2021 Toyota Rav4 Transmission Problems

Your transmission completely failed at 42,245 miles on a 5-year-old RAV4 with regular maintenance and no accident history. Multiple warning lights appeared while you were driving, forcing you to go directly to the service center. The transmission appears to have an inherent defect in the UA80 8-speed automatic transmission and torque converter system. Repairs will likely require a complete transmission replacement or rebuild.

Your vehicle's rear traction motor cable has corroded, which Toyota acknowledges in Service Campaign 25TD01. This corrosion can disable your rear-wheel drive, leaving you with only front-wheel drive and reduced traction—especially dangerous in snow, ice, or wet conditions. Additionally, your adaptive cruise control system has turned off unexpectedly while driving and shown "unavailable" warnings. Toyota should inspect and replace the corroded cable and check the cruise control system for electrical damage.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her daughter was dropping her off, the daughter shifted to park(P), and the vehicle made an abnormal static sound. The contact stated that the failure recurred upon shifting to drive(D). There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. An independent auto electrician was contacted and informed the contact that the abnormal sounds could be related to an engine failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,314.

I have a carbon monoxide leak going on since I bought this vehicle. I have been complaining about noises I have been hearing from the drive train and got a diagnosis from the same dealer with well over 1k worth of work. This has caused me a lot of lost money since I have been from dr to dr and back and forth with the dealership and now I tested for carbon monoxide and it’s leaking into my vehicle the dealer keeps telling me it’s fine it need a tune up or evap system clean. I am not able to drive this car safely and I have permanent brain damages from the carbon monoxide gas

1. My vehicle had a hybrid warnings and stopped running altogether, but the issue went away after clearing the codes. It came back at 105000mi, Toyota won't help with the $6000 repair. High Voltage Under Floor Cable and Traction Motor Cable on my vehicle (2021 Hybrid Rav4 XLE registered in Massachusetts) is affected by excessive and dangerous corrosion due to a Toyota design issue. 2. The vehicle could suddenly shut off at highway speeds per Matt with Service at Autofair Toyota Tewksbury. Sudden stoppage or deceleration may result in fatal collisions at speed. This failure also leads to fatally high-voltage energizing of the chassis and other frame components in some cases. 3. This is a known design flaw on Toyota hybrid, high-voltage cables/connectors, leading to excessive corrosion and dangerous failure of the hybrid system. There is an extended Toyota customer support program (CSP: 22TE09) valid through 8 years or 100000mi. I purchased the vehicle at 92,000mi but the dealership (CarFive Nashua, NH) and Toyota failed to inform me of this issue (a standard procedure per the CSP) so I could make an informed decision and perform preventative maintenance. Toyota did send me notice of an airbag recall after purchase, so I know they had my information. Now they have left me without options at 105000mi. 4. Yes. It has been inspected and the high voltage cable corrosion confirmed by Autofair Toyota Tewksbury (MA). Image from diagnosis video attached. 5. Warning messages in OBD2 screenshot attached. 6. I'm looking for Toyota to cover the repair for this issue; I've had to repair a valve head gasket and replace the AC system condenser already and this car is barely 4 years old.

"What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" Coolant bypass valve is malfunctioning. "How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" unknown "Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" Service manager at Tuscaloosa Toyota confirmed problem without even inspecting the vehicle. He told me I am not the only Toyota customer experiencing this problem. "Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?" Vehicle nor component has been inspected by manufacturer. "Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?" Warning alert that reads 'engine maintenance required' has been appearing on the vehicle's dashboard for over a year now.

While turning slowly, right tun, into a parking space, the vehicle lunged forward at a much higher speed than anticipated. The vehicle jumped the sidewalk, went up an embankment, about 20 degrees, and about 25 feet until it stopped on its own. Happened on April 14th, 2025, about 11:30 am. Driver was is good health, no medical conditions. Driver also has a clean driving record, no infarctions. The vehicle jumped a curb 4 inches high, ran over some light brush, but luckily no damage to vehicle. There are train tracks about 15 feet away, which could have been another incident. Driver says when she slowly pulled into the spot, the car lunged forward, with good thrust, and I am a witness to this incident.

Vehicle stumbles on moderate acceleration from slow speed, hesitates shifting also. Problem has persisted since new. Dealers rep "they're all like that. can't find any problem. No warning lamps. I think there is a TSB but it seems well hidden. I feel it is a safety issue - acceleration from low speed compromised. We have 2 more 2021 rav4s in the family that do not do that. I believe Toyota knows about this problem. Also had a problem with vehicle slamming violently into lower gear when coming to a stop. Dealer could not find problem. I checked vehicle and found air filter housing not properly secured. I latched it properly and that seemed to solve slamming into lower gear problem. Dealers mechanic (?) must have not latched it properly after 12 month service. No telling how much dirt was sucked into engine while that was happening. The stumbling/ drivability hesitant shifting problem persists. Several people have reported this problem. One was fixed by a dealer attending to a software problem. This is a known problem that is being ignored. This has happened since new Jan 29, 2021.

I was reversing. I exited vehicle The Car was either not in park or fully In park. I got something from the back seat, turned around and the car with drivers door wide open was barreling towards me. I barely managed to get into the car. I do not think tjr car was reversing when I reached into the backseat. It appeared like it was a delayed reaction. The car door was damaged as it hit the side of the garage. I am so grateful nobody got hurt. Do not want this to happen to anyone else. (I run and miraculously made it inside the car. Most would not have.

Me ([XXX]) and my 3 children went on a trip from July 25- July 30 to Sequoia National Park & Yosemite National Park . On Wednesday , July 28 around 1:30 pm we were at Yosemite Park and I pulled over to take some photos of the beautiful park(nature) . I made sure my children , the car and myself were in a correct parking spot , I put my RAV4 LE in Park position (P) and the car automatically put on the hand break and it makes a loud noise, letting me know it's safe . The RAV4 does not have a hand break like other cars , it only has a small pull button. Anyways the car was in Park position with the automatic break , I stepped out the vehicle and walked toward the front of the car and my RAV4 just stared to roll down and hit a tree . I ran inside the car to stop it but it was too late . The RAV4 had crashed into the tree with my 3 children, they were all asleep when it happen and lucky no one was hurt. The car has a alot of damages in the front area and on the drivers side . The dash was all lit up with messages saying system fail(Pre collision system) INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF DEERFIELD BEACH (1441 S FEDERAL HWY, DEERFIELD BEACH, FL 33441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 AS A LOANER VEHICLE FROM SERRA TOYOTA (1300 CENTER POINT PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35215) AS HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REMEDY REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER VEHICLE AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHILE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER LOANER VEHICLE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,935. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE COMPLAINED TO ME THAT OUR NEW 2021 RAV4 SUDDENLY LURCHES WHEN SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING FROM A ROLLING STOP. I THEN DROVE WITH HER AND WITNESSED THE SAME ISSUE ALTHOUGH I COULD NOT REPLICATE IT MYSELF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TUSTIN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAT BEING SAID THE CARS ARE SO NEW THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH NEW OWNERS YET TO REPORT THE PROBLEM.