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
555 reports, newest first.
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
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.
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
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 8, 2010
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED HESITATING ON INITIAL ACCELERATION AND BOLTING WHEN THE GEAR CAUGHT 2ND. WAS PULLING OUT INTO INTERSECTION AND NEARLY T-BONED BY FORD EXPEDITION. BROUGHT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO CODE. READ ABOUT POTENTIAL ECM PROBLEM. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA AND SPENT $1400.00 TO REPLACE ECM. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 5, 2010
IN 2003 WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. IN 2007, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 56,000 MILES. WE TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST $7,000 BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER GATHERING ALL OUR MAINTENANCE HISTORY AND MUCH DELIBERATION TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR ($2500); WE AGREED. AFTER THEY DID THE WORK, WE HEARD A SOFT CONSTANT BEATING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK, WE WERE TOLD THAT SOUND WAS NORMAL WHEN A NEW ENGINE IS INSTALLED AND IT WILL GO AWAY -- IT DIDN'T. 18 MONTHS AND 10,000 MILES LATER, THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. BAFFLED AT HOW TWO SEPARATE ENGINES CAN DIE WE TOOK IT TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC. HE EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE ENGINE WAS NEVER REPLACED, BUT REBUILT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP US. SO DID TOYOTA CORP. THEY HAVE A SETTLEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE ENGINES FOR THE SAME GENERATION ENGINES (1997-2002) FOR ALMOST EVERY MODEL. EXCEPT THE RAV4. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE WAS I WAS TOLD I WAS GETTING A NEW ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD FOUND ME A USED ENGINE (12,000 MI) FOR 2300 INCLUDING INSTALLATION. HAD I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO REBUILD IT, I WOULD HAVE WENT WITH THAT OPTION. SO THEY SCREWED ME OUT OF 2500, A CAR, AND A CHANCE AT ACTUALLY FIXING THE CAR. *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
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
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAVE MADE A NOISE WHEN APPLIED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SPEED VARIES WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED HE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE WAS NEVER A RESOLUTION. THE CONTACT HAS SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. THE VEHICLE HAD 112 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,530. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. UPDATED 04/30/10
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 25, 2010
ENGINE SEIZE AT 162K MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-5K MILES. APPARENTLY OIL PUMP WENT OUT AND TOOK THE ENGINE WITH IT. OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAD 7 MILES ON IT. IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. PUT IN REMAN. JASPER ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT $7,000.00 THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE MECHANIC SAID I COULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY'D "FLASH" IT TO GET IT TO GO OFF, BUT IT WOULD COST ME A FEW HUNDRED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ABOUT 28K MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THAT AND THEY JUST UNDO THE BATTERY AND PUT IT BACK ON. THAT "RESETS" IT. WITHIN 100 MILES IT GOES BACK ON. I JUST LEAVE IT AND IF THE CAR BLOWS UP I'LL LEAVE IT WHERE IT DIES THIS TIME. I PAID 28K FOR THE CAR IN 2002, 8 YRS AGO. 28K+7K(ENGINE)=$35,000.00 $35,000.00/8(YRS)=4375(PER YEAR TO OWN.MINIMUM) 4375.00/12(MOS)=364.58 PER MONTH. VERY EXPENSIVE TO OWN AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISN'T EVEN INCLUDED..... TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *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
Power train, Feb 23, 2010
VERY SUDDENLY MY TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT WOULD FREE SPIN, THEN FORCE INTO GEAR. TOYOTA REPLACED ECM, APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM REFERRED TO IN A 2006 TSB. UNKNOWN IF MY TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED. *TR
Power train, Feb 22, 2010
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. I'VE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND PURCHASED IT BAND NEW IN 2002 FROM A LOCAL HONOLULU TOYOTA DEALER. IN MID/LATE 2009, THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: HARD SHIFTING IN LOWER GEARS 1, 2 & 3, HARD SHIFTING WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SHAKING AND VIBRATING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM THE STOPPED POSITION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS SLOWLY PRESSED.. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA ISSUED MEMO OUTLINING THE PROBLEMS I DESCRIBED ABOVE POSSIBLY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR THE ECU (COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION). A TOYOTA SERVICING MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY 2002 RAV4 WAS NO LONGER UNDER DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY, SO REPAIR COST ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY. A QUICK WEB SEARCH OF "RAV4 TRANSMISSIONS" SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS SUFFER FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN VERY HIGH REPAIR COSTS, ANYWHERE FROM $3,000 UP TO $8,000. THE VEHICLE STILL SUFFERS FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED PROBLEMS, BUT DUE TO THE HIGH REPAIR ESTIMATES I AM UNABLE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 22, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, PROCEEDING TO A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. THE ENGINE REVED EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A HARSH SHIFT AS A RESULT OF AN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE VEHICLE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ