VehicleVerdict

2002 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

The 2002 Toyota RAV4 has 63 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

63

Engine complaints

9%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

RAV4 engine complaints by model year237 complaints1994: 1 complaints1996: 6 complaints1997: 13 complaints1998: 6 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 2 complaints2001: 37 complaints2002: 63 complaints2003: 47 complaints2004: 30 complaints2005: 15 complaints2006: 151 complaints2007: 237 complaints2008: 162 complaints2009: 35 complaints2010: 31 complaints2011: 36 complaints2012: 24 complaints2013: 31 complaints2014: 31 complaints2015: 37 complaints2016: 24 complaints2017: 33 complaints2018: 34 complaints2019: 211 complaints2020: 194 complaints2021: 36 complaints2022: 25 complaints2023: 23 complaints2024: 37 complaints2025: 9 complaints
RAV4 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 17, 2006 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have?

NHTSA has 63 complaints about the 2002 Toyota RAV4 engine — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.