Toyota RAV4 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 1,395 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Toyota RAV4 across 30 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (376). The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (5% of reports).
- 1,395power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 54mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 14%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 74 of 1,395 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Toyota RAV4 at $5,350, and half of them between $2,050 and $6,950.
Based on 202 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 1,104 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,395 complaints, 54 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 20 an injury.
Toyota RAV4 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 RAV4 | 6 | 7% | — |
| 2024 RAV4 | 8 | 5% | 8,063 |
| 2023 RAV4 | 11 | 7% | 24,500 |
| 2022 RAV4 | 11 | 7% | 10,000 |
| 2021 RAV4 | 22 | 6% | 2,468 |
| 2020 RAV4 | 38 | 6% | 500 |
| 2019 RAV4 | 80 | 9% | 5,304 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 26 | 8% | 9,470 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 16 | 5% | 39,000 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 11 | 5% | 19,500 |
| 2015 RAV4 | 25 | 8% | 41,500 |
| 2014 RAV4 | 20 | 10% | 58,661 |
| 2013 RAV4 | 29 | 11% | 43,000 |
| 2012 RAV4 | 19 | 7% | 22,360 |
| 2011 RAV4 | 25 | 9% | 47,000 |
| 2010 RAV4 | 38 | 10% | 30,000 |
| 2009 RAV4 | 28 | 9% | 78,385 |
| 2008 RAV4 | 37 | 6% | 77,100 |
| 2007 RAV4 | 53 | 5% | 47,250 |
| 2006 RAV4 | 53 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2005 RAV4 | 8 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 2004 RAV4 | 23 | 15% | 85,918 |
| 2003 RAV4 | 209 | 66% | 98,298 |
| 2002 RAV4 | 376 | 71% | 96,000 |
| 2001 RAV4 | 190 | 61% | 103,690 |
| 2000 RAV4 | 5 | 17% | 65,000 |
| 1999 RAV4 | 4 | 6% | 114,000 |
| 1998 RAV4 | 10 | 13% | 111,500 |
| 1997 RAV4 | 5 | 9% | 114,000 |
| 1996 RAV4 | 9 | 19% | 60,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:park/neutral start interlock switch
Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition can render the system inoperative, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the parking lock rod.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
2021 Toyota RAV4 gas XXX Vehicle suddenly stopped while driving Busy roadway in [XXX] Wife and young children were passengers Dashboard displayed âENGINE STOPPEDâ Dashboard displayed âSTEERING POWER LOWâ Police responded Police determined waiting for the insurance tow was unsafe Police…
During summer 2026 i began to notice a noise/whine above 30mph that would only occur when foot is on accelerator. my vehicle has 83k miles on it (me being only owner with routine maintenance). as a responsible owner, i had my dealer do an inspection. after a drive and a listen, they claimed it was…
The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around 20 mph with severe bucking. My [XXX] daughter was driving. Fortunately, this…
A whining noise from a 2022 Toyota RAV4 LE transmission during acceleration often points
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 2â4 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle drove onto a sidewalk curb and…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota RAV4s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,395 owner complaints about power train for the Toyota RAV4. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota RAV4 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Toyota RAV4?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,350 (half paid between $2,050 and $6,950), from 202 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Toyota RAV4?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 74 of 1,395 complaints.
Other Toyota RAV4 problems
- Electrical System problems (1,375)
- Engine problems (1,337)
- Steering problems (948)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (901)
- Air Bags problems (837)
- Suspension problems (549)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (518)
- Structure problems (518)
See all Toyota RAV4 problems.