Power Train Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

Malfunction: mechanical failure of the torque converter clutch. The vehicle exhibits a persistent transmission shudder during acceleration between 25–50 mph. Warning signs: none. There were no dashboard warning lights or error messages prior to or during the failure. The only indicator was the physical shuddering of the vehicle. Safety risk: the malfunction causes unpredictable hesitation when merging or changing lanes, creating a dangerous speed differential and risk of rear-end collision. Documentation: comprehensive maintenance records are available to prove the vehicle was serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule at a third-party facility.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

At 92,000 miles my transmission went out and Toyota told me I need a brand new one. It goes in for routine services. It’s available for inspection. For the last few years I addressed the issues of jerky shift motion and it was blown off every time. It is only 7 years old. It stalled out in a busy intersection and wouldn’t move forward or backwards. There were no warning lamps before it went out.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Supplemental to complaint 11728745. My 2025 Rav4 failed at 39,919 miles. Toyota corporate is acting in bad faith to deny the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The case manager repeatedly calls only after 6:30 pm when the dealership is closed to avoid resolution. Furthermore, the representative is now using "legal threats"-directing me to their legal department-as a tactic to stop me from pursuing this valid warranty claim. This is a safety hazard and a violation of federal warranty law.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

My 2025 Toyota Rav4 (39,919 miles) has a permanent "check engine" light. On March 18, 2026, diagnostic codes p24517f and p214502a were found, indicating a failure in the switching valve and fuel tank pressure sensor. Toyota USA and the dealer are refusing to honor the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and federal emissions warranty. I am reporting this as a safety defect because the vehicle may lose power or stall on the highway, creating an immediate crash risk. The manufacturer's refusal to repair a known emission/fuel defect in a new 2025 model has left me with an unsafe vehicle for over 15days.

I was about to accelerate on a main avenue, made a clunking sound and came to a halt. Couldn't pull over safely. Investigated by mechanic, said the transmission exploded, and the differential gears broke. No warning lights.

See all problems of the 2010 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The vehicle was previously taken to a dealer for maintenance, and it was discovered that there was an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting roughly while driving. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. There were metal fragments found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

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The entire transmission failed according to the Toyota service center in hyannis, MA. My vehicle is only 5 years old, only has 42,245 miles, no history of any accidents, I am the only owner, and had regular and consistent service. My vehicle is available for inspection. I am now part of the class action lawsuit against Toyota for knowingly selling cars with the defect in the ua80 8-speed automatic transmissions and torque converters. The transmission failed while I was on the road driving, which could have been a potentially very dangerous situation. The vehicle was inspected by the independant ira Toyota service center of hyannis. There were 5 different warning lights that suddenly came on while I was driving, and I immediately went straight to the nearest Toyota center as soon as the lights came on. Apparently, according to the class action lawsuit, engineers warned Toyota about the flaws in the ua80 8-speed automatic transmissions and torque converters, but they sold vehicles with them anyway. I am not the only victim. I informed Toyota of the issue, but they will not repair it. Here is information about the class action lawsuit that many others are part of now too: [xxx] here is another lawsuit in NJ for the same issue: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

2014 Toyota Rav4 awd xle purchased June 2025. Multiple pre-existing safety defects confirmed by dealership personnel were never disclosed at time of sale. Power train: torque converter failure — vibration documented at pre-sale inspection, never disclosed or diagnosed. Axle bracket corroded so severely it was fused to axle and required cutting off — confirmed by service advisor on recorded call. Brakes: aftermarket brake parts installed pre-sale without disclosure. Brake system rated red by dealership within 9,734 miles of purchase. Severe brake pedal pulsation confirmed on multiple invoices. Ody/structure: severe underbody and structural corrosion — subframe, crossmembers, fuel tank surfaces — never disclosed. Swollen lug nuts documented. Prior welded exhaust repair undisclosed. Exhaust flange separation and catalytic converter failure — repair quote $4,745. Seat belt: rock found lodged in seat belt buckle — safety restraint failure — not noted on pre-sale inspection. Recall 23v734000 / 23ta13: aftermarket battery used as recall remedy — oem replacement required — non-compliant — fire risk not disclosed at sale. All defects confirmed by dealership invoices, mpi video, and recorded calls. Vehicle out of service since February 2026. Complete documentation available.

See all problems of the 2014 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Driving up a slope of about 20-30 degrees gradient of a straight lane going into a private parking lot. Braked and decided to make a 3-point turn to get back out. There was no traffic in the lane. Put gear on reverse while on the slope with the vehicle pointing in the up direction of the slope. Vehicle suddenly surge backwards, accelerating. Vehicle sped down the slope and crossed a street. Could not stop. Vehicle was stopped only after placing gear into park from reverse, and after jumping curb across the street. Fortunately, there were no cross traffic in either direction on the street, otherwise vehicle could have been t-boned. Tire wall on the rear passenger side busted. Aaa was called to replace tire with spare. There were no warnings on the dashboard or any symptoms anywhere else, although the vehicle had all the safety features. . The next morning, vehicle was taken to Toyota of carlsbad. Left there for diagnosis and tires change. Vehicle is left with Toyota of carlsbad until this issue is answered/solved. Told by service manager of Toyota of carlsbad to call Toyota USA at [xxx] to report incident by customer, and request Toyota USA to send expert from Toyota to diagnose issue. Called the [xxx] , and given a report ref #xxx for further action. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

When trying to start my vehicle this morning, the car was having a noticeable issue the minute I turned on the vehicle. It was making some weird noises under the hood, and it was starting to lose power. Then the engine would cut out and a warning would appear on my dash that read, "engine stopped, steering power low" thank god this happened while I was at home. What if this had happened while I was driving down the road, at a red light. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of the road and would not want to put my kids or I in jeopardy of being hit.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 8 speed transmission has died. There are 105,000 miles on it. I’ve read that my year and model of car have deficient transmissions and multiple class action lawsuits on this issue.

‘voltage abnormality, power steering low’ error message has appeared three separate times. All while vehicle is idle at stop light or parked, last incident car was unable to restart immediately. All dashboard lights came on, including message saying parking hold unavailable. Mechanic confirmed no issues with 12v battery health and unable to recreate issue. Loss of power is risk to safety, possible draining of battery due to unknown issue.

The 2023 Toyota Rav4 8-speed transmission is catastrophically defective and poses an immediate safety hazard. It exhibits severe hesitation, slipping, and lurching when accelerating from a stop or low speed, and when attempting to merge into high-speed traffic (I-15/las vegas), creating a high risk of rear-end collisions. During these events, the rpms spike and fall rapidly but the vehicle fails to accelerate. Furthermore, the vehicle lunges forward while the brakes are applied. The engine actively fights the braking system, requiring extreme physical force to stop the car and prevent front-end collisions. This lunging has repeatedly triggered the pre-collision system, causing the seatbelts to lock and tension against the driver’s body. Additionally, the vehicle exhibits steering resistance and feedback during turns, making it difficult to maneuver safely. The local dealership (autonation Toyota las vegas) inspected the vehicle and claimed these life-threatening behaviors are "normal" for this model.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

My wife was going at about 10 - 15 mph coming up about 2 car lengths to a small curve in a residential area when all of a sudden she heard a pop or snap and the Rav4 went to a super high speed by itself. The acceleration could not be stopped even though she had her feet on the brakes. She had both hands on the steering wheel to avoid hitting a house and ended up going through a wall in the yard. There were no warning sounds and no signals indicating a problem. It appeared that the display was blank. There was no pre-collision warning or braking except as my wife was pushing on the brakes. She also hit the right side into side wall. No air bags deployed even though windshield and all door glass on sides shattered. My wife the driver was okay and not hurt, and the grandchild in the car seat behind my wife was fine also. Neither had injuries. There were checked by emt. The police looked but all would not try to get in except to remove my granddaughter. My wife was removed also because she could not get out the door was jammed against shed and rock, and handles broken off this happened after the recall work was done by Toyota dealer on 12/04/2025. There were no problems prior to the recall. I've listed the recall below. 25td01 rear traction motor cable corrosion - multiple model & model year Toyota hybrid (awd) vehicles NHTSA recall id awaiting# recall date dealer reference id 25td01 description the subject vehicles are equipped with a rear motor unit and an hv floor under wire that provide high voltage to operate the motor. Mud, water, or road salt could potentially enter the hv floor underwire connector housing and could cause corrosion over time. Excessive corrosion could cause am radio static during certain driving cycles, or the vehicle may not start. Status remedy available remedy any authorized Toyota dealer will apply a wire harness protector seal to the hv floor under wire connector. Toyota corporate engagement is looking into this.

Safety issue: the vehicle experiences intermittent loss of acceleration and transmission “slip/rev” events, especially when cold, from a stop, or at low speed. At times, the vehicle revs as if in neutral, then re-engages. The driver sometimes must press the accelerator fully to gain speed. In one instance, the vehicle was driven slowly for several miles, pulled over, shut off, restarted, and the function temporarily improved. When it started: symptoms began immediately after a routine service visit at a Toyota dealership (11/28). First noted deceleration going uphill with recovery. Next day, multiple warning indicators/messages appeared and vehicle was towed to the same dealership. Dealer response: dealership advised transmission replacement based on diagnostic codes and quoted approximately $10,000, stating fluid check was not necessary. Second opinion: independent shop found transmission fluid level extremely low (reported approx. 1/4 full). They refilled fluid; initially vehicle drove normally, but intermittent slipping/revving continued after pickup (worse when cold/low speed). No external leaks observed by second shop at that time. Current status: vehicle continues to show intermittent loss of acceleration/slipping behavior, creating a safety risk in traffic. No current check engine light, but symptoms persist. Codes/records available: codes: p07457f, p28167f, p088a7f, p27137f, c137ba2, c1241, c1280, u1117, b2227. Location: new york.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 hybrid (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered sudden engine failure due to coolant intrusion. On Nov 20, 2025, johnstons Toyota in harriman, NY (ro#xxx) diagnosed the issue and recorded dtcs p26ca31 and p26cb, which indicate failure of the coolant flow control/bypass valve. The dealer confirmed heavy white smoke from the exhaust with a strong coolant smell and advised the engine had failed, recommending a replacement. This vehicle is part of the early 2019 japan-built batch widely known for premature electric water pump and coolant-flow system failures. Internal impeller swelling, seal leakage, and bearing seizure can cause coolant pressure spikes and ultimately head-gasket failure with coolant entering the cylinders. This defect has been reported by thousands of Rav4 hybrid owners (2019–2021). Toyota has addressed it quietly through internal tsbs such as xxx and xxx but no public recall has been issued. The safety risk is severe: the engine began emitting thick white smoke and ran roughly, risking sudden power loss, overheating, or engine seizure while driving. A stall at highway speed could easily cause a collision. Toyota USA opened case #xxx but declined assistance despite the defect being well documented. This failure was sudden, with no warning lights prior to the incident. Given the widespread nature of this defect and its clear safety implications, I request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into the electric water pump/coolant system failures in 2019–2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrids and consider requiring a safety recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact managed to push the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her daughter was dropping her off, the daughter shifted to park(p), and the vehicle made an abnormal static sound. The contact stated that the failure recurred upon shifting to drive(d). There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. An independent auto electrician was contacted and informed the contact that the abnormal sounds could be related to an engine failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,314.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unsure if the vehicle could be coasted to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,248.

The car transmission hesitates to accelerate at slow speeds and jerks or lurches forwards in a uncontrollable way. Dangerous at stop signs or on slow or hilly roads. Dealership does not directly acknowledge this issue, despite mechanic mentioning very clearly it is related to t-sb-0107-19 which Toyota dealerships charge to repair. No warning messages. Issue has existed as long as I have owned the vehicle 1. 5 years from 61,000 miles to 71,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the contact turned off the vehicle, and the vehicle rolled backwards while the gear shifter was in drive(d). A dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle responded properly because the gear shifter was not in park(p). The approximate failure mileage was 24,500.

Engine stopped power steering low, notification. When in reverse. Car shuts off and I coast backwards. Have to put it in park and then restart the car.

I have a carbon monoxide leak going on since I bought this vehicle. I have been complaining about noises I have been hearing from the drive train and got a diagnosis from the same dealer with well over 1k worth of work. This has caused me a lot of lost money since I have been from dr to dr and back and forth with the dealership and now I tested for carbon monoxide and it’s leaking into my vehicle the dealer keeps telling me it’s fine it need a tune up or evap system clean. I am not able to drive this car safely and I have permanent brain damages from the carbon monoxide gas.

1. My vehicle had a hybrid warnings and stopped running altogether, but the issue went away after clearing the codes. It came back at 105000mi, Toyota won't help with the $6000 repair. High voltage under floor cable and traction motor cable on my vehicle (2021 hybrid Rav4 xle registered in massachusetts) is affected by excessive and dangerous corrosion due to a Toyota design issue. 2. The vehicle could suddenly shut off at highway speeds per matt with service at autofair Toyota tewksbury. Sudden stoppage or deceleration may result in fatal collisions at speed. This failure also leads to fatally high-voltage energizing of the chassis and other frame components in some cases. 3. This is a known design flaw on Toyota hybrid, high-voltage cables/connectors, leading to excessive corrosion and dangerous failure of the hybrid system. There is an extended Toyota customer support program (csp: 22te09) valid through 8 years or 100000mi. I purchased the vehicle at 92,000mi but the dealership (carfive nashua, nh) and Toyota failed to inform me of this issue (a standard procedure per the csp) so I could make an informed decision and perform preventative maintenance. Toyota did send me notice of an airbag recall after purchase, so I know they had my information. Now they have left me without options at 105000mi. 4. Yes. It has been inspected and the high voltage cable corrosion confirmed by autofair Toyota tewksbury (MA). Image from diagnosis video attached. 5. Warning messages in obd2 screenshot attached. 6. I'm looking for Toyota to cover the repair for this issue; I've had to repair a valve head gasket and replace the ac system condenser already and this car is barely 4 years old.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon entering her carport in an attempt to park(p), the vehicle surged forward without warning. The vehicle blew through the carport's back wall and crashed into her neighbor's fence before coming to an independent stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact did not seek medical attention but did sustain soreness in her neck, shoulders, and back. The carport's back wall, a bicycle, the neighbor's fence, and the hammock were all destroyed as a result of the accident. A police report was filed. The dealer was notified of the failure and immediately referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer informed the contact that an engineer could be sent to a nearby dealer or independent mechanic to perform an investigation into the defect. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

I’m reporting a safety issue with my 2019 Toyota Rav4 that has recently started and is getting worse. The problem seems related to the start-stop system or something in the powertrain. When I come to a stop—at a stop sign, red light, or roundabout—the car doesn’t always respond normally when I try to start moving again. Sometimes there’s a hesitation, and other times it lurches forward unexpectedly when I lightly press the gas pedal, like you normally would. It feels like a jolt, almost like whiplash. It’s especially dangerous in roundabouts or tight traffic situations because I can’t predict how the car will respond. I’m worried I could accidentally hit another car, or get rear-ended myself because the car doesn’t move smoothly or reliably when restarting from a stop. Even when I turn off the start-stop system, the issue still happens. It feels like a hesitation followed by a sudden surge. The rpms don’t change, but the car still lurches. Yesterday, for the first time, I noticed the car slightly accelerated on its own after stopping, which was very concerning. I found out through Toyota’s official website that there is a technical service bulletin about this issue that came out before we owned the vehicle. But because it’s not a full recall, the dealership said they wouldn’t fix it unless we paid the $80 diagnostic fee. We’re now just out of warranty. We’re making $580 monthly payments on a car that I don’t currently feel is safe to drive. There are no warning lights or messages on the dash. I’ll be taking it to le mieux Toyota in ashwaubenon, wisconsin, in two weeks to have it inspected, but I wanted to report this because I believe it’s a safety issue that should be looked into. I have two small kids and I’m genuinely worried about getting into an accident, especially when merging onto highways or driving in busy intersections. I’ve seen people say this system can be recalibrated, but the fact that this is happening without any dashboard warning and is worse.

Car is one year old, 13k miles and is having transmission issues, most likely related to e-cvt system. When braking you can hear grinding sounds from under the middle of the car. Acceleration is sluggish going up hills and engine seems to slip or race going down hills. Car is being taken to dealer Tuesday July 15 for diagnostics. No warning lights appeared on dash and no alerts on my mobile app. Internet search shows other Rav4 awd hybrids are experiencing the same issues.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The roof of my SUV is leaking and it’s leaking into my two airbags. There’s a sunroof and the roof rack.

The vehicle was a 2023 Toyota Rav4 hybrid. When the driver attempted to park the vehicle in a parking lot, it suddenly began moving forward without use of the accelerator. The driver applied the brakes but the pedal went to the floor without braking. The vehicle seemed to be moving faster than expected without use of the gas pedal and went through the parking lot. The driver stopped the vehicle by running up over a curb, through a traffic island with soft dirt and mulch and finally crashing into a metal storage unit. Two air bags deployed. Toyota was notified of the crash and a Toyota representative made the 911 call. A new york state trooper and two fire trucks arrived. The vehicle was towed and eventually collected by our insurance company. The tow truck driver said the brake pedal went to the floor when he tried it. The car was declared a total loss. 1. The notable failure was in the braking system. The car also seemed to be traveling faster than it should and didn't slow down. The insurance company has the vehicle now. 2. The safety issue was loss of speed and braking control of the vehicle. Steering was normal. Fortunately the parking lot had few cars or people in it. 3. No investigation of the problem aside from assessment of damage that I know of. 4. Liberty mutual assessed the damage. The NY state trooper made a collision information form and gave us a copy. 5. No warning lights or related symptoms were noted prior to the car traveling on its own. After the crash, a local Toyota dealer called and said that they were notified that the check engine light was on and there was a problem with the hybrid system, along with other warnings.

The battery is off . It does not work. The car does not start. It looks like the battery is not properly installed. I just left my car at the Toyota dealership in June 12 for maintenance services, for brake fluid and flush etc including the replacement of a battery mounting hardware however it does not look right. The car started to go off and today it does not start at all. Please advice sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Update to prior complaint — filed April 2, 2026. VIN: [xxx] . 2014 Toyota Rav4 awd xle. Team Toyota langhorne, 746 e Lincoln hwy, langhorne PA 19047. Vehicle remains out of service — 53 days as of April 10, 2026. Second replacement vehicle — April 4-5, 2026: dealership presented 2014 Rav4 VIN [xxx] as replacement. Upon visual inspection: valve cover leaking; blue silicone sealant on valve cover applied unevenly indicating prior engine disassembly or concealed active oil leak; catalytic converter flanges rotted top to rear requiring full replacement; oil on bottom of motor. Photographs available. Dealership declined to repair at estimated cost of $2,500 — April 6, 2026. Dealer resolution failed — April 7, 2026: bill sullivan, pre-owned sales director, offered buyback or trade. Both rejected as inadequate. No resolution provided. Two defective replacement vehicles presented — neither acceptable. Cases: [xxx] / [xxx] / [xxx] [xxx] — [xxx] — [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on or around 6/5/25, an active recall on my vehicle caused damage to my battery connections causing my vehicle to completely shut off while driving on an highway exit ramp. I almost lost complete control of the vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle turned back on and I was able to get the vehicle to safety. I had to get the car towed and repaired. The repair was directly related to the damage from an active recall issue being open without remedy for over 3 years on my vehicle. When I asked Toyota for reimbursement of under $200 they refused. This is a safety issue beyond the recall and I am concerned this is going to happen to someone else and there are going to be deaths. Toyota needs to stand by their recall too and may the financial aspect correct with me. Other members of the public need to be aware of the issues beyond their recall that can affect their cars and that Toyota is requiring them to be responsible for the damage that was caused while waiting on a remedy to the recall.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

My vehicle Toyota Rav4 hybrid 2020 began lost power and jerk on highway driving and then following messages appeared: hybrid system malfunction, a malfunction in electronic control of engine, throttle or automatic transmission has been detected and check engine light. This happened in September 2024. Toyota dealership replaced the low fuel pressure sensor a after my complaint and vehicle diagnostic, but it did not help. I recently had the same problem while driving on the highway for a long distance.

I drove through heavy rain and after sitting in park for about 15 minutes, my car started shaking and the dashboard lit up. I received a power steering low message and when I tried shifting into drive, it said car not ready to drive. I turned it off and back on and it started, but eventually stalled after a few seconds. I called a tow truck to have it taken to the dealership and by the time he arrived, it start up like normal. Based on what im seeing online, this is becoming more of a common problem.

While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.

See all problems of the 2012 Toyota RAV4 🔎.