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 shift erratically causing the car to buck. 2002 toyota rav4. *tr
ODI 10304050
Automatic Transmission
HARSH SHIFT. *TR
ODI 10254009
Automatic Transmission
I was coming home and waiting for my garage door to open when my 2002 toyota rav4 suddenly accelerated (even though i quickly put my foot on the brake) and crashed through the bottom half of the garage door side-swiping another vehicle in the garage. I took the vehicle to a body shop to get fixed and also took it to a service shop, and neither place could find anything wrong with the car. Since then, i have noticed…
Crash reported
ODI 10339915
Automatic Transmission
Started car 2 weeks ago (december 8th) drove for 10 minutes at slow speed under 30 mph. Car started bucking and having trouble shifting. Was almost rare ended due to lack of acceleration. Rpm would increase but car would struggle shifting and accelerating. Brought to transmission specialist. They thoroughly checked transmission and couldn't find a problem. Drained fluid and replaced filter. Cost $170. Three days…
ODI 10252075
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
I brought my rav brand new in 200. Have had no problem with it up until a few days ago. It was running just fine but the next day i noticed that it would jerk when i shifted in/out of reverse. Not only that but it had trouble accelerating and would jerk from 1st to 2nd gear. Read multiple complaints on this issue via www.carcomplaints.com/toyota/rav4/2002/transmission/problems_shifting.shtml and found that i am not…
ODI 10251134
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4 transmission started jerking and could not pick up speed on highway. Almost got into a major accident with my daughter (20 month old) on board. I looked online and there are numerous complaints of this make and model having major transmission problems. Toyota need to fix this major safety problem and not stick the consumer with the bill (average fix $3,000 dollars fix per vehicle at best…
ODI 10249911
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) i purchased my 2002 toyota rav4 from my dealer, rich toyota of huntington, wv in spring 2002'it was his demo car, vin#[xxx] ; model #4416a. At 107,00 miles, out of the clear-blue, the rav4 check engine light came on for about two hours, then went out, but then shifting became erratic. I have serviced this vehicle faithfully…
ODI 10315698
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 20 mph, approaching an intersection. The transmission began to hesitate in an intense jerking motion. The vehicle was taken to an auto transmission shop where the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt transmission. The identical failure occurred after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the auto transmission shop where the…
ODI 10345930
Automatic Transmission
Harsh shifting/slipping in automatic transaxle. No special events leading up to failure; just started in about 123,000 miles. Problem now occurs every time i drive the vehicle. Only an obd ii scan has been performed on the vehicle. *tr
ODI 10252283
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While the contact was attempting to accelerate she noticed that the vehicle suddenly lunged forward. The dealer stated that the transmission computer needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings, the current and failure mileages were 86936.
ODI 10287393
Automatic Transmission
I was driving my fathers 2002 toyota rav4 awd when the transmission suddenly shifted from 2nd to 1st gear and then the drive line locked-up causing the vehicle to stop suddenly. A car following me tried to stop but "tapped" my rear bumper. No damage to either vehicle. Diagnosis of the problem was a bad vehicle computer and new transmission was needed. Costs were $4500. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10248924
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
Suddenly, my car starting shifting very roughly into reverse. It happens every time i put the car into reverse. I was told the ecm needed to be replaced because it was defective. This is the same ecm that had a factory recall issued that i had serviced last year. *tr
ODI 10245294
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
2002 toyota rav4 transmission - transmission is not working properly in shifting. Rough shifting from 2/3 gear. Had to find information on federal 8year/80k mile mandated free reprogramming to try to fix this. But reading accounts this may not work and even then the transmission may be damaged already. There should be a recall regardless of miles driven as this is a constant problem on this year/model. Thank…
ODI 10242679
Automatic Transmission
I have a toyota rav 4 2002. It has 64,000 miles. It has had all it's recommended services, new tires and is clean. The transmission needs replacing and possibly the computer. Toyota will not assume any responsibility for the transmission and it costs $3500.00 to replace the parts. On carcomplaints.com there are 120 complaints re the transmission and the 2002 rav4. People are talking about a law suit. They have said…
ODI 10242526
Automatic Transmission · Engine And Engine Cooling
Our rav4 began to have problems shifting, and the check engine light was on. Took to local dealer. First visit resulted in tune-up items. Dealership treated it as an engine-related problem. Check engine came back on again the same afternoon. On second visit, dealership kept car overnight to drive it while it was cold. We were told that we had a bad catalytic converter, and that this would have to be replaced before…
ODI 10244728
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
I purchased my used 2002 toyota rav4 on 12/10/05 from south coast toyota of costa mesa. Shortly after purchasing it, i received some kind of "adjustment notice" asking me to bring the car in, which i did. I asked what they needed to do to the car, they would not directly answer my question and said it "was nothing, just a minor adjustment." in september of 2008, shortly after my warranty had expired and my car was…
ODI 10347353
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
I brought my rav brand new in 2002. Have had no problem with it up until a few a year ago when the engine light came on intermittent. Every time i was going to take the vehicle into get checked it would go out. When i arrived at my present duty station i was deployed almost immediately. Within two months of my deployment my wife told me that car was having a hard time moving and could hear the transmission slipping.…
ODI 10240158
Automatic Transmission
Automatic transmission started thumping/jerking when shifting from park to drive or reverse, despite having foot on the brake. Within a month, the transmission started slipping and would not shift from first gear. Engine races at 4,000+ rmp and does not shift to other gears. *tr
ODI 10240315
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav4 just stops, it doesn't shift 2nd and 3rd gear , the engine light turns and some times it work correctly with no problem but in the middle of a drive the rav4 it just stop jerking almost to a dead stop. Dealer said "you need a new transmission and it will cost you $4,989.00 dollars." *tr
ODI 10239728
Automatic Transmission
Accelerating and shift failure in automatic transmission -toyota issued tsb on march 2006 to change ecm which controls shift sequencing. Defective ecm could cause transmission failure. As a toyota owner i think this should be a recall item. My opinion is this is a safety issue. *tr
ODI 10239028
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota rav4. While the vehicle was stopped, the contact began to remove her foot from the brake pedal and the vehicle suddenly jerked forward three times. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle jerked forward three times again while making a left turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. There were no warnings prior to the failures.…
ODI 10238866
Automatic Transmission · Vehicle Speed Control
2002 toyota rav4 with unintended acceleration. *kb the consumer stated his daughter was driving the vehicle, and had difficulty stopping the vehicle, because the accelerator became stuck. The incident only occurred once to date. In august 2008 the vehicle was serviced for a harsh shifting within the transmission. A rebuilt transmission was installed. The consumer continued to experience problems with the…
ODI 10318695
Automatic Transmission
I drove my car saturday 8-1-08 and noticed that from park to reverse the car was shifting very hard. I had the tranny drained and filled and additive placed. The shifting was so violent that i called around and did internet research. After reading http://www.carcomplaints.com/toyota/rav4/2002/transmission/problems_shifting.shtml and…
ODI 10237308
Automatic Transmission
2002 toyota rav 4 [redacted], driven for 2 years by my wife, last week started shifting from first to 3rd. Also it slips now. *tr
ODI 10236577
Automatic Transmission
As i pulled out into traffic the transmission started slipping and my 2002 toyota rav4 hesitated and would shift into gear. I took it to toyota on dixie highway, louisville, ky where i had purchased the vehicle and took it for every service. They put some type of fluid said that this may fix the problem. I went to get it and once again would not run. They then told me that it was probably the transmission and that i…
ODI 10282358