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: vehicle speed control
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Mar 11, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE SITTING IDLE, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THERE WAS AN ATYPICAL SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS OF UP TO 4,000. THE VEHICLE THEN ATTEMPTED TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, HOWEVER SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS AND ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DECREASE VEHICLE SPEED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY VERIFIED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ADVISED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE ENCOUNTERED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,900 AND THE CURRENT WAS 87,000.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Mar 4, 2010
IN THE FALL OF 2008, THE FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. IT WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD ON ANY LONG TRIP THEN WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. SOMETIMES CANNOT GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CANNOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE MECHANIC STATES EVERYTHING IS FINE. DUE TO SEMI-FUNCTIONAL CRUISE, THE MILEAGE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP HAS DECREASED FROM 30-32 MPG TO 24-26MPG.REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA IN 2009 AND GIVEN A CASE # WHICH I HAVE MISPLACED. THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED OR ADMIT THEY HAD A PROBLEM. EXTENDED WARRANTY (TO 100,000 MILES) WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THERE IS INDEED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE GOING ON, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR CARE. IN SEARCHING I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE POSTED COMMENTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Feb 4, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A LOCAL ROAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 25 MPH TO 85 MPH. SHE QUICKLY MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID A COLLISION AND CRASHED INTO AN ISLAND AND A CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DIDN'T GIVE HER A REPORT ON WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. SHE BROKE HER RIGHT ANKLE, AND HER LOWER BACK WAS INJURED. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT HAND AND INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE POLICE REPORT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 21, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 4 MPH. THEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. EVENTUALLY HE WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WAS OVERRIDING THE TRANSMISSION. A NEW COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. ALL THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE OFFICE OF CONSUMERS AFFAIRS AND TO TOYOTA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111400. UPDATED 02/18/10. *LJ UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 25, 2009
AT 84,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED SURGING FOR NO REASON, STALLING WHILE MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND STALLING WHILE APPROACHING INTERSECTIONS. HAPPENED TWO TO THREE TIMES DAILY, CAUSING A NUMBER NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS, REAR ENDS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED 07/26/10.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 9, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE AND WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN
Vehicle speed control, Apr 2, 2003
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Vehicle speed control, Feb 19, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD DUE TO FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2003, crash
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSING ACCELERATER. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO COLLISIONS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB....*AK
Vehicle speed control, Sep 27, 2002, crash
WHEN BACKING UP, THE VEHICLE EITHER ACCELERATED OR THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. TS
Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Feb 5, 2002
RE: FUEL THROTTLE LINKAGE FAILURE: HIGH IDLE SPEED; UNPREDICTABLE IDLE SPEED OSCILLATION / SURGES, UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION / DECELERATION (PARTICULARLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD). CAR WILL SOMETIMES FAIL TO DECELERATE AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS (10-25 MPH), FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR WILL SOMETIMES DRIVE/LURCH FORWARD ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, ONCE RPMS DROP TO ABOUT 1500. TOLD BY THE DEALER AND TOYOTA THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A NEW EMISSIONS CONTROL COMPUTER, AND THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. RE: STRUCTURE - ROOF RACK: PIECE OF THE COVERING TO THE ROOF RACK FELL OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A CAR DRIVING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME.*AK