Print this page

CarComplaints.com Notes: If you're looking for a vehicle with one of the most complained about transmission on the road, look no further than the 2001-2003 Toyota RAV4.

In 2001 Toyota completely redesigned the popular SUV. While some enjoyed the new look, they did not enjoy the harsh shifting, jumping from gear-to-gear and eventual transmission failure that cost owners well over $3,000 to fix. The problem stems from a malfunctioning Electronic Control Module (ECM).

Consumer outrage coupled with pressure from different agencies led Toyota to extend the warranty nationwide back in 2010. The previous power train warranty only covered 5 years/60,000 miles, while the extended warranty now covers the transmission and ECM for 10 years/150,000 miles. Toyota also pledged to reimburse any owners who had previously paid for repairs, if they had "proper proof". Good luck collecting on that one.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
34 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,471 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Toyota RAV4 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Toyota RAV4:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments

problem #17

Jan 262018

RAV4

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owned a 2002 Toyota Rav4. The contact was involved in a multiple vehicle crash. While driving 65 mph, the contact crashed into the front and rear driver side of another vehicle. The contact's air bags were the only ones not to deploy. The contact sustained a broken finger, multiple bumps, and bruises all over the body. Medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #16

Jun 182015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles
I was involved in a head-on collision in June 2016 with another vehicle that had veered into my lane and my vehicle was totaled and me and my spouse sustained injuries. None of the airbags in my vehicle deployed like they were supposed to. All of the airbags in the vehicle that hit us head on were deployed, protecting the driver. However, my airbags failed to deploy which caused me and my spouse to have several injuries involving me being admitted to that hospital.my vehicle was traveling at 45 mph and the vehicle that hit us head-on was going much faster. If my airbags would have deployed like they were supposed to then my spouse and I would not have been injured like we were. There has to be a reason that my airbags did not deploy.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #15

Jun 202015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall! March 28, 2017 [xxx] [xxx] telephone: [xxx] email: [xxx] my airbags failed to deploy! dear sir: I would like to say that in June 2015 was driving my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV and I hit by another vehicle that had run a stop sign and the driver veered into my lane and hit me. I was stuck in my vehicle because the impact of the collision had pushed the front of my vehicle back and the front doors would not open and people standing around said that the car was on fire. When the police came, the fire department and the ambulance personnel tried to pry open the front doors and finally after the fire was put out the fire I was able to get out of the car. The air bags on my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV failed to deploy and I suffered injuries to my head, neck, chest, stomach and left hand. All of the people from the police department, fire department, and the ambulance personnel all asked the same question: Why did your airbags fail to deploy. I told them that I did not know. My 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV was totaled and I ended up in the hospital for several injuries. The vehicle that hit me was driven by a lady who was talking on her cell phone and did not see the red stop light until it was too late and she rammed into me going 45 mph. The vehicle that hit my vehicle, all of their airbags deployed and the lady driving had no injuries. I am still receiving care for my injuries. My vehicle was totaled. My chest hit the steering wheel with such force that it left the imprint of the Toyota emblem on my chest (this is where the driver's airbag is supposed to deploy from). I sustained injuries to my head, neck, and left hand and to my stomach area. Please advise thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #14

Jun 202015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall: Me and my wife were involved in a car accident in June, 2015. A lady talking on her cell phone lost control of her SUV and hit my Toyota Rav4 SUV head-on. None of the airbags in my vehicle deployed. As a result, I sustained several injuries to my head, neck, right knee and left arm and hand. The impact was so hard that the front of my vehicle was pushed backward which blocked the two front doors from opening. My vehicle was on fire and someone called the police, the fired department, and an ambulance. The fire department put the fire out in my vehicle and had to pry the two front doors open to get me and my wife out of my vehicle. Everyone that came to my rescue, the fire department, the police, and the ambulance personnel all asked the same question, why did your airbags work. I told them that I did not know. Every one of the rescue people said that I probably had takata airbags which had failed to deploy because due to the temperature changes in West Virginia are either very hot or very cold. If the airbags would have worked in my Toyota Rav4 SUV. Then my wife and I would not have been injured. As the result of the wreck, my Toyota Rav4 sub was totaled. The airbags in the other SUV that hit us head on deployed like they were supposed to and protected the lady driving her SUV. I would like for your Agency to find out why my takata airbags did not deploy. I am very certain that there a lot of other Toyota Rav4 SUVS on the road that have defective takata airbags. I was driving on a city street, going the speed limit of 40 mph and the lady who hit us head on was driving much faster. The impact was like hitting a stone wall. Please advise. Thank you.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #13

Jun 202015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall. I was driving my Toyota Rav4 SUV in June and I was hit head-on by a lady talking on her cell phone. None of the airbags in my 2002 Toyota Rav4 deployed which caused me to be injured. My head hit the windshield, my knee hit something which cut it, my chest hit the steering column where one of the air bags should have deployed and I had two damaged ribs and also I had internal injuries along with damage to my left hand. My wife and I were wearing our seatbelts and my wife only incurred bruises to her right arm. We could not get out of my vehicle because the impact had pushed the front of my Toyota Rav4 SUV back which blocked my front doors. My vehicle was on fire and we could not get out. Someone called the fires department, ambulance, and a wrecker. The firemen had to force the front doors open to get us out. The police, the firemen, and the ambulance personnel asked why my airbags did not deploy and I told that I do not know. They said that I probably had defective takata airbags in my vehicle. My vehicle was totaled and I spent time in the hospital and I have not fully recovered yet. I would like to know if the NHTSA has inspected Toyota Rav4 SUVS for defective airbags that have failed to deploy during a head-on collision. My Toyota Rav4 SUV had only 33,000 miles on it and it was in mint condition. I think that the NHTSA should go back and inspect earlier models of Toyota Rav4 SUVS for defective air bags. My wife and I could have been killed because of the failure of the takata airbags failing to deploy. We were driving on a highway and I was going 45 miles per hour. Everyone that knows about my accident has said that I had defective takata airbags in my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV. Please for my sake and for the sake of other people who own and drive a 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV please check into why my airbags failed....updated 03/29/17 updated 9/5/18

- Elkview, WV, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #12

Jun 152015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall. I had a head on collision last June, 2015 and my air bags did not deploy which caused me extensive injuries and my vehicle was totaled. I had to be taken to the hospital and remained a patient. None of my airbags deployed. If any of the airbags would have deployed then I probably would not have severely injured.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #11

Jun 262015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my Toyota and my wife was a passenger. All of a sudden, a lady ran a stop sign and swerved and hit us head-on. We could not get out of my vehicle, the doors were jammed and the vehicle was on fire. The fire dept. And police came and quickly put the fire out and pried the front doors open. None of the airbags in my vehicle deployed. I incurred severe injuries to my head, chest, neck and left arm. My Toyota was totaled and the other driver was cited for the wreck. I have been in and out of the hospital several times since the wreck happened and if my airbags would have deployed, I might not have been so severely injured. My Toyota was totaled and the other driver was cited for the wreck. I would like to know why none of the airbags deployed in my vehicle. I probably have takata airbags in my 2002 Toyota Rav4 which did not work.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #10

Jun 182015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall: I was involved in a head-on collision while I was driving my Toyota Rav4 2002 SUV and I was driving at 45mph at the time. The other vehicle ran out of her lane and hit me head-on. The airbags in my Toyota did not work which caused me and my wife to sustained several injuries. The other vehicle that hit me head-on, the air bags worked. I would like for your Agency to investigate and to find out why my takata air bags did not work. My vehicle had only 33,000 miles on it and it looked brand new. Mt Toyota was totaled and I had to spend a few days in the hospital from my injuries. Can the NHTSA perform an investigation into why my air bags did not work? it is my understanding that the air bags are supposed to work if you are in a head on collision going twenty mph. Is it possible that the NHTSA has overlooked the possibility that some of the takata airbags do not work and has caused many accidents that they are not aware of. Please advise.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #9

Jun 262015

RAV4

  • 33,000 miles
Takata recall: I was involved in a head-0N collision and my air bags did not deflate like they were supposed to. The other vehicle that hit me, their airbags deflated. I was going approximately 45 mph and the impact pushed everything back from the front end of my vehicle, which blocked the doors so that we could not get out of the vehicle. The accident was the other parties fault and she was cited for the accident. I received several injuries which resulted with me being in the hospital for several days. The police officers, the ambulance people and the fire department people all wondered why my airbags did not deploy when the accident happened. All of the professional people on the accident scene said that my airbags were probably made by takata and were defective. As the result of my airbags not deploying caused me to have extensive injuries and I am having to have physical therapy on my left arm and hand. I would like for the NHTSA to perform a check on the Toyota Rav4 2002 SUV's to see if they also should have been included in the recall. As the result of the accident, my SUV was totaled and it only had 33,000 miles on it.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #8

Jun 252015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
On June 25, 2015, I was driving my neighbor to pick up his vehicle at a garage. A lady went through a stop sign and hit me head on.I incurred several injuries to my left hand, stomach, chest, head, neck and my neighbor sustained injuries to his two arms. We could not get out of my vehicle because the impact was so hard that my front two doors were damaged to the point that they would not open. My airbags did not deploy however the lady who hit me head on, her airbags did deploy. If my air bags had of worked like they were supposed to then me and my neighbor would not have been injured. We were wearing our seat belts and the impact was like hitting a stone wall with great force. Everyone at the accident scene wanted to know why my airbags did not work.they should have worked if they were ever going to, but they did not. My vehicle ended up being totaled and I am still getting treatments for my injuries. I have been in the hospital several times from the injuries that I sustained because my airbags did not deploy. I would like an investigation into why my airbags did not work when I had a head on collision. Thank you.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #7

Jun 252015

RAV4

  • 43,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my 2002 Toyota Rav4. SUV on June 26, 2015. A lady talking on her cell phone went through a stop sign and hit my car head on. Me and my passenger sustained several injuries. My vehicle caught on fire and we could not get out of the car (the doors were jambed) finally with some help we were able to get out of my vehicle. I hurt my head, chest, stomach, right leg cut, right knee joint damaged and left arm and hand seriously injured. Everyone ( the police, firemen, witnesses, wrecker truck people and the Toyota garage that my vehicle was taken to wanted to know why my airbags did not deploy when the vehicle hit me. The ladies air bags did deploy and she was not injured. However, my airbags did not deploy which caused me to seriously injured. I am still receiving medical treatment for my injuries and my vehicle was totaled. Even the mechanics at the Toyota collision center where my vehicle was towed to said that my air bags should have deployed and because they failed to deploy allowed me to be seriously injured. I would like for you Agency to perform an investigation on why my airbags failed to deploy which caused me to be injured. If the airbags failed to deploy in my Toyota Rav4 SUV then I am sure that there other Toyota Rav4-SUV's with defective airbags. Please advise. Thank you.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #6

Jun 252015

RAV4 4WD 4-cyl

  • 47,000 miles
I was driving down a street in charleston, wv and a lady went through a red light and she hit my Toyota Rav4 SUV. Head on and the air bags in my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV, did not employ, but the airbags in the other vehicle did. As a result of the air bags in my vehicle failing to employ caused me and my wife injuries.I really believe that all of the air bags in any Toyota made vehicles are either defective or will not employ as a result of a head on accident. My wife and I had to have medical care as a result of my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV failing to employ on impact in a head one collision at speeds in excess of forty miles per hour. I would like for your Agency to investigate as to why my air bags failed to employ during a head on accident. If the air bags in my 2002 Toyota Rav4 SUV would have worked then me and my wife would not have been injured. I believe whole heatedly that Toyota knew about all of the defective air bags in its manufactured vehicles and they also knew about some of the air bags not employing on other models of their vehicles, like mine. Please investigate and keep me advised. Thank you.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #5

Jun 262015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
I was driving down Tennessee street when a lady ran through a stop sign and hit us head-on. My air bags not did deploy which caused me and my wife injuries. The other vehicle that hit my Toyota 2002 Rav4 SUV. Air bags did deploy on impact, where my airbags did not deploy. If my air bags would have deployed like they were supposed to, then me and my wife would not have sustained injuries. For all intent and purposes, I personally believe that Toyota is aware that all of their airbags are either defective or will not work at all. The police, the wrecker driver, the witnesses, the garage where my vehicle was towed to all asked the same question: How come your airbags did not deploy. They all said that if they would have deployed then me and my wife would not have been injured.I would like for your office to have an investigation of why my airbags did not deploy which did cause me and my wife injuries. In a head on collision, one would expect the air bags to work, but mine did not causes me and my wife injuries. Thank you.

- Elkview, WV, USA

problem #4

Jun 252015

RAV4

  • 38,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Rav4. While driving at approximately 40 mph, another vehicle crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact and the passenger sustained arm and hand injuries and lacerations that required medical attention. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damage. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

- Fuelview, WV, USA

problem #3

Jan 082005

RAV4 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles
While driving a clicking noise came from front of the vehicle. The steering failed to turn properly, and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, and crashed into a concrete barrier. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. The driver refused medical attention and went to the hospital on her own. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The consumer was in the passing lane going at a rate of 56-57 mph when the click was heard, the vehicle started to glide to the left, the consumer tried to gain control of the steering but the wheel continued to go around. There was no steering power. The consumer was informed that the rack an pinion snapped.

- Merced, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 192004

RAV4 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
Was in eight car chain reaction collision, where I was the 7th of 8 cars. Therefore, I had severe front-end damage and even worse rear-end damage. I actually hit the car in front with my own force (2 on scale of 1-10) and then again when the car behind hit me. The second hit was 10 on a scale of 1-10. The cars where going over 20 mph (estimated) at time of accident. Front airbags did not deploy. According to the Toyota manual they should deploy at 15mph or more, force is great enough, or when vehicle inside pressure change is great enough. (note: When the car was hit in the rear, the entire rear window schattered, thereby, causing great pressure change.) according to the body shop which gave estimate for repair the airbags should have deployed according to the front-end damage alone. (we have digital pictures of the vehicle and can send them.)

- Cranberry Twp., PA, USA

problem #1

Nov 272002

RAV4

  • miles
While traveling at 25 mph, vehicle was involved in a head on collision and airbags did not deploy. Dealer notified. Please provide additional information.

- Southbend, IN, USA

Not what you are looking for?