2002 Toyota RAV4 Power Train Problems
- 112
- 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 112 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Automatic Transmission · 3 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 44 |
| 100–150k mi | 34 |
| 150–400k mi | 13 |
| 30–60k mi | 11 |
| 1–30k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
Dangerous transmission problems occurred in this car. The car would stall before going into second gear. Once it occurred as i was in an intersection. There are low miles on this so there should not be a need for repair or replacement at this time. *tr
ODI 10474268
Engine · Power Train
We had just left a parking lot in our 2002 rav 4 and as we came up to speed the transmission began to jerk and try to shift into different gears. I all of a sudden had no power and a truck coming down the road almost hit us. As i depressed the accelerator the car revved up and all of a sudden engaged and spun out. Very scary and we were lucky!. *tr
ODI 10469921
Power Train
My 2002 toyota rav4 has been sluggish since day 1, about 2004. This past weekend it was more sluggish than usual, after take-off. I drove it a few more times and after every drive, the transmission wouldn't shift easily, and when it did shift it was very hard. Almost a whiplash hard. It is getting worse, and this is only the 3rd day. I called the national toyota number, because i found the extended warranty policy…
ODI 10468302
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced harsh shifting. The contact also stated that when attempting to accelerate, there would be an increase in the engine rpms but the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the ecm would need to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the transmission…
ODI 10467070
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to shift gears. The contact attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle failed to respond or shift gears. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the electronic control module was found defective. In order to repair, the electronic control module would have…
ODI 10465270
Power Train
Very unsafe transmission toyota 2002 rav 4 shakes doesn't go into gear.called toyota will pay only if one of three codes come up on dealer only test charged 140 rip off. Dealer says transmission bad but no code. Toyota will not cover . Dealer and toyota act like they never heard of this until you let them know you read about it. Problem shifting out of the blue. *tr
ODI 10439107
Power Train
The 2002 toyota rav 4 transmission is now slipping & missing gears had some service on the transmission in 2011 october,but to do a full rebuild starts at $1700.then goes $$$up. *tr
ODI 10446865
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
Harsh shifting and jerking, particularily 1st & 2nd gear slow to accelerate launching and bucking hard engagement when put in reverse revs up from 2 to 3 - 4 rpms. *tr
ODI 10450537
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle hard shifted independently into a different gear without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as the transmission needing to be replaced. The dealer offered to cover the cost of fifty percent of the repairs costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.the failure…
ODI 10455768
Electrical System · Power Train
I was going north on molly lane and going to turn right on us hwy 92 going east. I pulled into oncoming traffic when my car stalled and it acted like the transmission slipped. I was almost rear ended. I drove and picked up a pizza on townlake parkway and the same thing happened when i pulled out of papa johns. I knew there was a bad problem at that point. I was going to drive it home and have it towed to toyota.…
ODI 10411071
Electrical System · Power Train
I experienced sputtering and hesitation while driving my 2002 toyota rav4 a few weeks ago, the friday before memorial day. The car has around 72,800 miles on it. Over the memorial day weekend the car was fine. The next week i experienced the same problem. Once i stopped the car at a light and then accelerated, the car would lurch and sputter. I feared the car would shut off in traffic or i would not be able to keep…
ODI 10405888
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
I have a 2002 toyota rav4. About a month ago it started intermittently skipping/jerking and being stuck in gear. I took it to two toyota dealerships, the first one informed me of a factory warranty extension for the ecu for my vehicle, but because the check engine light is not on they cannot get any codes, the second dealership told me the same thing as well as the toyota company. The warranty is for 10yrs or…
ODI 10455280
Power Train
Transmission slips in reverse - brought to dealership - ecm and transmission replaced - spent $4,997.42 to replace. Investigation done now on recurrence showed this to be a known issue and toyota was supposed to notify us (we were never notified), and reimburse. They now refuse to reimburse nor acknowledge this problem is known. July 2014 same issue -but worse recurring with replacement ecm and transmission from…
ODI 10611168
Power Train
Driving normally nearing a stop sign/light/potential need to stop. Apply brakes, vehicle jerks. Beginning to release brake and continue driving engine shuts off and all warning lights on panel light up. Shift gear normally into park, start engine, it turns over, shift gear into drive and engine shuts off. Try shifting into 2nd gear, 1st gear and engine shuts off. If car sits for a while (not able to determine that…
ODI 10347784
Power Train
I have a 2002 toyota rav 4 and am experiencing transmission problems. I understand that there are numerous toyota customers with the same problem. I also understand that toyota will do nothing to fix the problem and that writing you would be my best bet. The problem is caused by a faulty ecm (engine control module) and costs about $1200 to replace. Driving the vehicle as is also hurts the transmission which can lead…
ODI 10336281
Power Train
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While driving 30 mph up a hill, the vehicle lost power. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. Report 1006100118 was filed with the manufacturer; however, they will not offer any assistance with the repairs since warranty has expired. The failure and the current mileages were 47,680.
ODI 10335636
Power Train
Transmission slipping and slamming into gear. Vehicle shudders like it was going to stop running, then rpm's jumped up to about 4,000 and slammo! Slams into gear. Almost got hit by a large truck behind me. Check engine light doesn't come on . Took it to dealership and they say without error codes they cannot diagnose the problem. Had a recall on ecm a couple of yrs. Ago. Had it done(re-flashed) at dealership. No…
ODI 10334673
Engine · Power Train
My daughter purchased a used 2002 rav4 as her first car in 2010. It had engine and transmission problems within months of purchasing. She also had transmission issues where it would not go into gear or it would act sluggish while driving on the california freeways. It was very dangerous, especially for a young driver. We learned of the class action suit for this issue and got on board with it. Unfortunately we lost,…
ODI 10660272
Power Train
The automatic transmission was shifting very hard from gear to gear and had problems starting in first gear from a stop. It looks like it is very common on 2001-2004 rav4's per complaints online. A service bulletin was put out by toyota in march of 2006 about the problem. The dealer is recommending replacement of the ecu. The bulletin proves toyota knew about the defective ecu. Many people are being forced to buy a…
ODI 10330120
Power Train
My 2002 toyota rav4's transmission is starting to fail to operate correctly. After coming to a complete stop, the car will not accelerate for several seconds even though i am pressing very hard on the accelerator. It just slowly moves during those seconds. This is very frightening when i attempt to merge with traffic after making a right turn. Sometime it feels like the turn will not complete before on coming…
ODI 10327304
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
Power Train
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,…
ODI 10318933
Power Train
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…
ODI 10321137
Power Train
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
ODI 10313127