Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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 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.
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. …
2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD transmission problems and will be available upon request. Transmission caused vehicle to disengaged , jerks, stalls with severed engine braking while driving creating a safety performance and hazard on the roads to myself and other unexpected drivers. Upon reading similar complaints of other owners reported similar transmission problems. This was believed to be a reproduced problem and should be investigated for Safety-Related defects. The vehicle was inspected by manufacture according to previous owner. Manufacturer recently replaced transmission and updated ECM per previous owner. The vehicle appeared in working order for 3-4 months then the transmission problems occurred again as mentioned above. There was no warning lights while I experienced this transmission problem.
I have a Toyota RAV4 2002-in May 2006 I went to military training school, I got back oct 2006 while driving my engine failed on the hwy. I took it to Toyota and they told me it was 420 miles over the warranty and it was not covered. I did all my required upkeep and maintenance and to my surprise it had oil sludge. He claims its from sitting but alot of vehicles sit and do not have problems especially military members that are deployed. I had to pay 3989.00 for a used engine. After researching and finding out 2001 -03 camry and Lexus had the same problems and were recalled. I fought got and attorney and still no recall. I hope to have a civil lawsuit with Toyota because of this but it never happened. March 2007 my transmission went out while on the hwy. I was driving and notice it kept jerking. Then it would hesitate getting into gear and reverse. …
My wife drive a 2002 RAV4 to work. On April 15 2013 while on her way to work like always she stopped at a red light . As the light turn green she pressed the gas the car started moving and suddenly lost acceleration, the driver behind her did not have time to reacted and rear ended them. My 2 year son and my wife shocked my son cried for a little bit and my wife had a sore back . An the beginning when she told me these I didn't think much of it . One week after the incident she told me the check engine light came on I told her maybe you didn't close the gas cap good when you put the gas if it still on I will get it check. Sure enough the engine light went off on its on .shortly after she told me the car is not driving normal if we could swap cars. I drove her car for couple days and occasionally I start experiencing a low acceleration and sometimes a hard shift. …
I purchased the 2002 Toyota RAV4 new from the dealership. One day while I was on my way to work I almost wrecked because the drive belt got hung up on something and it chewed up my drive belt. Also, I started noticing every time that I wanted to speed up my RAV4 would hesitate and not go in gear. If it did go in gear it made a noise like a grinding type of noise. I called the Toyota dealership and they did nothing. I called the Toyota motor USA and told them about my problem and I was told that Toyota does not manufacture any defective vehicles and they refused to do anything. The I read where there had been a recall on all 2001, 2002 and 2003 RAV4 Toyota vehicles because of faulty transmissions. I then sent a letter to Toyota motor corporation USA and again they refused to do anything. …
My 2002 Toyota rav 4 is an automatic transmission and it doesn't shift easily. I always thought it was because it was a 4 cylinder, but recently it has gotten a lot worse. What it's doing now is a magnification of what it has been doing for a long time, struggling to shift from the lower gear to a higher gear. I called my dealership where I bought the car new in 2002 and they said that my car has a 'warranty enhancement' notice on it, and that it needs a new ECU, but that I was supposed to have done this within 10 years from my purchase date. A new york times article from July 13, 2010 addresses this issue and Toyota's warranty extension, and pointed out that Toyota notified dealerships. However, it appears that you have to be a customer of your dealership to have to have found out about the ECU, and I am not because I don't live near the dealership. …
I bought my friends 2002 Toyota rav 4 and from the time I bought it back in March have been having problems with the the transmission. When I go to pull out into traffic it has no power and pulls out toooo slow and bucks! I have to wait till there is no traffic to safely pull out! I read where there was a recall on this problem and it was extended to 10 years or 150,000 miles. The vehicle had 136,000 miles on it! I think this was happening to her before she sold it to me and she was going to trade it in but decided to sell it private! Don't know if she ever got the recall letter or not but I'm sure she would have had it repaired if she did. Anyway I am on a limited income and can't afford the part it says it needs and think that since Toyota had a mileage of up to 150,000 they should have to fix it! …
Faulty ECU computers causeing variations in speed and problems with hard shifting, damageing transmissons, causeing vehicles to fail while driving while in motion vehicle will not shift correctly. My vehicle stopped in an intersection and I was nearly hit by another vehicle while attempting to accelerate the vehicle would not shift into gear while turning left. I felt I could have been killed by on comming traffic with no ability to control my vehicle. Toyota dealer and mechanic told me this is a well know defect and problem know to Toyota with rav 4 2001-2003. Also, 02 sessors go bad early leading to hazardous emissions to public and this burns out catalitic converters which can also cause harmful emissions. …
Transmission complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 376 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2002 Toyota RAV4, 71% of the model year's 527 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (255 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain 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 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.