One problem related to software has been reported for the 2002 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2002 RAV4.
Today my Toyota Rav4 2002 began to have automatic transmission shifting issues. It has an excessive jerk when shifted from park to reverse, it is slow to shift from 1 to 2, and it jerks like I was rear ended when shifting to the next gear. I contacted my local Toyota dealer and was told there are no outstanding recalls on my car, the ecm software was updated before I purchased it used. I asked if they had any issues with the transmission on this model and year and I was told "no". They recommended I bring it in for a diagnostic check for $104 just to check it out. Afterwards I thought I would check the net. I found numerous threads regarding the 2001-3 ecm/transmission issue. It appears a number of owners have submitted complaints to NHTSA. Please add me. They are ignoring this issue and pretending they do not know anything about it.