(no accident) a whine started in the rear of the car that got progressively more prominent over the course of a week. My mechanic discovered that the rear differential coupling hub assembly has failed. According to toyota parts manager -- and much internet 'chatter' I later discovered -- this is a wide-spread problem (they can't keep the part in stock) and there has been a tsb (0080-13/ special policy adjustment wab 2190) issued, yet toyota will not cover, or even partially cover, this known defect. It's a very expensive repair, and while a 2009 isn't under warranty anymore, it's far too new to have a problem like this.
2009 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 28 of 28, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. While driving at 55 MPH, the contact heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000. Updated 7/1/15*cn updated 9/15/2015
Differential gear box started to slowly leak fluid just over 100,000 miles and eventually the rear differential carrier assy had to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. While driving various speeds, a loud unknown noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the viscous coupling needed to be replaced. The repairs were made and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
The brake was engaged in traffic when the car started to accelerate. I applied the brake more firmly and put the car in park. The engine began to rev uncontrollably in a cloud of white smoke. I switched the car off and restarted the motor and it then ran normally.
I purchased a used 2009 rav4 with about 78,000 miles. It was a one owner with a clean car fax. It was great during the test drive. About 2 days after I purchased it, it started to make a rattle/rumble/vibration at approximately 40mph and 1500 - 1800rpm. It seems like the noise was coming from the transaxle/transmission area. The noise progressively got worse. It typically happened when on an incline. I took it into a dealer and they flashed the ecu since there were multiple tsbs out with this problem related the ecu. This helped with the problem for a week. Then the rumble came back with a vengeance. The dealer worked on diagnosing for a couple of days. The toyota engineers on the technical service line had the dealer's technician taking heat shields, plastic covers off, etc thinking something was just hitting resonate frequency and vibrating loudly. Nothing helped. Eventually the technician used listening ears and isolated the noise to the transfer case. The official diagnosis was components in the transfer case were failing. I bought this vehicle thinking toyota still were high quality. I've discovered rav4s are basically tin cans on wheels. It makes an amazing amount of creaks and rattles. When I spoke to the toyota customer service representative on the phone I was basically informed toyotas are now designed to go the 60,000 miles (the manufacturer warranty). After that it's anyone's guess how long the mechanical components will last.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. The contact stated that when attempting a downward turn, the vehicle sporadically failed to respond to acceleration attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 500. The current mileage was 35,000. ..updated 12-30-13
I was coming to a stop at traffic light. As I slowed down with my foot on the brake the engine suddenly began to surge. Since my foot was already on the brake I was able to push down harder on it to stop it from hitting the car ahead of me. Within a second or two, as the engine continued to surge, I shifted the transmission into park. When I did this the engine surged even more. I then turned off the engine by turning the key which did shut everything down. I then restarted the engine and it ran normally. I was somewhat shaken up by the incident. Note that this had nothing to do with the floor mats or hitting the wrong pedal. My foot was on the brake pedal the whole time the incident occurred-if it hadn't been I would have crashed into the car in front of me.
While braking (at about 5 MPH) to make a turn into our carport, the vehicle began to accelerate with a rapid increase in engine rpms. In order to stop the vehicle, the gear was shifted into park (tried to shift it into neutral, but ended up in park). Car returned to idle. Immediately check the floor mat to find it was not a factor. Called toyota dealership in the area and made appointment for following work day. After 1-1/2 weeks at the dealership, they checked the vehicle and said nothing was found wrong with it. He noted that the floor mats were after market floor mats and not recommended. I explained that this was checked immediately after the car returned to idle and was not a factor. He assured me that everything was checked and nothing was found wrong with the vehicle.
My wife was parking her 2009 toyota rav4. After backing up into a space she put the car in drive and it took off, crashing into the car in front of her. My wife was petrified being my daughter ,who is six months pregnant was in the passenger seat. Thank god no one was hurt. The owner of the other car was more concerned about the well being of my wife and daughter then the damage to his car. To bad toyota didn't feel the same. Called toyota financial and reported the incident. Asked to have car towed to the dealer and did not want car anymore being my wife was afraid to drive it , being it was an unsafe vehicle. Thats when the fun started. Talking to a rude rep. I was informed that whether I wanted the car or not I was liable for the payments if the dealer had it or not. I then asked him if he gave the same response to the family's of the 34 people who have been killed with this accelerator problem or the hundreds of people who have been injured. His response was that if I did not make the payments they would screw my credit ratings for the next seven years. Hung up. Called toyota customer protection centrer. More fun. Was told I would here from a case mgr. The next day. Would have car towed to dealer and would be provided with a loaner car while said car was being inspected. 3 days later and 5 phone calls I was able to get case mgr. No loaner car would be provided, 7 to 10 day before someone would call to make an appt. To look at car, and approx. 30 days to get response. The toyota has been in the driveway for two weeks plenty of calls which are all documented and some one will call you soon. Made payment in good faith. Today is dec 15., ten days till christmas. I can see the holiday excuses coming. Maybe I mght see some one in the next few months, but remember they want their money.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. The contact was driving approximately 40 MPH and applying the brakes when the transmission began making an abnormal clanking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians performed a diagnosis but was unable to diagnose or duplicate the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,900. Updated 2/23/11 *cn updated 06/20/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. The contact stated that she shifted into drive from park and when she removed her foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle began to accelerate in reverse. The contact stopped the vehicle and was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The current and failure mileages were 23,789.
Toyota rav 4 design defect complaint: 1. Front passenger may accidentally shift the gear stick causes it to move to neutral position, such result in the car lose of power. If a passenger accidentally push the stick and cause it to reverse position, the car get go out of control and spin into accident. 2. The accidentally shifting happened once for me in the first 3 month I own the car. 3. Educate passenger not to touch the gear stick.
The transmission in my 2009 toyota rav4 seems to slip. When I press on the accelerator from a complete stop, the vehicle violently jerks 2 or 3 times before it takes off. It doesn't happen every time, but it happens at least 3 times a day.
Engine attempted to accelerate on 2009 toyota rav 4 while stopped at stoplight behind other vehicles. Driver, standing on brakes, quickly put car in neutral and then park and engine returned to normal idle speed.
Toyota 2001 rav4, transmission problem, doesn't want to go when you stop at a traffic light, due to a bad ECM.
Toyota 2001 rav4, transmission problem, doesn't want to go when you stop at a traffic light.
It transmission gears seems slipping when going from 1st gear to 2nd. Sometimes it was like horse riding jumping. It happened twice when I was doing a left turn and almost got into accident with the coming vehicle. I was told the problem is the ecu and transmission problems.
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