2002 Toyota RAV4

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota RAV4, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	290	52%
Power train	41	7%
Engine and engine cooling	25	5%
Electrical system	23	4%
Air bags	18	3%
Unknown or other	13	2%
Vehicle speed control	10	2%
Engine and engine cooling	9	2%
Power train	8	1%
Latches/locks/linkages	8	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

My car engine light goes on and off due to transmission fault. It continuously has a hard time shifting gears in between 2500-3000 rpm and gives a jerky stop before continuing to speed up/accelerate despite when I have n
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become
NHTSA complaint: Power train

2002 Toyota RAV4 AWD transmission problems and will be available upon request. Transmission caused vehicle to disengaged , jerks, stalls with severed engine braking while driving creating a safety performance and hazard
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The contact owned a 2002 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, an abnormal noise was heard. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle spun 360 degrees and stopped on the opposite side o
NHTSA complaint: Power train

2002 TOYOTA RAV. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *LD *JS
NHTSA complaint: Power train

ERRATIC SHIFTING ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAR MAY LOCK IN HIGH GEAR (4 SPEED AUTOMATIC) OR SEEM TO BE STUCK IN 2 GEARS AT ONCE AND REFUSE TO MOVE AT ALL. CAN BANG HARSHLY WHEN SHIFTING. LOCKED U
NHTSA complaint: Power train

VEHICLE STALLS AND JERKS CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING; UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPLIGHT. VERY UNPREDICTABLE.THIS IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE ECM WHICH TOYOTA HAS BEEN AWARE OF BUT REFUSES TO LIST AS A RECALL.I PURCHASED THE USED
NHTSA complaint: Power train

2002 RAV4 ECU SHIFTING PROBLEM (DTC CODE P0755). THE CAR JITTERS WHEN SWITCHING FROM GEAR 1 TO 2 AS WELL ON REVERSE. IT ALSO JITTERS WHEN IT DRIVES ON LOW GEAR. THERE IS AN WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RAV4 2001-2003 BUT TOYO
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The seven scores

Reliability raw	55	average
Longevity est.	72	good
Maintenance	84	excellent
Depreciation	80	excellent
Performance	55	average
Efficiency	41	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 10% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 35% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 89% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 92% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 55: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 72: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2002 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 84: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2002 Toyota RAV4?

Owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 290 of them (52%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2002 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 55/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2002 Toyota RAV4 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2002 Toyota RAV4?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.