2002 Toyota RAV4 Automatic Transmission Problems
- 254
- 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 254 stored complaint records:
- 6 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 17 records
- check engine · 16 records
- automatic transmission · 11 records
- transmission failure · 10 records
- light came · 8 records
- control module · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 117 |
| 100–150k mi | 89 |
| 30–60k mi | 20 |
| 150–400k mi | 12 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav 4. The contact stated the vehicle suddendly accelerated independently and immediately the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician made the contact aware of an unknown manufacturer recall related to the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vin was not available.…
ODI 10598937
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated and jerked while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist where a diagnostic was performed that indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer advised the contact that the transmission replacement warranty was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and…
ODI 10525198
Automatic Transmission
My toyota 2002 rav 4 suddenly would not accelerate when more gas is given thereby being more dangerous on highway for possibly being hit by traffic behind. Such a sudden change in shifting possibly transmission mal-functioning happens also while driving at a higher speed. *tr
ODI 10404416
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated the driver attempted to accelerate from a stop but the vehicle would not accelerate. The failure was not diagnosed and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 122,000.
ODI 10398126
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 toyota rav4 began shift erratically 2 days ago. Not shifting to 2nd gear the finally jumping into gear. 102,000 miles. Sounds like a common problem that toyota should own up to and make right. Dealer is asking for $4000 to replace transmission. *tr
ODI 10395653
Automatic Transmission
My toyota rav4, 2002, began shifting hard, clunking into gear, and accelerating prior to shifting on its own. I took the car to a toyota dealer who has told me that this issue is not covered for all vin numbers of rav4's sold. We shall see if he is correct as i told him that the article from the ny times sure looks like it covers all rav4's between 2001 and 2003. *tr
ODI 10383457
Automatic Transmission
The transmission of my 2002 toyota rav4 was damaged due to a failure of the eletronic control module. The issue was first discovered not by a check engine indicator light, but by nearing being smashed by on coming traffic when the car failed to shift as i was crossing an intersection. This is a serious safety issue. The failure in the transmission is sudden and i was extremely fortunate that it did not result in an…
ODI 10380949
Automatic Transmission
Several months ago my transmission began to slip and the check engine light came on. Subsequently as i drove the car, it began to lurch and i lost control of it several times. I took the car to toyota dealer then and they could not identify the problem but suggested replacing the ecm unit as a "possible fix." they suggested that perhaps the whole transmission needed to be replaced. I wanted a second opinion and took…
ODI 10398367
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4. Started a month ago harsh shifting from lowest gear to the next, hesitation then abrupt shifting or no shifting at all by transmission, either with or without overdrive applied. Replaced oxygen sensors and ecm, okay for a week but back again. Repeats the same problem from complete stop then slow acceleration, gear shifting is not timely and sudden unexpectedly creating a jerky motion. *tr
ODI 10384227
Automatic Transmission
During a snow storm, my vehicle's transmission started revving up to 5000 rpms without shifting into 3rd gear. I thought my tires were slipping because of the weather, but over the next 2 days as my car would heat up, it would continue. I had a repair shop look at it and they advised me to repair or replace the transmission. Toyota suggested i bring it to a dealer. The dealer said that i need to have my transmission…
ODI 10377972
Automatic Transmission
Either the ecu or the transmission is not working right. The automatic transmission can usually change between 1st and 2nd gear but it usually cannot change between 2nd and 3rd. The engine usually revs as the transmission slips. If we ease up on the accelerator or sometimes we to pump it a little, then the transmission changes gears. There have been a few occasions where the engine revs and the transmission catches…
ODI 10372454
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4. The transmission slips from 1st to 2nd gear uncontrollably and causes a sudden surge in the vehicle that makes driving it not only dangerous but a liability to me. Toyota should be concerned with this, considering their recent problems with sudden acceleration and braking. The car was bought through a toyota dealership, which makes it all the worse because of the fact that they knowingly passed…
ODI 10371854
Automatic Transmission
Our 2002 toyota rav-4 has about 120,000 miles on it. The transmission has begun to act up beginning about 2 weeks ago. It has gone from bad to worse, and in investigating solutions to the problem, we have been stunned to read about the many hundreds of complaints that toyota has received re: 2001-2003 toyota rav-4s, which were thought to be transmission issues exclusively, and turned out to be faulty ecms. This…
ODI 10355247
Automatic Transmission
I was climbing a steep hill when my toyota rav4 just seemed to jump out of gear. I had to undertake special measures to turn around without engine power and coast down the hill. It was towed to a toyota dealer who told me the ecu had damaged the transmission. They advised me it was out of warranty and would cost $4500 to repair. I had it towed back home. I since found that many are experiencing this problem with the…
ODI 10378187
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav4. After stopping at an intersection i took off and the automatic transmission seemed to be in high gear, then it jerked and the engine raced and the transmission down shifted. This happened two other times within 10 miles. The ecm unit had failed. I researched this problem on-line and found that many other people had the same issue. Toyota claims that this problem was fixed in 2008 on this vehicle…
ODI 10352593
Automatic Transmission
2002 rav4 automatic transmission hard shift into reverse and mis shift between gears. *tr
ODI 10350121
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 10 mph, approaching a stop sign. While accelerating from the complete stop the transmission failed to shift into the first gear. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated there was technical service bulletin, number 00504 related to the transmission failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The failure…
ODI 10349657
Automatic Transmission
During acceleration toyota rav4 would shift hard, and slip between high and low gears rapidly cause car to buck and slow abruptly. Issue began all at once and has continued. Car is undrivable. *tr
ODI 10347561
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 toyota rav 4 started having problems for about 2 weeks now. It only has about 50,000 miles and i am truly disappointed. It was running smoothly and all of a sudden it started making noise while i am driving. It feels like it is having difficulty and is experiencing harsh shifting to second gear. *tr
ODI 10348899
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
I've had my '02 toyota rav4 since 2003 and a few days ago my car started hesitating and jerking out of the blue. After stopping at lights, i noticed that at first i had trouble accelerating, car would hesitate, then all of a sudden it would lurch forward jumping to 3000-4000 rpms. I was afraid that i would get rear-ended and then i almost slammed into the car in front of me. I am afraid to take my car on the highway…
ODI 10343663
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The vehicle was intermittently experiencing trouble accelerating in which the vehicle would momentarily pause before shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission fluid and filter were replaced. The mechanic also advised having the electronic control module (ecm) replaced the failure continued to recur intermittently. The manufacturer…
ODI 10347022
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While the contact was driving approximately 55 mph, the transmission began to hesitate with an extremely slow delay in the power response. The contact was able to continue driving with caution. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for an appointment which was scheduled prior to the failure. The scheduled repairs were performed, that were not associated with the…
ODI 10342168
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact stated that she had difficulty shifting gears. The vehicle would stay in third gear and the check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the computer needed to be replaced so that they could determine whether the entire transmission needed to be replaced. The contact did not notify the…
ODI 10344167
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