Problems · by component
2009 Toyota RAV4 power train problems
28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 cite power train, 9% of all 327 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
28
9% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHEN THE VEHICLE TRAVELS ABOVE 25 MPH, A LOUD WHINING NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE REAR-CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASES IN VOLUME AS THE VEHICLE INCREASES ITS SPEED. ONCE THE VEHICLE TRAVELS FAST ENOUGH, OR ENOUGH POWER IS FED THROUGH, POWER OF THE VEHICLE CAN BE AFFECTED. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD ABNORMAL NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.”
“HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. HAD GROWLING NOISE IN REAR IN 2017. HAD REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLER SUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. NOW 20000 MILES LATER IN NOVEMBER 2018 HAVE GROWLING NOISE AGAIN AND LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAYS COUPLER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT EXPIRED OCTOBER 2018. TOYOTA WON'T STAND BY NEW PART AND DEALER SAYS WOULD COST ABOUT $1900 INCLUDING LABOR.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION TOYOTA WINTER PARK (225 N SEMORAN BLVD, WINTER PARK, FL 32792) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.”
“MY VEHICLE IS LISTED AS 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL KICK OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF I REACH 25 MILES AN HOUR. WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW AND THE CAR WAS CONSTANTLY KICKING OUT AS MY TIRES WERE SLIPPING WHICH WERE NEW TIRES. I WAS THEN DRIVING IN LIGHT SNOW AND HAD TURNED ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AS SOON AS GOT CLOSE TO 25 MPH IT KICKED OUT AGAIN.”
“AT 30-40 MPH THERE IS A NOISE WHICH WHEN TEST DRIVEN BY ME WITH A TOYOTA DEALER DESCRIBED IT AS A SHUTTERING NOISE. I AM SCHEDULED TO BRING MY RV4 FOR ANALYSIS TOMORROW 7/28/17.”
Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.