2002 Toyota RAV4 Electrical System Problems
- 88
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 88 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 16 records
- control module · 11 records
- light came · 11 records
- check engine · 9 records
- automatic transmission · 7 records
- electronic control · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 33 |
| 100–150k mi | 31 |
| 30–60k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
I have been a loyal toyota owner with a 1995 camry and a 2002 toyota rav 4. I noticed the terrible jerking that started while driving the rav4 on my way to work. I could not even attempt to speed up when necessary and once i did, the car jerked so much, i had to pull over and eventually get the car towed to the mechanic. They stated that the transmission was the problem so we paid to replace it and resolve that…
ODI 10350024
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav4 started jerking and shaking,, then slowing down at 111k miles at in the middle of traffic concerned for safety, had to pull over and call for a tow truck to tow car home. I took the car to the dealership, but they said that it could be ecm, which is $1500, but no guarantees it would work. Researched issue, and found out that this is known issue since 2006, but toyota didn't notify owners. *tr
ODI 10342474
Electrical System · Equipment
I recently had a failure of the control module (ecu), i was told by my mechanic that this problem came up frequently for rav 4s of years 2002 and 2003 and that toyota was aware of this issue since 2006 ' but never recalled the cars! After searching on the internet i noticed that there were hundreds of complaints regarding exactly the same issue and even a class action lawsuit for the same matter filed in 2009. The…
ODI 10341530
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav4 transmission failure. This vehicle has been maintained excellently with all recommended services performed at toyota dealers or authorized facilities. In 2009, toyota sent a recall notice about a "faulty ecm" (electronic control module) and the vehicle was taken in and the ecm was reprogrammed. After this service, the car started shifting erratically and as of june 26, 2010, the transmission…
ODI 10340240
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav 4 electronic control unit has a manufacturer's defect that cause the car's automatic transmission to disintegrate with little or no warning. *tr
ODI 10335830
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control
2002 toyota rav4 all of a sudden wouldn't shift between 3rd and 4th gear. To ok in immediately into dealership to be checked. Said it was the ecm. It was already taken in for recall and is another malfunction of same problem. If you drive it will ruin your transmission. I am very disappointed in the dealership as they only said to call toyota. I have done that and am waiting a response. There are many complaints on…
ODI 10332157
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
I have a 2002 rav4 i purchased used in may 2010 for $9,000. A few days after purchasing it, the transmission started slipping. Almost had numerous accidents when needing to accelerate when pulling out into a busy road and the transmission failed to get out of 2nd gear into 3rd gear. Had the transmission replaced/rebuilt for $3,500, the ecm flashed for $265, 3 new oxygen sensors put in for $900. Now the car is still…
ODI 10361645
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Whiplash and cervical disc herniation due to negligence of toyota rav 4 2002 transmission and ecm problems. Around 4/20/10 i took my toyota to this dealership due to ongoing jerking and forward thrust when starting from a stop position, also the engine light was on. They kept my toyota from 4/19/10 till 4/21/10. Reset the engine stating that it is o2 sensor problem and replaced it. Also diagnosed transmission…
1 injury
ODI 10341512
Electrical System
My 2002 toyota rav4 check engine light came on. The light went off a few days later, but my husband took it to a mechanic to have it looked at. The mechanic said the ecu (computer) failed. A few days later the car had problems shifting, and it started bucking on the highway. I did some research on the internet, and came to find out that this is a known defect with the 2002 toyota rav4. There was a toyota internal…
ODI 10331131
Electrical · Electrical System · Power Train
I purchase my vehicle a 2002 rav4, automatic, new. The vehicle has been well maintained. Approximately in march of 2010 my vehicle starting jerking, i look at my gas gauge and thought i must be lower on gas then the gauge is showing. I got gas and the problem stopped. About 2 weeks later the same problem. I got gas and the situation stopped. Sporadically, in the 2 week time frame my vehicle seemed to lose power. I…
ODI 10331763
Electrical System · Power Train
2002 toyota rav4: ecm computer problem causes the transmission to burn out. The ecm has a design blunder which causes it to lose its ability to control the solenoids. The transmission is damaged quite suddenly. *tr
ODI 10327089
Electrical System
My 2002 toyota rav4 began having problems shifting in april 2010. It was intermittent, and wasn't cause for concern until my check engine light came on in may 2010. The symptoms of the problem with my vehicle are that it stalls, hesitates, and has a stop / go (jerking) type of action while driving it. At that time, i took it to a service technician at my local toyota dealer where i purchased both of my toyotas. They…
ODI 10345675
Electrical · Electrical System
Was driving in a 55 mile highway car felt like was driving through sludge. Engine light came on. Then car stared jerking got to side of road and had towed to toyota dealer ship said the transmission chip was bad cost around $1300.. And new transmission altogether would cost me $6000.*tr
ODI 10308513
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Purchased 2002 toyota rav4 new from toyota dealer in october 2001. Experienced hard shifting several years ago when traveling uphill and a highway speeds. Told that the car was shifting fine. Now the engine control module needs to be replaced and possibly the complete transmission. Toyota issued a tsb in 2008 but i was never informed. This is a very dangerous situation since the car can stop at any time. *tr
ODI 10304602
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Toyota issued a secret bulletin on 3/3/2006 (tc006-02), but failed to notify owners of 2001-2003 rav4 vehicles regarding their hard shifting, ecm problems, and transmission failures. Despite my reporting this problem within warranty period at 54,000 miles in 2006, and again in 2007, toyota claimed unable to duplicate problem. They are now charging me 1/2 the cost of a new transmission at approximately $2,000…
ODI 10306557
Electrical System
After having an oxygen sensor replaced in the exhaust system of my 2002 toyota rav4 on 02/02/10, i noticed that my car began accelerating sluggishly. Approximately 50 miles after the service was performed, i noticed my car jerked when shifting through gears 1-3 and the tachometer would rev to 3000 rpms. The car then ran fine for app. 4 days with no gear slippage. A week later the gears started slipping again without…
ODI 10311123
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
No problems were apparent until overnight the transmission appeared to be slipping. Independent mechanic cited failing transmission as probable issue. Toyota dealership stated the ecm/ecu was failing. Turns out ecm was defective in the model year of this vehicle. Toyota' response was to "reprogram/reflash" defective ecm. This only postponedthe failure of the ecm. The defective ecm would send incorrect codes to the…
ODI 10296403
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
My toyota rav4 (2002) with less than 90,000 miles has been slipping and it has caused me to be in some pretty risky situations, such as nearly getting into a fatal car accident when stopping and trying to proceed again at stop lights and stop signs. Apparently the ecm is causing damage to the transmission and instead of them trying to fix the problem as a company, they are recommending me to spend over 4,000 to fix…
ODI 10299732
Electrical System
2002 toyota, rav4, my check engine light came on, the car only has 50,000miles on it, i have just recently hearing about this same problem with many other toyota rav 4 owners. *tr
ODI 10294454
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Approximately 3 weeks ago i began noticing hesitation, jerking, and slipping coming from what i thought was the transmission. When the problem continued, i took it to a local big ten tires to see what they thought. They thought it was a defective engine mount. That did not remedy the problem. I realized then it was a transmission problem. I took it to the dealer that sold me the vehicle,and they confirmed that it…
ODI 10290899
Electrical System
My 2002 toyota rav4 had issues with the ecu (computer) which controls the gear shifting. The symptoms are stalling/pausing between 1st and 2nd and/or 2nd and 3rd gear. When it happens, pressing on the gas has no effect - car does not accelerate. Occurs quite frequently after the problem surfaces. On 10/8, as i was taking a left turn onto a main road, i had a stall and could not accelerate. There was an oncoming car…
ODI 10289422
Electrical System
I have a 2002 rav 4 with 60k miles and the ecm is faulty and is causing my transmission to slip, flare up, and almost got me killed in car accident ad my vehicle would not move in traffic until it finally grabbed and went forward. Now, i have to spend $4000 to have my transmission fixed at 60k miles. I am outraged that toyota has not recalled this faulty computer ecm. It's dangerous and defective and needs to be…
ODI 10286196
Electrical System
I have a 2002 toyota rav4l. My problems started yesterday. The car is not shifting properly. It stalls as if the car were put into neutral at 20mph and again at about 40mph. I was almost hit by another car because my car would not move when the gas was pushed it just revved the engine. I am afraid to drive this car. I purchased it in dec of 2006 and am still paying for this car. From what i have read i have the same…
ODI 10283043
Electrical System
My 2002 toyota rav4 has a known defect with the electronic control module which causes the transmission to go bad which results in the car hesitating and jerking which almost caused an accident. I had the car towed to toyota dealership and they refused to fix anything because they will only fix this faulty ecm if the car in under 80,000 miles, mine had 80,800. *tr
ODI 10284218
Electrical System
Ecm failed on 2002 toyota rav4 causing erratic auto transmission shifting and car speed to vary widely while in traffic. No 'check engine' light warning. Toyota knows of the problem and did not provide any warning. I had to pay a repair bill of $5358.00 to replace the ecm and transmission. *tr
ODI 10282431