2002 Toyota RAV4 problems and complaints

Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported areas: Power Train (381), Electrical System (93), Engine And Engine Cooling (42).

Key takeaways

  • 555 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 39 involve a crash, 15 a fire, 50 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Power Train38169%
Electrical System9317%
Engine And Engine Cooling428%
Vehicle Speed Control366%
Unknown Or Other244%
Air Bags234%
Engine224%
Electronic Stability Control (esc)163%
Service Brakes102%
Steering92%
Latches/Locks/Linkages92%
Hydraulic81%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2002 Toyota RAV4 4-DR.Not ratedNot ratedNot rated3/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2024-05-24

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 told this is the same p...

Power Train - filed 2023-10-03

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 vehicle was taken to an i...

Power Train - filed 2022-05-05

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 complaints of other owner...

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More for the 2002 Toyota RAV4

Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.