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
Written in early may to planetfeedback.com: my wife and i purchased a 2002 rav4 new at penn toyota in greenvale, ny and it now has 97,981 miles on it. In late april it started jerking/jumping when trying to upshift and we brought it in for service at penn toyota. Once there the service center advised us to have the transmission fluids flushed and refilled, which we did. They also stated that they would do an update…
ODI 10230350
Automatic Transmission · Engine And Engine Cooling
Check engine light kept coming on; i would carry it to toyota dealership and they would re-set. This happened more than twice. Finally, what i thought and was told that the transmission blew, but found out later that is just sounded and reacted as if the transmission was gone. But was the engine control module which had failed. Of course the warranty was off and after contacting toyota i get no assistance. This is…
ODI 10281962
Automatic Transmission
Car started to hesitate and jerk into 2nd gear when accelerating. This created dangerous situations at intersections , going around corners and trying to merge into traffic. Check engine light came on. Dealer said needed to replace an ecm module in the transmission hoping this will fix it (cost 1350) if it doesn't i will need a transmission (3500). Found 38 similar complaints on exact same thing on internet. Why…
ODI 10223032
Automatic Transmission · Unknown Or Other
My car started acting up in march 2008. I had my transmission rebuilt in april and got the car back still acting up! I am trying to go by the dealership who sold it to me and get their mechanic to look at it and he is too busy when it is messing up. It only does it sometimes now but it seems to get more frequent. The tsb i read mentioned the ecm and the transmission going bad so is that my next costly expense? *tr
ODI 10229894
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 toyota rav4, i had to have the transmission rebuilt because from what i have read toyota found there was a problem with the ecm. But there was never a recall for this problem and the warranty was for 80,000 mine when at 88,000. I had the transmission rebuilt but the vehicle is exhibiting the same problem. I have since learned that the ecm needs to be replaced and can damage a new transmission if not…
ODI 10225896
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle would hesitate from a stop creating a potential hazard. Brought car to dealer who claimed nothing was wrong with car, changed transmission oil as part of 75,000 maintenance. Next day car broke down completely with my six year old grandson in car. Dealer said i needed a new transmission for $4000. It was not until i started reading on-line complaints that i learned that it is a common problem with 2002 rav-4…
ODI 10227421
Automatic Transmission
2002 rav4: failed transmission due to defective ecm which toyota put out a technical service bulletin on but didn't recall. I was not notified of the service bulletin, so the problem was not prevented in time. *tr
ODI 10259335
Automatic Transmission
Same transmission problem as everyone else. Transmission started to slip, stopped driving immediately and told the computer needed to be replace. Furious at the fact that this is not a recall. There is no maintenance which as the owner i failed to do. This is a safety issue and i have sold my toyota with complete dissatisfaction at toyota's lack of response to this. If i did not stop driving immediately i'm told i…
ODI 10290489
Automatic Transmission
While driving the car would shift down a gear causing the car to suddenly reduce speed. This occurred a number of times and upon bringing it to the dealer i was told there is a service bulletin to replace the computer for the vehicle. Because the car was out of warranty (approx. 90,000 miles) the repair is not covered, however, if i had let the problem continue without repair i would need to replace the transmission…
ODI 10313861
Automatic Transmission
Transmission problems (shifting) with my 2002 toyota rav-4, although it has auto transmission it wont go into gear after a stop and i have safety concerns since i drive mostly on the freeway and for long distances and traffic is always and issue to and from work. *tr
ODI 10219087
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failure transmission was rebuilt for the 3rd time and not completed and was never fixed. *tr
ODI 10233092
Automatic Transmission
The automatic transmission of my rv4 failed at 111,649 mileage. However, the mileage is the problem, aamco technician reported that the following vehicles ; lexus ex 300, lexus rx300, rv4, toyota camry and toyota highlander are all equipped with bad transmissions u140f and u140e. Those transmissions are made for failure. Toyota company is aware of the problem but refused to take responsibility to either repair it or…
ODI 10227836
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. He stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer for the catalytic converter to be repaired in december of 2008 and while driving 45 mph, the transmission failed. A local mechanic replaced the transmission but he continued to receive the failure code for the transmission. The dealer confirmed that the computer ecm failed and was causing the transmission to down shift and fail.…
ODI 10308891
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4, 207,000 miles. Auto transmission suddenly shifting hard from 2/3 gears, hard into reverse, slow to engage after full stops, jerks abruptly. Contacted dealer/ toyota service center, will have them inspect the vehicle. Well maintained, recently had routine service done by dealer, transmission flush. Fluid levels all topped. *tr
ODI 10249543
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. When driving she experiences gear slippage in the transmission. This causes the vehicle to bounce and stall. The computer chip was replaced, but the failure has not been remedied. The failure mileage 75,000. The vehicle identification number was unavailable.
ODI 10290246
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Car shuttered and stopped rolling in an intersection, then abruptly went into gear again with a lurch. Transmission shop replaced valve assembly. Problem returned and car was returned to shop. New valve assembly installed, problem came back. Returned to shop, transmission removed, replaced, 3 times. Seals replaced. Same problem.ecm was suspect. Car was taken to local toyota dealer, was told ecm was fine, ecm was…
ODI 10265227
Automatic Transmission
Repeated problems with transmission, ecm that have cost in excess of $4000 and still the car is dangerous to drive. Toyota refuses to acknowledge the fact that someone will soon be killed from this problem. When pulling into traffic and they should be accelerating, these cars stall. This is my second report and no one responds from here or from toyota!!! *tr
ODI 10207524
Automatic Transmission · Engine · Equipment
I have a toyota rav4 2002-in may 2006 i went to military training school, i got back oct 2006 while driving my engine failed on the hwy. I took it to toyota and they told me it was 420 miles over the warranty and it was not covered. I did all my required upkeep and maintenance and to my surprise it had oil sludge. He claims its from sitting but alot of vehicles sit and do not have problems especially military…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10263840
Automatic Transmission
Car began to slip out of second gear to first gear during acceleration. I took the car to a toyota dealership and they told me that the engine control module (ecm) was inoperative and that the transmission was damaged as a result. I was told that the extent of the damage to the transmission could not be determined until a new ecm was installed at a cost of $1500 but that the cost of the transmission could be between…
ODI 10245222
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While stopped at a traffic light, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle would not move. A few seconds later, the vehicle began to move. The vehicle shifted completely out of gear and then went shifted back on its own. The failure continued during the drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that there was a recall on the ecm and it was…
ODI 10207995
Automatic Transmission
I started to have intermittent issues with my toyota 2002 rav4 transmission; concerning hard shifting and lose of power during acceleration. I have been informed by the dealer that i require a new transmission. After searching the internet (www.carcomplaints.com, www.tundrasolutions.com, & rav4world.com) i was able to find quite a few instances of people having the same issues with their 2002 rav4. Each story ends…
ODI 10205074
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4 transmission not shifting or shifting inappropriately nearly causing crashes as drivers pull into traffic or drive in traffic.
ODI 10192846
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Ecm/transmission failure on my 2002 rav 4. I ended up cleaning out my savings over this car. After recent bulletin from toyota, i submitted necessary paper work for some reimbursement. I was told that i was not eligible because the car was made in puerto rico, not us!!!!!! I bought it used from a toyota dealer in va. Why did toyota send me the notice????? *tr
ODI 10355437
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle was plugged in to a charger, charging normally. Driver returned to the car, and neglected to remove the charging cable. Driver turned the key, and shifted from park to reverse. Vehicle rolled away from the charging station and damaged the cable and the charging station, disabling the charging station until it could be repaired (at a cost of $1200 to $1500). Vehicle should not be able to shift out of park…
ODI 10163586
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
2002 toyota rav4 - while driving on the freeway, my car may automatically go from 60 to 40 mpr in matter of seconds. Or my car will get stuck on 60mpr & violently jerk. Twice have i taken it in for an ecm recall. My engine light has been on ever since 60,000 miles and now it's at 150,000. The extended warranty has been issued but my car is over the limit (154,000 miles). This extended warranty should have been…
ODI 10360172