2006 Toyota RAV4 transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

WE PURCHASED A 2006 RAV4 LIMITED THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH 2019. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING GROWL NOISE WAS NOTICEABLE A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR END STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. IN EARLY JANUARY 2015 TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (ZF4) FOR YEARS 2006-2012 RAV4 TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE BEARING REPLACED, BUT THEY PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 30TH 2017 OR 9 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE ON A DEFECTIVE PART. THESE BEARINGS COULD GO BAD AND SEIZE AT ANY TIME POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. WE HAPPEN TO OWN TWO OF THESE VEHICLES, SAME YEARS, ONE MAKING NO NOISE AND NOT GOING BAD YET, BUT THE OTHER DECIDED IT WAS TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING BEARING, NOT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT WITH THE BEARING BY INITIATING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY AFTER APRIL 30TH 2017 NO OTHER BEARINGS WILL FAIL AND IF THEY DO WE PASS THE BUCK ON THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO DEBATE THE ISSUE WITH ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WITH YOU LISTENING, I'D RIP'EM APART. IT IS TIME THESE BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT PASS THE BUCK TO THE LITTLE GUY. THANK YOU AGAIN, (XXXX). YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT (XXXX). PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11207287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

LOSING OIL ENGINE MAKING NOISE NO POWER

NHTSA complaint #11205296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TAMARA RECALL ENGINE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE IT'S AN RECALL BUT, IT HAS NOW EXPIRED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE. I NEED HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY ON THIS MATTER. BECAUSE THIS ISN'T RIGHT. CAN YOU RECOMMEND AN ATTORNEY? THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY DO NEW RINGS AND NEW PISTONS BACK THEN BUT NOW TOYOTA WILL NOT EVEN DO THAT. SO NOW I JUST HAVE A 5,000 BILL FOR A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #11205301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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?

NHTSA complaint #11082557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING FROM TOYOTA TO HELP FIXING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THERE WOULD BE RECALL IF THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. I WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR A RECALL. FOR SAFETY CONCERN, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER MY CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 06/2014. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD QUOTED WITH A FIX FOR $600 FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR. THE CLUNKY NOISE WAS CAME FROM THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX BECAUSE THE PRICE WAS TOO EXPENSIVE SO I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR CONDITION AS IT WAS. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY ACCIDENT INVOLVED THIS ISSUE OR NOT BUT I AM VERY SURE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER SINCE THIS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS RELATING TO THE CONTROLLING CAR'S FRONT WHEELS. FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN, PLEASE HELP TO LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10981256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10980854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10822654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE GEAR CAR BOLTS OR JUMPS. LOUD NOISE. EITHER REVERSE GEAR OR TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10760582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10678754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

AT APPROXIMATELY 81000 MILES, RAV-4 STARTED TO BURN OIL AT A RATE OF TWO QUARTS PER EVERY 3000 MILES. NOW AT 120,000 MILES, IT BURNS ONE QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. BY COMPARISON, MY 1987 TOYOTA CAMRY DOES NOT BURN A DROP.

NHTSA complaint #10660126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4; HE HOPING THAT TOYOTA CAN BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRING STEERING SHAFT (FULL DOCUMENT NOT IMAGED). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED PER TOYOTA TSB-0130-12, BECAUSE OF WHINING NOISE BUT HE WAS INFORMED THE TSB WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. IT WAS CONFIRMED, THAT AN INTERNAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10584853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

LOUD GRINDING SOUND AT APPROX 40MPH, EASILY REPLICATED AND SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS STUCK UNDERNEATH CAR. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULTY PARTS OR COVER ANY REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10572613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

OUR 2006 RAV4 CREATES A GROWLING SOUND FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH. THE SOUND GOES AWAY WHEN ACCELERATING ABOVE 40 MPH. THE NOISE IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED WITH TIME. TWICE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. RESEARCH ONLINE LOCATED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0080-13 WHICH DISCUSSES SYMPTOMS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR RAV IS EXPERIENCING. A CALL TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN BEING INFORMED THAT DETERIORATION OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING DUE TO CONTAMINATED BEARING COULD BE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR COST IS $1,925. I ASKED IF FAILURE OF THE COUPLING COULD BE CATASTROPHIC, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ANSWER WAS NOT LIKELY UNLESS DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. THIS VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE DRIVETRAIN. IS THIS A FLAW IN THE ENGINEERING/DESIGN THAT WENT INTO THIS VEHICLE? WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE BEYOND INFORMING OTHERS IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY?

NHTSA complaint #10564668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT A HUGE PROBLEM AND EXPENSE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR (WHICH IS STRANGE WHEN AN ALARM BLEATS, REQUESTING FASTENING OF THE SEATBELT, WHEN A GALLON OF MILK IS PUT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT.) AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL TO EVEN SUGGEST THE LIGHTS THAT LIT INDICATE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED CASE #1310310749 WITH TOYOTA AND AWAIT THEIR FOLLOW UP ON PROMISES MADE. I WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE COPIES OF ANY PAPERWORK, SHOULD IT BE REQUESTED. I WOULD ASK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL AS THE TOTAL LACK OF CLARITY AND/OR DIRECTION IN THE MANUAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10551537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 WHEN MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS (AGES 2 & 4) WERE COMING HOME FROM SHOPPING. OUR VEHICLE EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, ENDANGERING THE LIVES MY WIFE AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT MOVING VERY FAST AND WAS ABLE TO STOP QUICKLY AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE ON-RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE 71 WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED 20 SECONDS LATER, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED IN A RAV 4 WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL. WE CANNOT EVEN FATHOM THE POTENTIAL OUTCOME IF THAT FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH TRUCKS ETC. WE TOOK THE RAV INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DEEMED THE ACCIDENT TO BE CAUSED BY THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM. THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM WAS RECALLED IN THE FALL/WINTER OF 2012, WHERE WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED IN NOV. 2012 WITH THE SO CALLED "CLIP".

NHTSA complaint #10548480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO MAINE FOR A VACATION, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND GRINDING GEARS FREQUENTLY IN THE RANGE OF 20-35 MPH. I NOTICED IT HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SLOWDOWN FOR MAKING A TURN AND THEN ACCELERATION TO RESUME DRIVING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE PROBLEM, WHEN IT HAPPENED LESS FREQUENTLY, TO MY DEALERSHIP (DARCARS OF FREDERICK) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 1)THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND DURING THEIR TEST RUN AND 2) IF SUCH A THING HAD HAPPENED, MY ECU WOULD HAVE MADE A NOTE OF IT AND RECORDED IT. SINCE THERE WAS NO RECORD OF IT HAPPENING, IT WAS NOTHING. HOWEVER, UPON READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RAV4 02-03 MODELS, REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I FIND THAT THEIR ISSUES OF HANGING BEFORE SLIPPING INTO GEAR, GRINDING GEAR AND NOT FINDING THE GEAR AT ALL ARE THE SAME ONES I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN MY '06 RAV4. COULD IT BE THAT MY ECU IS BAD? YES, BUT MY DEALER WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POSSIBILITY. THEY CHECK MY FLOOR MATS, BUT NOT THE ECU FOR FAULTY ISSUES. THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER IN IT ALL OF THE TIME. I AM WORRIED ONE DAY I AM GOING TO BE DRIVING AND GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED COMPLETELY. I USED OEM FLUID AND AM ON SCHEDULE WITH ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10548322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY TRUCK HAS HAD 4 INCIDENTS OF DANGEROUSLY LOW OIL LEVELS. TOYOTA HAS SERVICE BULLETINS OUT REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION AND MY MODEL OF THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 REGARDING FAULTY PISTONS AND RINGS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER MY WARRANTY STATING THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS 10/13/13 AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED JAN 2013 T-SB-0094-11 IS THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN.

NHTSA complaint #10513925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY POWER STEERING P/S WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I NOTICED MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WASN'T WORKING. I DROVE HOME AND THEN TOOK IT BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, IN WHICH THE LIGHT THEN TURNED OFF AND I HAD MY POWER STEERING BACK. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT OF MY CAR? I DID RECEIVE ONE ABOUT THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM #1 AND A FLOOR MAT RECALL, BUT THAT'S ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10509604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

DRIVE SHAFT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10508607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

STEERING WHEEL "CLUNKS" AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS - CLUNKING INCREASES OVER TIME. CONCERN IS IF STEERING FAILS AS A RESULT. TOYOTA'S FIX IS TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE DRIVESHAFT AND AN ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF RAV4 MODEL YEARS (BASED ON HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON INTERNET DISCUSSION SITES, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH CLAIMS FAILED STEERING RESULTING IN MULTICAR CRASH). PER THESE ONLINE DISCUSSIONS, SOME TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE STATED IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SOME HAVE NOT. GIVEN THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS (TOYOTA HAS TWO SERVICE MEMOS ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM AND EVEN DEVELOPED NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS), IF THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE AND DETERMINED THERE IS NO CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUES, IS THAT CONCLUSION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? WOULD APPEAR THIS WOULD BE PROPER TO DISCLOSE, AS CONSUMERS GET VERY CONCERNED WITH A POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING AND ITS POTENTIAL CRASH RAMIFICATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10471887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THERE WAS A RUMBLE IN THE REAR @ 40 MPH. I HAD MAPLEWOOD TOYOTA CHECK IT 2-3 TIMES, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HEAR IT, CAR WAS FINE; THEY CHECKED THE TRANS OIL ONCE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT'S A CLOSED SYSTEM-YOU NEVER NEED TO CHANGE ITS OIL. (I HAD ASKED THIS QUESTION SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND THEY ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT I NEVER NEEDED TO CHANGE THE TRANS OIL & THE MANUAL DOES NOT LIST IT EITHER). THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND CHECKED IT GOOD-SAID THAT 1ST GEAR WAS GOING, BUT IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE-COME BACK WHEN I COULDN'T STAND THE NOISE AND THEY'D PUT IN A NEW TRANS FOR $4,500. I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN, THEY SAID OK, CAR WILL BE FINE. SINCE THE RUMBLE WAS SO LOUD, 3 DAYS LATER I GOT A SECOND OPINION AT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST'S SHOP RECOMMENDED TO ME BY SEVERAL FRIENDS. THEY PUT IT UP ON A RACK AND TESTED IT WITH A STETHOSCOPE TYPE DEVICE. THEY SAID THAT THE BEARING WAS VERY BAD AND THAT I SHOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN OR DRIVE IT AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD STOP AT ANY TIME. THEY REPLACED M,W/S, U240/24E 00-UP (CORK); FILTER; BUSHING, A40 SERIES PUMP; TC, RAV4, MED STALL, INK 14; CENTER GEAR BEARING, ETC. WHEN THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE TRANS OIL, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS NOT "A CLOSED SYSTEM"! ALSO, THE OIL WAS BLACK AND I NOW KNOW THAT IT SHOULD BE RED. I THINK I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGING THE TRANS OIL ALL ALONG AND MY TRANSMISSION PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I THINK THEY SHOULD ORDER A RECALL ON ALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS - AND PAY FOR THE WORK THAT I HAD TO HAVE DONE BEFORE MY CAR FAILED ON A FREEWAY SOMEWHERE. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST FOREVER, ESPECIALLY SINCE HALF OF THE MILES HAVE BEEN FREEWAY MILES AND I DRIVE MY CAR VERY GENTLY. I JUST PUT IN NEW BRAKE PADS FOR THE FIRST TIME RECENTLY AND THERE WAS STILL 20-30% LEFT ON THEM. PREVIOUSLY I HAD TO PAY TOYOTA $400 TO REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN-ANOTHER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10470631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS PROPERLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS HOWEVER WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, IT APPEARS TO MOMENTARILY GO IN TO NEUTRAL WHERE THE ENGINE WINES OUT BEFORE QUICKLY BANGING INTO THIRD GEAR. VERY HARSH SHIFTING. THIS APPEARS TO OCCUR ONLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR LONGER. AFTER THIS OCCURS, IT WILL DO THIS EVERY TIME WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER FOR SOME TIME HOWEVER WAS ONLY RECENTLY ABLE TO PROVE IT TO THEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $4000.00.

NHTSA complaint #10402001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY 2006 RAV4 SPORT THAT OCCASIONALLY HAS PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, THIS USUALLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND CAN LAST UP TO 15 MIN INTO THE DRIVE. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND RECEIVE A VERY SLOW RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE; ALMOST AS IF TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE E BRAKE ON. ONCE YOU HAVE REACHED 5-10MPH IT ENGAGES AND GOES, BUT UNTIL THEN IT IS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AND TIME TO TURN AND BE OUT OF THE WAY FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC, IF YOU DON'T COMPENSATE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL LAG , YOU COULD GET T-BONED.

NHTSA complaint #10357483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES I NOTICED WHEN I BACKED UP I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE REAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A "TRANSAXLE" PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10324114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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 WORKED WITH TOYOTA QUALITY ENGINEERS SINCE THE 1980S AND AM DISGUSTED BY THEIR RESPONSES REPORTED IN THIS ODI SITE. TOYOTA'S CLAIM TO FAME WAS THERE QUALITY AND CUSTOMER FOCUS. LOOKS LIKE THE CURRENT GENERATION OF TOYOTA PEOPLE HAVE LOST THIS, AND THAT POINTS DIRECTLY TO TOP MANAGEMENT THERE. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME. AS THEY SAY IN JAPANESE, THEY ARE "ON SHIRAZU" (DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS).

NHTSA complaint #10318170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2006 RAV4 UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!! LE BRUN TOYOTA, CANADAIGUA, NY, MADE ME PAY TO EXCHANGE LEMON WITH ONLY 150-200 MILES 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, THEY MADE ME PAY AN ADDITIONAL 7K TO TRADE FOR THE V-6 I HAVE NOW, BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION ACCELERATED DOWNHILL, ON BOTH 4CYL AND V-6, IT STILL DOES IT THOUGH NOT AS SEVERE, STILL SCARY AT TIMES. RECENTLY,MY STEERING WENT OUT ON THE EXIT RAMP LUCKILY AND LOCKED A FEW TIMES, IT NOW MAKES A THUMP AND CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT, NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO LUCKY. REALLY LOUD NOISE FROM REAR ALSO. ANTIFREEZE SMELL INSIDE CAR TOO.H.E.L.P.

NHTSA complaint #10292247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WENT OUT SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS MONTH. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. WHEN THE CAR STARTED AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR FROM TOYOTA. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT SUDDENLY. TOYOTA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF FIXING THIS SAFETY DEFECT. IT COSTS ABOUT $1000. HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10285203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V-6 ENGINE. SUDDEN AND MASSIVE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL. DEALER IS AWARE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE OIL HOSE. NO RECALL ISSUED YET. DEALER STATES "WE'RE JUST FIXING THEM AS THEY COME IN". I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. ENGINE WAS BONE DRY OF OIL IN LESS THAN 3 MILES. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED FURTHER AWAY; 1. ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED. 2. POTENTIAL FIRE - THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL AND COULD HAVE EASILY IGNITED. TOYOTA NEEDED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART. NOT "JUST REPAIR AS THEY COME IN."

NHTSA complaint #10278684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 RUBBER OIL HOSE (PART NO. 15707-31010) RUPTURE SPEWED OIL ALL OVER ENGINE AND ROAD. VEHICLE HAS 61000 MILES. THE 2008 AND LATER MODEL RAV 4'S NOW USE A DIFFERENT METAL PART (PART NO. 15772-31030). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN AFTER NOTICING ENGINE SMOKING FROM EXCESS OIL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY INSTALL ORIGINAL PART NUMBER FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 RAV 4 MODELS, EVEN THOUGH APPARENTLY THE 2008 METAL PART IS SUPERIOR.

NHTSA complaint #10276986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.