There are 4 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2002 Toyota RAV4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
RETURNED CAR TO DEALER DUE TO EXPERIENCING HANDLING DIFFICULTY A FEW DAYS AFTER DEALER PERFORMED FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT REAR WHEELS WERE ONCE AGAIN OUT OF ALIGNMENT DUE TO BEING FROZEN WITH RUST AND BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND CAM KIT/PLATE NEEDED REPLACEMENT . MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT SINCE MINE IS AN EARLIER MODEL, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL OF LATER MODELS EXPERIENCING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSON DID SAY THAT THEY HAD RECENTLY PERFORMED THIS REPAIR ON A NUMBER OF PRE-2006 RAV4 MODELS. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE "REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM "RECALL NOTICE OUGHT TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE EARLIER YEAR MODELS. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL HAS EXTREME TOE-OUT. HAVE OBSERVED THIS CONDITION ON ALL 2002 VIEWED,2WD AND 4WD.CAUSES EXTREME TIRE WEAR TO INSIDE TREAD.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH TIRES SOMEHOW GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN PAVEMENT/GROVE ON SIDE OF ROAD. TRUCK THEN PULLED TO RIGHT, AND OWNER TRIED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY. TRUCK WENT OFF THE ROAD, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE, AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026