2012 Toyota Rav4 Transmission Problems

Your transmission may need replacement due to a faulty torque converter, even though your vehicle has had regular maintenance and hasn't been in an accident. You've discovered that Toyota issued service bulletins addressing this issue for some RAV4 owners, but your 2012 model wasn't included in the recall, despite many other owners experiencing the same problem. A new torque converter or transmission replacement will likely be needed to restore proper operation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

MY 2012 RAV4 EV HAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE FROM R TO D, OR D TO R WHEN STATIONARY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION INDICATES SO. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD MOVES INADVERTENTLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT HAS BEEN A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION, BUT THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD BE INSTALLED AND MIGHT CORRECT THE MATTER. IT HAS NOT, AND MY WIFE AND I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM RANDOMLY. ON MARCH 5, 2016 HOWEVER, THE CONDITION CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING SPOT ON THE STREET. I INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT (REBOOTING THE SOFTWARE). THIS TIME REVERSE ENGAGED AND I MOVED THE CAR BACKWARD TO MAKE ROOM TO EXIT THE PARKING SPACE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, HEARD THE REVERSE 'BEEP' STOP, VISUALLY CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER TO VERIFY THE INDICATOR WAS ON 'D', APPLIED THE HILL-ASSIST FUNCTION, AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE CAR INSTEAD LUNGED BACKWARD AND SLAMMED INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION. IT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A PEDESTRIAN BEHIND ME INSTEAD OF A CAR. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR AND FEEL SAFE WITH MY FAMILY, OR FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND THE VEHICLE. CHECKING THE OWNER FORUMS AT HTTP://WWW.MYRAV4EV.COM/, I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER THAT HAS EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

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.

ON OCTOBER 17 SHORTLY BEFORE 2 PM PST IN CLEAR WEATHER, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ABOUT 2 TO 3 MPH. I TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO THE SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR SURGED OVER THE CURB, HIT A TREE, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED ONTO A PARKED CAR. (THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.) THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. FINALLY I DEPRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND IT TURNED OFF. JUST 5 DAYS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD UNDERGONE A SAFETY RECALL REPAIR TO THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY. TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO A SOFTWARE DEFECT WHICH AFFECTED "COMPONENTS IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRACTION MOTOR ASSEMBLY." WE INFORMED TOYOTA THIS APPEARED TO BE AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT. THEY PROMISED TO ASSIGN AN ENGINEER TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DOWNLOAD INFORMATION FROM THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR). THE ENGINEER INSPECTED THE CAR AND PREPARED A 22 PAGE REPORT. HOWEVER HE WAS UNABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE EDR INFORMATION DUE TO A DATA COMMUNICATION ERROR. TOYOTA CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO A LOW BATTERY. THE ENGINEER CONFIRMED TO ME THAT IT WAS A DATA COMMUNICATION ERROR AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HALF CHARGED WHEN HE DROVE IT. TOYOTA REFUSED TO SHARE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. THEY STATED IN SIX SHORT SENTENCES THAT THE ACCELERATION AND BRAKE PEDALS BOTH WORKED. THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL, THE INCIDENT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR THE DATA COMMUNICATION ERROR, ALL OF WHICH SIGNAL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC CIRCUITRY/SOFTWARE. WHEN WE WROTE THEM A DETAILED LETTER WITH ALL THE ATTACHMENTS TO DOCUMENT THE RECALL, THEY SIMPLY RESPONDED THAT THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WORKED.

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. *TR

2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. CONSUMER STATED CAR WAS ON AN INCLINE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TA

ENGINE, IN IDLE AND IN GEAR, SUDDENLY SURGED. IT PROPELLED THE CAR FORWARD IN DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK A CAR ABOUT 1 FOOT-18 INCHES IN FRONT OF IT, DAMAGING FRONT BUMPER OF OUR CAR AND REAR BUMPER OF OTHER CAR. DAMAGE TO OUR CAR WAS QUOTED AT $878 AND SECOND CAR (OUR GRANDDAUGHTER'S) WAS LESS. REPORTED TO TOYOTA. THEY SENT ANALYST TO CHECK "BLACK BOX" AND REPORTED TO ME ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKES WERE OK. NOT CAR'S FAULT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SURGE MANY TIMES SINCE LEASING THE CAR 30 MONTHS AGO BUT NO ACCIDENTS. EACH TIME I REPORTED IT TO DEALER. SERVICE MAN SAID HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 AT 4:20PM WHILE PULLING FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE THE CAR HAD AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WITH THE EXACT SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. I PULLED FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STOPPED. I PLACED THE CAR INTO REVERSE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO RE-ADJUST THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE IN THE SPACE. BACKED OUT WITHOUT APPLYING FOOT TO ACCELERATOR. I APPLIED THE BRAKED WHEN CAR WAS OUT OF THE SPACE. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO 4,000 RPMS. WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THE CAR CONTINUED AT 4,000 RPMS FOR THREE SECONDS THEN DROPPED THE RPMS TO 1100. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, 84 DEGREES, 77% HUMIDITY, DRY PAVEMENT, NO ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS. THE CAR HAD RECENTLY HAD AN ECU PROGRAMMING UPDATE AT 17,000 MILES, WHEN AT TOYOTA FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE PROBLEM STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PROGRAMMING UPDATE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TWICE AND TOYOTA CAN NOT FIND THE ISSUE. *TR

SINCE JANUARY 13, I HAVE HAD MY BATTERY DIE ON ME 4 TIMES (INCLUDING THE FIRST TIME) - TWICE IN JANUARY AND THE OTHERS A FEW MONTHS IN BETWEEN. IT NEVER SAT FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. BRAND NEW CAR END OF NOVEMBER 2012, SO IT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD. I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND WHERE YOU CAN PLUG IN YOUR IPOD FOR MUSIC... THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WAS 'LEFT ON'/PLUGGED IN (I CHECKED EVERY TIME). THE TOYOTA GUY SAID THAT SHOULDN'T BE ISSUE, BUT NOTHING ELSE MAKES SENSE. I EVEN WENT TO A BATTERY SPECIALIST GUY AND HE SAID SOMETHING WAS JUST SLOWLY DRAINING AND A GOOD CHARGE OVERNIGHT WOULD DO THE TRICK. *TR

CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE. WHEN FOOT IS TAKEN OFF BRAKE THE CAR CAN ROLL AS IF IN NEUTRAL. *TT

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAV4 TOYOTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE ACCELERATION PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE RAN UP ON A SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER. THE MECHANIC HAD NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED THE FAILURE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,302.LJ

AFTER OWNING MY NEW 2012 RAV 4 FOR ONLY 3 DAYS, I VISITED A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND ATTEMPTED TO PARK MY CAR ON A SLIGHTLY SLOPED DRIVEWAY. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE PUSH BUTTON START BUT NEGLECTED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, SOMEONE SHOUTED, "YOUR CAR IS ROLLING - STEP ON THE BRAKE!". BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO REENTER THE CAR, IT HAD ALREADY ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. MY RAV 4 WAS DAMAGED, AS WAS THE VW PASSAT WAGON IT RAN INTO. THE DAMAGE TO MY BRAND NEW CAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE $1000. THE DAMAGE ESTIMATE TO THE OTHER CAR IS NOT KNOW YET BUT AT LEAST IN THAT VICINITY. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS IN BETWEEN THE 2 CARS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS STREET WITH MY CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY A MAN FACING CAR YELLED "YOUR CAR!" MY NEW CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN THE STREET BACKWARDS, GAINING SPEED DOWN THE INCLINE, HEADED FOR CURB, SIDEWALK AND HUGE TREE. I CHASED THE CAR DOWN THE STREET, GOT DOOR OPEN, JUMPED INSIDE VEHICLE AS IT WAS MOVING AND SLAMMED ON BRAKE, INJURING MY BACK AND SHOULDER IN THE PROCESS. THE PUSH-BUTTON START ALLOWED CAR TO "FREE-WHEEL" OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TURNED OFF, LEFT IN DRIVE, AND KEY LEFT IN CAR. I AM IN AND OUT OF CAR MANY TIMES A DAY. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED WILL ALLOW ME, WITHOUT WARNING, TO LEAVE CAR IF LEFT IN "DRIVE". I WAS NOT INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION WOULD ALLOW MY CAR TO BECOME A POTENTIAL WEAPON, FREE WHEELING, IF LEFT IN DRIVE AND UNATTENDED. I WOULD LIKE THIS SITUATION TO BE REMEDIED TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. EVEN AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, I CANNOT BE SURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE WARNING SYSTEM. *TR

MY 2012 HAS DONE THIS VIRTUALLY FROM DAY 1. WHEN BRAKING, THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR 1/4 TO 1/2 SECOND AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND BRAKING. IT IS MORE DANGEROUS AT SLOWER SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AT A LIGHT WITH SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PRESSING BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW HARD YOU BRAKE AND WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE JUST BEFORE YOU COME TO A STOP. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS JUST AS THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS AND MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS TO SECOND OR FIRST. I NOTICE IT WHEN BRAKING SAY FROM 65 TO 55 MPH AS WELL, BUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT THAT SPEED HAS NO OR MINIMAL AFFECT AND IS NOT THAT NOTICEABLE. *TR