2002 Toyota RAV4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
527 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 478 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 255 of 527 complaints (48.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 383 | 72.7% |
| Engine operation | 56 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 255 |
| Power Train | 118 |
| Electrical System | 88 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 23 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 255; Power Train: 118; Electrical System: 88; Vehicle Speed Control: 34; Engine And Engine Cooling: 23; Unknown Or Other: 23; Engine: 22; Air Bags: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 75 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 154 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 157 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 75; 75,000 to 99,999: 154; 100,000 to 149,999: 157; 150,000 and above: 44
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (157). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 76 |
| 2009 | 124 |
| 2010 | 146 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 9; 2003: 11; 2004: 7; 2005: 4; 2006: 7; 2007: 13; 2008: 76; 2009: 124; 2010: 146; 2011: 15; 2012: 17; 2013: 23; 2014: 18; 2015: 24; 2016: 8; 2017: 9; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 383 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 56 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001273 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
DEFECTIVE TIRES, VEHICLE JACK EQUIPMENT. WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRE EXPLODED WHEN IT RAN OVER AN ORANGE IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE AND WOULD LIKE THE REMAINING 4 TIRES REPLACED. THE CONSUMER RETAINED THE TIRE FOR INSPECTION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE BLOWN TIRE THE CONSUMER REALIZED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE. WITH THE JACK PROPERLY PLACED AND FULLY EXTENDED THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE TO REPLACE THE BLOWN TIRE. THE CONSUMER REQUES…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002139 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS IN A ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON CRASH.CONSUMER ALSO THAT SHE WAS GOING 35 MPHAT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002195 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002570 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PRESSING ACCELERATER. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO COLLISIONS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,408 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006093 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
A "BAFFLE" IS INSTALLED INTO THE OIL FILLER CAP BEGINNING WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA'S. WHILE DRIVING THE "BAFFLE" BROKE CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN AND CONSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE TO FAIL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008712 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FOWARD DUE TO FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011770 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016441 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE LUGGAGE COVER HAS A RUBBER STOP ON EACH SIDE TO HOLD IT UP IN ORDER FOR THE HOOKS THAT ARE INSTALL ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS TO BE USED. IN COLD AND HOT WEATHER, THE RUBBER STOPS DO NOT HOLD THE COVER UP. IN APRIL 2002, THE COVER CAME DOWN AND HIT ME ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE SO HARD THAT I WAS ALMOST KNOCKED OUT. IT WAS DARK AND FREEZING COLD. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, ROBBER OR ATTACKED. IF I HAD A CHILD IN MY ARMS, I WOULD HAVE DROPPED IT. TOYOTA DEEMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SHIELD. I AM PROOF THAT THER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016441 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.