YearToAvoid

2020 Toyota RAV4 Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, 6% of all complaints for the year. No related recall exists for this area, and the median mileage at failure is 500 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
38
6% of 634
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the coolant bypass valve failing and triggering a persistent "engine maintenance required" warning that won't clear.
  • Several report the coolant bypass valve leaking coolant onto electrical components, raising concerns about overheating.
  • Some describe the vehicle rolling backward on an incline after being shut off in drive instead of park, before the driver could react.
  • One owner reports the engine losing power and cutting out with a "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" warning appearing on the dash.
  • A RAV4 Hybrid owner reports losing power and jerking during highway driving along with a Hybrid System Malfunction message and check engine light.
  • One owner reports hesitation and jerking at low speeds along with a fuel pump that shut off early and a tank that later overflowed.

When 2020 Toyota RAV4 transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 17, 2020, latest Sep 4, 2026.

2020 Toyota RAV4 transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2020Aug 2022Jul 2023Apr 2024Sep 2024Jun 2025Sep 2026
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2020 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2020 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2020 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 transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 38 complaints in the Transmission & Powertrain area for the 2020 RAV4, which is 6% of the 634 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 transmission or powertrain?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2020 RAV4.
What is the most common powertrain complaint on the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
Multiple sample complaints describe a failing coolant bypass valve that triggers an unremovable engine maintenance warning light.
At what mileage do 2020 RAV4 transmission problems typically appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 500 miles for this problem area, though individual sample complaints mention higher mileages.
Were there any injuries or crashes linked to 2020 RAV4 powertrain complaints?
NHTSA records 1 injury and 0 crashes and 0 fires among the 38 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2020 RAV4.

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.