Most common 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems
Share of the 527 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota RAV4 complaints by model year
Best RAV4 years: 2014. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025. Compare all years →
What 2002 Toyota RAV4 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 376 →
The contact owned a 2002 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle spun 360 degrees and stopped on the opposite side of the road. No warning light illuminated. The contact called the independent mechanic who advised her to turn off the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and drove the vehicle approximately 3-feet before the rear wheels locked up. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic and diagnosed with rear differential failure. The contact was informed that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the contact took the vehicle back to the used car dealer. The contact stated that the used car dealer stated that the mechanic did not diagnose the correct failure. …
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Electrical system all 92 →
The car suffered mechanical defect and the front end bar was broken, when front end bar broke it lost direction and hit another car in front. The highway patrol came to take the accident report. We were driving at 25mph on freeway number 405. I have called my auto insurance and I was given a case number. I have full cover. I am waiting for a response from my auto insurance to fix the car. I have contated Toyota and I also have a case with them. The case number is 200603011457. I have Toyota and the claims representative is christy. Christy have said to wait at least 60 days. I can't wait 60 days. I need my car. The auto insurance has not given me a rental. I have complaint to the commissioner of auto insurance in california. They will conduct and investigation. The case number with my auto insurance is 10000148757. My auto insurance carrier is infinity. …
The past couple weeks my car had been laghing more an more when at complete stop. This past week it has been the worst. Whenever I try to accelerate from.a complete stop my car with lag and jerk like it is trying to shift into gear but cant. When I took it in to a transmission specialist they said it was my ECM and that this year specifically has had problems recorded fron others with the same issues with the emc. One incident I had specificaly was when inwas trying to go up a mountain to get to work my rpms were spiking as my rav was trying to shift gears to get up the mountain and my car staller out. I had no clue it died untill I was driving down the mountain and turning my steering wheel became a struggle. I had to put on my e break just to stop and try and turn it on to shift into neutral so I could get down the mountain. …
Engine & cooling all 63 →
My car engine light goes on and off due to transmission fault. It continuously has a hard time shifting gears in between 2500-3000 rpm and gives a jerky stop before continuing to speed up/accelerate despite when I have not let go of my foot from the pedal. After taking it to the auto shop, I was told this is the same problem other Toyota RAV 4 between 2001-2003 experiences and the mechanics told me that there was a lot of recall for the same code my car is giving (2 codes that the computer diagnosed were p0775 and p0161). While Toyota extended the warranty to 10years/150,000k and my car is 1-2 years past the warranty, it's only been barely 80,000mi and it should not be causing this problem. …
I was driving my Toyota and my wife was a passenger. All of a sudden, a lady ran a stop sign and swerved and hit us head-on. We could not get out of my vehicle, the doors were jammed and the vehicle was on fire. The fire dept. And police came and quickly put the fire out and pried the front doors open. None of the airbags in my vehicle deployed. I incurred severe injuries to my head, chest, neck and left arm. My Toyota was totaled and the other driver was cited for the wreck. I have been in and out of the hospital several times since the wreck happened and if my airbags would have deployed, I might not have been so severely injured. My Toyota was totaled and the other driver was cited for the wreck. I would like to know why none of the airbags deployed in my vehicle. I probably have Takata airbags in my 2002 Toyota RAV4 which did not work.
2002 Toyota RAV4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 2WD | 87 / 69 / 78 MPGe | 95 mi | |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 26 / 23 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Toyota RAV4 a good car?
Based on 527 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 RAV4 rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the RAV4 at the same age. It is one of the RAV4 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
The transmission & drivetrain — 376 complaints, 71% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (92) and engine & cooling (63).
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota RAV4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025. See the full Toyota RAV4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota RAV4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.