2018 Toyota RAV4 Power Train

XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX 11/13/2025 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. 19001 South Western Avenue Torrance, CA 90501 Subject: Complaint Regarding Torque Converter Shudder – 2018 Toyota RAV4 AWD To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious transmission defect in my 2018 Toyota RAV4 AWD, specifically a torque converter shudder that has been documented by Toyota technicians. The vehicle exhibits pronounced shuddering between 25–50 mph under light throttle, consistent with the torque converter failures previously acknowledged by Toyota in earlier RAV4 models (2013–2015). Toyota has extended warranty coverage for torque converter replacement in those earlier models, yet my 2018 RAV4—despite showing identical symptoms—has been excluded. The dealership has quoted me 9,000 for a full transmission replacement, even though the issue is well-documented and appears to be systemic across multiple model years. This situation raises serious concerns: - Toyota is aware of the defect but has limited coverage to select VIN ranges. - The cost of repair is excessive and disproportionate to the defect. - Consumers are left without recourse despite clear precedent for warranty extension. I respectfully request: 1. That NHTSA investigate whether the torque converter shudder in 2016–2018 RAV4 models constitutes a broader safety defect. 2. That Toyota extend its warranty program to include affected 2018 RAV4 vehicles. 3. That Toyota provide reimbursement or coverage for necessary repairs to restore safe vehicle operation. I am prepared to provide service records, dealership documentation, and correspondence confirming Toyota’s acknowledgment of the defect. Please advise on next steps and ensure this issue receives the attention it deserve INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I have had my car for about 2 1/2 years, never been in an accident or anything .. I take the car for an oil change and when I picked it up they informed me that they ran a diagnostics test that indicated that my transmission was out. They asked if I’ve been in any accidents, but I assure them that I have been any accidents at all. The car has been driving perfectly fine but after that news, the car has been dying out! I don’t travel far in the car or go on road trips so I’m not understanding how the transmission has failed!

The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact heard an abnormal grinding sound underneath the floorboard. The contact pulled over and it was difficult shifting to park(P). The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle was not functioning normally. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had taken the vehicle to the same mechanic prior to the failure for two other transmission failures. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times within 18 months. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Last week my transmission suddenly and completely failed while driving on the interstate, creating a major safety concern. I was stranded on the interstate for three hours until I could be towed off. The car only has 56,000 miles on it and there were no warnings that there was any problem with the transmission. The transmission previously failed at 7,000 miles and was found to be defective and replaced at the time. How can a car with 56,000 miles on it already have had TWO transmission failures?

Transmission failure at high speed on the freeway during a non shifting period. Transmission automatically downshifted to 3rd gear at speed on freeway and would not reengage properly to higher gears resulting in immediate red line and sudden slow down in free flowing freeway traffic

I was driving during work and my transmission went. I could no longer drive forward. I brought my car to Toyota dealership to see about the problem and got a diagnostic test performed, oil change, 4 point inspection and explained that my car is stalling, it’s jerking when I step on the gas and it won’t take off and then just jerks my head. It’s making these rattling noises when I step on the gas. They stated it’s the massive airflow system and throttle body work: I explained I just changed the massive airflow sensor so it can’t be that but he stated that they need to order the piece and I need to come back Friday which I did so they can fix the problem. Not even a week later my transmission is gone and I missed over a week of work. I did have a mechanic look at the issue and I also explained this to Toyota dealership.

THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS 2X AT 40 MPH INTO A GEAR WHICH MAKES THE CAR LURCH AND THE RPMS GO FROM 2000 TO 4000. HAPPENS DURING MILD ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION. IF YOU ROMP ON THE GAS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. WHEN IT DOES UPSHIFT THE ECO LIGHT COMES ON BUT THEN IT UPSHIFTS AGAIN. THE SENSOR DOES NOT SELECT THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE LOAD.

I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW MID/LATE YEAR 2018. IN DECEMBER AT APP. 10000 MILES I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE GEARS. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR I WOULD HEAR A LOUD BANGING TYPE NOISE AND THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD JERK. ALONG WITH THAT ISSUES I HAVE NOTICED A DELAYED ACCELERATION AT GREEN LIGHTS SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I GET A TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ONCE IT HAS KICKED IN OR EVEN JERKING WHILE FINDING THE CORRECT GEAR TO BE IN. ONCE I HAVE ACCELERATED AND LET OFF THE GAS, AND THEN RETURNED TO THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AFTER BRAKING OR JUST MOMENTARILY RESTING MY ANKLE WITH THE CAR AT SPEED, THE CAR WILL "FISH FOR GEARS" LIKE IT CANNOT DECIDE WHICH GEAR THE CAR SHOULD BE IN. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND LETTING OFF THE GAS IT WILL DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. ALL THESE ISSUES HAPPEN OFTEN BUT COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT IT UP MULTIPLE TIMES DURING OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATION, BUT THEY SAY THAT CANNOT DUPLICATE IT OR THAT IT IS JUST HOW THE CAR WORKS.

THE VEHICLE JERKS AND MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN THE EV MODE TURNS ON MOMENTARILY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AND PRESSING ACCELERATOR AFTER RELEASED FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT WHEN IT DOES, FEELS LIKE THE REAR TIRE HAS BUSTED AND THE CAR IS BEING FORCED TO MOVE. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 8 TIMES SO FAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2018.

THE ENGINE DIES TO IDLE SPEED AND THE CAR STOPS OR SLOWS DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE OF A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE CONNECTED TO A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. THE PEOPLE BEHIND START BACKING UP AND ARE MAD. I HAVE TO PULL TO SIDE AND LET THEM BY. MY CHILDREN ARE INSTRUCTED TO SUE TOYOTA IF MY WIFE AND I DIE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THIS HAS TO BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. ITS VERY DANGEROUS.

FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SPEED UP IT ACTS LIKE ITS IN 6TH GEAR. TO GAIN CONTROL I NEED TO PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR & THEN IT SPEEDS UP ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS HAPPEN AT 12 TIMES. SEE MY COMMENT BELOW THAT I SENT TO TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE. I HAVE WANT I CONSIDER A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2018 RAV4 ([XXX]). UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SPEEDUP IT ACTS LIKE IT IS IN 6TH GEAR TO GET IT GOING I HAVE PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AN THEN IT SOMETIME SHOOTS AHEAD ALMOST HITTING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. RECENTLY IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN A ROW TWICE I GOT IT TO RECOVER BUT THE THIRD TIME I NEEDED TO PULL OF THE HIGHWAY & RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPEN AT LEAST 10 TIMES. PHILLIPS TOYOTA SERVICE SAID IT IS A FLY BY WIRE PROBLEM (COMPUTER CONTROLLED). MY FIRST VISIT PHILLIPS DID NOT EVEN WRITE A SERVICE REQUEST ON THE SECOND VISIT THEY DID, BUT ON 12/04/2017 THEY DID NOT AGAIN. THIS GOING TO CAUSE EITHER A REAR END OR FRONT ACCIDENT. WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPEN LITIGATION USUALLY FOLLOWS. LETS GET THIS FIXED. PHILLIP TOYOTA SAID OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME CONCERN. 12/04/201 [XXX] CC: CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY NATIONAL SAFETY CONSUL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR