RAV4 Owners Feel Toyota Needs To Come Clean On Transmission Issues

My ex girlfriend had a prior generation Rav4 and that car was solid as a rock. The car was fun to drive and one Toyota that was lively and engaging. The more recent models, not so. The point is the car was care free, not a hint of tranny problems.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 10:05:59 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I knew from reading the headline who created the thread.

This website is "Autospies", not "Consumer Affairs".

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 10:13:49 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

The issue is that in their quest to sell more cars than GM they let their quality go down the toilet. Saddly Toyota learned that it is not that easy to build that many cars at the expense of the consumer. I think they are solving their problems, but of course that has resulted in them shutting down plants and laying off workers.

— rigid (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 10:25:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

She had a 2002 rav4? How many miles was on the thing? The car was 7 years old. It isn't out of the ordinary for a 7 year old, high mileage vehicle to experience tranny problems.

— LexSucks (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 10:59:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Man, when it rains it pours.

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 2:02:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Sucks for RAV4 owners especially since their engines are junk as well. Most of the 4 cylinder version have serious valve guide seal problems!

— kpaxx (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 3:33:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Okay..so this may explain why Rav4 drivers are always going 40 in the passing lane on the freeway and causing other drivers to pull dumb manuvers to get around them. How does that exlain similar driving habbits of Camry, Coroloa, Prius, Lexus ES, RX, LS and even some IS drivers?

— Occarnut (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 3:51:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

God we sure are lucky that there isnt a Lexus Jav6 out there, think of the repercussions of that????

— Timzilla (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 4:35:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This is what happens when youre a reputation-driven company; when the truth comes out, that your products are shoddy, you have to protect yourself by ducking and denying. Any educated consumer knows that toyota has slipped over the years, so stories like this shouldnt be a shock. They were so desperate to be number one that they forget important things, like dependability.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 5:29:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Toyota needs to begin building cars that don't break down.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/28/2009 8:27:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

FYI...BMW FIRST TO USE NEW GM TRANSMISSION FAMILY

Pontiac, Michigan, September 18 - General Motors Corporation's GM Powertrain Group today announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with BMW AG to supply BMW with the all-new Hydra-matic 5L40-E five-speed and 4L40-E four-speed automatic transmissions for a wide range of future BMW vehicle applications.

GM has supplied Hydra-matic automatic transmissions to BMW since 1991. Currently, the Hydra-matic 4L30-E is used in BMW's 3- and 5-series cars and the Z3 roadster. GM Powertrain's Strasbourg, France plant builds the Hydra-matic 4L30-E and will produce the new 5L40-E and 4L40-E, as well.

"We are pleased to be able to continue our association with BMW and are looking forward to working with its product development experts to successfully integrate these two new transmissions into BMW's product lineup," said William J. Boskey, director, International Sales, Marketing, and Joint Ventures for GM Powertrain.

The Hydra-matic 5L40-E and 4L40-E automatic transmissions were introduced at the 1995 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt. The two transmissions, with a maximum engine torque of approximately 380 Nm, can be used in passenger car or light truck applications, for either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations. Advanced electronic controls and light weight ensure excellent fuel economy.

The Hydra-matic 5L40-E is GM's first five-speed automatic transmission. The five speeds provide improvements in performance, ability to climb grades, fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and lower noise levels at cruising speeds. Both the 5L40-E and 4L40-E offer GM Powertrain's new Electronically Controlled Capacity Clutch in the torque converter for improved fuel efficiency and shift smoothness, along with "fill-for-life" transmission fluid for ease of maintenance.

GM Powertrain is the world's largest manufacturer of engines, automatic transmissions, castings and related components. Based in Pontiac, Michigan, USA, the GM Powertrain Group operates 27 plants and eight engineering centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and France, and employs nearly 57,000 people. GM Powertrain has a global focus on serving customers within GM and throughout the world, from North and South America, to Europe, Asia, and Australia. Product and process teams work together to create the best powertrain products and services.

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of General Motors

— richard112360 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/29/2009 12:52:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The Hydramatic 6L45 (6 speed auto) is used in the 3-series and 1-series as well as the X3. When it comes to automatics, I'm sorry, but GM does them better than anybody else.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 8/30/2009 1:24:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2