTENTION OF THE WARRANTY, HAVING BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY ANY LONGER. I GOT ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT AT 67,000 MILES THIS WAS NOT COVERED. I HAD TO GET RID OF THE CAR WHEN I DIDN'T WANT TO AND AM ASKING FOR RESTITUTION.
Power train, Apr 1, 2010
IN 2006 MY TRANSMISSION JUST DISINTERGRATED WITH 103000 MILES, HAD IT REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT THE COMPUTER WAS NOT DOING IT'S JOB THAN COME TO FIND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAD A TSB ON IT AND NEVER NOTIFIED ANYONE. NOW ABOUT IN MARCH OF 2009 AT ABOUT 145000 MILES 2ND TO 3RD GEAR STARTED TO SLIP AGAIN. NOW SO THIS IS MY SECOND TIME I'M HAVING THIS PROBLEM IT SEEMS I CAN'T GET MORE THAN 100,000. SAD THESE SHOULD LAST LONGER, AT THIS RATE $3500.00 EACH FOUR YEARS, SOMEONE IS MAKING $$$$$. THANKS
Power train, Mar 26, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH ONLY 77,000 MILES. IT WAS MONDAY LAST WEEK (MARCH 15) WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR KIND OF LOST IT'S ACCELERATING POWER WHEN I CRUISED UP THE CORONADO BRIDGE (SAN DIEGO, CA) BUT IT WAS WEDNESDAY THAT SAME WEEK WHEN I EXPERIENCED THIS SLIPPING/ JERKING/ HARSH SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING EVEN ON A REGULAR HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT AT FIRST IT WAS THE ENGINE BUT TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA THAT FRIDAY MORNING WHICH THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND MAYBE THE TRANSMISSION BUT FEW DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL GOOD. (DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS AND HOW THOROUGH THEY'VE CONDUCTED THEIR INSPECTION). WITH THIS INCIDENT AT 77,000 MILES, TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THEIR COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSIONS GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAD A TSB RELEASED MARCH 2006 WHICH I JUST FOUND OUT RESEARCHING FOR MY CAR'S POSSIBLE DEFECT. NOW I'M WORRIED THAT SINCE MY TRANSMISSION WAS ALREADY SUBJECTED TO THIS HARSH PROBLEM, IT'LL NO LONGER LAST... AND WITH JUST 6K MILES WARRANTY FOR THE NEW COMPUTER, I'M NOT FINANCIALLY READY TO BUY ANOTHER TRANSMISSION OR YET, ANOTHER CAR. I'VE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING COMPUTER PROBLEMS WITH 01-03 RAV4 (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM) THAT I AM HOPING NHTSA CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING DEMANDING TOYOTA TO EXTEND ITS WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Mar 25, 2010
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD TC002-06 PERFORMED ON IT IN JANUARY 2007. THE RECALL WAS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH THE ECM AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 85,000. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT A LOGIC UPDATE WAS PERFORMED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THE ECM SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NOT UPDATED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE ECM CARRIES AN 80,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ECM NOT BEING REPLACED. ALL MAJOR SERVICE WORK ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE AGENT HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AND THE ECM REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $4200. I CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND A ROUGH ESTIAMTE FOR THIS REPAIR IS $5000-$6000. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND ASKED ABOUT THIS TSB, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS SIMPLY A MANUAL ADDENDUM AND NOTHING ELSE. THEY REFUSE TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE AT ALL. IT IS SERIOUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO FAIL AND WOULD NOT ACCERLERATE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE ONTO A MAJOR ROAD FROM BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP!
Power train, Mar 20, 2010
HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RELATED TO THE ECM. THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION HESITATES, MAKES NOISES, DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. THERE IS A TOYOTA TECH. SERVICE BULL. (TC-002-06) ISSUED IN 2006. TOYOTA NEVER NOTIFIED OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFORE OWNERS HAVE DRIVEN PAST WARRANTY TIME FRAMES. (WHICH IS MY CASE BY 1 MONTH) AS THERE IS ONLY 73000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD OF CONTACTED OWNERS ONCE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *TR
Power train, Mar 19, 2010
WE HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 . THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP DUE TO THE ECM VALVE NOT ALLOWING GEARS TO CHANGE . SLIPPING GEARS & NO POWER AT TAKE OFF FROM STOPS. IT HAS 103000 MILES ON IT.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN 2004. WE HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. IT IS TO COSTLY AND THE CAR ISN'T PAID OFF YET. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. CAR HAS BEEN PARKED WE ARE AFRAID TO LET OUR DAUGHTER DRIVE IT. *TR
Power train, Mar 19, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 RAV 4 WITH 139K MILES ON IT. LATELY MY CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. I NOTICED IT WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY. BUT THERE WOULD BE DAYS WHEN IT WOULD ACT NORMAL AND IT WAS FINE AND SOME DAYS IT HAD ITS PROBLEMS. WITHIN THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS BECOME WORSE. NOW WHEN MY CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRIES TO SHIFT IT WOULD HESITATE, JERK, SHIFT AGAIN AND BECOME ALMOST IDOL AND THEN GO. THIS WOULD MAKE ME NOT WANT TO STOP AT ALL WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL JUST DIE ON ME. I WOULD GET REALLY AFRAID IF I WOULD GET REAR ENDED FOR MY CAR HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ECM. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED WHICH COSTS OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002 RAV 4 BECAUSE OF ITS FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH. I COULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CAR BUT THAT'S NOT MY FAULT AND TOYOTA ALREADY KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Power train, Mar 15, 2010
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AS THE VEHICLE'S SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC; STARTING FROM STOP IN 3RD GEAR, THEN DOWNSHIFTING TO SECOND. MERGING WITH TRAFFIC DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS AT BEST. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THEIR ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVER $4000. I HAVE SINCE FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER TOYOTA RAV OWNERS. AND I FOUND THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW OVER 7 YEARS AGO, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MAJOR CONSUMER PRODUCT ISSUE. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY (97K MILES) THE COSTS TO REPAIR MY CAR ARE ALMOST EQUAL TO ITS VALUE. I DON'T KNOW AT THIS DATE IF I WILL FIX IT AS LOAN PAYMENTS REMAIN. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OVER TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION FAILURES I WHOLEHEARTEDLY REQUEST YOUR AGENCY REVIEW THIS SITUATION CLOSELY. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO FOR HELP. *TR
Power train, Mar 11, 2010
I OWN A TOYOTA RAV4 2002.....IT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY TOYOTA THAT THIS MODEL HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ITS ECU.....WHICH MAKES THE CAR SHIFT AT THE WRONG REVS\TIMES, AT TIMES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR MERGING INTO HIGHWAYS THE CAR COMPLETELY LOOSES POWER, SOMETIMES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS IT COMPLETELY STALLS LEAVING YOU COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO OTHER CARS....IT SOMETIMES TO REVS TO OVER 4000 REVS AND THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGES INTO GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THIS MIGHT CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN ACTON, MA THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY 4500 DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR OWN DESIGN FLAW, WHICH POPESTROUS. THERE ARE SOO MANY BLOGS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, TYPE "RAV4 TRANSMISSION PROBLEM" ON GOOGLE. YOU ARE BOUND TO FIND THOUSANDS OF BLOGS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS. I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS GOVERNMENT DOES INDEED TAKE CARE OF ITS PEOPLE\ LOOKING OUT FOR THEM AND FIGHTING FOR THEM IN BATTLES THEY CAN NOT WIN ALONE. ALL I ASK FOR IS FOR TOYOTA TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FLAWS. THEY HAVE PUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN SERIOUS RISK, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OVERLOOKED, ESPECIALLY AFTER DISCOVERY OF THEIR FAULTY ACCELERATION PEDALS. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR TRYING TO CUT COST AND THEN MAKING THE CONSUMERS PAY FOR THIS MISTAKE. ITS HIGH TIME TOYOTA CAME CLEAN ABOUT THEIR SHADY DESIGNS. EVERYONE AND I MEAN EVERYONE SHOULD BOYCOTT TOYOTA PRODUCTS UNTIL THEY ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE TRUSTWORTHY AND RELIABLE COMPANY IT ONCE WAS -DO NOT BUY THE COFFIN CAR. *TR
Power train, Mar 8, 2010
ON FEBRUARY 25TH 2010, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER 105 FREEWAY, MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 REFUSED TO ACCELERATE, ALMOST RESULTING IN MY CAR BEEN REAR-ENDED. THIS PROGRESSED INTO ERRATIC SHIFTING. *TR
Power train, Mar 5, 2010
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 RAV4 AND HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICE. AS I WAS LEAVING WORK AT 5PM ONE FRIDAY, MY CAR WOULD HARD-SHIFT INTO FIRST AND STRUGGLE EVEN MORE TO GET TO SECOND, ETC. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD. THEY CONTACTED ME THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER. COME TO FIND OUT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2006 THAT ONLY TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THAT RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS WHEN I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY TOYOTA IN 2007. THE TOTAL COST TO ME WOULD BE $4800 WITHOUT TAX, WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD. SINCE I NEEDED MY CAR FOR WORK AND I TAKE CARE OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER, I SCROUNGED TOGETHER THE NEARLY $2000 FOR THE COMPUTER REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT (THE IDIOT LIGHT CODE SAID IT HAD A LOOSE WIRE, AND NOT TOTAL REPLACEMENT!). I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO BE REPLACED IN A VERY SHORT TIME, AND THEY SUGGESTED I PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR VERY SOON. THE SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH ME, THE CLIENT. THEY KNEW ABOUT AND KEPT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM FROM ME AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS A COSTLY ONE TO REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FOR FREE AND REIMBURSE ME FOR MY COSTS TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS RAV4 PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG AND CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR 2002 RAV4 OWNERS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER (OR ECM) WAS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I AM HOPING THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED THIS EXPENSIVE (FOR ME) TOYOTA BECAUSE IT WAS SAID TO LAST LONGER THAN OTHER VEHICLES. I TRULY THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE LIGHT AND INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION OF TOYOTA. *TR
Power train, Mar 4, 2010
HESITATION ACCELERATING FROM STOP. LACK OF POWER GOING UP A STEEP INCLINE. IMPROPER SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER.VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE 03/01/2010. PCM/ECM MODULE DEFECTIVE- NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 1693.41. *TR
Power train, Mar 2, 2010
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 RAV4 LAST WEEK, SHE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND OUR 2002 RAV4 STARTED JERKING AND THEN SLOWED TO A SUDDEN STOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER A "SCARY MOMENT", IT STARTED DRIVING NORMALLY AGAIN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, IT WAS ABOUT DUE . WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS PROBABLY "SHOT". WHILE SHOPPING ON-LINE FOR A REPLACEMENT, I CAME ACROSS NUMEROUS WEB SITES WITH HUNDREDS OF RAV4 CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! TURNS OUT HE PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED, BY TOYOTA THEMSELVES A FEW YEARS AGO, AS A MALFUNCTIONING ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) CAUSING THE FAILURES OF THE TRANSMISSIONS WITHIN 50 MILES OF DRIVING. TOYOTA NOTIFIED THEIR SERVICE TECHS, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY IT'S CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM. WE MAINTAIN OUR VEHICLES ROUTINELY AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RAV. BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF NOT DEADLY. TOYOTA MOTORS HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR YEARS, AND THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS OF SUCH DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND TO REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE ANY MALFUNCTIONING PARTS IN THEIR CUSTOMERS CARS THAT COULD CAUSE SUCH A SITUATION. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Mar 2, 2010
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM MY DEALER, RICH TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON, WV IN SPRING 2002'IT WAS HIS DEMO CAR, VIN#[XXX] ; MODEL #4416A. AT 107,00 MILES, OUT OF THE CLEAR-BLUE, THE RAV4 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS, THEN WENT OUT, BUT THEN SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC. I HAVE SERVICED THIS VEHICLE FAITHFULLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND EXPECTED TO GET ANOTHER 100,000 MORE MILES, BUT, MY DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE PURCHASE, SAID IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1,200 FOR THE ECC/ECM (ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER/ENGINE CONTROL MODULE), AND EVEN IF I REPLACE JUST THE ECC/ECM, IT STILL MAY NOT WORK WITH THE OLD TRANSMISSION, SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TOO FOR ANOTHER $3,500 BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE ECC MAY HAVE DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR-FUEL SENSOR FOR A TOTAL OF $5,189.00 IN REPAIRS BEFORE TAXES. I HAD NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE WERE EVER ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE TOYOTA PRODUCT LINE UNTIL I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHAT AN EYE-OPENER!!! THERE WERE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED WITH MANY OF TOYOTA'S PRODUCTS! CONSIDERING THAT THIS RAV4 WAS A $22,000 VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT, DOESN'T IT SEEM STRANGE THAT AFTER JUST 6 YEARS IT IS INOPERABLE AND EVEN DANGEROUS! AFTER E-MAILING AND SENDING A LETTER TO TOYOTA USA IN TORRENCE CALIFORNIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-331-4331 AND TALKED WITH A REAL PERSON. PLUS, I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER, WHICH GOES INTO THEIR DATABASE AND LOGS THE ISSUE SHOULD THEY HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT A RECALL OR OTHER REMEDY. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND DEFECTIVE ECU AT A COST OF ABOUT $4,500. AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR COMPLAINT FILES ON THIS RAV4 ISSUE, WHY HASN'T NHTSA DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT WITH TOYOTA!!!!???? *TR
Power train, Mar 2, 2010
WEEK OF 2/23/10 SNOW DAY DRIVING HOME AND MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS WITH OUT WARNING. THE NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE UN NOTICEABLE. WEEK OF 3/1/10 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN WITH OUT WARNING. THIS TIME IT WAS SEVERE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. I DROVE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR PROBLEM. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF TOYOTA CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT ONLY COVERS IT IF FOUND UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD IF THE PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF. BUT AFTER THAT TOYOTA PLACE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THE KNOWN PROBLEMS FOUND BETWEEN THE ECM AND THE TRANSMISSION. MILEAGE ON DAY OF INCIDENT IS APROX 97,000 MILES. IT SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA'S UNSAID MOTTO IS LETS SELL VEHICLES WITH KNOWN DEFECTS, DON'T TELL OUT CUSTOMERS, AND DO NOTING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS BUYING A ROCK SOLID CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOYOTA. WITH ME HAVING TO BARE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A KNOWN PROBLEM TELLS ME THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT AND WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCTS.. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 11/12/10
Power train, Mar 2, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS THE GEARS WILL DOWNSHIFT AND THE ENGINE REVS FAST. NOW DURING NORMAL DRIVING, IT GETS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR THEN WILL BANG INTO 3RD. I'VE ALSO NOTICED SOMETIMES WHEN I TRY TO PULL ONTO A HIGHWAY, THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. *TR
Power train, Mar 1, 2010
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4, WHICH I BOUGHT 2.5 YEARS AGO. I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND CLUTCH REPLACED AFTER IT SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING GEARS. I HAD NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHT ALERTING ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH MY CARS ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP HAD DONE EXTENSIVE REPAIR AND ULTIMATELY HAD TO KEEP MY CAR FOR THREE WEEKS TRYING TO DETERMINE WHY IT STILL WOULDN'T RUN PROPERLY. IT WAS FINALLY TAKEN TO FREEMAN TOYOTA IN PETALUMA CA TO HAVE THE COMPUTER "FLASHED". MY MECHANIC WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER WAS DEAD AND WOULD NEED REPLACING FOR JUST OVER $1,000.00. I HAD ALREADY BEEN QUOTED $3,300.00 FOR PRIOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. HAD I BEEN ALERTED BY AN A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, I COULD HAVE AVOIDED NEEDING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAD A "DEALER" RECALL FOR THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE FREEMAN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS DENIED THIS. I AM OUT $4,300.00 AND AM A SINGLE MOM WITH MS. *TR
Power train, Feb 25, 2010
TRANSMISSION STICKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND. HAS DONE IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2002. TOOK TO DEALER WAY BACK THEN THEY TOLD ME I HAD "SPECIAL TRANSMISSION FLUID AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED". I NEVER HAD IT FIXED AND IT STILL STICKS. TAKES ABOUT 1/4 MILE TO SHIFT. PURCHASED FROM KISSIMMEE TOYOTA WHICH IS NOW TOYOTA OF ORLANDO(?) ADDING COMPLAINT FOR ENGINE SEIZE. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2010
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SHIFT DOWN A GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY REDUCE SPEED. THIS OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES AND UPON BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (APPROX. 90,000 MILES) THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER, IF I HAD LET THE PROBLEM CONTINUE WITHOUT REPAIR I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY. *TR
Power train, Feb 24, 2010
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO WE DECIDED TO ADD SOME ATF. THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR A DAY BUT THE SHIFTS BECAME HARDER AFTER THAT. AT TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AND WOULD BOG DOWN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STARTED GIVING US THE RUNAROUND. THEY SAID THE TRANNY NEEDS FIXING (THE CAR WAS SOMETHING LIKE 500 MILES OUT OF THE WARRANTY), THEN THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE COMPUTER TO SEE IF THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T, SINCE AS WE ALL KNOW THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER HAS ALREADY CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK AND THE NEW ONE WOULD NOT HELP. AT THIS POINT I STARTED RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I CALLED TOYOTA TO COMPLAIN AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH: A) THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY, B) THEY PROVIDED A TSB TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH IGNORED IT AND DID NOT DO THE UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER BEFORE THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP, C) ALL MAINTENANCE WORK WAS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. IN THE END WE PAID TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED OUT OF POCKET WHICH WAS NOT CHEAP. *TR