Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
I had driven about 3 miles then got stuck in a traffic jam. At that time, I could smell something burning but I thought it was the car in front of me. Finally, I got off that road and drove another 10 miles but I again noticed the burning smell. I checked the panel and the car was not running hot. Next, a small curl of smoke came from under hood on passenger side. Then suddenly smoke began billowing from under the hood and into the car through the vent. I lost steering and braking. I removed the key from the ignition, but the car continued moving forward. Then the car abruptly stopped. Flames engulfed the engine. The fire department came out and extinguished the fire but the car was totaled.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Toyota RAV4. After starting the engine, the vehicle would not properly accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to fred anderson Toyota (9101 glenwood avenue, raleigh, nc) where it was diagnosed that the electronic control module and transmission were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 91,000. Consumer stated transmission failed while in traffic, car was able to accelerate properly and was longer shifting gears.
November 17, 2006 - after being parked in my driveway for approximately 30 minutes the engine caught on fire. The RAV4 engine compartment and entire interior was demolished, tires exploded, glass exploded over at least a 20 foot radius. Two engine trucks and 10 responders later the fire was out. 63,000 miles, no prior problems, 50K maintenance completed by dealer jan 2006. VIN has zeros and letter o which are indistinguishable. Try both.
May 19th of 2007, my 2002 Toyota rav 4 4x4 was in an accident. It was hit in the front passenger side doing 25-30 MPH. After struck, I applied the brakes twice, while the car continued to accelerate at an increasing high speed, resulting in hitting a glass bus stop ending up hitting a brick school. It continued to accelerate although I was unable to go anywhere. No injuries reported.
2002 RAV4 ECU shifting problem (DTC code p0755). The car jitters when switching from gear 1 to 2 as well on reverse. It also jitters when it drives on low gear. There is an well known problem with RAV4 2001-2003 but Toyota has failed to recall it, despite being a safety hazard as it has caused accidents and bodily injury. It has the high likelihood to destroy the transmission.
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 9000$
I have a 2002 Toyota rav 4. I have taken my car to the dealer for the changes of oil and filter. Twice they suggested a wynns system engine cleaning which we paid for. The last one was done on April 2005. Last October 7, 2005 I was driving my car on the expressway and all of a sudden the oil light lit up and the car stopped. The car was towed from the highway to our house and the next day was towed to the dealer adriel Toyota in rio grande, puerto rico. About two hours later they called me and stated that the motor stalled and the warranty was not going to pay since I had not taken the car to them for the last oil change. I reminded them that just nine months earlier a wynns motor engine cleaning had be done by them and that it was impossible for the motor of the car to have sludge if they had done the job correctly. The Toyota company of puerto rico called to tell me the same thing. …
The Toyota RAV4 (year 2002) indiscriminately speeds up and maxes out the rpms (6000) for not reason. I was going 65 and all of a sudden the rpms went up to 6000 from 3000 and the car sped up to 85 and then went into neutral with me touching any gears or any pedals. Luckily I was allowing enough distance between me and the other vehicles to safely get it pulled off to the side. There would have been no way to control the vehicle to keep it from crashing into someone directly in front of me and both sides and the rear had vehicles in them. The ECM, transmission and vss (variable speed sensor) were replaced and the problem still occurs. Toyota disavows any knowledge of these types of issues; however, there are hundreds of thousands of complaints for the same issues and millions of dollars being spent to solve them and it's not being solved. There are lives at stake here. …
Electrical complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 92 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Toyota RAV4, 17% of the model year's 527 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.