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, Electrical system, May 28, 2009
TOYOTA RAV 4 2002. A MONTH AGO, MY CAR STARTED JERKING AND BUCKING AND STALLING MID INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE DEPT. COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID (CHARGE ALMOST $200.00) AND SENT ME ON MY WAY WITH NOTICE THAT IF THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I SHOULD RETURN. TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROACHING A DOUBLE MERGE DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING ME TO LURCH AND LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE ONE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK WAS MERGING TO MY RIGHT AND ANOTHER DIRECTLY BEHIND ME CAUSING TRUCK BEHIND ME TO LAY ON BRAKES AND VEER OFF THE ROAD...I MANAGED TO GET MYSELF OFF THE ROAD...NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT THE THREAT TO MY LIFE WAS SERIOUS. I DID INVESTIGATION ON LINE CARCOMPLANTS.COM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED TO ALL DEALERS IN 2006. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF DEFECT THEREFORE WAS ENDANGERING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY EVERY TIME I DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND PAID $150.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC: FAULTY ECM (SEE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). QUOTED A COST OF REPLACEMENT AT ($1,200.00) THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT KNOW CONDITION OF TRANSMISSION UNTIL AFTER THEY REPLACED THE ECM. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS ANSWER AND FELT I MIGHT HAVE BETTER SERVICE WITH ORIGINAL DEALER SO I PAID FOR CAR TO BE TOWED ($100.00) AND RENTED A CAR. ORIGINAL DEALER DETERMINED ECM NEEDS REPLACEMENT NO GUARANTEE THAT TRANSMISSION WOULD BE OKAY. I ASKED THAT DEALER SPEAK ON MY BEHALF TO TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WERE WILLING TO SHARE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND COST OF REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY ECM. TOYOTA REFUSED. AFTER BEING WITHOUT FAMILY'S ONLY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS,PAYING FOR RENTAL (OVER $200.00) THE ECM WAS REPLACED ($1,000.00) CAR SEEMED TO BE OKAY FOR ONE WEEK. 4 DAYS AGO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. RETURNING TO YET ANOTHER DEALER TOMORROW. DO YOU VALUE MY SAFETY? *TR
Power train, May 27, 2009
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 START TO HAVE GEAR CHANGING PROBLEMS IN FIRST AND/OR SECOND. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS MAKE & MODEL. *TR
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
Engine and engine cooling, May 18, 2009
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN 2002. LAST YEAR, A FEW YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE DATE, TOYOTA HAD A RECALL FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE LIGHT WAS FIXED. MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AFTER, THE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON AND HAS STAYED OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. LAST YEAR, MY TRUCK BEGAN TO "HESITATE" WHILE DRIVING AND FINALLY IT BEGAN TO STOP ALL TOGETHER. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AN AIR CONDITIONER BELT WAS REPLACED AND THE AGENT TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. FOR A DAY OR TWO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. BUT SHORTLY AFTER, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AND I WAS STUCK WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A $2,500 COMPUTER ENGINE PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. SO, I HAD TO RENT A CAR. MY INSURANCE WOULD NOT PAY RENTALS. EXTERNALLY, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK, EVEN TODAY. BUT, INTERNALLY, IT COMPLETELY LET ME DOWN. WHEN I PURCHASED MY TRUCK, I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A DEPENDABLE TRUCK THAT WOULD LAST FOR YEARS AFTER IT WAS PAID OFF. I PAID OFF THE CAR IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. HOW BAD CAN THIS GET? MY TRUCK HAS OVER 140,000 MILES WHICH ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, EXCEEDS WARRANTY DATES. IF THE REPAIR COST IS HIGH, I WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TRY TO SELL THE TRUCK. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT AN AMERICAN MADE USED CAR THE OTHER DAY. IT CANNOT COMPARE WITH MY TOYOTA WHEN IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. NOW I AM BACK IN DEBT AGAIN. THIS TIME I GOT A THREE YEAR WARRANTY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE TOYOTA RAV4 TRUCKS. ACCORDING TO THE WEB, A LOT OF US ARE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, May 12, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DEFECTIVE ECU WHICH HAS IN TURN FRIED TRANSMISSION...MY WIFE NOTICED PROBLEMS WHEN THE SHIFTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A MERGE AND WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A SEMI-TRUCK. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON SO THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE AND ADVISED US TO DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. 2 WEEKS LATER, MY WIFE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR CAUSING HER TO SWERVE OFF ROAD. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION AT $5,000. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND READ THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND WILL NOT ISSUE RECALL AS NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED...THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE MY WIFE WAS ALMOST KILLED!!! PLEASE ADDRESS WITH TOYOTA!! *TR UPDATED 03/22/10.*JB
Power train, May 11, 2009
2002 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN JERKING AND STALLING. CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. WAS TURNING LEFT INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD TO STOP. WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION FOR FIVE MINUTES, UNTIL AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID THE CAR BEGIN TO CRAWL IN A JERKY MOTION. DROVE 2 MILES WITH THE JERKING AND STALLING ON STOP AND WITH NO ACCELERATION. LITERALLY ROLLED INTO LOCAL MECHANIC'S SHOP. FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM INDICATIONS, NO WARNING LIGHTS, ENGINE LIGHTS OR AN OTHER PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND DISHEARTEN AT THE RESPONSE FROM THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. THE 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSION REPORT IN CONSUMER REPORTS STICKS OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE CAR STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. I THANK GOD SHE WASN'T HURT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HAVE THESE AUTOMOBILES RECALLED? A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH? *TR
Power train, May 8, 2009
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 FWD AUTOTRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 52000 MILES. NO ENGINE LIGHTS EVER APPEARED TO ALERT ME OF PROBLEM. FIRST SIGN WAS WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE 80 HEADING TO ERIE, PA FROM YOUNGSTOWN, OH. CAR TAKEN IN TO NEAREST TRANSMISSION SHOP, AAMCO WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CLUTCHES WERE COMPLETELY DAMAGED/BURNT AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF $3000. NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE ECM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF VOLTAGE PROBLEMS AND GEARS STILL MISSING WITH REBUILT TRANS. REPLACEMENT ECM COVERED UNDER TOYOTA'S TSB TC002-06 IF UNDER 8 YEARS/80,000 BUT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP STATING THAT CURRENT PART NUMBER IS THE REPLACEMENT PART. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BACK HOME WHO DID A REPROGRAMMING RECALL BUT DID NOT REPLACE ECM. REPROGRAMMING / RECODING / FLASHING ECM WAS NOT THE PROCEDURE TO RESOLVE ON ABOVE TSB AND I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP BACK HOME SIMPLY RELABELED ECM WITH NEW PART NUMBER SINCE THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT REPLACED WITH NEW ECM. A NEW ECM WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE FROM HAPPENING. AAMCO DEALERSHIP FIGHTING TO GET ME AN ECM COVERED UNDER THE TC002-06 TSB. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND NO END IN SIGHT. CANNOT TAKE VEHICLE BACK HOME EVEN WITH REBUILT TRANS BECAUSE IT IS NOT ROADWORTHY WITHOUT ECM AND TESTING. NEED TO RENT VEHICLE TO GET MYSELF BACK HOME UNTIL CONTACTED BY AAMCO REGARDING RESOLUTION. *TR
Power train, Apr 30, 2009
TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP. THERE WERE HARD SHIFTS WHEN CHANGING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND TO 3RD GEARS. THE NEXT MORNING, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO PROBLEM. THIS IS UNSAFE SINCE ONE CAN NOT DEPEND UPON THE TRANSMISSION / ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 29, 2009
THERE EXISTS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF ECM FAILURE IN THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES THAT IS CAUSING SHIFTING PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS DEFECTED PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS NEEDING REPLACEMENT (NOT JUST "REPROGRAMMING" AS TOYOTA HAS TRIED TO DO). WHEN I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 ON APRIL 17, 2009, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, MY CAR WOULD NOT GO. IT EVENTUALLY VERY SLOWLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE BUT EVERY TIME I HAD TO STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT WOULD BARELY GO AGAIN. I WAS TERRIFIED THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT EVERY TIME I HAD TO CROSS OVER A STREET WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION...SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE DAYS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS BEGINS TO HAPPEN - THE CAR JUST WON'T GO AT TAKEOFF. MANY OF US WHO OWN THE 2002 RAV4 HAVE WASTED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON MISDIAGNOSIS OF THIS PROBLEM...I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED, I HAD A TOP ENGINE CLEANING TO REMOVE BUILDUP IN THE THROTTLE, I WAS EVEN TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY CAR MAT WAS GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THAT WAS ADDING TO THE PROBLEM. ONLY AFTER NONE OF THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM DID THEY COME BACK AND FINALLY SAY THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE RUINED. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $1300.00 BECAUSE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 80,000 MILES AND MY VEHICLE IS AT 84,000 MILES. I AM GOING TO FIX THIS CAR SO THAT I CAN TRADE IT IN (THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SUGGESTED THAT I TRADE IT- THEY MUST KNOW HOW SERIOUS THIS IS). I CAN'T TAKE THE RISK THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE EVEN AFTER THE ECM IS REPLACED BECAUSE I'VE READ THAT THE NEW ECM MAY NOT COMMUNICATE CORRECTLY WITH THE OLD TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A DEVASTATING LOSS FOR THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT OUR VEHICLES BASED IN LARGE PART ON THE TOYOTA REPUTATION FOR RELIABILITY. *TR
Power train, Apr 27, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ON APRIL 22, 2009, THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE UNTIL IT REACHED 3000 RPMS. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE STALLED; ALTHOUGH, THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Power train, Apr 27, 2009
AUTO TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHERE THE CAR SHUDDERS AND SHIFTS VERY ABRUPTLY AND OFTEN SHIFTS VERY LATE POSING VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM CAME ON INSTANTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING , SO AS I STARTED RESEARCHING IT, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE AN ECU MALFUNCTION WHERE THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SEND THE RIGHT COMMANDS TO THE TRANSMISSION FOR WHEN TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AND IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT TOYOTA DIDN'T AT LEAST INFORM RAV4 OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE REPLACED THE ECU AND WHICH IS AN EASY REPAIR COSTING ONLY ABOUT $1200 OR THERE IS ALSO A SHOP ONLINE THAT FIXES THE ECU FOR $400 BUT NOW I HAVE TO FIX THE ECU AND REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THANKS TO TOYOTA'S NEGLIGENCE NOW THE REPAIR BILL IS IN THE $4000-$6000 PRICE RANGE. MANY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AREN'T AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE ECU IS AT FAULT AND ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL FINALLY PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM AND REPLACING THE ECU ALSO. THE SAME NEARLY HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I TOOK IT TO BOTH OF MY MECHANICS AND THEY DIDN'T FORESEE THE ECU TO BE AT FAULT AND WANTED TO REPLACE ONLY THE TRANSMISSION. WE'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE DAY 1 AND IT HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED IT'S SAD TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO IT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
Power train, Apr 26, 2009
THE COMPUTER WAS TELLING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT TO THE WRONG GEARS AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK DOWN. :THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND A NEW COMPUTER WAS INSTALLED, IN ADDITION TO HAVING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR
Power train, Apr 24, 2009
MY TOYOTA RAV4 2002 SEEMS TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED 2-3 TIMES A DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO 1ST GEAR. HOWEVER, ON THE DAY OF THIS INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 20 MPH. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC AND MY CAR WOULD NOT- IT STARTED TO SHUTTER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A DEFECT WITH TOYOTA RAV4S MADE IN THAT YEAR. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED, AND THAT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN WHEN I AM IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Power train, Apr 16, 2009
TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED SLAMMING INTO GEAR. WHILE DRIVING I WOULD HAVE MY FOOT DOWN ON ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR AND WHEN IT FINALLY DID IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD WHILE SLAMMING IN GEAR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MAINTENANCE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A TBS ON THIS VERY PROBLEM HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME 1ST. "SOMEONE ALREADY REPLACE IT (WHICH WASN'T THE CASE THEN 2. "IT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AT THE FACTORY". THERE ARE OVER 200 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE VERY PROBLEM AND TOYOTA'S IRRESPONSIBLE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL "START WITH REPLACING THE GROUNDING WIRES" AND "GO FROM THERE". I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRES IN JULY 2009. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA (BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOUND) WILL CONTINUE TO NICKEL AND DIME ME WITH NON-WARRANTY CHARGES AND THEN WHEN THE REAL PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED FOR THE POWER TRAIN MY VEHICLE WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 47,315 MILES ON IT. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THE TSB IN THIS CASE IS TC002-06 FROM 3-06/ THE DEALERSHIPS I SPOKE TO WERE UNAWARE OF THE TBS UNTIL I BROUGHT IN A COPY OF IT. THE CODES FOR THIS PROBLEM DON'T EVEN SHOW UP. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NHTSA IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TO ESTABLISH A NEED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. PLEASE CONSIDER ME AS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I TRULY FEEL THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A COSTLY ONE BUT A EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 14, 2009
CAR SHUTTERED AND STOPPED ROLLING IN AN INTERSECTION, THEN ABRUPTLY WENT INTO GEAR AGAIN WITH A LURCH. TRANSMISSION SHOP REPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY. PROBLEM RETURNED AND CAR WAS RETURNED TO SHOP. NEW VALVE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED, PROBLEM CAME BACK. RETURNED TO SHOP, TRANSMISSION REMOVED, REPLACED, 3 TIMES. SEALS REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM.ECM WAS SUSPECT. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WAS TOLD ECM WAS FINE, ECM WAS RE-PROGRAMMED AND WE WERE CHARGED $275.00. PROBLEM CONTINUED. LONG STORY SHORT-ECM WAS REPLACED, PROGRAMMED, AND PAID ANOTHER $1200. WORKS FINE. TOYOTA OWES ME BIG TIME. THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, AND IGNORE. I HAVE OWNED 5 TOYOTAS IN MY LIFE, AND HAVE AN FJ CRUISER AS WELL. WILL NOT CONSIDER TOYOTA IN THE FUTURE UNLESS THEY ADMIT THE PROBLEM, AND ASSIST IN REPAIRS. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Apr 10, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REPEATEDLY SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON WITH HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RESURFACED AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER MECHANICALLY FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD COST $4,000 TO REPLACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,605. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 7, 2009
THE LOCK FOR MY PASSENGER DOOR AND DRIVERS DOOR IS DEFECTED. WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR, IT WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING THE KEY TAG; THE DRIVERS DOOR DOES THE SAME, HOWEVER ONCE LOCKED YOU CAN'T UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY. YOU HAVE TO GET INSIDE THROUGH ANOTHER DOOR AND UNLOCK IT FROM WITHIN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Equipment, Apr 1, 2009, crash
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2002-IN MAY 2006 I WENT TO MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOL, I GOT BACK OCT 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY ENGINE FAILED ON THE HWY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 420 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. I DID ALL MY REQUIRED UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE AND TO MY SURPRISE IT HAD OIL SLUDGE. HE CLAIMS ITS FROM SITTING BUT ALOT OF VEHICLES SIT AND DO NOT HAVE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY MILITARY MEMBERS THAT ARE DEPLOYED. I HAD TO PAY 3989.00 FOR A USED ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING OUT 2001 -03 CAMRY AND LEXUS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND WERE RECALLED. I FOUGHT GOT AND ATTORNEY AND STILL NO RECALL. I HOPE TO HAVE A CIVIL LAWSUIT WITH TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THIS BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. MARCH 2007 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE ON THE HWY. I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICE IT KEPT JERKING. THEN IT WOULD HESITATE GETTING INTO GEAR AND REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD COST 4980.00. OK LET ME BREAK DOWN THE EXISTING PROBLEMS UP UNTIL THIS POINT. THE DRIVERS DOOR ELECTRIC LOCKING SYSTEM WENT OUT IT WAS REPAIRED 4 TIMES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF SAID ITS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE ALARMS COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN DOOR KEY OR KEY PAD IS INDICATED. SO I HAD TO UNHOOK. YESTERDAY MARCH 31ST I WAS DONE WITH THE RAV 4. I HAVE NOTICE THAT MORE THAN 35 % OF OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL. *TR
Power train, Mar 28, 2009
I TOOK MY 2002 RAV4 IN FOR THE RECALL TWO MONTHS LATER I HAVE SPENT $380.00 AT ELMHURST TOYOTA FOR FLUSHING THE TRANSMISSION AND CLEANING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. $2,700 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT AND GEARS. I CALL THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ALL I RECEIVED WAS AN APOLOGY. I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU TOYOTA SHOULD UPGRADE THIS RECALL FROM PLACING A BANDAGE ON THE FESTERING ECM PROBLEM AND JUST REPLACE THE ECM. THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN 60 DAYS TO THE DATE AFTER TAKING MY RAV4 IN FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECALL . *TR MARY A. BROWN CHICAGO, IL
Power train, Mar 26, 2009
THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN IT STARTED "BUCKING" AND I EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND RESULTED IN THE OTHER CAR BEING FORCED TO STOP TO LET ME PASS. FROM A STOP, CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STARTING IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR INSTEAD OF FIRST GEAR. VERY DANGEROUS! LIMPED TO LOCAL SHOP AND CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BAD SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS REPLACED, DROVE THREE MILES HOME AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE NEXT DAY. SAME CODE APPEARED DURING DIAGNOSIS AND THIS INDICATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER (ECM) WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL COST $1200 TO REPLACE. POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION MAY BE NEEDED AS WELL AT A COST OF $3500. AFTER A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER RAV OWNERS. MY CAR HAS 86K MILES AND WAS JUST OVER THE 80K MILE WINDOW FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006, ACCORDING TO TSB ISSUED. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *TR
Power train, Mar 18, 2009
DRIVING MY RAV4 SOUTH ON HAMILTON ROAD, A BUSY THRUWAY, WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT TO TURN LEFT MY TRANNY SLIPS AND HESITATES SO BAD THAT AS I PULLED INTO THE INTERSECTION IN THE WAY OF ONCOMING CARS MY CAR COULDN'T GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. FORTUNATELY NO CRASHES. MAYBE NEXT TIME. *TR
Power train, Mar 15, 2009
TOYOTA RAV 4 4X4 HAS GEAR CHANGING PROBLEMS IN FIRST AND SECOND. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SOLENOID THEN SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. DID OBD DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH SHOWED SOLENOID BUT IT WAS THE COMPUTER OR ECM. WE REPLACED IT WITH THREE USED COMPUTERS WHICH EVIDENTLY HAD SAME DEFECT AND IN PROCESS OF DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS THE TRANS WAS RUINED. YOU MUST STOP DRIVING CAR GET BRAND NEW ECM COMPUTER OF THE NEW SERIES BECAUSE THE SERIAL NUMBER HAS CHANGED THREE TIMES UNTIL TOYOTA FIXED IT FINALLY. I HAD TO REPAIR TRANS, PURCHASE A NEW COMPUTER ALL OF WHICH COST ME $5,000.00. TOYOTA NEVER ISSUED A PUBLIC BULLETIN, THE BULLETIN WAS ONLY ISSUED TO CAR DEALERS WHILE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS KEPT IN THE DARK. *TR
Power train, Feb 26, 2009
HARD SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR OF 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AFTER 100,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. *TR
Power train, Feb 19, 2009
2002 RAV4: FAILED TRANSMISSION DUE TO DEFECTIVE ECM WHICH TOYOTA PUT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON BUT DIDN'T RECALL. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN, SO THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PREVENTED IN TIME. *TR
Power train, Feb 18, 2009
IN 2007 A RECALL 601 WAS ISSUED BY TOYOTA FOR ENGINE CONTROL MODULES IN RAV4S. I TOOK MY 2002 IN & THEY RECALIBRATED THE MODULE. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME IT SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE GEAR SHIFT. 18 MOS. LATER, FEB. 2009, MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING & JUMPING IN & OUT OF GEAR. I'VE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR 30 YEARS & THIS WAS MOST UNUSUAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO S.F. TOYOTA. THEY HAD A VERY HARD TIME PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS SPORADIC. FIRST THEY SAID SOLENOID, THEN THEY FINALLY SAID REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FOR $4800. AND THAT IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF IT WERE, IT WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY, OTHERWISE, NOT. I DON'T FEEL A TRANSMISSION SHOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT AFTER 78,000 WITH NO WARNING. ESPECIALLY ON A TOYOTA. I ALMOST HAD A VERY BAD ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY & WOULDN'T REENGAGE. I THINK IT'S DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR THIS YEAR & MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AND I THINK TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM. *TR