2013 Toyota RAV4 Power Train

The vehicle shudders significantly when accelerating/cruising between 35-45 mph. The shudder started slight and did not pose an issue for a while, but now its significant enough that is causes erratic steering. The vehicle waved back and forth from the vibration yesterday and went across the median line into oncoming traffic. I was able to regain control and accelerated through past 45 mph when the vibration receded. After calling Toyota I learned that Toyota knew about this issue and the a faulty torque converter was to blame. There was no recall or notification just (as the dealer explained, an extended warranty). Since I was not "notified" I did not know of this dangerous exposure and missed the time period to get the convertor replaced by Toyota.

My 2013 RAV4 has been experiencing shuddering and vibrations at low speeds. Turns out it is the torque converter which Toyota was aware some 2013-2014 RAV4 have the problem. But instead of doing a recall they did a customer support program recall which they were able to put an expiration on the recall. Now my car needs the torque converter replaced Toyota will not honor the recall because it is expired 3 years ago. After seeing numerous complaints about the torque converter Toyota should reconsider doing a full recall on this safety issue.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to drive rough and was jerking and making abnormal sounds. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

I was experiencing shuddering when I was lightly accelerating 20-50 mph. The dealer's service department says I need to have the torque convertor replaced. Toyota offered extended coverage, but that program ended 11/9/21. Now I am out $2,600 for something that Toyota knew about and should have issued a recall.

The car when driving around 30 to 45 mph starts shuddering. Looks apparently it's the torque converter

While driving the vehicle it experiences an intermittent shutter in the drive train. On flat roads it is an annoyance; when driving on mountain roads or with a loaded vehicle it becomes more severe to the point the vehicle feels like it will lose control. At its worse the issue impacts the ability of the driver to maintain control (e.g., braking down a mountain), at a minimum it causes significant distraction in situations requiring constant focus on the road. The Toyota dealer diagnosed the issue as a torque converter flex lock up. Toyota corporate is aware is this defect and issued a Warranty Policy Bulleting (No. POL17-06) to address it. While the company issued a warranty enhancement to address the issue, they are treating it as a minor defect affecting customer satisfaction instead of the safety issue it is. Due to Toyota's approach, they limited the time period they would cover safety related repairs. This leaves 2013-2015 RAV4 vehicle owners to either not correct the issue and hope for the best, pay to correct the defect themselves (expensive due to the need for a Toyota drivetrain expert or master technician to perform the repair), or pass the problem off to the next owner. I contacted Toyota Corporate on and even though the vehicle has low mileage (95K), because the problem appeared after a Toyota established date they would not correct the defect. In my conversation with Toyota Corporate they confirmed it was a safety issue and advised me to have it repaired right away at my own cost. This manufacturer defect in 2013-2015 RAV 4s, in certain road conditions, creates an unreasonable safety risk to drivers. Toyota's approach to resolving the issue is insufficient and does not protect owners from unreasonable risk of an accident because of this safety flaw. Please start an investigation into this safety defect and initiate a safety recall compelling Toyota to correct the issue regardless of the vehicle's age. Thank you

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift automatically to the next gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to drive to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the torque converter to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

11443340 FILE number please add this commentary. Toyota provided and extended warranty for this vehicle due to torque converter defects. I was not notified because I was not owner at time. Extended warranty expired on 10/13/21 . My car developed problem around 11/22/21. Toyota now refuses to help in any form.

My 2013 RAV4 is having torque converter issues and shudders at low acceleration. Toyota issued a customer bulletin with an extended warranty deadline of 8 years of first use or 150K miles. My car started having this issue sometimes in 2018 and Toyota dealership diagnosed it as replace bolts. I explained to Toyota but they said extended warranty has expired and will not cover costs to get torque converter/transmission fixed. Now the issue on my car has gotten worse and brought it up with dealership again this year and they linked it to the customer notice which had expired. Now, Toyota corporation won't make an exception and assume that I had tried to get it fixed the first time within an active warranty in 2018. Issue is with torque converter and transmission shudder at low acceleration.

TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT SHAKES A LOT WHILE DRIVING I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND SHOULD BE REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY RECALL SINCE MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 77000 MILES.

MY CAR IS ONLY 70,000 MILES AND FROM THE PAST I AM EXPERIENCING MISSED MISFIRE OF MY TRANSMISSION FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR IS DRIVEN DAILY, BUT BEING FAIRLY LESS NUMBER OF MILES THIS IS A VERY UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR. I CHECKED WITH A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO ASKED ME TO GET IT REBUILT FOR MORE THAN $3,000. BUT COULD NOT TELL ME THE REASON FOR THIS ISSUE. HE SAID LIKELY TO BE TOYOTA TRANSMISSION ISSUE.

MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 IS SHOWING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. AFTER STARTING, PUT IN GEAR AND IT WON'T MOVE, JUST REVS LIKE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I SHUT OFF AND RESTART IT RUNS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS, AND ONE TIME I WAS IN A LINE OF CARS AND WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GO, IT WAS JUST REVVING. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THIS, ONE TIME THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND ANOTHER TIME OVERNIGHT SO THEY COULD DO A COLD START AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WITH IT. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT LIKE SHIFTS TO A LOWER GEAR, LIKE SOMETHING HOLDING IT BACK.

TRANSMISSION HESITATES 2 TO 3 SECONDS BEFORE CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE AND JUMPS WHEN IT GOES TO DRIVE IF YOU DON'T LEAVE YOUR FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL IT GEARS.

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND AGAIN WHEN YOU GET SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS APRIL 2017. I WAS DRIVING ALONG A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET AT 20 MPH. WHEN I STOPPED AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, IT SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I APPLIED THE BRAKES; THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 4, 2018. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE; I STOPPED SO I COULD RENTER THE SPACE. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAR ROARED OFF AND BECAME AIRBORNE. IT FLEW OVER THE MEDIAN AND HIT THE CAR PARKED IN THE SPACE OPPOSITE. THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN IT ACCELERATED AND WHEN IT HIT THE OTHER CAR WAS SO FAST I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE FLYING AND THE CAR WAS IN TOTAL CONTROL. I FEEL THERE IS SOME FLAW IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CONTROLLING THE GEARS. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE IT OCCURRED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. MY PASSENGER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED - A BRUISED CLAVICLE, PROBABLY FROM THE SEATBELTS.

AT FIRST IT HAPPENED ONLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR STARTING FROM A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR WOULD JUST SEEM TO STALL FOR 3-4 SECONDS, THEN RESUME NORMAL ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER PAST YEAR. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED WHILE ON MAIN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. "SCARY!" I STARTED LOSING SPEED, THEN IT RESUMED NORMAL SPEED AFTER 3-4 SECONDS. I TALKED TO TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER TODAY. HE SAYS THERE'S NO WAY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE IT. THAT MIGHT TAKE 100S OF MILES AS IT"S SO INTERMITANT. HE CLAIMS THEIR COMPUTER WON'T SHOW A CODE FOR THE PROBLEM. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO. IF IT LOSES POWER ON A CROWED FREEWAY IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE HAS 44000 MILES.

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE CROSSING A HIGHWAY BRIDGE WITH NO BREAKDOWN LANE. NO PRIOR WARNING, JUST SUDDEN RPM JUMP TO REDLINE AND NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO AN EXIT RAMP. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SINCE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, WE BROUGHT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO FOUND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE SPLINE CONNECTION TO THE STATOR WAS BROKEN, EITHER THE WELD BROKE OR THE OVERRUNNING CLUTCH GAVE OUT. THIS IS THE SECOND TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE CAR. THE FIRST WAS REPLACED DUE TO A SHUDDERING ISSUE 2 YEARS AGO AT 45,000 MILES. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT 78,000 MILES. TOYOTA DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURED OUTSIDE THE 1 YEAR REPAIR WARRANTY. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SHOWS THIS LIKELY ISN'T ISOLATED AND IS RELATED TO DEFECTS WITH THE SIMILAR CAMRY TORQUE CONVERTER. TRANSMISSION WAS TORN DOWN AND REBUILT OUT OF PRECAUTION AND NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND, THUS THE FAILURE WAS ENTIRELY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. I BROUGHT THE PART TO THE DEALER SO THAT THEY COULD WITNESS THE FAILED PART. TOYOTA ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED ON THE TRANSMISSION.

TOURQUE CONVERTER IS BAD IN RAV 4 VEHICLE AND IT HAS TO BE REPLACED IN EVERY VEHICLE. I OBSERVED HESITATION IN LOWER SPEEDS LIKE 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I HAD 20 TO 30 THOUSAND MILES IN MY VEHICLE. I DID A MISTAKE AND DIDN'T CARED MUCH ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT 78,000 MILES, THE TOYOTA DEALER DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITH BAD TOURQUE CONVERTER AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COSTS ME ABOUT 2,500 TO DO IT. I JUST WANT THE OWNERS OF THE RAV 4 TO GO TO DEALERS TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD CHECK THIS ISSUE BEFORE 60,000 MILES AND GET IT FIXED. LOOKS LIKE RAV 4 HAS THIS ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION IN EVERY VEHICLE AND ITS BETTER AS A CONSUMER, WE WOULD FIX IT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 60,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU MAY HIT YOU DUE TO LOSS IN ACCELERATION AND CAUSE INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS. THANK YOU.

TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER: OCCURS BETWEEN 35 MPH - 40 MPH, WHEN ENGINE STILL COLD AND ACCELERATING LIGHTLY. OCCURS DURING SHIFTING BETWEEN LOW GEARS. NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. SHUDDER IS TEMPORARY LASTING JUST A FEW SECONDS BUT VIBRATION IS OBVIOUS DURING POWER TRANSFER FROM FRONT TO BACK.

VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS .

POTENTIALLY LETHAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN TOYOTA RAV4 IN MARCH 2013 I BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA RAV4 AT ACTON TOYOTA, IN MASSACHUSETTS. ON FEBRUARY 21ST 2014, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN SUDBURY, MASSACHUSETTS ON ROUTE 20 WHEN SUDDENLY IT WENT COMPLETELY HAYWIRE. THE ENGINE STALLED OUT ? RESTARTED ? STALLED OUT AGAIN ? RESTARTED. THIS WAS ALL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. I DROVE INTO THE LOCAL CITIZENS BANK CAR PARK, WHERE I PARKED HEAD IN TO A VERY LARGE SNOW DRIFT. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE GEARS WERE GONE EXCEPT FOR 'D'! OI CYCLED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH CLOSING THE CAR DOWN AND RESTARTING IT - NO CHANGE. OI COULD NOT PUSH THE CAR BACKWARDS AWAY FROM THE SNOW DRIFT ON MY OWN. OEVENTUALLY I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. OON ARRIVAL AT ACTON TOYOTA, THE SERVICE DIRECTOR - RANDY IRWIN - TESTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED THE ISSUE - SHIFTER IN REVERSE - REVVING THE ENGINE - NOTHING. HE TRIED THIS WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT SHIFTER POSITIONS OTHER THAN 'D', ALWAYS WITH THE SAME RESULT. HE THEN ENGAGED 'D' AND MOVED THE CAR FORWARD SLIGHTLY. HE THEN SLOWLY ENGAGED REVERSE AND THERE WAS A HUGE CLUNK FROM UNDER THE CAR. AND NOW REVERSE WAS ENGAGED! THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE AND KEPT THE RAV4. ON MARCH 3RD 2014, I PHONED IRWIN - HE SAID A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE DROVE IT THE PREVIOUS WEEK. THERE HAD BEEN NO RECURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM - NOW THEY WERE DOING A 'VISUAL INSPECTION' (WHATEVER THAT IS!) SINCE NOTHING CAME UP IN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. ON MARCH 5TH 2014 I PHONED IRWIN AGAIN ? HE SAID THAT TOYOTA HAD TAKEN THE CASE OVER. TOYOTA THEN CALLED - THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE ISSUE TO RECUR, AND SO THEY REQUESTED THAT I PICK UP THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS I DID. AT NO POINT DID TOYOTA EVER ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM ? THEY ALWAYS STATED SIMPLY THAT THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE ISSUE TO RECUR. *TR

SINCE BRAND NEW AT TIMES WHEN STOPPED THEN ACCELERATE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT IT WILL HESITATE WHEN I AM HALF WAY TURNED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER THEN IT WILL CATCH CAUSING A BURST IN ACCELERATION. AT TIMES I HAVE LOST POWER WHEN I NEED IT MOST. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERS ATTENTION TO IT AND WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE IN A TEST DRIVE SO NOTHING IS WRONG. IT DOES NOT DO IT OFTEN 6 OR 7 TIMES A WEEK BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE BRAND NEW 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INDICATION OR WARNING. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABOUT TO HIT MY VEHICLE. SOME HOW, HE COULD MANAGE TO DIVERT THE VEHICLE. AFTER THAT ENGINE STARTS, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE ANY FURTHER. I HAD STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD, BLOCKING THE TRAFFIC. FINALLY I HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE FROM THAT PLACE TO SERVICE CENTER. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY LIMITS. IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY, I AM SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE LIVING ANYMORE. I CHECKED WITH TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID IT IS AN AXLE FAILURE. I AM SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT, HOW COME A BRAND NEW CAR (4 MONTHS OLD) COULD HAVE MECHANICAL FAILURE WITHOUT ANYKIND OF WARNING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SUDDENLY STOPS. I COULD NOT EVEN PULL OUT THE CAR FROM THE ROAD. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A JERK WAS FELT AND A NOISE WAS HEARD AS THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING GEARS. (THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC.) THIS SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN LATER THE SAME DAY. HOWEVER, AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED ON THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE WITH ONLY 15 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH,MY NEW 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY WHEN I ACCELERATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ASAP AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE IS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR