Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota RAV4. On March 17, 2008, while coasting into a parking space with her foot on the brake, the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and crashed into another vehicle. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. The vehicle had undergone regularly scheduled maintenance before the crash occurred. The weather was dry on the day of the crash. The vehicle was released back to the contact; however, it had to be taken back to the shop due to riding roughly when placed into overdrive. The dealer stated that the torque converter was locking everytime the transmission was placed into overdrive. A police report was filed. There were no injuries and the contact was not cited. The current mileage is 17,690 and failure mileage was 17,687. Updated 5/13/08 the dealer determined there was a problem with the overdirve. Updated
Bought used 2006 rav 4 from what I thought was a reputable Toyota dealer in lake city florida.within 2 weeks of buying this car checked oil and it was 2 quarts low.now about every 1000 miles or less this vehicle is using nearly 2 quarts of oil.please help in this matter.this was supposed to be my daughters going off into the world vehicle but its turning out to be a piece of crap.and a waste of money.I know Toyota is aware of the problem and will do nothing to fix it.lake city Toyota are rude and have done nothing to help in this problem. And in hindsight buying this car they were very sketchy in the way they got us there to buy it in the first place.now I know why.I just want this vehicle repaired.we like everything else about it.but engine failure and or catalytic converter issues down the road is saddening for a vehicle we just paid 7000 dollars for.Toyota we will never buy again.
While driving on a suburban nj road at around 30-40mph, the vehicle lost steering control out of the blue. The car veered into the left lane, I attempted to right the car and simultaneously hit the breaks. The ABS response kicked in, and the car veered drastically to the right, going off the road, across the sidewalk, and finally coming to a stop in the woods. The repair shop discovered that the cause of accident was a broken tie rod of the back right wheel, that had been broken for a while because the sleeve encasing had rusted over. The damage to the car totalled $10,000, and the shop would have totaled the car if the milage hadnt been so low.
Rear differential coupler is failing. Emitting an awful noise and getting worse. Spoke to Toyota customer service. They told me that the enhanced extended warranty has expired at the end of last year. I did not know about this, until the part has worn out. (defective) it is a $1400. Part plus labor to install. They cannot extend the enhanced extended warranty according to the rules that NHTSA has suggested. Don't you think it is time for NHTSA to require that Toyota renew this replacement, or call it a recall for their defective manufacturing process?
When trying to back up a hill, the transmission pops out of gear and then back into gear. When it pops back into gear the car lunges in an uncontrollable manner. This is very dangerous! I have read that this is cause by premature wear-out of the reverse clutches and the fix is a new $4000 transmission. This is a safety issue that Toyota should at least provide an assistance program to repair. The problem is continuous, it was always occur when trying to back up a hill.
Transfer case noise; quelling noise is coming from engine ( I hear this noise at low speed between 20 miles and 40miles). When I push gas pedal vehicle don,t pick the speed, engine runs fast and it jumps to get its speed.
On freeway, other motorist notified me my car was "on fire!" I saw excessive smoke in rearview mirror. I took the next exit which was dixon, ca off interstate 80 west in california. The side of the freeway there is grassy, did not think it was safe to stop...I stopped the car and smoke was everywhere, coming up through the hood & under the car. This was tues, 2/3/09. I has the car serviced the fri before, 1/30/09 at Toyota vallejo in vallejo, ca. I called the dealership after calling aaa for a tow. The service advisor, ryan said "it couldn't have been from anything they had done. But there is an 'oil hose' that had been coming off alot of the RAV4's." I was already upset & that made me livid!! If it were a known problem the dealership should have checked during the scheduled maint. My car was towed to lithia Toyota of vacaville #47 at 500 orange drive, vacaville, ca. Work order 394212. …
When first driving my new 2006 Toyota RAV4, I noticed at slow speeds it would sometimes accelerate when I hit the brake. I attributed this to big feet and a new car where I did not yet master the relative positions of the pedals. I started driving with two feet, just as I was taught as a teenager in drivers ed. Occasionally, this has happened again in the ensuing 3 years. Until this unintended acceleration problem came to light in 2010, I thought it was just "operator error." now, I am beginning to think there is some defect - maybe it's hardware linkages, but I suspect there is a software problem in the electronic computer of the car. I also had the steering mid-shaft problem after warranty and screamed until they fixed it under warranty for $50. There was also a "runaway" fuel pump service bulletin I made them cover as well. …
I have a 2006 RAV4, built in November, 2005. My check engine, vsc and 4wd lights lit up on August 16, 2013. After referring to the manual and following directions yielded no result, I kept driving and went to a Toyota dealer the next day. I was advised the transmission in my car had failed and I needed a new one. The transmission had been flushed on 9/18/12 with 59,767 miles on my car, the dealer marked the transmission fluid "good" on 6/17/13 with 65,143 miles and there were only 66,319 when the transmission failed in August, 2013. Being stranded out of town for three days allowed me to find numerous complaints about the transmission failing in RAV4's with low mileage. …
I bought the car back in August 2006 at Toyota dealer. There were clunky sounds from the steering wheel when after couple months of purchase. I brought the car back to dealer to request for a fix but I was told that the clunky sounds from the steering wheel should be considered as normal as the way the it came from Toyota factory. There was no fix to correct that clunky noises from steering wheel on that day. I had trusted to Toyota's advice on that day and kept driving the car until other mechanics and friends told me that my car needed to be fixed with the steering wheel since there had been clunky noises when they tested drive on my car. The sounds always came up when I moved the steering wheel. I called Toyota service around 06/2014 about the clunky noise since the condition got worse. …
Transmission complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 Toyota RAV4, 8% of the model year's 705 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 Toyota RAV4, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 42% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.