2007 Toyota RAV4 Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  11
• Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
  2
• Driveline › Driveshaft
  1
• Driveline › Differential unit
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1328%
• 25k–50k
  1226%
• 50k–75k
  49%
• 75k–100k
  511%
• 100k–150k
  1022%
• 150k+
  24%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

77000 mile lower control arms with bushings went bad ,lower ball joints bad inner & outer tie rods bad , sway bar end links ball joints bad.alignment & re-balanced tires after replacement .began swaying in road fighting steering on every bump with dipping of front end & vibration badly of car especially steering wheel , worn new tires on outsides .complete records in Toyota vehicle repair service site.total cost so far for the above is 158.00 plus 44.95 plus 1 week down time, due to all joints bad and vibrations and swaying around has caused the cv shafts to get loose good shake and not in to out sideways direction - up to down they have slight play and hear a clunk both ways (to be replaced when have money will be another 150 to 195 bucks and another day or 2 down time, not sure of front wheel bearings yet or the rear sway bar all them links , this is how bad the swaying got so needs …

Found by mail about rakata air bags, and my service for oil,filter was called by repair shop,time for service, finish the car service , before lived I ask a question about, the recall and he look the screen,took 30 seconds (flahs) and says, you car, don't have any recall, why? No im curious, what about the rear suspension arm 1, and heard about seat belts,safety recall, and most of info.still in chinese or japanes, and some one put new but como n they look cheap and have a tacoma totally dif. Found 11 recalls, now trasmission aut,burn out,at 100000 miles, sorry but look like the repair shops don't care about "us" the want to sell carts, but make a ot of mistakes and we pay to get kill in car accident,cause defect of factury,they fixed the cars,but life and few thurs and dlls don't return wifes,sons,husband,gone so why cars companies are in so much in a hurry not easy to pay a loan of …

I have a whining noise and vibration felt in my gas pedal which my mechanic has determined to be from the transaxle assembly. My research has shown that on August 8, 2012 Toyota sent out a service bulletin # t-sb-0130-12 which directly addresses this problem. I have been to my Toyota dealer since that time addressing other recall issues however they never mentioned this service bulletin nor did they check if this was an issue. It seems the remedy is to replace the entire transaxle assembly which I am sure they don't want to do because of the expense. Their warranty is for 60 months or 60,000 miles but since their service bulletin wasn't addressed until August of 2012, it would be unlikely under normal driving mileage that a vehicle that was 5 years old at the time would be included under this warranty and they never addressed this problem when they had my vehicle after this date. …

When I back up on any kind of an incline, the car jerks and the steering wheel shakes. It feels like I have "hit" something it jerks so badly. If I let off the gas pedal, it stops the jerking but the minute I press the gas pedal again, it jerks again and makes a terrible noise. I can still back up but it feels like the underside of my car is falling out. It's been going on since I purchased it used 2 years ago. I kept thinking it was me until I googled it today and saw several other people have the same issue. I feel it's unsafe and Toyota needs to take care of it. My vehicle already qualified for the oil consumption issue and was repaired earlier this year. Needs to be a national recall and fixed properly.

I was driving to fredericksburg on I-95 around midnight last Monday. All of a sudden all my warning lights came on. My engine made a loud noise, stalled and then died while I was driving. I was able to get my car to the right shoulder luckily or I would have been dead probably. Got the car towed to the nearest shop. They said I only had 1 quart of oil, and I told them I that is impossible because I change my oil on a regular basis. My oil sticker is in the right side of my windshield. They said due to the lack of oil, I blew a piston and a bearing and they had to take my engine apart. So now my warranty apparently won't cover this so I'm stuck with a car with no engine.

I took my RAV4 to the Toyota dealer for its regular check-up. I was told that the cars transmission blocks were broken and that they had to be repaired or car would shake and shudder. Also there was a safety issue. This car, a sport trim, only has a little over 60,000 miles. How could this happen unless it was faulty quality/work when assembling. I am being charged $1200.00 to repair these blocks. I have driven hondas for 30 years and this is my 1st Toyota. I have never heard of this. Never happened w/ a Honda (no documentation as yet as I do not pick up the car until tomorrow.)

From parked, as the vehicle accelerated, vehicle response resembled having parking brake on, and a grinding noise emanated from the rear axle, center. Drove under 20 MPH to Toyota dealer, which diagnosed the problem as the driveshaft/differential coupler, with metal shavings around the driveshaft where it enters the differential coupler. Told the vehicle is unsafe to drive, as the rear wheels could lock up, and cause an accident. Repair costs: parts $1,300 plus tax; labor - 3 hours ($400). Toyota issued service bulleting tbs 0080-13, and special policy adjustment wab 2190.

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Toyota RAV4. While driving 45 MPH, there was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The noise occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of rock hill (640 galleria blvd, rock hill, sc 29730) where it was diagnosed that the rear differential coupling needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the warranty was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted at [phone] and stated that nothing could be done. A case number was not provided. The approximate failure mileage was 141,203.

I was making a left hand turn on side street and I heard a loud thump (almost like I went over something) my car stopped going forward or backwards. I could not use the gears. I had no warning. The car just stopped moving in the middle of the street. This is a major safety complaint. I don't know if Toyota did not service the car correctly. I am not told the price will be anywhere between 2,500-4,500 car was towed and I was told it needs a new transmission. I have taken care of the car and serviced it mostly at the Toyota dealer.

Transmission slips or jerks after vehicle slows down and speeds up. This is unsafe in traffic due to vehicles following behind and stops which could cause a rear end collision due to hesitation when vehicle should be excelerated but it slows then jerks back which can be felt when driving. Even felt during excelaration in normal driving conditions. This happens during pressing down on gas petal when the transmission gears should change smoother, it slips or jerks into place, then slows back down again after acceleration.

Transmission complaints in other RAV4 years