2016 Toyota RAV4 Powertrain & Transmission Problems

I called for a jumpstart for my truck after it cut off while I was turning onto a parking lot I hit a bump and it just cut off. I had to turn the truck completely off then start it again, after it started I made it completely onto the lot and parked it. When I went to start it again it wouldn’t turn over or startup. I used my State Farm app to request for a jumpstart or possible tow 2/23/25. On 3/9/25 the truck wouldn’t start again and I requested for another jumpstart. The engine light came on shortly thereafter saying that the AWD wasn’t available and that the FWD train was only available. I took it in for a battery replacement and that seemed to help for a couple of months, then my headlights started going out one at a time. The passenger side bulb went out first. I replaced it with a new one at Valvoline and then the driver side bulb went out two weeks or so later and I replaced it then the check engine light came back on and I eventually had to take into the dealership for repairs and maintenance. They said they fixed it. It worked for about a 12 days and then the headlights started dimming over time as the week went on the engine light came back on and the driver side bulb was out again. So from 12/23/25 to 1/5/2026 was the length of time the truck worked but still poorly performance wise. The gas goes very quickly still and I have to fill it way too often now in its condition. I’ve spent about $5400.00 in total with trying to repair and keep gasoline in it to work. I’m taking it back to the dealership today after reporting this to NHTSA.

Delayed/harsh shifting when accelerating or maintaining speeds of 60 - 70 mph. Shuddering sporadically when RPMs are between 2000 - 3000. Marysville Toyota of Washington reproduced and confirmed the issue noted above. They diagnosed the vehicle with a failed Torque Converter. No warning light have come on and the dealership was made aware of this as well. Due to no warning lights, it came as a surprise when the vehicle jolted. I was on the highway maintaining speed when all of a sudden there was a delay and the vehicle began to reduce speed then after 20 - 30 seconds the vehicle forced itself over 3000 RPM and began to regain speed. As the vehicle would suddenly reduce speed without warning I utilized the right lane until I was able to exit from the highway as I was becoming a hazard on the road due to the issuing my vehicle was having.

While exiting slowly from the parking lot, the Toyota started to make a beeping alarm noise, then suddenly lurched forward. Applying the brake had no effect, and the car accelerated across the LRT tracks, climbed onto the passenger platform, and only stopped when it collided with an electrical box there.

While driving around 60 mph the engine suddenly started jumping revs and would not catch back into gear. Turned engine off and on and vehicle would shift normally from 1-3 but would not go into 4-6 gear. Had to place transmission in manual mode and select gear 3 to drive home. Brought to a local transmission shop and was told it was the torque converter. This issue also cause the check engine light, TSC light to come on. It was also throwing codes for faulty shift solonoids.

IT SAYS IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ECO OR PCM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, BETWEEN 2,000-3,000 RPM, THE VEHICLE JOLTED BACKWARD AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JACK TAYLOR'S ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA (3750 RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22305) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION CAN TAKE 2-3 SECONDS TO ACTUALLY "SHIFT" INTO THE DRIVE GEAR AND HAVE THE GAS PEDAL MOVE CAR FORWARD. DURING THE 2-3 SECONDS, PRESSING THE GAS DOES NOTHING BUT REV/INCREASE THE RPM IN THE ENGINE. IF YOU DO PRESS THE GAS AND THE "SHIFT" TAKES PLACE IT WILL JERK THE VEHICLE FORWARD A BIT.

I HAVE PROBLEM WITH CV JOINT LESS 30,000 MILES, TOYOTA TELL ME EVERYTHING IS GOOD WITH THE SUV, BUT HAVE SOME NOISE, NOW DON'T HAVE GOOD STABILITY WHEN A DRIVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER STICK WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

VEHICLE HAS WHISTLE OR WHINING NOISE ON ACCELERATION AT 55-70 MPH. (PREVIOUSLY THE VEHICLE MADE THIS NOISE AT LOWER SPEEDS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED (REPAIR ORDER WAS OPENED ON 6/1 AND CLOSED ON 6/9/2016). AS STATED ABOVE THE VEHICLE NOW WHINES/WHISTLES AT 55-70 MPH. APPARENTLY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

shudder in the torque converter of certain 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 models. The shudder could occur while driving at light throttle between 25–50 miles per hour.