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
My 2002 toyota rav4 transmission is jerking at low speeds. It seemed that the automatic transmission was not working properly. The jerks would be particularly strong when going up or downhill. After releasing the brake pedal during a complete stop, the car does not roll forward normally either. *tr
ODI 10301667
Power Train
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that she experienced problems shifting. All of the gears were affected whether the vehicle was accelerating or slowing down. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the electronic control unit and the transmission needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 101,830. The current mileage was approximately 105,000.
ODI 10336485
Power Train
Car jerks; hesitates; does not go into gear properly; revs loudly but starts like it's being moved off in third gear. Told it's the computer that is bad but if it does not get fixed after replacement of the computer, it could be the transmission. I am ordering a replacement computer but cannot afford to do it via the dealer because the initial cost is $1300. Problem is similar to many listed on various websites -…
ODI 10294231
Power Train
In 2004 we purchased a 2002 rav4 toyota after checking with consumer reports. The car has not turned over 100,000 miles and the transmission and the computer went out. The charge for replacing both was $3708. Research shows that the computer/transmission problem for 2001 to 2003 toyotas is growing. We are retired living on social security and did not have this kind of money for this problem. There should have been a…
ODI 10290482
Power Train
This complaint is regarding the 2002 toyota rav4 about a year ago i noticed that the vehicle was stopping and having problems changing shifts. I researched and found a lot of people saying that it was the computer of the engine which was messing up my transmission. I went ahead and paid around $2000.00 to have the computer changed. The dealership told me that the old computer which was put at the factory had damaged…
ODI 10294046
Power Train
Problem with my toyota rav4's electronically controlled transmission. The computer was recalled in 2007 for reprogramming. Now it has failed, and the transmission potentially along with it. Toyota claims no responsibility for it, even though it was recalled and i had the reprogramming done, because i am not under warranty. Scary to be driving and have the car shift automatically down to first gear and not shift…
ODI 10286408
Power Train
Our ecm, engine control module, is faulty and has been sending our transmission the wrong signals and telling the transmission to shift at the wrong intervals. This caused our transmission to hard shift and mis-shift between 1 and 2, and 2 and 3. As a result, my wife and i almost got into a accident because our suv would not move until it finally went into gear. *tr
ODI 10286763
Power Train
All of the sudden, my transmission started acting funny. The gears shifted really hard and it started slipping. I almost had an accident because the slipping kept me in an intersection for too long. *tr it appears the problem is not uncommon: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/toyotas-reaction-to-transmission-woes-draws-customers-ire/ i called you yesterday, and was told to call toyota. Indeed, they sent me…
ODI 10286092
Power Train
I have a 2002 toyota rav4 with transmission/ecm problems. My issue is that there was a technical service bulletin sent out to all of toyota service departments it is as follows: technical service bulletin is: tc002-06, revised march 3, 2006: "some 2001 ? 2003 model year rav4 vehicles equipped with an automatic transaxle may exhibit a harsh shift condition and/or m.i.l. ?on? With dtc p0750, p0753, p0755, p0758,…
ODI 10285963
Electrical System · Power Train
Around the 1st of july my toyota rav 4 starting jerking and refused to go into second gear. The rav 4 has had all of the regular required maintenance and showed absolutely no signs of failure. The transmission and the ecm were going out. I had my 16 year old grandson in the car when this happened. I did not realized that toyota has been aware of this problem for around 3 years until i started doing some research.…
ODI 10283015
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train
My 2002 toyota rav4 is having a hard time shifting and sometimes it almost doesn't want to move with an a/c on... But when i turn off the a/c it runs fine... Living in arizona we need as much a/c as we get... And toyota won't make any recall about this issue. Hope you guys will be able to help us regarding this issue. *tr
ODI 10279111
Power Train
Several years ago, toyota became aware of an issue with their engine control module that were used in 2001/2002 rav4 vehicles. A quick search of the internet uncovers hundreds of people now experiencing the ramifications. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin to their dealerships while these cars were still young; however, failed in any way to make their loyal customers aware. The faulty engine control module…
ODI 10276492
Electrical System · Power Train
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…
ODI 10267202
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
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…
ODI 10265640
Power Train
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…
ODI 10266623
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
In 2009, 2010, and 2011 my 2002 toyota rav4 exhibited sharp, rough shifting into and out of gear, often when on the freeway. The vehicle also had a check engine light that repeatedly came on. I was initially advised by a non-toyota repair shop that the issue was with the transmission and it had to be replaced. However, upon taking the car to a toyota dealership they stated the problem was with the ecm. In 2009 they…
ODI 10508084
Electrical System · Power Train
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…
ODI 10264911
Power Train
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…
ODI 10261884
Power Train
Driving down the highway going 65 miles per hour and the engine just stopped, completely shut down. 2002 toyota rav 4. *tr
ODI 10251947
Power Train
My 2002 rav4 transmission went bad (shifting improperly) over 100 complaints on line about same problem. There are no recall or extended warranties from toyota. *tr
ODI 10250622
Power Train
Car had very sluggish acceleration onto highway after ecu failed and transmission is slow to get into gear. Had to pull over to shoulder as the vehicle could not get up to interstate speed. *tr
ODI 10245164
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
2002 toyota rav4 transmission - transmission is not working properly in shifting. Rough shifting from 2/3 gear. Had to find information on federal 8year/80k mile mandated free reprogramming to try to fix this. But reading accounts this may not work and even then the transmission may be damaged already. There should be a recall regardless of miles driven as this is a constant problem on this year/model. Thank…
ODI 10242679
Power Train
The 2002 toyota rav4 has a faulty ecm and has caused the transmission to go out. I almost had an accident the other day. Toyota is aware of the problem but did not do a recall. Here is a list of the same problem owners had: http://www.carcomplaints.com/toyota/rav4/2002/transmission/problems_shifting.shtml. *tr
ODI 10240033
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
Toyota rav4 2002, 98367 miles, taken to toyota dealer for recall on ecm reprogram, after done the recall by toyota dealer, transmission shifting very erratically. Took car back to dealer and they said that transmission needs to be replaced. Also it is dangerous to drive due to loss of transmission. *tr
ODI 10238854
Power Train
I own a toyota 2002 rav4. It is experiencing major problems with the transmission. It jerks and hesitates and is extremely dangerous to drive as you never know if it is going to proceed forward or not. Pulling out in an intersection is dangerous. *tr
ODI 10237451