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 began jerking and stalling. Car wouldn't accelerate from a stop. Was turning left into traffic when this first occurred and oncoming traffic had to stop. Was stuck in the middle of a major intersection for five minutes, until after multiple attempts at pressing the accelerator pedal did the car begin to crawl in a jerky motion. Drove 2 miles with the jerking and stalling on stop and with no…
ODI 10268441
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4, 4wd,at transmission jerking and hashing, reporting code p0750, p0755... I called toyota dealer in portland, or and speak to master technician. I've been told by the master tech that rav4 2001-02 and 2003 rav4 needs a new updated ecm for about $800.00 + labor. He warned me that without replacing the new updated ecm, my rav4 transmission will be damage and it could cost about $5,500.00 parts + labor.…
ODI 10279845
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
For a long time the check engine light kept turning on in my 2002 rav4. I went to a dealer immediately. He said that this only happened because i didn't screw the gas cap tightly enough. He manually turned off the light and i went on my way. The light kept coming on and i kept going back to the dealership who said they couldn't find anything wrong with the car. Then suddenly, in may of 2009, the car started jerking…
ODI 10350708
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2002 toyota rav4 has defective ecu which has in turn fried transmission...my wife noticed problems when the shifting automatic transmission on a merge and was almost run over by a semi-truck. We then took the vehicle to the dealer who told us the engine light was not on so they could not diagnose and advised us to drain the transmission fluid. 2 weeks later, my wife was on the highway and the transmission…
ODI 10268466
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
1. Toyota 2002 rav 4 starting jerking uncontrollably at 80,300 miles while driving on highway at around 60 mph. 2. Took it in the next day and toyota dealer stated that it was an engine control module failure which was making the transmission jerk. 3. They replaced the engine control module and stuck us with the bill since our car was 300 miles over warranty although we had brought it in 4 times prior for engine…
ODI 10281996
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Toyota rav 4 2002. A month ago, my car started jerking and bucking and stalling mid intersection. I immediately took it to my local toyota dealer for servicing. The service dept. Could not determine the problem so they changed transmission fluid (charge almost $200.00) and sent me on my way with notice that if the engine light came on i should return. Two weeks later, i was driving on the highway approaching a…
ODI 10270229
Automatic Transmission
Transmission began slipping while accelerating from stop. There were hard shifts when changing from 1st to 2nd and to 3rd gears. The next morning, there seemed to be no problem. This is unsafe since one can not depend upon the transmission / engine control module when pulling out into traffic. *tr
ODI 10267346
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. On april 22, 2009, the driver attempted to shift into drive; however, it failed to engage until it reached 3000 rpms. In addition, when the brakes were engaged the vehicle stalled; although, the failure occurred intermittently. A mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact is aware of the safety risk. The failure mileage was 128,000.
ODI 10267012
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failed on my 2002 toyota rav 4 fwd autotransmission with less than 52000 miles. No engine lights ever appeared to alert me of problem. First sign was while driving 65mph on interstate 80 heading to erie, pa from youngstown, oh. Car taken in to nearest transmission shop, aamco where it was determined that clutches were completely damaged/burnt and needed to be completely rebuilt at a cost of $3000. Now…
ODI 10268211
Automatic Transmission
Normal driving conditions. At every stop light, in drive, car would rev up as if in neutral, then slam into gear. Dealership replaced ecm at cost of $1200 to me. *tr
ODI 10311964
Automatic Transmission
The computer was telling the transmission to shift to the wrong gears and caused the transmission to break down. :the car was towed to the mechanic and a new computer was installed, in addition to having to have the transmission rebuilt. *tr
ODI 10266762
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
Automatic Transmission
Toyota rav4 automatic transmission went crazy and car started lunging forward and then not going when it should. It caused a minor accident some time ago, but is very dangerous and unsafe and we have not felt safe enough to even keep the car on the road. If people are not as fortunate as us to have another vehicle or can not afford to get this problem fixed, it could very well cause a fatal accident. We are…
Crash reported
ODI 10334340
Automatic Transmission
I took my 2002 rav4 in for the recall two months later i have spent $380.00 at elmhurst toyota for flushing the transmission and cleaning the fuel injection system. $2,700 for a rebuilt transmission and i am still experiencing the same problem. Car will not shift and gears. I call the toyota customer service and spoke to them about the issue and all i received was an apology. I agree with all of you toyota should…
ODI 10263344
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 toyota rav4 with only 77,000 miles. It was monday last week (march 15) when i noticed my car kind of lost it's accelerating power when i cruised up the coronado bridge (san diego, ca) but it was wednesday that same week when i experienced this slipping/ jerking/ harsh shifting movement of the transmission while accelerating even on a regular highway. I thought at first it was the engine but to find out…
ODI 10322420
Automatic Transmission
Driving my rav4 south on hamilton road, a busy thruway, while stopped at a light to turn left my tranny slips and hesitates so bad that as i pulled into the intersection in the way of oncoming cars my car couldn't get through the intersection safely. Fortunately no crashes. Maybe next time. *tr
ODI 10262209
Automatic Transmission
I am having shifting problem of the transmission on my toyota rav4 l 2002 while driving. When driving on the road,the tranny began slipping,hesitatingand jerking. I can't afford to get it repaired yet. I am concerning someday someone will hit behind me during driving due to shifting problem that i can't keep on speed limited. I get online www.carscomplaints.com and did some research. I found out most of the toyota…
ODI 10282212
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav 4 transmission problems. Purchased the vehicle used with 20,000 miles on it in sept. 2006. Noticed sometimes a slippage but it did not occur regularly so i ignored it. Went to get inspection the following year and the check engine light was on and was told there was a recall on the vehicle and i took it to toyota and they fixed the ecm or something to that effect because it was still under warranty.…
ODI 10323945
Automatic Transmission
The car was running fine until one day when it started "bucking" and i experienced a significant loss of power accelerating. This occurred when i was making a left turn with oncoming traffic and resulted in the other car being forced to stop to let me pass. From a stop, car felt like it was starting in second or third gear instead of first gear. Very dangerous! Limped to local shop and car was diagnosed with bad…
ODI 10263162
Automatic Transmission
In 2007 a recall 601 was issued by toyota for engine control modules in rav4s. I took my 2002 in & they recalibrated the module. I was told at the time it somehow affected the gear shift. 18 mos. Later, feb. 2009, my transmission suddenly started slipping & jumping in & out of gear. I've owned toyotas for 30 years & this was most unusual. I took the car to s.f. Toyota. They had a very hard time pinpointing the…
ODI 10259289
Automatic Transmission
Hard shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear of 2002 toyota rav 4 automatic transmission after 100,000 miles on odometer. *tr
ODI 10259989
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4 92,000 miles transmission went out. Put over $3,400 into getting it repaired. Probably will have to put another $1,000 to get computer replaced. Still not working correctly. Very disappointed in toyota for not offering any kind of fix to this solution. *tr
ODI 10285500
Automatic Transmission
Auto transmission problem, where the car shudders and shifts very abruptly and often shifts very late posing very dangerous to drive. This problem came on instantaneously without any forewarning , so as i started researching it, the problem appears to be an ecu malfunction where the computer doesn't send the right commands to the transmission for when to shift properly. This can be very dangerous and it is very…
ODI 10266868
Automatic Transmission
My car started to rev without any forward gain in distance when i depressed the accelerator. I took it into the toyota dealership and was told the transmission fluids just needed to be flushed, but that there was no metal in it. Two days later i took my car back in for the same revving and bucking problem. The team manager checked the transmission out again and. Reassured me that all was fine and asked me to ride…
ODI 10257071
Automatic Transmission
Purchased vehicle from daughter. Had it for 2 years and once it hit 90,000 miles, started shifting into 3rd gear from stop position. After towing to toyota dealership, was told need new tranny $3290.27 and ecm $1211.13 . Toyota has monopoly on ecm/programming and it must be changed with rebuilt/new tranny. Went to website and it seems that this is standard for 2002 rav4's. Manufacturer says not their problem,…
ODI 10281970