2002 Toyota RAV4 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 2%of 527 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 22,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the steering of the 2002 Toyota RAV4, 2% of the 527 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 22,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I purchased my Toyota RAV4 in august, 2002. Eleven months later while driving by the state capital I was going to make a left hand turn and when I did, I almost hit three parked cars because the main drive belt had broken. This drive belt controls about everything to do with steering, air conditioning and etc. I had to have my car towed back to the dealership where I had purchased the vehicle. I had to pay for the labor and new belt because I was told by the dealership that my warranty did not cover this. Then I started having problems with the RAV4 transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10614590, filed 2014-07, 3,000 miles“I purchased my 2002 Toyota RAV4 SUV in august of 2002. Ever since I bought the RAV4 something has been wrong with it. The first 3-months that I had the RAV4 the drive belt was chewed up and almost caused me to wreck. The transmission started making funny noises like a grinding sound and the transmission would not shift. Sometimes I would just have to pull off of the road because the RAV4 transmission would not shift. I called and talked with the dealership and they said that nothing was wrong with my RAV4. I finally just parked it because my wife would not drive it and I would not drive it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10649116, filed 2014-10, 22,000 miles“On july 7, 2003 I was on my way to work when the battery discharge light came on and I had no steering capability. I was travelling about sixty miles per hour on the interstate. I almost hit the median divider before I could steer the vehicle to the side of the road. I called the dearlership and explained what had happened. They told me to have the vehicle towed in, they didn't even offer to have it towed. Incidentally this is a new vehicle with less than 1100 miles on it and I had only driven the vehicle about one week before the above happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10028517, filed 2003-07, 1,189 miles“Power steering stopped while driving. Vehicle had to be manually steered to local mechanic for diagnosis. Shop stated they hadn't seen power steering spewing from power steering fluid well upon removal of lid while vehicle was on.”
NHTSA complaint #11220357, filed 2019-06, 225,000 miles“Dangerous transmission problems occurred in this car. The car would stall before going into second gear. Once it occurred as I was in an intersection. There are low miles on this so there should not be a need for repair or replacement at this time.”
NHTSA complaint #10474268, filed 2012-09, 88,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5% |
| 2024 | 27 | 15% |
| 2023 | 27 | 16% |
| 2022 | 20 | 13% |
| 2021 | 21 | 5% |
| 2020 | 28 | 4% |
| 2019 | 33 | 4% |
| 2018 | 12 | 4% |
| 2017 | 12 | 4% |
| 2016 | 10 | 4% |
| 2015 | 47 | 15% |
| 2014 | 21 | 11% |
| 2013 | 11 | 4% |
| 2012 | 9 | 3% |
| 2011 | 15 | 5% |
| 2010 | 18 | 5% |
| 2009 | 26 | 8% |
| 2008 | 73 | 13% |
| 2007 | 271 | 27% |
| 2006 | 230 | 33% |
| 2005 | 9 | 6% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 8 | 2% |
| 2001 | 6 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 2% |
| 1998 | 2 | 3% |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota RAV4
376 complaintsElectrical system
92 complaintsEngine cooling
41 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsAir bags
22 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsElectronic stability control
16 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology