2011 Toyota RAV4 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 9%of 287 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 47,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Toyota RAV4, 9% of the 287 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 47,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving about 30 MPH, the car suddenly increased speed on its own, I applied brakes, the braking did not slow the car, the car continued to increase in speed, I then shifted the gear into neutral, the engine noise roared loudly, and I pressed the brake hard, the car stopped, while the engine continued to roar loudly for another 30 seconds.”
NHTSA complaint #10435596, filed 2011-11, 700 miles“This is an incident involving sudden vehicle acceleration. I was stopped with my foot on the brake in the where great mall parkway turns onto eastbound montague expwy in milpitas, ca. Despite having my foot on the brake, the vehicle began to creep forward. I responded by pressing the brake pedal harder. This caused the vehicle stability control system to engage and the brake pedal pushed through the resistance point as is typical when the vehicle stability control engages. …”
NHTSA complaint #10457174, filed 2012-05, 31,212 miles“Our 2011 RAV4 was totaled in december 2013 when a bmw 5 series crashed into us while my wife was making a left turn. The impact was to the front tire on the passenger side and it was so severe, the entire wheel assembly was ripped out of the transmission and ended compressed against the passenger door; however incredibly none of the airbags deployed. My son, who was sitting in the front was unharmed, however my daughter in the back was sitting behind the driver seat and flew across the car smashing violently against the rear passenger door, loosing consciousness. …”
NHTSA complaint #10587904, filed 2014-05, 44,000 miles“On 1/6/14 I was coming to an intersection and I was slowing down. I noticed that the engine was raving and was trying to pull me forward. Because I was pressing the brakes the car was able only to jerk forward. I had to switch to neutral to prevent car jerking forward. Then the engine returned to normal RPM. This actually happened the second time. The first time it happened in october 2013. On 1/9/14 I gave the car to a Toyota dealer. They said that they will take this matter very seriously and the Toyota engineers will come to read the computer data and review the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10561460, filed 2014-01, 6,000 miles“My recently purchased RAV4 2011 rolled backwards while in drive and my passenger door mirror caught the edge of my garage and shattered. I had no idea that this car rolled backwards while in drive. I was not told by the salesman, the manual also does not state it. The replacement of my mirror will cost me $360.00 but more importantly it could have rolled back into my wife and she is not replaceable. This car is not safe. It is not expected to happen with an automatic transmission and if no one is mentioning it to you, how are you suppose to know? Someone is going to get hurt eventually. …”
NHTSA complaint #10437616, filed 2011-11, 565 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10146490Dec 12, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE December 12, 2017 Rev1: The Warranty and Parts Information sections have been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded…
- 10140597Dec 12, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE December 12, 2017 Rev1: ? The Warranty and Parts Information sections have been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded…
- 10140566May 2, 2016TSB: Some 2006 - 2012 model year 4WD RAV4 vehicles may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling when driving as a result of contamination to the front…
- 10092682May 2, 2016Tsb: some 2006 - 2012 model year 4wd rav4 vehicles may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling when driving as a result of contamination to the front…
- 10152282Dec 3, 2015WPB: In certain 2006 to 2012 model year Rav4 4WD vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where the vehicle may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling…
- 10152281Dec 3, 2015DD: In our continuing efforts to help ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Rear…
- 10152280Dec 3, 2015DL: In our continuing efforts to help ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Rear…
- 10093766Dec 3, 2015Wpb: in certain 2006 to 2012 model year rav4 4wd vehicles, toyota has received some reports where the vehicle may exhibit a growl type noise from the rear differential coupling…
- 10093722Dec 3, 2015"dd: in our continuing efforts to help ensure the best in customer satisfaction, toyota is announcing a warranty enhancement program to extend the warranty coverage for rear…
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 2011 Toyota RAV4
69 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
50 complaintsBrakes
48 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsSeat belts
30 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsBody and structure
16 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsFuel system
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 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