2010 Toyota RAV4 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I was about to accelerate on a main avenue, made a clunking sound and came to a halt. Couldn't pull over safely. Investigated by mechanic, said the Transmission exploded, and the differential gears broke. No warning lights.

Transmission vavle body issue and not safe to drive

TOYOTA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEM. MINE HAS BOTH REAR SEALS LEAKING AND WILL COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. BREATHER PLUG GETS CLOGGED AND PRESSURE BUILD UP CAUSES LEAKS. IF NOT REPAIRED, DIFFERENTIAL CAN POTENTIALLY CEASE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, IN 4TH GEAR, A VIBRATION OR SHUDDER IS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. IT CAN BE FELT INTERMITTENTLY AS LONG AS YOU ARE HOLDING A CONSTANT SPEED. IF YOU MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN IT STOPS, BUT AS SOON AS YOU MAINTAIN SPEED AGAIN IT WILL COME BACK. IT DOESN'T NECESSARY MATTER WHICH ROADWAY YOU ARE DRIVING ON. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. A "LOCK-UP CLUTCH" DESIGN FLAW IN THE DAMPER PLATE AND SPRINGS. THIS IS ALREADY A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SOME MODELS AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. IT IS BECOMING A BIGGER, MORE WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AND THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM.

YESTERDAY MY CAR DROVE PERFECTLY FINE. TODAY, I AM PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS A DELAYED REACTION, THEN A THUD AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AT THE TIME OF THE THUD. IT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, PROPELLING THE VEHICLE FORWARD SUDDENTLY AFTER THE THUD WAS HEARD AGAIN. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE THUD WAS HEARD AGAIN, NOT AS LOUD. ALL OF MY DRIVING WAS ON CITY STREETS, BUT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LERCHING FORWARD AFTER THE THUD SOUND, I KEPT A VERY WISE DISTANCE FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENED BOTH IN STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION. IT FEELS LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ ABOUT ISSUES WITH ECM SOLENOIDS. THIS CAR HAS RECORD OF BEING SERVICED ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. IT HAS ABOUT 148K MILES ON IT.

WHINING SOUND, POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION. THE SOUND HAPPENS WHEN I ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN A CERTAIN SPEED (25-45 MPH). WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL THE SOUND GOES AWAY SO IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY. I CAN'T REALLY HEAR IT ON THE HIGHWAY BUT WHEN I'M ON THE SMALL ROADS I SOMETIMES DO. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH SLIGHTLY LESS OF 100, 000 MILES. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN A FEW MORE YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COPELAND TOYOTA, 1554 MAIN ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND WERE SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, I NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE REAR AXLE. I HAD THE AXLE SEALS REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL BUT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A SPECIFIC NOISE NOT FOR THE FAULTY REAR AXLE SEALS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN EITHER THE DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ *CN

THE VEHICLE JERKS VISCIOUSLY WHEN SHIFTING. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE WHILE TRAVERSING UP ANY TYPE OF IN LINE. THIS IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM THAT BEGAN OCCURRING AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 128,000. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING BUT I THOUGHT THE MILEAGE WAS WAY TOO LOW FOR THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 94,000 MILES. THIS ACTION MADE NO DIFFERENCE. RECENTLY I BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND INFORMATION POINTING TO THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE). EITHER SOLUTION IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR. I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND IF TOYOTA HAS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,975.

ON 07/06/14 THE CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE STOPPED . CAR MOVED TOWARD MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE. IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE MOTORCYCLE. TODAY 08/06/14 AT APROX. 20 MPH THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AS I WAS SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATOR WENT TO FULL THROTTLE UNCONTROLLABLY RUNNING THROUGH A RED LIGHT. *TR

2010 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DRIVE GEAR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS KEYLESS. WHEN HE PARKED THE VEHICLE, WITH THE GEAR STILL IN DRIVE, HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WHICH MEANT, IF PARKED ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE, THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAPPENED ONCE, BUT LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND HIM. A TECHNICIAN FROM TOYOTA INFORMED HIM, IT WAS NORMAL.

ON AUGUST 3, 2011 EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. I STOPPED FOR FUEL. I THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING AND MAKING LOUD STRANGE NOISES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING IN MY HANDS. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ON AUGUST 4, 2011, I TOOK THE RAV4 TO QUALITY IMPORTS, A DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA. THE DEALER WANTED ME TO SEE TOYOTA'S SIDE OF THE STORY. WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT ON HIS PART, HE UNINSTALLED THE VERY HEAVY SEMI RIGID AFTERMARKET RUBBER MAT AND REINSTALLED IT TO REST ON THE ACCELERATOR. HE THEN SAID, "THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED." THIS VERY HEAVY SEMI RIGID FLOOR MAT IS PRECISELY CONTOURED TO SNUGLY FIT IN THE EXACT CONTOURS OF THE FLOOR BOARD. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THIS MAT TO MOVE, BECAUSE IT FITS SO SNUGLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE MOLDED CONTOURS. THE RUBBER MAT HAS NEVER MOVED IN OVER 6,000 MILES OF DRIVING. I HAVE A CLEAR SOFT VINYL MAT ON TOP OF THE HEAVY SEMI RIGID MAT; THE VINYL MAT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ANY TROUBLE. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGS ABOVE THE FLOOR MAT THUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A MAT TO SLIDE ON TOP OF THE PEDAL. THE DEALER THEN INSTRUCTED ME LEAVE AND OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS BY CALLING THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER. I CALLED 800 331 4331; I WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER 1108040789. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME HOW FAST I WAS GOING. I TOLD HIM I WAS STANDING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE; HE RESPONDED, "I GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING." HE INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT FOR A CASE WORKER TO CONTACT ME. *TR

I LEASED A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4 IN MARCH 2010. THE CROSSOVER HAS BEEN OKAY. ONE PROBLEM BEING WHEN I AM ON AN INCLINE, SAY AT A STOP LIGHT AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS THE RAV4 ROLLS BACK LIKE ITS A STANDARD. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAVE BROUGHT THE RAV4 IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPT TELLS ME THE FEATHER BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE UNTIL I AM OVER THE INCLINE. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL RAV4 OWNERS FROM 2006 THRU 2011 AND IT SEEMS TO ME ITS ONLY THE 2.5 LITRE 4CYL THAT HAS THE ROLL BACK. THANK GOD I HAVE NOT ROLLED INTO ANYONE, BUT FEATHERING THE GAS ALL THE TIME IS TO MUCH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD INTO A FENCE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

2010 RAV 4 ACCELERATOR STUCK GOING INTO REVERSE WITH THE RIGHT FOOT SECURELY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR HIT RED LINE 7000RPM. LOOKING AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE IS NOTHING TOUCHING THE PEDAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS TO SHUT ENGINE OFF. STUCK ECM COMPUTER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY TOYOTA RAV 4 BUILD SEP/2010, COMPLIANCE OCT 2010 AT 20KM PER HOUR, AUTOMATIC, I WAS BEGINNING TO BRAKE GENTLY AND MOVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE REV UP AT 8000 RPM. I COMPLETED THE MANEUVER TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (WITHIN MILLISECONDS OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING) AND AFTER WATCHING THE CLOCK SHOWING 8000 RPM FOR 1 SECOND I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES, BUT I HAVE BAD DREAMS ABOUT IT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND SHE ALSO WITNESSES THE EVENT. TOYOTA IS INVESTIGATING... *TR