2019 Toyota RAV4 transmission and drivetrain problems
80 of the 901 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 30 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 80 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 21 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 5
Half of the 36 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 3,000 and 12,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
901 complaints in all about the 2019 Toyota RAV4, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota RAV4 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
After driving for about 15-20 minutes car makes grinding noise when accelerating past 2-30 MPH and another grinding noise while decelerating below 20-30mph. Was told that rear driveline disconnect feature is causing the issue. Started happening around 3000miles odo and been getting louder
When accelerating or decelerating from 20 MPH to 30 MPH there is a farting/grinding noise coming from the transmission. I can feel it through the brake and gas pedal also
Grinding noise from transfer case when accelerating or decelerating around 20-40 MPH. Vehicles has a driveline line disconnect assembly that seems to grind due to improper clearances. We are not sure how long this defective driveline disconnect will hold up
Clunking/thud is heard from the rear/under carriage. To duplicate the issue, it must be driven 30-40 min so that differential oil is hot and drive up to 30 MPH then slow down to below 10 MPH to confirm the issue.
Make intermittent soft grinding noise (think raspberry) when moving. Makes noise in eco and standard mode but not in sport mode. The dealership told me they could replace the whole drive train and it might make the noise
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications30 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2227 C1241 C1280 U1117
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Toyota RAV4
Source: the same files- fuel system problems 283 complaints
- engine problems 214 complaints
- electrical problems 103 complaints
- body and structure problems 91 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 80 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (9% of everything owners filed about it), and 30 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 8 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 7,200 miles; half of them between 3,000 and 12,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.