10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,737 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Sep 022019

RAV4

  • 4,000 miles
The transmission is very jerky. It seems to start in 4th gear and if I have to speed up in an intersection, it downshifts violently and causes a lot of jerking while driving. Not a great experience and worried about the life of the transmission.vehicle has 4200 miles on it.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #17

Sep 012019

RAV4

  • miles
Car doest not move right away at a stop even when stepping on the accelerator at 3-4 RPM. Very dangerous when your in the intersection when turning left or when crossing the street. Seems like the transmission slips

- Round Lake Beach, IL, USA

problem #16

Sep 262019

RAV4

  • 61 miles
When test driving vehicle felt like transmission was not shifting properly but not being a mechanic thought it was just my imagination. They would not put a defective car on the lot for sale right? wrong!!!! when I drove it after got it home it was obvious there was a big problem. Every time I stopped at a light then took foot off of brake to accelerate car would lurch, shake, shudder before I even got my foot on accelerator. Thought is was going to die. Would hesitate when trying to accelerate when put it in park to turn off engine same lurch shake shudder and sounds like engine died. Car has 61 miles on it. Was defective when shipped from factory took it back to dealer, said there are tons of complaints about this same issue. Toyota aware but has no fix in place. Dealer claims nothing they can do but wait on Toyota. So now I have a brand new car that I have to continue making payments on while Toyota continues business as usual and my car sits in the garage, afraid to drive it.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #15

Sep 092019

RAV4

  • 4,800 miles
19 Rav4 xle AWD transmission issue and power train. My vehicle has driven under 5K miles and I noticed two major problems. First, RPM moves up and down when I slow down the vehicle. I don't see RPM shifts when I reduce the speed in range of 10mph but I see RPM moves up and down when the reduction becomes greater like 15 and 20 mph. Furthermore, there is a hesitation and lurches. Once the vehicle's speed is reduced upto either 4 mph or 5 mph and try to speed up, I can tell it hesitates and lurches. As a result, I witnessed RPM jumps high all of sudden. The vehicle had software update on 9/9/2019 and I took video record and posted on youtube. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=fruvfzauptq&T=11S

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #14

May 132019

RAV4

  • 3,000 miles
After driving for about 15-20 minutes car makes grinding noise when accelerating past 2-30 mph and another grinding noise while decelerating below 20-30mph. Was told that rear driveline disconnect feature is causing the issue. Started happening around 3000miles odo and been getting louder

- Milwaukie, OR, USA

problem #13

Jul 202019

RAV4

  • 2,500 miles
When accelerating or decelerating from 20 mph to 30 mph there is a farting/grinding noise coming from the transmission. I can feel it through the brake and gas pedal also.

- Miller Place, NY, USA

problem #12

Mar 012019

RAV4

  • 2,000 miles
Grinding noise from transfer case when accelerating or decelerating around 20-40 mph. Vehicles has a driveline line disconnect assembly that seems to grind due to improper clearances. We are not sure how long this defective driveline disconnect will hold up.

- Penn Valley, PA, USA

problem #11

Jun 012019

RAV4

  • 10 miles
At this time there at least 24 complaint about a "lurching" problem at low speed and re acceleration. A very significant "lurching" almost"stalling" is very apparent as the complaints indicate. In addition, the transmission starts in 4th gear...not 1st gear from a dead stop. I would consider this a safety issue. Has been an issue from day 1 of car purchase. Vehicle now has 5600 miles on it.

- Winterville, NC, USA

problem #10

Aug 062019

RAV4

  • 4,700 miles
1. transmission sudden jerking/shifting when slowing down in city at traffic lights then trying to accelerate anywhere from 5-10 mph will then jerk backwards then forwards making the car jump about 10 inches forward. Can be replicated at any time. 2. cars front end suspension seems to squeak/groan will pulling into my bank or drive way, almost any unleveled pavement. This happens at lower speeds when I can hear it with very little wind noise. 3. my seat in the vehicle broke at 7,000 miles. 4. my brakes sound as if the rotors are bent with slight vibration in the brake pedal. 5. no fix for transmission. Today they are reflashing the PCM - powertrain control module. We'll see if that will fix the issue but I highly doubt it from the damage that has already occurred. I am working with Toyota corporate with the issue.

- Opelousas, LA, USA

problem #9

Jul 172019

RAV4

  • 5,389 miles
Clunking/thud is heard from the rear/under carriage. To duplicate the issue, it must be driven 30-40 min so that differential oil is hot and drive up to 30 mph then slow down to below 10 mph to confirm the issue. The issue is limited to 2019 Rav4 (with torque vectoring system - only adventure and limited trims) no known tsb to fix the issue. The sound is more like a heavy object (like a bowling ball) is dropped on a carpeted floor and like a muffled sound rather than a sharp mechanical gear rotating sound. The noise is more like a thud and very prominent enough to distract driving. It happens after AWD is engaged by falling the vehicle's speed under 20 mph in eco or normal mode. It does not happen in sport mode where AWD is engaged in full-time.

- College Point, NY, USA

problem #8

Jun 012019

RAV4

  • 1,000 miles
Make intermittent soft grinding noise (think raspberry) when moving. Makes noise in eco and standard mode but not in sport mode. The dealership told me they could replace the whole drive train and it might make the noise.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #7

Apr 012019

RAV4

  • miles
Condition 1 : heavy thumping in rear driveline when coming to a near stop, in traffic or parking causing vehicle lurch forward, as if hit from behind from behind? such can be heard and felt by occupants in vehicle. Condition 2: when coming to a near stop when accelerating back again vehicle delays down shift causing momentary hesitation before responding do to lapse in transmission gearing to find proper gear responce which leaves a second or too hesitation upon re-acceleration in traffic condition. Condition 1: above is due to un-coupling and coupling or read driveline wheels to mainly mileage rating. Which creates a feeling of heavy wear and tear to placed upon driveling components. Vehicles in question gas powered models only for further information look upon Toyota drivers forum and edmonton's customer complaints. Condition on going, contacted both dealer and Toyota direct, dealer had no idea what I was talking about nor did Toyota, this condition is not isolated to my car, there are many of same on sites mentioned with same issues

- Wellsboro, PA, USA

problem #6

Feb 012019

RAV4

  • 50 miles
Transmission hard shifting coming to a full stop and the lurking jerk when not fully stopping and then pressing gas

- Arabi, LA, USA

problem #5

Jun 032019

RAV4

  • 9,000 miles
After car has warmed up, accelerating around 20-30mph it makes a grinding noise. Typically happens when the AWD switches to 2wd.

- Parma, ID, USA

problem #4

Jun 082019

RAV4

  • 2,500 miles
While driving my 2019 Rav4 adventure in slow speeds, specially when accelerating and braking, I hear a noise coming from the transmisin. It has an 8 speed automatic transmission and when shifting in the lower gears it makes a sound not usual in any vehicle I have previously driven. Only had it for three months and took it to service to be notified it is a characteristic of the engine/transmission. First time I get that an unusual sound, a sound I can feel in my feet while driving, is a characteristic of the car. It wasn't mentioned in the features and have been told that people have complained about it in the dealership. Toyota should address this problem, it is very annoying for a brand new car.

- Carolina, PR, USA

problem #3

Mar 012019

RAV4

  • 2,000 miles
Grinding from transfer case at 2000 miles at 20 - 25 mph

- Connellville, PA, USA

problem #2

Dec 202018

RAV4

  • 6,000 miles
Vehicle will not accelerate when pushing down on the gas pedal. This can occur when leaving a parking place or. From a traffic light. The engine does not stop running. It has only happened three times, but could cause an accident. The Toyota dealer could not duplicate this at the 5000 mile inspection and there are no codes set nor does it set a check engine light when it happens.

- Wheeling, WV, USA

problem #1

Apr 282019

RAV4

  • 5,218 miles
The contact rented a 2019 Toyota Rav4. When the contact attempted to shift the vehicle in reverse, the gear shifter came out of the transmission box. The contact quickly placed the gear shifter back in the transmission box and notified the rental facility. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact was still waiting to switch out the vehicle with the rental company. The contact was unsure if the rental company notified the dealer and manufacturer. The failure mileage was 5,218. The VIN was unknown.

- Farmington, NM, USA