10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
94,381 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Toyota RAV4:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Jun 262009

RAV4

  • 100,000 miles
Several years ago, Toyota became aware of an issue with their engine control module that were used in 2001/2002 Rav4 vehicles. A quick search of the internet uncovers hundreds of people now experiencing the ramifications. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin to their dealerships while these cars were still young; however, failed in any way to make their loyal customers aware. The faulty engine control module generally lasts until consumers are just out of warranty, thus Toyota refuses to take any responsibility at all. In my case (and as documented by many others), my bad ECM caused my car to jerk violently when trying to accelerate. It was also hazardous that often the car would not be able to pick up any speed at all and then when it did, it would once again jerk and accelerate all at once. In essence, the failure of the ECM causes the transmission to die. My Rav4 finally died on June 26, 2009. The cost to replace the ECM and the transmission will be about $3700; however, many folks out on the consumer complaint websites have paid up to $5000. This safety issue is huge, as Toyota knew about it long ago and with the huge cost of the repair, I'm certain that many people will drive their cars far too long with this defect.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #16

Apr 172009

RAV4

  • 84,000 miles
There exists a documented history of ECM failure in the 2002 Toyota Rav4 vehicles that is causing shifting problems in the transmission. This defected part needs to be recalled as needing replacement (not just "reprogramming" as Toyota has tried to do). When I began experiencing these problems with my 2002 Toyota Rav4 on April 17, 2009, I was in the middle of traffic and no matter how hard I pressed on the accelerator, my car would not go. It eventually very slowly began to accelerate but every time I had to stop at a light or stop sign, it would barely go again. I was terrified that I was going to get hit every time I had to cross over a street with oncoming traffic. This is a dangerous situation...someone is going to get in a serious accident one of these days because there is no warning when this begins to happen - the car just won't go at takeoff. Many of us who own the 2002 Rav4 have wasted hundreds of dollars on misdiagnosis of this problem...I had the transmission fluid flushed, I had a top engine cleaning to remove buildup in the throttle, I was even told at the dealership that my car mat was getting in the way of the accelerator and that was adding to the problem. Only after none of this fixed the problem did they come back and finally say that the ECM needed to be replaced or the transmission would be ruined. This repair is going to cost me $1300 because the warranty ran out at 80,000 miles and my vehicle is at 84,000 miles. I am going to fix this car so that I can trade it in (the dealership even suggested that I trade it- they must know how serious this is). I can't take the risk that this vehicle will be safe to drive even after the ECM is replaced because I've read that the new ECM may not communicate correctly with the old transmission. This is a devastating loss for those of us who bought our vehicles based in large part on the Toyota reputation for reliability.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #15

Apr 102009

RAV4

  • 95,000 miles
My Toyota Rav4 2002 seems to have a transmission problem. I have noticed 2-3 times a difficulty in shifting from reverse to 1st gear. However, on the day of this incident, I was driving in traffic at about 20 mph. I tried to accelerate to keep up with traffic and my car would not- it started to shutter. I have read online that many others have this problem and it is a defect with Toyota Rav4S made in that year. I do not want to have to pay to have this fixed, and that was a dangerous situation to be in when I am in traffic.

- Framingham, MA, USA

problem #14

Apr 112009

RAV4

  • 47,309 miles
Toyota Rav4 started slamming into gear. While driving I would have my foot down on accelerator and the vehicle wouldn't go into gear and when it finally did it would lurch forward while slamming in gear. I was told by my maintenance mechanic that there was a tbs on this very problem however when I took it to the dealership they told me 1st. "someone already replace it (which wasn't the case then 2. "it must have been caught at the factory". there are over 200 complaints regarding the very problem and Toyota's irresponsible response to the problem. I have now been told that they will "start with replacing the grounding wires" and "go from there". I have an extended warranty that expires in July 2009. This is a safety issue and I feel that Toyota (based on all the complaints found) will continue to nickel and dime me with non-warranty charges and then when the real problem is addressed for the power train my vehicle will be out of warranty. I am the original owner and my vehicle only has 47,315 miles on it. The reference number for the tsb in this case is TC002-06 from 3-06/ the dealerships I spoke to were unaware of the tbs until I brought in a copy of it. The codes for this problem don't even show up. It is my understanding that NHTSA is looking for people who have had this problem to establish a need for an investigation. Please consider me as one of those people. I truly feel this problem is not only a costly one but a extreme safety concern as you never know when this problem will happen.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #13

Apr 012009

RAV4 4WD

  • 126,605 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact noticed that the transmission would repeatedly slip out of gear without warning. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the on-board computer needed to be replaced because it was defective. They further stated that the failure was common with his year, make, and model vehicle. Immediately after the repair, the failure resurfaced and the engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. He took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that they would have to replace the transmission because the on-board computer mechanically failed. As a result, the transmission failed and would cost $4,000 to replace. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 126,605. Updated 6/8/09 updated 06/11/09.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #12

Mar 152009

RAV4

  • miles
Toyota rav 4 4X4 has gear changing problems in first and second. I thought it was a solenoid then something with the transmission. Did obd diagnostic check which showed solenoid but it was the computer or ECM. We replaced it with three used computers which evidently had same defect and in process of driving under these conditions the trans was ruined. You must stop driving car get brand new ECM computer of the new series because the serial number has changed three times until Toyota fixed it finally. I had to repair trans, purchase a new computer all of which cost me $5,000. Toyota never issued a public bulletin, the bulletin was only issued to car dealers while the general public was kept in the dark.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #11

Dec 132008

RAV4

  • 68,000 miles
Driving down the highway going 65 miles per hour and the engine just stopped, completely shut down. 2002 Toyota rav 4.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #10

Nov 302008

RAV4

  • 87,000 miles
My 2002 Rav4 transmission went bad (shifting improperly) over 100 complaints on line about same problem. There are no recall or extended warranties from Toyota.

- Junction City, OR, USA

problem #9

Oct 102008

RAV4

  • 90,000 miles
Car had very sluggish acceleration onto highway after ECU failed and transmission is slow to get into gear. Had to pull over to shoulder as the vehicle could not get up to interstate speed.

- Lake Mary, FL, USA

problem #8

Sep 162008

RAV4

  • 71,500 miles
2002 Toyota Rav4 transmission - transmission is not working properly in shifting. Rough shifting from 2/3 gear. Had to find information on federal 8year/80K mile mandated free reprogramming to try to fix this. But reading accounts this may not work and even then the transmission may be damaged already. There should be a recall regardless of miles driven as this is a constant problem on this year/model. Thank goodness I was low mileage but this problem occurs regardless of mileage. This is a Toyota defect in the transmission.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #7

Aug 242008

RAV4

  • 93,000 miles
The 2002 Toyota Rav4 has a faulty ECM and has caused the transmission to go out. I almost had an accident the other day. Toyota is aware of the problem but did not do a recall. Here is a list of the same problem owners had: www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Rav4/2002/transmission/problems_shifting.shtml.

- Burnsville, MN, USA

problem #6

Aug 072008

RAV4

  • 97,900 miles
Toyota Rav4 2002, 98367 miles, taken to Toyota dealer for recall on ECM reprogram, after done the recall by Toyota dealer, transmission shifting very erratically. Took car back to dealer and they said that transmission needs to be replaced. Also it is dangerous to drive due to loss of transmission.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #5

Aug 022008

RAV4

  • 65,000 miles
I own a Toyota 2002 Rav4. It is experiencing major problems with the transmission. It jerks and hesitates and is extremely dangerous to drive as you never know if it is going to proceed forward or not. Pulling out in an intersection is dangerous.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #4

Jul 182008

RAV4

  • 46,000 miles
2002 rav 4 automatic transmission ECM/transmission issue!!: the problems started with the check engine light turning on and off about 4 months ago. We got a recall notice from Toyota to have the ECM reprogrammed and went to fulfill the recall. The light then came on again about a month later. We were told that it could be a gas cap issue, so we made sure we tightened the gas cap and that turned the light off for about a month but then it came back on again. It wasn't until recently that we had the first signs of a shifting problem. All in the same day, the transmission began to make noises and shift rough between 1st and 2nd gears (its an auto trans)..once we got the car going forward, we worked our way back home, and that was it for the car. I found the website of www.carcomplaints.com and have found several other customers with the same issue. The 2002 Toyota Rav4 recall for the ECM (electronic control module ----the brain---)is leading to the problem of the transmission shifting issue that the Toyota dealership is not addressing. We hope that by filing the complaint, and bringing this website to you, you can bring this to corporate Toyota's attention to have them fix the problem. Please look into this and other customers complaints on the website referenced regarding this issue. My 2002 rav 4 was bought new and only has 46K miles in it to have such a grand problem. I believe Toyota is aware of this issue but does not want to completely fix the ECM issue. (they only re-flash it when possibly the car needs a "new" one). Please help!

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #3

Jun 202008

RAV4

  • 93,215 miles
I started having issues with my car on 6-20-2008. I was driving my car & noticed that when I would accelerate it wasn't accelerating properly. Then I noticed that as the car was shifting into 2nd gear it would stall & then suddenly shift really hard into 3rd gear. Sometimes as I would accelerate the car would start shaking & then shift hard into 1st gear. This made me very nervous because I was unable to keep up with the flow of traffic & feared that the problem would create an accident. The problem seemed to happen intermittently, but it was happening more often than not. We looked at the transmission fluid thinking it might be something wrong with the transmission due to the way it was shifting. We checked the fluid & filled the fluid. My husband drove it a little & it didn't act up for him. So I thought the problem was fixed. Well then I started driving it again & it continued to shift hard & not accelerate properly. I had my uncle look at it & he thought it sounded like the transmission was not engaging. So I finally took it to a Toyota dealership to have them look at it. Of course ($84 later) they couldn't get the problem to occur. I went to pick the car up the next day & they said they found a bulletin on 2001-2003 Toyota Rav4's that if there was a hard shifting that the ECM needed replacing. $1500 later the car is fixed. Of course Toyota does not cover the cost of the problem because it was only a bulletin & supposedly did not cause a safety issue & come to find out my manufacturers warranty is past & my extended warranty doesn't cover it either even though it's a major part that keeps the car running & functioning properly. I am extremely dissatisfied with the Toyota service & their ways of handling problems that are not the consumers fault but Toyota's manufacturing fault.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 162008

RAV4

  • miles
Car not shifting into gear (slipping) and then banging and jerking into gear at first told by the dealer that I needed a new transmission. Later after I saw the technical service bulletin and with many calls to Toyota corporate they performed further test and determined that it was the ECM they are replacing it but only paying for half of the cost current mileage 89,000 they are saying it is out of warranty by 9,000 miles even though it was reprogrammed last year (April 07) at 72,000 miles I have noticed many complaints on the 2002 rav 4 and truly believe they should be forced to do a recall and pay the total amount.

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 282008

RAV4

  • 118,000 miles
Ces light came on. Trans started slipping. Took to dealer. Diagnosed known ECM problem. Performed Toyota recommended ECM update, but said trans would have to be rebuilt due to damaged already caused. Had trans rebuilt. Developed same slipping problem. Said it would ruin trans again unless ECM was replaced. This is a Toyota problem that they need to fix.

- Norwalk, OH, USA