YearToAvoid

2009 Toyota RAV4 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2009 Toyota RAV4, 9% of all 327 complaints for this model year. That is #8 highest transmission complaint count among 21 RAV4 model years. These complaints report 1 crash. Median mileage at failure: 78,385 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
28
9% of 327
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
78,385 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 13, 2009, latest Jul 14, 2023.

2009 Toyota RAV4 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2009Mar 2010Sep 2012Sep 2014Apr 2015Aug 2016Apr 2018May 2019
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2009 to Jul 2023; peak Nov 2009 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2009 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 2009 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 28 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2009 Toyota RAV4, 9% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 78,385 miles.
Which Toyota RAV4 year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 has the most transmission complaints (80), compared with 28 for the 2009.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2009 Toyota RAV4?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 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.