Avoid the following Toyota RAV4 model years: 2019, 2013, and 2006–2008. They are the ones with the most well-known issues, but keep in mind that they are Toyotas, which are renowned for their dependability. By purchasing one in decent condition, the tiny problems they have won’t put you in the poor house. Finding a well-kept Toyota RAV4 with reasonable mileage is the best course of action when looking for one. Like any car, as it ages, issues can arise, but serious issues can be prevented by doing your research when purchase.
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Which Toyota RAV4 model year is the most dependable?
One of the best pre-owned Toyota RAV4 SUVs is the 2012 model, which is a couple more years old. 2012 is a fantastic year to look for even if the majority of RAV4 years are suggested. The owner satisfaction score was adequate, while the reliability score is high. In its crashworthiness testing this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) primarily awarded four and five stars.
Speaking of the NHTSA, this year has seen a number of Toyota SUV recalls from the agency. Make sure these recalls have been completed before signing any documentation because two of these recalls concern the airbags. Apart from that, 2012 offered a trustworthy Toyota RAV4 SUV.
Transmission Gear Slipping Issues
Numerous RAV4 owners have also voiced issues with the transmission slipping gears suddenly.
Numerous lawsuits have been filed in response to this, forcing the manufacturer to admit there is a problem. The warranty on this issue has also been extended by Toyota to 10 years/150,000 miles.
Transmission Solenoid Issues
Many RAV4 customers have voiced their complaints with the check engine light randomly coming on while driving. Along with it, the car may occasionally stall.
Our investigation revealed that a defective solenoid that requires prompt repair frequently causes this issue.
Unpleasant Transmission Noise
Numerous RAV4 owners have also voiced their displeasure with an unpleasant grinding sound that occasionally occurs during acceleration or deceleration.
Others said that this occurs as soon as the car is put in reverse or when going from 4WD to FWD.
Possible Causes and Solutions
Causes and remedies for some of the aforementioned gearbox and powertrain problems are provided below:
- Faulty needle roller bearings: Needle bearings are essential parts that prevent the torque converter’s gears from needlessly grinding. Your Toyota RAV4 may start to make grinding noises if the needle bearings start to fail.
- Insufficient or tainted transmission fluid
Both manual and automatic gearbox vehicles require enough and pristine transmission fluid to function.
Your gearbox could overheat if there isn’t enough clean transmission fluid, which could cause your gears to start slipping or surging out of control.
Transmission fluid filter that is clogged:
The gearbox fluid filter in the Toyota RAV4 is in charge of allowing just the proper amount of clean fluid to pass. Its performance will be hampered by a clogged filter, which will eventually cause the transmission to fail.
What to Do
When treated improperly, transmission problems can render your car utterly worthless. As a result, we suggest that you take your car to a reputable mechanic for an examination, diagnosis, and fix.
If your warranty still has a few miles or years left, you might also try getting in touch with your dealer.
Which RAV4 model is the best?
The advised specification The Hybrid XLE Premium, which has all-wheel drive as standard, is the best model of the group if you’re shopping for a brand-new 2022 Toyota RAV4 (AWD). It only costs $1,150 more than a comparable non-hybrid XLE Premium with AWD and offers significantly higher fuel efficiency.
which is more trustworthy Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR V?
The 2022 Honda CR-V is more dependable than the 2022 Toyota RAV4, which brings us to our third argument in favor of the 2022 Honda CR-V. The capacity to depend on a vehicle is essential for car ownership. It’s crucial to have a dependable car so you can drive with confidence, knowing you’ll never get lost or stuck on the side of the road. Additionally, a dependable vehicle saves time and money because it requires fewer repairs. The CR-V had an overall J.D. reliability rating of 84/100, while the RAV4 received an overall score of 81/100.
What Toyota RAV4 mileage qualifies as high?
According to Motor & Wheels, a Toyota RAV4 should endure 200,000 to 250,000 kilometers. According to how much you drive each year, that might be 13 to 16 years. If you maintain it properly, you can expect on this SUV to survive for a long time.
You’ll probably need to start replacing major components, like the engine or the transmission, once your RAV4 reaches 250,000 miles. The RAV4 is fortunate not to have a rust issue. However, after roughly six years, depending on where you reside, you’ll still need to keep an eye out for rust. Rust is more prone to form on RAV4s in regions of the country with salty ocean air or with winter-salted roads.
Do Toyota RAV4 issues frequently arise?
Treat each one with caution even if this model year isn’t quite as awful as the others on the list. If you’re considering purchasing a model from this year, we advise thorough inspection. Numerous consumers have reported gearbox problems to Car Complaints, and the NHTSA has received hundreds of reports of fuel system faults. Although it might not apply to everyone, carefully review vehicle history reports.
Consumer Reports advises against purchasing the 2019 Toyota RAV4. With a dismal score of 2, reliability and owner satisfaction were rated equally. According to CR, the overall value, trunk space, road noise, and minor transmission problems are some of the greatest problem areas.
Reliability of used Toyota RAV4s?
When it comes to dependability, J.D. Power and Consumer Reports give the Toyota RAV4 good marks. Highly regarded authorities also claim that the 2016 Toyota RAV4 is the most dependable model year, awarding it a J.D. Power reliability score of 85 out of 100 and a 91 out of 100 for its exceptional resale value.
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is still thought to be the most dependable year thus far, despite the fact that the 2017 and 2018 model years also received excellent ratings. But to be completely honest, there isn’t really a Toyota RAV4 model year to stay away from.
If you were to be picky, the 2019 RAV4 has had some problems with gear slippage, stalling or sliding forward at highway speeds, noisy acceleration, and malfunctioning gas gauges. Very early RAV models were known to have faulty gas gauges, however this was eventually fixed. Even while it’s doubtful that this 2019 RAV4 problem is related, it’s still a big deal if you don’t know yours has it and you run out of gas when the gauge stated you had plenty.
What is the lifespan of a RAV4?
What Is the Toyota Rav4’s Lifespan? With an average lifespan of between 200,000 and 250,000 kilometers and higher numbers for owners who take good care of their Rav4, the Toyota Rav4 is a top SUV in terms of durability.
Which SUV has the fewest issues?
Reviews, images, and more for the 15 most dependable SUVs
- Toyota RX 350.
- Trax by Chevrolet.
- Nissan Venza.
- Mazda RAV4.
- Toyota CX-5.
- Hello Soul.
- GLA 250 Mercedes-Benz.
- Nissan QX50.
What are typical RAV4 issues?
There were 35 reports of gearbox issues made by RAV4 drivers as of December 2021. One customer claimed that after purchasing a 2019 RAV4 with 17,500 kilometers, he frequently experienced issues with the gears changing correctly. When this RAV4 owner brought his vehicle to a Toyota dealership, the problem was fixed with a software update. As vehicles do not become better with time, these kinds of software updates are frequently more of a band aid than a remedy.
Another driver complained that his RAV4 was lurching forward at slower speeds, making the on-ramp to the busy 10 highway unpredictable and perhaps dangerous. Shuttering and shaking were other prevalent concerns. He was informed that his vehicle was functioning as intended and that the dealership could not reproduce the problem.
There were reportedly six recalls for the 2019 RAV4 due to difficulties with the backup camera, separating suspension arms, and coolant leaks, among other things. Surprisingly, there were no transmission-related recalls.
Transmission issues with the 2019 Toyota RAV4 have been extensively reported. The 2020 RAV4 was expected to be an improved model, but there have already been far too many complaints and reports of unhappiness. The 2020 RAV4 has a number of concerns that drivers are having, some of which are listed below:
- Transmission that is slow.
- The fuel gauge occasionally malfunctions and indicates that the tank is empty.
- Alignment and steering problems
- Unsteady transmission.
- Sometimes the brakes give out suddenly.
- Transmission Leaks
No recalls have yet been issued as a result of the 2020 RAV4 transmission issues. But these are the recalls for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 as of April 2021:
- Toyota was compelled to replace the fuel pump assemblies in select 2020 RAVs because the fuel pumps in those vehicles have started to malfunction and create engine issues.
- Select 2020 RAV4s have engine problems and coolant leaks, which led Toyota to conduct a recall and provide some RAV4 owners a free replacement engine and engine block.
- Toyota has decided to replace the power steering gearboxes in a small number of 2020 RAV4s because they have issues with the electric power steering system.
- Toyota is offering to replace the steering columns in select 2020 RAV4s because they may have an influence on the airbags in them.
- Toyota has agreed to replace the front lower suspension arms on some 2020 RAV4s at no cost in order to restore their safety. These arms may have cracks in them.
Several sources claim that a software update that was issued on April 15, 2019, can fix the Toyota RAV4 transmission. However, other owners claimed that even after receiving updates from the Toyota dealership, the transmission issues persisted, and owners had to take their RAV4 to a dealership to get the update.
Is the 2017 Toyota RAV4 a good year?
Among used compact SUVs, the 2017 RAV4 is a solid choice. It is equally capable of carrying tons of gear and accommodating five passengers. Additionally, the RAV4 has a smooth ride, a high projected reliability rating, and a wealth of standard safety features like frontal collision warning.
The 2015 RAV4 is dependable.
What Is the 2015 Toyota RAV4’s Reliability? J.D. Power has given the 2015 RAV4 a reliability rating of three out of five. Although the majority of competing compact SUVs score higher ratings, that is about average for the market.
Is the 2015 RAV4 trustworthy?
The 2015 Toyota RAV4’s dependability. J.D. Power has given the 2015 RAV4 a three out of five reliability rating. That’s approximately average for the market, but the majority of competing compact SUVs have higher scores.