Is the 2002 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
527 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 376, 24× a quiet RAV4 year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Toyota RAV4 were filed between 80k and 118k miles. You're at 96,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 RAV4 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 96,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 376 (71%) | 80k–118k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 92 (17%) | 80k–119k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 60 (11%) | 79k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 36 (7%) | 73k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 16 (3%) | 85k–142k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 22 (4%) | 33k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 96,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 527 complaints: 36 mention a crash · 15 mention a fire · 26 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Written in early may to planetfeedback.com: my wife and I purchased a 2002 RAV4 new at penn Toyota in greenvale, ny and it now has 97,981 miles on it.
Same transmission problem as everyone else. Transmission started to slip, stopped driving immediately and told the computer needed to be replace.
2002 Toyota RAV4 transmission started jerking and could not pick up speed on highway. Almost got into a major accident with my daughter (20 month old) on board.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 96,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Toyota RAV4: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 55
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Toyota RAV4. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340…
Customer support program (Csp ztl) warranty enhancement for specific malfunction indicator light…
Neighbouring years
2001 RAV4: 309 complaints, consider selling · 2003 RAV4: 314 complaints, consider selling.
Every Toyota RAV4 year
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Questions
Is the 2002 Toyota RAV4 a bad year?
527 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 376, 24× a quiet RAV4 year. At 96,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2002 Toyota RAV4 were filed between 80k and 118k miles. You're at 96,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota RAV4?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (376), electrical system (92), engine (60), speed control (36), stability control (16). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 80k–118k miles.
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.