ToyotaRAV42002Overview/toyota/rav4/2002/base/

2002 Toyota RAV4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 RAV4.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Toyota RAV4 is an SUV pairing a 4-speed automatic transmission with an EPA-rated 21/26/23 mpg and a 4.6-quart 5W-30 API oil capacity. Within the model's 1994-2025 history, this year's 555 owner complaints position it between the 1995 low of one and the 2007 peak of 1,002. Although the power train is the primary area of owner complaints, the model year is distinguished by zero recalls.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/26/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 420 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZF1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 420 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size215-70R16: Steel WheelOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZF1
Engine air filter1780128010
Fuel filter2330028040 alt 2321774021
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8521253051 alt 8522248040
Serpentine belt9091602503 alt 9091602597
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter885685201083

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length161.4 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase98 in
Curb weight2877 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 26 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the RAV4 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 2002 SUV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2002SUV 2.0L I-48.90 sec16.90 sec148 hpAWD
2001SUV 2.0L I-48.60 sec16.40 sec148 hpAWD
2001SUV 2.0L I-410.20 sec17.70 sec148 hpAWD
2001SUV 2.0L I-410.40 sec17.60 sec148 hpFWD
2001SUV 2.0L I-410.50 sec18.00 sec148 hpAWD
2004SUV 2.4L I-49.30 sec17.20 sec161 hpAWD
2005SUV 2.4L I-47.80 sec16.10 sec161 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.9 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt
Transfer Case FluidGL-5 · 80W-90
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.9 Pints

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts125 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing8-12 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.30 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance420 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 na ohms
Engine Compression145-184 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle78 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.354 in / 0.984 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
136.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
290

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Toyota RAV4 represents the peak of the first major complaint surge in this generation, with 555 complaints recorded—more than double the 323 complaints from 2001 and over eight times the 41 complaints in 2000. Unlike the model years that immediately follow, there were no federal recalls in 2002 and no NHTSA investigations opened that year, despite the elevated complaint volume. The data shows that complaints then dropped substantially to 326 in 2003, at which point an investigation was opened, followed by two recalls in 2004. The top complaint area by far was Power Train (290 of 555), with 39 crash-related complaints and 15 fire-related complaints also recorded. This pattern—high complaints with no immediate recall, followed by an investigation and subsequent recalls—suggests a delayed regulatory response to issues that may have been emerging in the 2002 model. The 2002 RAV4 appears to be at the epicenter of the generation's most problematic period, and a buyer should factor in the likelihood of unresolved powertrain issues when considering this specific year.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
122
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
555
Owner complaints
39 involved a crash · 15 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 555 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train290
Power Train,Electrical System41
Engine & Engine Cooling25
Electrical System23
Air Bags18
Unknown Or Other13
Vehicle Speed Control10
Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 122 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…
T-SB-0062-23 Rev22024-12-03StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAV4. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 RAV4 take?

4.6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 RAV4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RAV4 get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 26 highway / 23 combined mpg.