2002 Toyota RAV4 Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · 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 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
“DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED, COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4.”NHTSA complaint 10251947 — filed 12/16/2008
“MY 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSION WENT BAD (SHIFTING IMPROPERLY) OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES FROM TOYOTA.”NHTSA complaint 10250622 — filed 12/03/2008
“CAR HAD VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION ONTO HIGHWAY AFTER ECU FAILED AND TRANSMISSION IS SLOW TO GET INTO GEAR. HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER AS…”NHTSA complaint 10245164 — filed 10/11/2008
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 Toyota RAV4 have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2002 Toyota RAV4: 118 of 527 complaints on file (22.4%). 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 category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
