2002 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RAV4 years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 527 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota RAV4. That ranks 6th out of 31 RAV4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (376 complaints, 71%), typically at around 96,000 miles. Complaints mention 36 crashes, 15 fires, 48 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 527owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 36complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 376 | 71% | 96,000 | “ecm transmission” (8%) | $5,850 |
| Electrical System problems | 92 | 17% | 93,608 | “control module” (13%) | $2,350 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 41 | 8% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 7% | 87,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 23 | 4% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 22 | 4% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 22 | 4% | 94,615 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 3% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 8 | 2% | 22,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1% | 65,365 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 1% | 13,750 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 1% | 61,364 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 87,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0% | 1,189 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 0% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0% | 45,100 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 0% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Toyota RAV4 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 Toyota RAV4.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My car engine light goes on and off due to transmission fault. It continuously has a hard time shifting gears in between 2500-3000 rpm and gives a jerky stop before continuing to speed up/accelerate despite when I have not let go of my foot from the pedal. After taking it to the auto shop, I was…
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The…
2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD transmission problems and will be available upon request. Transmission caused vehicle to disengaged , jerks, stalls with severed engine braking while driving creating a safety performance and hazard on the roads to myself and other unexpected drivers. Upon reading similar…
The contact owned a 2002 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle spun 360 degrees and stopped on the opposite side of the road. No warning light illuminated. The contact called the independent…
2002 toyota rav. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. *ld *js
Other Toyota RAV4 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4 | 90 | 3 |
| 2024 RAV4 | 176 | 3 |
| 2023 RAV4 | 159 | 3 |
| 2022 RAV4 | 149 | 1 |
| 2021 RAV4 | 387 | 1 |
| 2020 RAV4 | 635 | 6 |
| 2019 RAV4 | 879 | 7 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 333 | 3 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 307 | 3 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 240 | 3 |
| 2015 RAV4 | 305 | 4 |
| 2014 RAV4 | 197 | 4 |
| 2013 RAV4 | 257 | 2 |
| 2012 RAV4 | 260 | 5 |
| 2011 RAV4 | 287 | 11 |
| 2010 RAV4 | 400 | 14 |
| 2009 RAV4 | 327 | 15 |
| 2008 RAV4 | 575 | 14 |
| 2007 RAV4 | 1,004 | 14 |
| 2006 RAV4 | 705 | 11 |
| 2005 RAV4 | 141 | 5 |
| 2004 RAV4 | 154 | 2 |
| 2003 RAV4 | 315 | 0 |
| 2002 | 527 | 0 |
| 2001 RAV4 | 309 | 0 |
| 2000 RAV4 | 30 | 3 |
| 1999 RAV4 | 62 | 4 |
| 1998 RAV4 | 77 | 4 |
| 1997 RAV4 | 54 | 0 |
| 1996 RAV4 | 47 | 0 |
| 1995 RAV4 | 1 | 0 |
See all Toyota RAV4 problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 376 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 Toyota RAV4 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RAV4 model years, the 2002 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.