2002 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
682 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2002 Toyota RAV4, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 57/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 96,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2002 Toyota RAV4 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1996–2000, 2004–2005, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2002 sits among all RAV4 years
What owners report
“Having issues with toyota rav 4 gear shifting transmission issue vehicle diagnostics report indicates p0750 failure toyota release a tsb in march 06 and yet my dealer did nothing to replace the ecm even in my service done in 2008 i am now at 101k miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RAV4
“Car went into neutral while negotiating an intersection on several occations. Has bucked stalled pulling into traffic, and failed to shift while passing, im told its a know problem with ecu, but toyota cut a deal and did not have to notify owners! Bought this car new now there telling me 6000 to…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RAV4
“2002 toyota rav 4 engine control module/transmission failed on 82,264 miles, erratic driving, very dangerous to drive. Toyota is aware of this problem but not doing any thing to resolve. Spent almost $1000 to replace the ecu alone, may need complete transmission replacement.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RAV4
“This vehicle does not shift its gear. It runs only in first gear. There are no reverse either. It is hard to control in road.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RAV4
“I have a 2002 toyota rave 4, i have even complained to the dealership where i bought the vehicle. I complained about it speeding out of control when i used the cruise control and it still does and i can reproduce it every time on the same road. I also had complained about steping on the breakes and…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2002 RAV4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 611 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 93,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 73,072 and 118,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2002 Toyota RAV4.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2002 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
The 2002 Toyota RAV4 drew 682 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 57/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2002 Toyota RAV4 are transmission & drivetrain (379 complaints), electrical (96), and engine (63).
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems around 93,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 73,072 and 118,000 miles.
Does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.