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
2002 toyota rav4, while putting in drive the car stalls for a second then jerks into gear...i had ecm work done for 1300.00 dollars and the car still jerks into gear and sometimes there is no power...i am worried that my wife will be in traffic and the car will lose power causing an accident. *tr
ODI 10328555
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 toyota rav4. When going down hills the gears will downshift and the engine revs fast. Now during normal driving, it gets stuck in 2nd gear then will bang into 3rd. I've also noticed sometimes when i try to pull onto a highway, there is no acceleration. *tr
ODI 10315454
Automatic Transmission
My toyota 2002 rav4 with only 55,000 started having problems with transmission and i took it in as soon as problem started and was told at dealership i needed to replace the whole transmission and install a rebuilt. The repair cost $3400 and after a day of driving i had to take car back to dealer as it was still not running right and then i was told that the ecm needed replacing which they said they did at no cost…
ODI 10301844
Automatic Transmission
On the evening of december 21, 2009, i was driving our 2002 toyota rav4, exiting a major shopping center, in a long line of vehicles at a slow speed. Suddenly the engine stalled (something that never happened before). I restarted the engine and moved a few car lengths, still in a long line of slow moving vehicles and the engine stalled again. I restarted the engine and was able to proceed home (about 10 miles)…
ODI 10297229
Automatic Transmission
One day, out of the blue, my 2002 toyota rav4 started having trouble getting full power in 1st gear, and often slipped when going from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd. Since this was so sudden, i often had trouble getting up to speed when pulling into traffic. There were no accidents, but a few close calls. I had the ecm (engine control module) replaced the next day because my mechanic said that this was a fairly common…
ODI 10296867
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
Automatic Transmission
Transmission has failed on my 2002 rav4. 2 mechanics and 1 transmission specialist state that it needs to be completely overhauled and ecm is bad also. Car will not shift out of 2nd gear and hesitates. *tr
ODI 10297626
Automatic Transmission
Check engine light came all of sudden while driving vehicle regular to work, when checked, the transmission sensor bad error came up, then drove vehicle back home.while driving back gear started slipping, could not able to pick up speed. Later check engine light gone and vehicle started working fine. Next day check engine light was again on. When took the vehicle to mechanic, transmission bad diagnostic came.…
ODI 10295168
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
ODI 10295413
Automatic Transmission
Have a 2002 toyota rav4 that had transmission failure in late november/early december 2009. Odometer at 91,304 miles. In traffic, car started bucking (lurching) forward without pressure on the gas pedal. Took car for repair where it needed to have new computer installed and valve body transmission component replaced at cost of approximately $2000. *tr
ODI 10311248
Automatic Transmission
While starting up from a red light, i felt the trans slip, then bang into 2nd gear. It would continue to buck and slip, than would catch and run smooth. I thought something had happened to the trans, although i only have approx 48,000 miles on the car. Turned out to be a faulty ecm which toyota is apparently aware of and was replaced under warranty. I fell this could have potentially been dangerous and i very easily…
ODI 10293292
Automatic Transmission
Problems with shifting was doing it several times a week - jerked real hard when shifting & was slipping - was initially told it was the transmission and/or the ecm now they tell me the problem is supposedly the ecm. I have been without car now for several months. Initially as i was told the transmission needed to be replaced & i don't have that kind of money. Found another mechanic & have had several opinions. My…
ODI 10311076
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 rav4. About 2 months ago, i noticed that when i accelerated, my car hesitated and then jumped into gear. The problem worsened, and when i took it to be looked at, the mechanic informed me that the repairs to the damaged transmission would cost close to $4,000. After researching toyota rav 4 + transmissions, i quickly found many sites stating that many people are having this exact same problem with…
ODI 10298001
Automatic Transmission
No warning whatsoever before failure as we tried to pull onto a 4 lane highway and car would not accelerate, made loud noises, jerked and seemed like it would just stop dead in its tracks. Happened every time it had to shift from 1st to 2nd gear - at stop lights, driving thru town, etc. Toyota is now at dealer trying to see what problem could be. *tr
ODI 10292424
Automatic Transmission
Problem appeared without warning. The transmission became sluggish at low speeds and from a stop at stop signs and stop lights, creating a hazard of being hit by other vehicles in intersections. Also a rough shift (automatic transmission) between first and second gears, resulting in same hazard as above. These problems match toyota's technical service bulletin tc0002-06, 3/3/2006. Immediately took it to dealer shop,…
ODI 10293043
Automatic Transmission
My vehicle began to have trouble the night before the incident. Traveling on the freeway i noticed rough shifting, a chug between 2nd and 3rd gear. I dismissed it until the next morning driving to work. That morning, loud clunk when i shifted to reverse, then in 1st gear there was slipping before it finally engaged. On the way to work the car would lurch ahead then stall in 1st 2nd and 3rd gear. Barely made it to…
ODI 10291858
Automatic Transmission
Without warning, the transmission on my rav4 started shifting erratically and then it stopped altogether in the middle of heavy traffic! I almost had a serious accident. As it was all there was a minor ding. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10291430
Automatic Transmission
In march 2006, toyota sent dealers a technical service bulletin 002-06warning them that some consumers might complain about harsh shifting. It said improvements were made to the computer ?manufacturing process to reduce the possibility of this condition occurring.? It then told the dealers to replace the module and if that did not work to replace the transmission. But consumers owning the vehicles were never…
ODI 10294817
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 toyota rav4 with 110,000 miles on it. The transmission has just failed. What a dangerous situation, doesn't want to go, so you take off from a stop sign & you're in the middle of traffic & there you sit trying to get the car to move. To correct the problem the transmission needs to be replaced & i don't have $5000 to repair this. It is my understanding that toyota was aware of this problem and has done…
ODI 10295001
Automatic Transmission
I bought a 2002 toyota rav4 in nov 2001. Sometime in nov 2009, i was driving on i-25 southbound when suddenly the toyota down shifted gears and slowed down from about 65 mphto 45 mph. As i pressed on the gas pedal, it began to upshift and gain speed. The transmission was beginning to act up at lower speeds about once a week at times more often. The toyota had about 86,000 miles. After doing a google search for 2002…
ODI 10310657
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4. Car stalled on highway, barely made it up hills. Drove two hours from home to a recruiting event. Transmission shift solenoid needed to be replaced. Car has 76,600 miles on it. Slow shifting and sudden complete malfunction led to safety issues/serious potential for accidents. *tr
ODI 10289064
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 toyota rav 4 that is having acceleration shifting problems. Reading online it is from a faulty ecu in the car which is causing the car to shift at improper times which is ruining the transmission. The problem comes and goes- when i bring it to toyota they claim nothing is wrong with the car. Also looking on line there are many more people that have the same type of issue with their rav 4's as well. *tr
ODI 10311656
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4 shifting erratically and slipping while driving. Began last month with only 39k miles on car. Brought to dealer and they replaced ecm under warranty but refused to also replace transmission which had been damaged due to faulty ecm. (see tsb number:00206 nhtsa number:10019667). Dealer returned vehicle. But transmission began to slip worse and worse each day right after. It was now extremely unsafe to…
ODI 10293040
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