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
Transmission/ecm failure. Transmission would "flare" while accelerating. When shifting while accelerating, transmission would not engage and power was not transmitted to wheels. Engine would rev up for 5-10 seconds until transmission would violently engage in next gear. This was particularly dangerous while attempting to cross or merge with traffic, as the vehicle had no ability to accelerate during the event.…
ODI 10287383
Automatic Transmission
The car just began jerking after i put gas in one day. I waited a week to see if the problem would go away, but it got worse. The day i brought it to the shop, the car would barely drive. It would hesitate shifting from first to 2nd gear and the check engine light came on. I brought the car back to the dealership with only 150 miles before the power train warranty expired. They told me it was the ecu and it wasn't…
ODI 10282462
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 rav4 and the transmission is slipping gears. The car stalls upon takeoff and it is very dangerous. I pulled out into traffic with my son in the car and the car wouldn't take off. We were almost hit in the side. *tr
ODI 10279839
Automatic Transmission
After regular service, car began shifting poorly this week with just over 85k miles with no initial indication of problem including hard clunking/shifting in the lower gears.. I have had near rear-end accidents this week as a result of the intermittent behavior of the engine. After taking the vehicle to dealer whom diagnosed then un-diagnosed transmission/ecm failure have researched and found that there is a large…
ODI 10279826
Automatic Transmission
Sudden transmission failure in 2002 toyota rav4. This is a well known and well documented issue both with the thousands of consumers who have had it happen to and with the toyota company. Toyota is refusing to be of any assistance whatsoever and this is known to be a $6,000 problem to repair. *tr
ODI 10279269
Automatic Transmission
2002 rav4 that i will need to replace the transmission and ecm on - despite the fact that this is a known issue with these cars. Repair cost $5,000. Although there were no injuries associated with this there very well could have been, as transmission went out as i was merging onto a very busy interstate highway. These cars are a deathtrap and toyota needs to recall them and fix the problem. *tr
ODI 10282175
Automatic Transmission · Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav 4. While driving 15 mph the vehicle down-shifted and stalled. The contact is aware of the safety risk involved. A transmission specialist replaced the transmission to correct the failure; however, the failure resurfaced. The current and failure mileages were 74000. Updated 12/7/09 *cn the consumer stated when she attempted to make a turn, the vehicle downshifted erratically. The…
ODI 10283641
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
My 2002 toyota rav4 has been intermittently not shifting into gear. It balks and clunks, and eventually shifts. This is a safety issue when entering traffic, because you don't know if the car will be able to accelerate to the speed of traffic or not. It is also a safety issue at stop lights, because you don't know if you will be able to make it across the intersection before the light changes or not. This started in…
ODI 10279031
Automatic Transmission
Engine control module (ecm) incorrectly programmed by manufacturer leading to difficulty shifting between 1st and 2nd gears, hard shifts, jerking, misfiring, problems accelerating. Can pose a definite danger to traffic due to failure to accelerate or shift as needed while driving. Can also lead to severe transmission damage and possible failure if ecm problem is not caught and ecm replaced immediately. Check engine…
ODI 10278384
Automatic Transmission
Toyota 2002 rav4 problem with automatic transmission hesitating and jerking in low gears. Problem started in july 2009 and within one week was occurring all the time. Rav4 was well past its warranty of 50k or 5 years. Ourisman chantilly virginia toyota dealer said it needed new transaxle for $5,500. Miller toyota of manassas virginia replaced ecm module which was still under emissions warranty of 80k or 8 years.…
ODI 10294139
Automatic Transmission
There is a known problem with the ecm in 2002 toyota rav4s. This control unit causes the transmission to have problems shifting and can also lead to transmission failure. I state that the problem is known because toyota extended the warranty period for the ecm, but any damage done to the transmission by the malfunction of the ecm is the responsibility of the owner. This issue should be considered for recall because…
ODI 10276335
Automatic Transmission
Because there is problem with the computer sensor systems that causing it to stall. And toyota knows about this problem. I almost got rear-end twice. I had to have my transmission fixed at a cost of $3000 which could have been avoided with a recall was done. Because the stalling out scared me so bad. I have it fix. *tr
ODI 10283822
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav4 - ecm/transmission failure - at 125,000 miles, driving last week, automatic transmission started bucking. Car slowed without cause in heavy traffic, and i had to pull off road in adverse conditions. Driving to dealer, then driving to transmission shop wrecked transmission. After paying $2700.00 to get transmission fixed, found out the transmission problem is really a ecm failure problem. Found…
ODI 10276090
Automatic Transmission
An investigation should be conducted into the transmission slippage problem of the toyota rav4 2002 and later models. Mine rav4 had a problem with this issue and i reported to toyota company about the issue, but no recall has taken. I had done some research and found out that many owners of this type of vehicles have had the same problem. As i have experienced, the slippage can create a very dangerous situation…
ODI 10311367
Automatic Transmission
About a month after having my 90,000 tune up at my local toyota dealer, i noticed my transmission was slipping; from first to second and second to third. It started intermittently and then became more frequent to the point that i needed it to be inspected. On my way to the dealer my car stalled in the middle of an intersection; cars were honking and i was thankful no one rear-ended me since i was exiting off a ramp.…
ODI 10298296
Automatic Transmission · Interior Lighting
In the beginning of june i noticed my rav4 would slightly pause when i pres the gas pedal and would jerk when it's suppose to automatically shift gears, my registration is due & of course i need a smog certificate. The "transmission would slip" only sometimes. I'm just guessing it's the transmission. Not sure yet... Of course my "extra care" expired 05/30/08 mileage 100,000 but my mileage is only 91,000. I figure…
ODI 10275511
Automatic Transmission
A normal driving day for our 2002 toyota rav4, maybe 30 miles of errands. The car was running fine in the morning but we were barely able to limp it home by that same afternoon. Our mechanic said that the transmission was shot, which i found hard to believe, since the car was asymptomatic that morning. The transmission specialist said that he has seen this problem many time before and knew exactly what the issue…
ODI 10310775
Automatic Transmission · Electrical · Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Mechanical
The toyota rav4 (year 2002) indiscriminately speeds up and maxes out the rpms (6000) for not reason. I was going 65 and all of a sudden the rpms went up to 6000 from 3000 and the car sped up to 85 and then went into neutral with me touching any gears or any pedals. Luckily i was allowing enough distance between me and the other vehicles to safely get it pulled off to the side. There would have been no way to control…
ODI 10274064
Automatic Transmission
While driving my 2002 toyota rav 4 with 97,000 miles, i experienced a sudden problem when shifting into 2nd gear. The car would stick and then suddenly accelerate as if the gear finally caught. After taking it to the mechanic i found out i not only needed to replace my transmission but also the ecm. This was a costly repair of over $3300 for a car that should have gone well over that mileage prior to needing a…
ODI 10325806
Automatic Transmission
2002 rav4 with 95,000 miles and routine service. Began jerking and hesitating when trying to accelerate, seems like shifting problems. Three different shops - two dealerships - unable to determine exact problem. Recommended flushing transmission fluids, replacing transmission, replacing solenoid - no one was able to guarantee these fixes would correct the problem. The internet is full of hundreds of similar…
ODI 10274434
Automatic Transmission · Electronic Stability Control
During a recent rain i was transporting my grandkids from school when i noticed that my car seemed to slip and jolt forward each time i accelerated. Each time the car would hesitate and the slipping and jolting was significant. I was afraid that my car would stall in traffic. I was very glad to get my grandkids home safely. I called the toyota dealer where the car was purchased and made an immediate appointment. I…
ODI 10282192
Automatic Transmission · Electronic Stability Control
I have a 2002 rav4 that started having shifting problems. When i would put the car into reverse it would jerk and jolt this is how it started. Then about a week later it started doing this when the car shifted from 1st to second and so on. After about 3 weeks of this i took the car into the dealer and told them to please look at it. They called me later that day saying that they thought i needed new engine mounts.…
ODI 10282087
Automatic Transmission
The transmission started slipping so we decided to add some atf. That seemed to work for a day but the shifts became harder after that. At times the car would not accelerate properly and would bog down. We took the car to the dealership and they started giving us the runaround. They said the tranny needs fixing (the car was something like 500 miles out of the warranty), then they said that they will replace the…
ODI 10313525
Automatic Transmission
Coming from a full-stop, the car jerked when i stepped on the gas. Rpm was increasing however the car was barely moving once it started moving it jerked a few more time. Toyota did a recall previously on the ecu, it was reprogrammed however the same problem resurfaced and cause damage to the transmission. *tr
ODI 10272909
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 toyota rav4 start to have gear changing problems in first and/or second. I think toyota should do a recall on this make & model. *tr
ODI 10270129