Problems · by component

2015 Toyota RAV4 power train problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota RAV4 cite power train, 8% of all 305 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The battery is off . It does not work. The car does not start. It looks like the battery is not properly installed. I just left my car at the Toyota dealership in June 12 for maintenance services, for brake fluid and flush etc including the replacement of a battery mounting hardware however it does not look right. The car started to go off and today it does not start at all. Please advice Sincerely, [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2025Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11669832
“Transmission shudder between approximately 25-40 mph. Toyota had a recall on some of the 2013-2015 RAV4 for this problem by the vin number. Car shakes and it has stopped running once at a red light”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2024Power trainODI 11578167
“The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle started to hesitate. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the torque converter. The vehicle was repaired, but the dealer informed the contact that if the failure reoccurred, the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2024Power trainODI 11566248
“Toyota dealer in the area says transmission fluid does not need to be serviced unless we tow trailer and etc. Well the transmission broke down and we need to put a remanufactured one. This could be fatal incident if vehicle quits on busy highway.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2023Power trainODI 11537593
“Ever since I purchased it, it had a shudder between 20-50 miles. Called the dealer, they said it was normal with these cars. 6 years after and still making shudder noise just louder now and it bothers my ears. Took it in for a diagnostic at the same dealer I bought it and they said it’s not a torque converter issue (a bulletin was issued), but a transmission issue and it will cost $6.100 to repair.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2023Power trainODI 11536396
“Transmission stopped working while driving in traffic. There was no indication that anything was wrong with the transmission. It worked fine one minute and the next it would not engage in any gear.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2023Power trainODI 11530417

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.