2002 Toyota RAV4 Recalls
No NHTSA recalls on record for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 682 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Complaints by component
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“2002 toyota rav. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. *ld *js”
“Erratic shifting especially at low speeds. Problem is intermittent. Car may lock in high gear (4 speed automatic) or seem to be stuck in 2 gears at once and refuse to move at all. Can bang harshly when shifting. Locked up at a busy intersection nearly causing an accident. At other times it works…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Toyota RAV4 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.