Anyone Else Have 2007 Rav Cv Manual Gear Box Problem?

November 2, 2010

I have a 2007 RAV CV 5 speed manual, just coming up to 60,000kms on the clock. About 12 months ago it mysteriously developed a problem of jumping out of 4th gear back into neutral. After it happened about 3 or 4 times I took it back to the dealer and notified them, they took it for a test drive, could not replicate the fault so said there was nothing they could do, and that it wasn't an issue that anyone else had presented to them. I kept driving it over the last 12 months and during that time it has progressively gotten worse (happening more regularly and in different driving situations but still completely unpredictable). Mainly appears to happen when driving under load up hill in 4th gear and then just suddenly pops out.Problem is it is very eratic, can drive it for a couple of hundred kms without it happening in situations where you might expect it to, then suddenly on the next trip it can happen 3 times in the space of a 50km trip over the same route and driving conditions. To cut a long story short I have now had it back to the Toyota dealer 3 times, notifying them of the issue and at each log book service, with the same response, if we can't make it happen the fault don't exist, and if we pull the gear box out and find nothing then your warranty won't cover you for the expense of that investigation. Finally I got sick of this and as the 3 year warranty period was fast drawing to a close I took the car back to the Toyota dealer and said you keep the car and keep driving it, until it happens. Luckily 3 days after them having the car and me having to rent a replacement vehicle, it happened to them whilst driving it. So now at least they admit there is an issue. They have since had the gear box out and have reported that they can not see any obvious problem on visual inspection, and have now sent the gearbox away for specialist advice??? I have been told this is a most unusual fault and that whilst they have had issues in past models with 5th gear disengagements (and now I have read on this website issues with RAV auto transmissions) I am now starting to wonder. Just recently a 2008 manual RAV in our fleet of work vehicles where I am employed, has developed the exact same 4th gear disengagement problem.

I would be very keen to hear from any other RAV owners out there who have experienced similar problems. I am still waiting to hear from the dealer on how they are going to resolve this issue for me. The 3 year warranty runs out in 8 days. I will be very disapointed if I have to keep arguing my case with them over this one.

regards

RFG

November 2, 2010

Hi RFG - welcome to the club.

We don't necessarily have the same models here but I think we do have that 5 speed box. It is usually the 5th gear that jumps out, not 4th so maybe there is a synchro playing up. In any case you have to let them have a go at fixing it but I am surprised they are sending it to a third party. Over here, if you register a complaint before the warranty expires they will honour it but you have to keep it live so try to make sure they give you adequate time to validate the fix afterwards.

I can tell you that most RAVs here of that era have 6 speed boxes coupled to a diesel engine but of the relatively low numbers of 5 speeds, they don't commonly give problems.

Good luck with the fix and keep us informed!