COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Toyota RAV4 transmission problems

602 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

15 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

546 reports with mileage · 56 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

602 reports
2003 model year · 138,723 miles · Jan 11, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. IT FELT LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE C…

Read full complaint

CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING. IT FELT LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON. I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER FAILURE IS WHAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE PARTS LISTED ARE THE COMPUTER, CONVERTER, OVERHAUL KIT FOR AWD, AND TRANSAXLE OIL FILTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299019

2002 model year · 79,500 miles · Jan 11, 2010
Power Train

TOYOTA 2002 RAV4 TRANSMISSION JERKS, CAR DOESN'T RUN RIGHT, COMPUTER PROBLEM CAUSES TRANNY FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298996

2001 model year · 61,000 miles · Jan 8, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD…

Read full complaint

I HAVE 2001 TOYOTA RAV4. I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2001 AT MOLLE TOYOTA, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS SNOWING ON THAT DAY. LUCKILY THERE ARE NO VEHICLES BEHIND MY SUV. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61000 MILES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAD ANY PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S A BIG ONE. I USE THIS VEHICLE DAILY TO DROP MY KID AT SCHOOL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS A SAFETY CONCERN. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA. THEY TOLD BE TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298793

2010 model year · 26 miles · Jan 7, 2010
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2010 RAV 4 2W DRIVE 4 CYL AUTOMATIC FROM NWA TOYOTA ON DEC18 2009. IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THAT WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP(BRAKE ON) AND GOING TO THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE IS IN A FREEWHEEL MOOD. EVEN ON JUST A MODEST INCLINE DIVE WAYS, EXITS ONTO STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, OR ANYWHERE EXCEPT DEAD LEVEL ,THIS VEHICLE R…

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT A 2010 RAV 4 2W DRIVE 4 CYL AUTOMATIC FROM NWA TOYOTA ON DEC18 2009. IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THAT WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP(BRAKE ON) AND GOING TO THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE IS IN A FREEWHEEL MOOD. EVEN ON JUST A MODEST INCLINE DIVE WAYS, EXITS ONTO STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, OR ANYWHERE EXCEPT DEAD LEVEL ,THIS VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD WITH NO DRAG WHATSOEVER, AT FIRST QUITE ALARMING AND AFTER A COUPLE MORE INCIDENTS I DEEM IT VERY DANGEROUS AND REALLY NOT NORMAL. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND FROM THE SALESMAN SERVICEMANAGER COSTUMER RELATIONS PERSON AND G.M. ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE "AN ENGINEERING DEFECT " BUT ALL THE NEW TOYOTAS ARE LIKE THAT" I WAS TOLD THAT HAD I PURCHASED A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL THAT IT WOULD HAVE A "HILL HOLDING FEATURE" AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM .HOWEVER MY 25000 RAV4 DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE AVAILABLE . IT GETS BETTER. THERE SUGGESTING FOR ME WERE AND I QUOTE SERVICE MANAGER SAID USE YOUR HANDBRAKE WHEN PUTTING IT IN D FROM ANY STOP ON A INCLINE" DUE TO NO "STALL SPEED " DRIVE TWO FOOTED ON ANY INCLINE' OR THE SALESMAN SUGGESTION , "PUT IT IN PARK ON THE INCLINE AND THEN GO TO DRIVE. LIKE WHAT? I WAS A EQUIPT.OPERATOR FOR 50 YRS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE CONVOLUTED WAY OF SCREWING UP SOMETHING A SIMPLE AS A PUSH AND GO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (ALSO THE REASON I BOUGHT IT .WE TRADED IN A 5 SPEED CAR IN TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE . THIS IS WORSE AS YOU DON'T EXPECT A AUTOMATIC TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN YOU ARE SIMPLY GOING FROM STOP TO GO. THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY RENT THIS MODEL AS IT WOULD TAKE 2 DAYS TO EXPLAIN ITS IDIOSYNCRASIES PLUS ALL THE WRECKS THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT ROLLS BACK ON THE UNINFORMED. I'M SURE YOU WILL BE GETTING MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE SO I'LL GIVE IT A REST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298633

2010 model year · 51 miles · Jan 6, 2010
Power Train

2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. CALLED HIM ALSO, A…

Read full complaint

2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. CALLED HIM ALSO, AND NO RESPONSE YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298400

2007 model year · 11,491 miles · Jan 5, 2010
Air BagsPower Train

AT LOW RPM THE ACCELERATOR AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION HAS A NOTICEABLE LAG. THIS OCCURS APPROX 50 % OF THE TIME. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS PUT ME INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC. MOST RECENTLY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO COLLEGE AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK ON THE PENN TURNPIKE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE TO THE…

Read full complaint

AT LOW RPM THE ACCELERATOR AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION HAS A NOTICEABLE LAG. THIS OCCURS APPROX 50 % OF THE TIME. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS PUT ME INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO BLEND INTO TRAFFIC. MOST RECENTLY I WAS TAKING MY SON TO COLLEGE AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK ON THE PENN TURNPIKE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TWICE TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT A ROAD TEST SHOWED "NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR". I RECENTLY DID A WEB SEARCH AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS STOPPED SELLING RAV 4 WITH V6 ENGINES IN AUSTRALIA FOR JUST THIS PROBLEM. IN JUNE , WHILE ALSO DRIVING MY SON TO COLLEGE I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER ON FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS OF A 11 HOUR DRIVE. THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, FLOODED. UPON MY ARRIVAL I DRIED IT OUT THE BEST I COULD USING HOTEL TOWELS. A MUSTY SMELL LASTED ABOUT A DAY OR TWO THEN SUBSIDED. DRIVING BACK HOME SEVERAL DAYS LATER IT RAINED FOR MOST OF THE TRIP AND AGAIN THE CAR FLOODED . I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THAT WEEP VENTS UNDER THE VEHICLE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER AND MOON ROOF WERE CLOGGED THEREBY DIRECTING THE WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CLEANED IT UP AS BEST THEY COULD BUT THAT THE MUSTY SMELL WAS STRONGER NOW. TO GET RID OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE PULLING THE SEATS AND RUGS TO PROPERLY CLEAN THE VEHICLE AND THAT WOULD COST APPROX $250. I OPTED NOT TO DO THAT AND DROVE FOR THE NEXT WEEK WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON TO DEHUMIDIFY THE CAR. I CHECKED TO OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND NO MENTION OF CLEANING THESE WEEP HOLES/VENTS, AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE DEALERS MAINTENANCE POLICY TO CLEAN THEM. THE OWNERS MANUAL DID MENTION THAT IF THE FLOOR WAS TO GET WET THEN THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG ACTIVATING CORRECTLY (PAGE 379 OF OWNERS MANUAL). WATER MAY ALSO GET INTO AUDIO COMPONENTS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ABOVE OR UNDER THE FLOOR CARPET AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION AND IT MAY CAUSE BODY CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298351

2002 model year · 94,000 miles · Jan 5, 2010
Power Train

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER HAVING MY 90,000 TUNE UP AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING; FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD. IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN BECAME MORE FREQUENT TO THE POINT THAT I NEEDED IT TO BE INSPECTED. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION…

Read full complaint

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER HAVING MY 90,000 TUNE UP AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING; FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD. IT STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN BECAME MORE FREQUENT TO THE POINT THAT I NEEDED IT TO BE INSPECTED. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION; CARS WERE HONKING AND I WAS THANKFUL NO ONE REAR-ENDED ME SINCE I WAS EXITING OFF A RAMP. AT THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM (DON'T KNOW HOW THEY COULDN'T ;EVERYONE DRIVING IN MY CAR NOTICED!) AND I DROVE IT AWAY WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS; THE SLIPPING STARTED AGAIN. THIS TIME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING IT BACK FOR A SECOND INSPECTION THEY DETERMINED THAT MY ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,200. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 WEEKS AND MY CAR IS WORKING GREAT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE ECM. WHAT UPSETS ME IS THE FACT THAT TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECMS. BACK IN 2006 I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. I HAD MINE REPROGRAMMED BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. I JUST HOPE THAT NO ONE IS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE ECMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298296

2002 model year · 145,000 miles · Jan 4, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2002 RAV4. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, MY CAR HESITATED AND THEN JUMPED INTO GEAR. THE PROBLEM WORSENED, AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WOULD COST CLOSE TO $4,000. AFTER RESEARCHING TOYOTA RAV 4 + TRANSMISSIONS, I QU…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2002 RAV4. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I ACCELERATED, MY CAR HESITATED AND THEN JUMPED INTO GEAR. THE PROBLEM WORSENED, AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO BE LOOKED AT, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIRS TO THE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WOULD COST CLOSE TO $4,000. AFTER RESEARCHING TOYOTA RAV 4 + TRANSMISSIONS, I QUICKLY FOUND MANY SITES STATING THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TOYOTA 2001 - 2004 RAV 4 TRANSMISSIONS, AND THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO A FAULTY COMPUTER THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOW ABOUT FOR YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298001

2001 model year · 139,768 miles · Jan 3, 2010
Power Train

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE …

Read full complaint

2001 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH FAULTY ECM CAUSING JERKY AND UNRESPONSIVE SHIFTING, LEADING TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORWARD MOTION IS UNSURE NECESSITATING PULLING OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. TOYOTA RESPONSE IS REPLACING THE ECM FOR $1135 AND POSSIBLY REPLACING TRANSMISSION FOR $4032. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. [XXX], CA. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC

NHTSA ODI #10297921

2003 model year · 106,500 miles · Jan 2, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I WENT ONLINE TO LOOK UP COSTS AND SAW A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM EITHER GOING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED OR BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE MY CAR IS WORTH THE SAME A…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I WENT ONLINE TO LOOK UP COSTS AND SAW A TON OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM EITHER GOING TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED OR BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE MY CAR IS WORTH THE SAME AS THE FIX. APPARENTLY FROM WHAT I AM READING IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR SOME TIME AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297819

Related Official recalls

1

00V211000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch

Aug 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.