YearToAvoid

2006 Toyota RAV4 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 53 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2006 Toyota RAV4, 8% of all 704 complaints for this model year. That is #2 highest transmission complaint count among 21 RAV4 model years. These complaints report 3 crashes and 1 fire. Median mileage at failure: 40,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
53
8% of 704
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
40,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2006 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint May 24, 2006, latest May 13, 2019.

2006 Toyota RAV4 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2006Oct 2006Sep 2007Feb 2009Apr 2010May 2013Mar 2014Jan 2016
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2006 to May 2019; peak Aug 2006 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2006 Toyota RAV4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20058 (6%)
  2. 200653 (8%)
  3. 200753 (5%)
  4. 200837 (6%)
  5. 200928 (9%)
  6. 201038 (10%)
  7. 201125 (9%)
  8. 201219 (7%)
  9. 201329 (11%)
  10. 201420 (10%)
  11. 201525 (8%)
  12. 201611 (5%)
  13. 201716 (5%)
  14. 201826 (8%)
  15. 201980 (9%)
  16. 202038 (6%)
  17. 202122 (6%)
  18. 202211 (8%)
  19. 202311 (7%)
  20. 20248 (5%)
  21. 20256 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 53 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2006 Toyota RAV4, 8% of all complaints for this model year, including 3 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 40,000 miles.
Which Toyota RAV4 year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 has the most transmission complaints (80), compared with 53 for the 2006.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2006 Toyota RAV4?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2006 Toyota RAV4 is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.