Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2002)

527 consumer complaints on file.

#10483506November 6, 2012
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING, JERKING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR, NOT ACCELERATING, AND AT TIMES IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED WHEN I STEPPED THE GAS. WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A DAY AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE DURING A TEST DRIVE. LITERALLY MINUTES AFTER PICKING MY CAR UP AND DRIVING OFF THE DEALERSHIP LOT, IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THIS TIME IT WAS MUCH WORSE AND I WAS AFRAID AS THE PERSON BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME I EITHER NEED A NEW ECM OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS. AND WE AS THE OWNERS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE UNKNOWN - THIS HAPPENS OUT OF NO WHERE AND IS HORRIBLY UNSAFE AND YET TOYOTA TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483137November 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE SHE ENCOUNTERED EXTREME DIFFICULTY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482331October 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE RPM'S OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN ESCALATING FAR BEYOND WHERE THEY NORMALLY WOULD. AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, I DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GEAR. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. WHAT'S WRONG IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. HE CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE IF HE COULD SOURCE THE PART AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN FAILURE AND WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE DID SO, WHERE WE WERE TOLD BECAUSE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN MAY OF 2002 (TEN YEARS, FIVE MONTHS AGO) THAT THEY WERE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE CAR'S ECM AS IT FELL OUTSIDE OF THEIR 'ADJUSTED' WARRANTY PERIOD. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT YES, TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THE PART IS GOING TO FAIL. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER MORE OF THE CARS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED. HOWEVER, SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR FIVE MONTHS LONGER THAN THEIR ARBITRARY TEN YEAR COVERAGE PERIOD REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR FALLS FAR BELOW THE LISTED COVERAGE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED $1400 FOR THE ECM REPAIR AND ANOTHER $4800 FOR THE TRANSMISSION - SAYING THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH THEY HADN'T INSPECTED IT (I ASKED!!) AND I HAD ALREADY HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND SAID THAT IT WAS FINE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS OKAY FOR TOYOTA TO SELL MILLIONS OF PEOPLE CARS WITH KNOWN SAFETY DEFECTS AND SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR - KNOWING THAT IF THE REPAIR ISN'T MADE, THAT PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED DRIVING THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476680September 21, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,600. UPDATED 10/11/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474268September 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN THIS CAR. THE CAR WOULD STALL BEFORE GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. ONCE IT OCCURRED AS I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION. THERE ARE LOW MILES ON THIS SO THERE SHOULD NOT BE A NEED FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469921August 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
WE HAD JUST LEFT A PARKING LOT IN OUR 2002 RAV 4 AND AS WE CAME UP TO SPEED THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK AND TRY TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. I ALL OF A SUDDEN HAD NO POWER AND A TRUCK COMING DOWN THE ROAD ALMOST HIT US. AS I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR REVVED UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGAGED AND SPUN OUT. VERY SCARY AND WE WERE LUCKY!. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468302July 30, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS BEEN SLUGGISH SINCE DAY 1, ABOUT 2004. THIS PAST WEEKEND IT WAS MORE SLUGGISH THAN USUAL, AFTER TAKE-OFF. I DROVE IT A FEW MORE TIMES AND AFTER EVERY DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT EASILY, AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT IT WAS VERY HARD. ALMOST A WHIPLASH HARD. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND THIS IS ONLY THE 3RD DAY. I CALLED THE NATIONAL TOYOTA NUMBER, BECAUSE I FOUND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN ON-LINE, BUT I AM 9 MONTHS OVER THE 10 YEAR LIMIT, AND EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT SAY 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, I WAS TOLD THAT THE WHICHEVER COMES FIRST IS AN AUTOMATIC...HMM SHOULD BE IN WRITING THAT WAY. AND I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER LINE, BUT WAS PUT THROUGH TO VOICE MAIL. REALLY 9 MONTHS...MY CAR HAS 130,000 MILES. I NEED HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467070July 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HARSH SHIFTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 122,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465270July 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND OR SHIFT GEARS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE; HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455736April 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED AND ROTTED THROUGH. CALLED TOYOTA AND FILED A CLAIM BUT NO REAL HELP, AS I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO REGISTER WITH THEM. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE GIVEN THE TROUBLE THEY HAD WITH THE TACOMA FRAMES. THOUGHT I WOULD GET AT LEAST ANOTHER 10 YEARS OUT OF THIS CAR. CURRENTLY AT 191,000 MILES AND RUNNING STRONG NO RUST ANYWHERE VISIBLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455768April 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIRS COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455280April 15, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY SKIPPING/JERKING AND BEING STUCK IN GEAR. I TOOK IT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THE FIRST ONE INFORMED ME OF A FACTORY WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE ECU FOR MY VEHICLE, BUT BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON THEY CANNOT GET ANY CODES, THE SECOND DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS WELL AS THE TOYOTA COMPANY. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 10YRS OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I HAVE 70,000 MILES AND IT WILL BE 10YRS THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO HAVE THIS TAKEN CARE OF, ASAP BECAUSE OF THE 10YR WARRANTY THAT WILL NO LONGER COVER ME FOR THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450537March 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARSH SHIFTING AND JERKING, PARTICULARILY 1ST & 2ND GEAR SLOW TO ACCELERATE LAUNCHING AND BUCKING HARD ENGAGEMENT WHEN PUT IN REVERSE REVS UP FROM 2 TO 3 - 4 RPMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446865February 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4 TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING & MISSING GEARS HAD SOME SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION IN 2011 OCTOBER,BUT TO DO A FULL REBUILD STARTS AT $1700.THEN GOES $$$UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443410January 11, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE WHERE THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE FLYWHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439107December 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN
VERY UNSAFE TRANSMISSION TOYOTA 2002 RAV 4 SHAKES DOESN'T GO INTO GEAR.CALLED TOYOTA WILL PAY ONLY IF ONE OF THREE CODES COME UP ON DEALER ONLY TEST CHARGED 140 RIP OFF. DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION BAD BUT NO CODE. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER . DEALER AND TOYOTA ACT LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS UNTIL YOU LET THEM KNOW YOU READ ABOUT IT. PROBLEM SHIFTING OUT OF THE BLUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421929August 22, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOYOTA 2002 RAV4, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN SWITCHING INTO FIRST / SECOND GEAR, CAR WILL HICCUP, AND OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. AAMCO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS CONFIRMED DEFECTIVE ECM MODULE FAILURE, AND REQUIRE A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILT. TOYOTA APPARANTY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE ADVISORY, BUT NO RECALL. PROBLEM CAN RESURFACE ANY ANYTIME, VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS AS CAR WILL FAIL TO ACCELERATE OR JUST STALL WHEN ENTERING INTERSECTIONS AND OR FREEWAYS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411071June 30, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS GOING NORTH ON MOLLY LANE AND GOING TO TURN RIGHT ON US HWY 92 GOING EAST. I PULLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN MY CAR STALLED AND IT ACTED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. I DROVE AND PICKED UP A PIZZA ON TOWNLAKE PARKWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN I PULLED OUT OF PAPA JOHNS. I KNEW THERE WAS A BAD PROBLEM AT THAT POINT. I WAS GOING TO DRIVE IT HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO TOYOTA. UPON TURNING ONTO THE ENTRANCE RAMP IT STALLED AGAIN AND HAD NO POWER. THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE BLOWING THEIR HORNS. AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP IT REVVED AND THEN SURGED. I DROVE IT HOME AND HAD IT TOWED. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THE ECM IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEN THEY CAN CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 - 2003 RAV4'S. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO DO A RECALL TO FIX THE ECM BOARDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409609June 24, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE ON AN ONRAMP, GOING INTO THICK, FAST TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY (95) OUR RAV4 HAD WHAT I GUESS IS CALLED A "HARSH SHIFT" AND STALLED IN NEWTON, MA. WE THINK THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM OR TRANSMISSION (WE ALREADY HAD THE ECM REPLACED ONCE, IN PASADENA, CA AT THE END OF 2008, AND IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET TOYOTA TO DO IT!) I CAN'T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, AGAIN!! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED! A QUICK SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE BOARDS (CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS 3 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE!) AND A LOVELY NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WRITTEN ON JULY 13, 2010 BY CHRISTOPHER JENSEN ABOUT TOYOTA EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY ECM'S TELLS ME THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408258June 20, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ECM FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE TRANSMISSION (2ND GEAR SPECIALLY). ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE HAD DECREASED POWER; GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND THE CAR WERE JERK FROM GEAR TO GEAR. TOYOTA APPARENTLY WAS AWARE OF THE MALFUNCTION BECAUSE THEY EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150K MILES. BECAUSE OF MY MILEAGE, I AM NOT COVERED. IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A FAULT, WHY DIDN'T THEY DO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota RAV4