YearToAvoid

2019 Toyota RAV4 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

Transmission & Powertrain complaints account for 80 of 878 total complaints (9%) filed against the 2019 Toyota RAV4, with a median failure mileage of 5,303. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this problem area on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
80
9% of 878
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
5,304 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report hesitation and violent downshifting or jerking when accelerating from a slow or rolling stop, sometimes tied to a Toyota reprogramming bulletin for the electronic control module.
  • Some describe RPM surging up and down during deceleration between roughly 15 and 20 mph, accompanied by hesitation and lurching.
  • Others report grinding noise from the transfer case when accelerating or decelerating between 20 and 40 mph, often when the AWD system switches to 2WD.
  • A few owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while at low speed, including one incident that resulted in a crash.
  • One owner reported the gear shifter physically coming out of the transmission housing while shifting into reverse.
  • A separate report describes complete loss of motive power while driving at 70 mph with no warning light illuminated.

When 2019 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 30, 2019, latest Jul 1, 2026.

2019 Toyota RAV4 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter92019 Q22020 Q22021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32025 Q12026 Q1
80 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (9).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 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. 201038 (10%)
  2. 201125 (9%)
  3. 201219 (7%)
  4. 201329 (11%)
  5. 201420 (10%)
  6. 201525 (8%)
  7. 201611 (5%)
  8. 201716 (5%)
  9. 201826 (8%)
  10. 201980 (9%)
  11. 202038 (6%)
  12. 202122 (6%)
  13. 202211 (8%)
  14. 202311 (7%)
  15. 20248 (5%)
  16. 20256 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2019 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints does NHTSA have on file?
NHTSA lists 80 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Toyota RAV4, which is 9% of the 878 total complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for the Transmission & Powertrain problem area on the 2019 Toyota RAV4.
At what mileage do 2019 RAV4 transmission problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2019 RAV4 is 5,303 miles, indicating many owners noticed issues early in ownership.
Did any 2019 RAV4 transmission complaints involve crashes?
NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 RAV4.
How does the 2019 RAV4 compare to other RAV4 model years for transmission complaints?
The 2019 RAV4 had 80 Transmission & Powertrain complaints (9% share), higher in raw count than every other RAV4 year listed, including 2018 (26 complaints, 8%) and 2020 (38 complaints, 6%).

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.