The RAV4 is an SUV with a well-deserved reputation for quality. However, the 2015 model year has a few problems, mostly transmission-related. Owner complaints also cover torque converter issues, abnormal shifting, and shuddering.
Key Points
- 2015 marks the third year of Toyota’s fourth-generation RAV4 SUV, available with a six-speed automatic transmission and three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport.
- Several RAV4 owners have reported their transmission gear hunting–or shifting back and forth between gears–along with gear slipping and shuddering.
- A faulty automatic transaxle assembly may cause whistling or whining noises when driving the 2015 Toyota RAV4.
- Torque converter problems in fourth-generation RAV4s, including the 2015 model, prompted a warranty extension by Toyota.
- Overall, transmission problems are relatively sparse for the 2015 RAV4, and most of them can be avoided with proper maintenance.
RAV4 Owner Forums Reveal Common Transmission Issues with 2015 Model Year, Including Shuddering, Gears Slipping After Fluid Flush
In an active thread in the forums of RAV4 World, 2015 RAV4 owners mention transmission problems, such as shuddering while shifting, while also mentioning how the problem may be fixed through a battery cleaning or reset.
Although some owners noticed this problem after a transmission fluid change, neither they nor the Toyota dealer could determine if the problem relates to fluid levels or fluid type. However, cleaning the battery terminals seems to minimize the shuddering or fixes it altogether.
Another issue that owners suspect could relate to transmission fluids is gear slippage. Although sites like My Car Specs recommend transmission fluid flushes every 30,000 miles, some drivers noticed gears slipping after only one of these flushes.
“There was a noticeable slip when going into fourth gear, [but] the transmission never slipped before I took it for the flush,” says one owner in another RAV4 World thread titled “Transmission Shifts Hard.”
Whining and Whistling Noises in the 2015 RAV4 May Be Due to Faulty Automatic Transaxle Assembly, Says Toyota in a TSB
Another common problem reported in popular RAV4 forums concerns drivers noticing whistling noises while driving their 2015 Toyota RAV4. The noise is more noticeable between 35 and 60 miles per hour.
The likely culprit may be the automatic transaxle assembly, as the symptoms are similar to those described in a 2012 technical service bulletin published by Toyota.
“Some 2006-2012 model year RAV4 vehicles equipped with the five-speed automatic transaxle may exhibit a whine noise from the final drive gear assembly,” says Toyota. “This noise is usually noticeable between 20 mph up to 65 mph.”
The automaker’s solution is to either replace two engine mounts and a drive shaft damper, or replace the entire automatic transaxle assembly.
Gear Slippage and Shifting Issues Round Out the Problems with the 2015 RAV4’s Transmission
Along with problems related to the torque converter, there are owner reports in the Toyota Nation forums about shifting issues such as transmission gear hunting. This happens when the transmission struggles to find the right gear to accommodate the vehicle’s speed and shifts erratically back and forth between gears.
In one RAV4 World thread, a driver describes how the transmission regularly disengaged at hilltops, allowing the engine to race before downshifting after cresting the hill until the transmission failed.
Owners also discuss on this thread how Toyota dealers typically will not diagnose the problem when the vehicle is still under warranty.
Most of the Time, the 2015 RAV4’s Biggest Transmission Problems Are Due to Poor Maintenance
Serious transmission issues are infrequent for owners of the 2015 Toyota RAV4. Sometimes, these issues result from neglecting transmission service schedules.
However, proper maintenance will help you avoid a transmission repair for your RAV4 that, according to the Kelley Blue Book, could cost between $4,614 and $6,242.
Overall, the RAV4’s six-speed automatic transmission is pretty reliable. So, if you’re in the market for an SUV with a solid powertrain, the RAV4 is a safe bet.
If you find a 2015 RAV4 where the previous owner did a proper job maintaining the vehicle, you can expect the SUV to last up to 250,000 miles with the original transmission.
Photos: Toyota
