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2002 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RAV4 years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Toyota RAV4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

478 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 376 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports15 fire reports26 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2006
Unknown Or Other

CAR SMOKES EARLY IN THE MORNING, I TOOK CAR IN BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AT THE BEGINNING CAR WOULD ONLY SMOKE EARLY IN THE MORNINGS AND NOT ALL THE TIME. LATER AS THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE MORE REGULARLY THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. T…

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CAR SMOKES EARLY IN THE MORNING, I TOOK CAR IN BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED BUT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AT THE BEGINNING CAR WOULD ONLY SMOKE EARLY IN THE MORNINGS AND NOT ALL THE TIME. LATER AS THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE MORE REGULARLY THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NOW SMOKING DRASTICALLY, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE SMOKING IS A COMMON SITUATION (DEFECT) WITH RAV4'S OF 2002. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT OTHER CARS HAD BEEN BROUGHT IT AND HAD BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159622

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2003
Unknown Or OtherInjury

2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE LUGGAGE COVER HAS A RUBBER STOP ON EACH SIDE TO HOLD IT UP IN ORDER FOR THE HOOKS THAT ARE INSTALL ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS TO BE USED. IN COLD AND HOT WEATHER, THE RUBBER STOPS DO NOT HOLD THE COVER UP. IN APRIL 2002, THE COVER CAME DOWN AND HIT ME ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE SO HARD THAT I WAS ALMOST KNOC…

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2002 TOYOTA RAV4. THE LUGGAGE COVER HAS A RUBBER STOP ON EACH SIDE TO HOLD IT UP IN ORDER FOR THE HOOKS THAT ARE INSTALL ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS TO BE USED. IN COLD AND HOT WEATHER, THE RUBBER STOPS DO NOT HOLD THE COVER UP. IN APRIL 2002, THE COVER CAME DOWN AND HIT ME ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE SO HARD THAT I WAS ALMOST KNOCKED OUT. IT WAS DARK AND FREEZING COLD. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, ROBBER OR ATTACKED. IF I HAD A CHILD IN MY ARMS, I WOULD HAVE DROPPED IT. TOYOTA DEEMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SHIELD. I AM PROOF THAT THERE IS AND ASKED THEM TO PLACE A RECALL ON IT BUT THEY REFUSE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016441

31,000 miles · Jan 31, 2003
Unknown Or Other

A "BAFFLE" IS INSTALLED INTO THE OIL FILLER CAP BEGINNING WITH THE 2002 TOYOTA'S. WHILE DRIVING THE "BAFFLE" BROKE CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN AND CONSEQUENTLY THE ENGINE TO FAIL. TS

NHTSA ODI #10006093

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems