VehicleVerdict

2002 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems

The 2002 Toyota RAV4 has 379 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 56% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

379

Transmission complaints

56%

Share of year

7

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

RAV4 transmission complaints by model year379 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 6 complaints1998: 10 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 6 complaints2001: 191 complaints2002: 379 complaints2003: 209 complaints2004: 23 complaints2005: 8 complaints2006: 54 complaints2007: 53 complaints2008: 39 complaints2009: 28 complaints2010: 38 complaints2011: 25 complaints2012: 19 complaints2013: 29 complaints2014: 20 complaints2015: 25 complaints2016: 11 complaints2017: 16 complaints2018: 26 complaints2019: 79 complaints2020: 36 complaints2021: 19 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 10 complaints2024: 6 complaints2025: 6 complaints
RAV4 transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I WAS DRIVING MY FATHERS 2002 TOYOTA RAV4 AWD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN THE DRIVE LINE LOCKED-UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY. A CAR FOLLOWING ME TRIED TO STOP BUT "TAPPED" MY REAR BUMPER. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM WAS A…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · October 15, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have?

NHTSA has 379 complaints about the 2002 Toyota RAV4 transmission — 56% 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.