1999 Toyota RAV4 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 6%of 62 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 114,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1999 Toyota RAV4, 6% of the 62 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 114,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Without warning, car pops into neutral from fifth gear. This inadvertent action is startling, and, in my opinion, dangerous. I did not lose control of car, but only because I was alert at the time.”
NHTSA complaint #10171411, filed 2006-10, 114,000 miles“1999 Toyota rav being driven by my 18 y/o daughter. She complained that the car would rev and then jolt when it would finally shift into gear. We brought it to a aamco dealer to have diagnostics done. They said it was the computer that needed to be replaced. Since we didn't have the money at the time we decided she should drive it home and park it. It died on the way home while she was on the freeway. It just wouldn't shift into gear and slowed down to a stop in the middle of parleys canyon (I-80) in utah. Not the best situation for a young girl to be in! …”
NHTSA complaint #10289999, filed 2009-10, 123,000 miles“- while driving a Toyota rav 4 with 80000 miles on the odometer the transmission popped out of fourth gear and would not engage . She took the vehicle to the dealer, and while they were repairing the gear shift, they also determined that fifth gear needed to be repaired. At 12,000 miles the vehicle experienced the same failure while in 5th gear. The contact did not want the same technician to repair the vehicle because she was concerned that the vehicle will not be repaired correctly. Updated 03/19/07. 8jb”
NHTSA complaint #10181173, filed 2007-01, 8,000 milesRelated recalls
- 00V211000Aug 9, 2000Vehicle description: sport utility electric vehicles. If the subject vehicles are repeatedly parked by placing the shift lever into the "p" position without…Covers: Toyota RAV4 1998–2000
Related service bulletins
- 10109404Oct 16, 2014TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle…
- 10109492Sep 30, 2014TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or…
- 10132084Oct 1, 2013The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 7% |
| 2024 | 8 | 5% |
| 2023 | 11 | 7% |
| 2022 | 11 | 7% |
| 2021 | 23 | 6% |
| 2020 | 38 | 6% |
| 2019 | 82 | 9% |
| 2018 | 26 | 8% |
| 2017 | 16 | 5% |
| 2016 | 11 | 5% |
| 2015 | 25 | 8% |
| 2014 | 20 | 10% |
| 2013 | 29 | 11% |
| 2012 | 19 | 7% |
| 2011 | 25 | 9% |
| 2010 | 38 | 10% |
| 2009 | 28 | 9% |
| 2008 | 37 | 6% |
| 2007 | 53 | 5% |
| 2006 | 53 | 8% |
| 2005 | 8 | 6% |
| 2004 | 23 | 15% |
| 2003 | 209 | 66% |
| 2002 | 376 | 71% |
| 2001 | 190 | 61% |
| 2000 | 5 | 17% |
| 1999 | 4 | 6% |
| 1998 | 10 | 13% |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% |
| 1996 | 9 | 19% |
Other parts of the 1999 Toyota RAV4
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology