2012 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems

Filed May 14, 2025 · Brakes, Steering · VA

While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.

Filed Oct 2, 2024 · Transmission · VA

No accident but dealer mechanic says I need a new transmission as torque converter is the problem. . Car has 107500 miles and has had routine maintenance. I have since learned that there were dealer service bulletins on this issue and some owners got repairs. My vehicle, a 2012 RAV4, was not included in the bulletin. I read many situations like mine on the RAV4world website and other social media. Toyota needs to be held accountable for the thousands in repair costs owners are experiencing for a design flaw. The safety issue is the transmission could fail prematurely.

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · Driver assistance, Engine · 125,000 miles · CO

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine, traction control, and 4WD drive warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring for approximately two months. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Dec 31, 2020 · Transmission · 34,056 miles · WI

Both front drive axles exhibited signs of severe corrosion damage leading to complete loss of lubricant and had to be replaced at 34,056 miles. The vehicle is garaged and not subject to any unusual operating conditions. Symptoms included severe cracking and popping noises on turns.

Filed Dec 1, 2019 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 53,000 miles · CA

3 weeks after the 50,000 mile service, on october 22 2019, I was driving 35 MPH on soquel avenue, when the car became unresponsive, I lost all power and control of the vehicle, and "check EV system" came onto the instrument cluster. I was able to coast to the side of the road into a bus stop, turned the car off, and had the car towed into the dealership. The dealership was unable to replicate the symptom and informed me that it was due to the 12v battery. They replaced it and assured me the issue would not happen again. On nov 11, 2019, the issue happened again while I was on the highway this time. I had the car towed in again to toyota, who informed me that "some rav4 evs have been in the shop for months, unable to be diagnosed". I researched the symptom online and found that it related to a 2015 recall that related to the electric traction motor. Toyota's description of the f01 recall: in the involved rav4 EV's, components in the electric vehicle traction motor assembly, which is part of the propulsion system, may cause the vehicle to shift to 'neutral' due to a software issue. This condition will also trigger a 'check EV system' warning message on the instrument panel and turn on a malfunction indicator lamp. If the vehicle shifts to 'neutral', this will result in a complete loss of drive power, which can increase the risk of a crash. I informed the dealership that my symptoms matched up with recall exactly, and then was told that it had nothing to do with this as this recall had been performed on april 18 2016 when I had my car in. Upon further questioning, I was also told that some of the rav4 evs had had their motors replaced as part of this recall, in addition to the software change, but mine had not. Toyota failed to recognize this flaw not once but twice and I am seeking compensation for failure to properly recognize and address a known issue.

Filed Mar 19, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 93,000 miles · MO

I took my vehicle in for service due to an engine knock. After 90 minutes to troubleshoot I was told that there was a major problem and that my vehicle was not safe to drive. Engine mount was broken, needed rear differential replaced. Mechanic had never seen anything like this.

Filed Aug 24, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 89,000 miles · TX

I could not start my vehicle on 7/26/2018. I called road side assistance and got a jump start from a power device. I was driving towards toyota service. Suddenly my vehicle stopped on the middle of the road. It was completely disabled: no power stirring, not even alarm signal working. If this happened on a highway, more likely, I would not be alive today. Same driver who would hit me from behind, because disabled vehical stoped in a moment. I am sure, nobody must drive toyota rav4 2012. If battery is not functioning, there must be indication on the dashboard before the vehicle get disabled, but there was nothing to tell me that vehicle is not drivable. For reference : a) battery. True star battery. Waranty 2 years. Died in 10 months. B) the incident filed in toyota as #1808151393. No resolution. C) service. Fred haas toyota. 22435 sh 249, houston, tx 77070. C) attached: toyota owner's manual malfanctioned battery indicator.

Filed Apr 12, 2016 · Transmission · 7 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota rav4. When the ignition was turned to the on position while the vehicle was parked on an incline, the vehicle moved backwards when it was shifted into drive. When the vehicle was parked on a decline, the ignition was turned to the on position and the vehicle moved forward when shifted into reverse. The failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 7.

Filed Feb 6, 2016 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · CT

I got out of my car and forgot to put it in park. Because the car has keyless start, I was able to leave the car without taking a key out. The car started to roll back and because I live at the top of a hill, it began to pick up speed. My neighbor lives at the bottom of my driveway and the car was heading straight to their house. Lukily, the car hit a tree which stopped it from hitting their house and potentially killing someone. The adjuster just told me my car is totaled due to the speed at which it hit the tree. However, he also indicated that the speed at which the car was travelling when it hit the tree, it may have hit the neighbor's house and continued through the other side. This is a significant safety flaw of which no one I speak to about it is aware. They actually test it which their own car and notice the same issue. In my opinion, there should be a modification to this feature to prevent this issue. Especially is there are kids near the car.

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 21,418 miles · TX

This problem has to do with the rav4 gear shifter sticking and/or deformed. The problem is addressed for years 2013-2015 in toyota tsb 0145-14; however, the problem also exists in the 2012 model. The 2012 rav4 can have a sticking or deformed gear shifter. This could be caused by coffee having been spilled into the area.