The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2000 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
Hard shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear of 2002 toyota rav 4 automatic transmission after 100,000 miles on odometer.
2002 Toyota RAV4 owner · NHTSA complaint
2002 toyota rav 4 transmission slips and jerks at odd times. Especially though, when trying to merge or pass in traffic.
2002 Toyota RAV4 owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Toyota RAV4 years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Toyota RAV4 years are 2002, 2003, 2001.
What are common Toyota RAV4 transmission problems?
Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, slipping, transmission replaced.
Which Toyota RAV4 years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Toyota RAV4 years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2024, 2025, 2022.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Toyota RAV4 reliability by year. How we count