2002 Toyota RAV4 Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 527 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Toyota RAV4 overview page.
What owners report
“MY CAR STARTED TO REV WITHOUT ANY FORWARD GAIN IN DISTANCE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10257071 — filed 02/01/2009
“HARSH SHIFTING/SLIPPING IN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. NO SPECIAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE; JUST STARTED IN ABOUT 123,000 MILES. PROBLEM NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE…”NHTSA complaint 10252283 — filed 12/19/2008
“STARTED CAR 2 WEEKS AGO (DECEMBER 8TH) DROVE FOR 10 MINUTES AT SLOW SPEED UNDER 30 MPH. CAR STARTED BUCKING AND HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10252075 — filed 12/17/2008
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 2002 Toyota RAV4: 255 of 527 complaints on file (48.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have in total?
527 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 15 involved a fire, 48 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
