Toyota RAV4 transmission problems
1,232 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
9,267 owner complaints analyzed
50 distinct recall campaigns
52,730 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,429 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
1,232 of 9,267 complaints match this topic (13.3%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10055930 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO 5TH GEAR. THE 4TH GEAR ALSO BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 40,000 MILES THE EXACT SAME FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE 5TH GEAR FAILING. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765655 · 2002-08-14 (August 14, 2002)
WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY FRIEND (WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND LIKES TO SIT WITH HIS KNEES UP) ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD. I FEARED THAT IF I PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK INTO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD DRASTICALLY LURCH (FASTER OR SLOWER). AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED CLOSER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090936 · 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)
FIFTH GEAR FAILED, NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692661 · 2015-03-06 (March 6, 2015)
RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070884 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
ON JULY 20TH, 2002 MY WIFE TOOK HER 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 IN TO HAVE A RECOMMENDED FLUSHING OF HER OIL, TRANSMISSION, COOLING SYSTEM. A COMPLETE TUNE UP OF THE MOTOR. AT THIS TIME SHE TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON OF A SMOKE DISCHARGE AT START UP ALONG WITH A SLIGHT NOISE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WAS PROBALLY THE RUBBER VALVE SEATS AND MY WIFE DIDNT HAVE TO WORRY RIGHT AWAY. IN APRIL 2003, AFTER ALL THE SCHEDUALED SERVICE MAINTAINCE WAS PERFORMED, MY WIFE NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE NOISE A LITTLE WORSE SO SHE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE VA…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070884 at NHTSA ↗