Nope.

 

Yes. I have this same exact issue with our 2015 Rav4 XLE. Since day one brand new, I have noticed this weird shifting it does.

I'm planning to call my dealer.

 

Heard more than I should have about it. I suspect there is indeed a problem but no first hand knowledge.

 

Hi there, new guy. ... Yes I have a 2015 Rav4 limited AWD with the same issue/concern. To me, it seems like the converter is locking up too early. But you are describing the issue very well.

 

Forgot to mention that it does it under very light throttle. If you have a heavy foot it shifts better timing wise.

 

I can confirm this as well.

I've still yet to call my dealer, however, the weird shifting seems to be worse and more noticeable as of late.

UPDATE: Just talked to dealer and they want me to bring it in tomorrow morning. I'll post back with more information once I know.

 

Any news from the dealer?

 

So, the first questions is - how many speed transmission did your previous car had?

It's obvious that a 6-speed transmission will shift gears more frequently than a 4-speed transmission. An 8-speed transmission will shift even more frequently. That's the purpose of having more gears - to use the most appropriate gear for the combination of speed, load and driver's intent. It would be stupid to design and build a 6 (or more) speed transmission and then expect it to behave like an ancient 4-speed.

 

Yes, in the old days transmissions were just a simple hydraulic pump and shifting was handled by mechanical valves. Now-a-days, transmissions are shifted by electronically controlled solenoids that can provide a plethora of options, and thus the complexities in getting these timed correctly can be challenging. Especially when you?re trying to be environmentally sensitive to the gas mileage/performance dilemma.



While these new transmissions are cable of shifting from 2nd to 5th, based on many variables, they also need to be able to determine that maybe 5th should have been 4th gear, or maybe delay the converter lock-up another second or two. This is exactly the issue we are experiencing. The transmission is shifting to too high a gear and pulling the engine RPM?s too low for the little 2.5L motor. Then a second or two later, the computer realizes it needs more gear and then immediately downshifts, or corrects itself.

While a bit annoying, it?s also adding needless wear and could cause reliability issues, hence the need for dealership/factory intervention.

 

Sorry Yeah-Right for the late response.

Dealer said they couldn't find anything. Typical response. I PM'd you.

katekebo - My Rav shifts about 4-5 times before 40 mph. Up and down, up and down up and down. It's all over the place. My dealer said they drove it for 30 minutes (probably some kid) and found nothing wrong when they hooked up the computer diagnostics.

How they did not notice the abnormal shifting is beyond me.

My next plan of attack is contacting my Sale Person. This is our 4th new Toyota purchased in the last 6 years. I'm not giving up so easily on this.

I have tried the Eco and Sport modes. The sport mode seems to make it a little better. Eco mode is no difference. Sport mode sucks cause it makes the throttle way too sensitive. Eco mode feels like I'm dragging an anchor.

 

All Gen.4 RAVs do that since 2013. Yes, it is annoying, but Toyota has decided that "it's good enough". Toyota knows that it bothers some people (they do read this forum and other similar sites), and literally dozens of people have contacted them directly to express their displeasure. You may go to complaint to the dealer, but it's not going to change anything. The dealer cannot change the software and it's very low on Toyota's priority list. This exact transmission model has been in use since 2006, with many cars well over 200k miles. It has proven to be reliable and durable, and the logic implemented in the software, while disliked by some people, does an effective job in keeping fuel consumption low and reliability high.

One thing to keep in mind is that your driving style may be contributing to the problem. The transmission software has an AI algorithm that "learns" the drivers "style" and adapts to it. If you drive for a few miles like an "old granny", then like a "lead-foot", and then like an "old granny" again this will confuse the transmission and it will take it a few miles / driving cycles to adapt. It is very noticeable when we switch cars at home. It takes the car 10-15 min to re-learn who is driving every time my wife and I switch cars (this applies to both her RAV and my Venza).

 

Good info from all ... Thanks

 

2.5L is underpowered for this vehicle. The 6-speed doesn't make up for it. AWD weight would be worse than the lighter FWD. I would have a RAV4 if it had the Venza's 2.7L. Not enough engine for this vehicle. Sad.

Besides the 6 gears, you will have the TC locking, slipping, and unlocking pretty much all the time. Makes it feel likes its shifting all the time when it is simply locking unlocking as needed. It's normal. Get a Hybrid... less gears and faster!

I would have the ATF level checked correctly per the factory service manual. And, they should software reset the transmission to relearn your driving habits.

Make sure engine is running ok. Many transmission issues can be caused by engine issues. Change the air filter. Use a bottle of FI cleaner. Switch grades of gasoline. Use different gas stations. What is your cold engine oil level?

When a vehicle is underpowered, low tire PSI and iffy alignment can drag it down some more. What's your morning cold tire PSI?

If over 30k, a complete flush of the ATF should should smooth out the shifts too.

 

2.5L is underpowered for this vehicle. The 6-speed doesn't make up for it. AWD weight would be worse than the lighter FWD. I would have a RAV4 if it had the Venza's 2.7L. Not enough engine for this vehicle. Sad.

Well, Central Florida doesn't have much in the hilly department but, there are a few areas that is somewhat Hilly like Altamonte Springs, Florida and can say that my 2014 RAV-4 2-WD with the 2.5 Liter is very powerful and the Automatic Transmission is a delight.

Perhaps you don't know what Under-Powered vehicle means like myself?:grin:

I own a 1992 Toyota Camry XLE (Japan made) with the 2.2 Liter (5S-FE Engine) and Automatic (A140E) with 487,586+ miles (without any rebuilt history) and you can say it is very under-powered with perhaps just 125 Horse Power at 4,000 RPMs.

I wonder what you are comparing the RAV-4 against?>

 

^I'd take it to another dealer to see if they'll do something about it. Couldn't hurt.

 

I'm not sure if the ECU's learn your driving style, but if they indeed do, they should be adjusting continuously, not just during the first few miles or minutes. REALLY ...

You must be a corporate bean counter saving money from a potential recall.

 

I know this post is old and hopefully you guys are still here, are your rav4s still doing this weird/hunting for gears? It drives me nuts and Toyota says no problem because no CEL light. Did your guys transmissions ever fail or do they still act like this? A few times I was coming to a stop but realized I didn’t need to stop so I immediately started to accelerate, the transmission felt like it was upshifting in the middle of a down shift, idk how to explain it, like it got confused going into a downshift and then I accelerated and upshifted. Idk it acts weird but I’ve never had it fail or send any codes. Did you guys ever fix yours? Or is it still the same? I’m worried for the long run and I feel it’s the ecu becoming confused af.

 

Nope. Mine never got fixed.

However, here is something interesting. About a year ago I went and test drove a used Camry. 2018 model. Ironically, during my test drive I noticed it did the same exact gear searching my Rav4 was doing. I returned to the dealer and told them about it. I said if you can fix it I will consider buying it. They sent the Camry to the Dealer and MAGICALLY, they fixed the shifting issue. So, there is a problem and there is a fix.

 

It’s crazy like come on acknowledge these issues Toyota! I have a 2015 Scion tC too and it has the same issues! It’s an automatic 6 speed. I think it’s these 6 speed “learning” transmissions. Like sometimes I drive smooth and sometimes I drive spirited and it gets confused! I hate it. But they fixed it for the 2015 Camry and FRS! What about us! Do you think that it will damage the transmission or just just something more felt because of the shift patterns. Idk anymore. I just don’t want it to fail and I’m so upset I always have to worry about this when Toyota can send out a TSB and fix it.

 

I have a 2014. What I notice is that driving on the hwy it has a problem staying in 6th gear. I attribute that to it requiring more power because it is sensing a lower vacuum. At certain speeds, I must take my foot off the throttle to let it shift. But on rt 90 thru SD at 80MPH it was almost always in 5th gear. Anything over 70MPH, even on level road causes it to downshift.
I have not noticed a shifting issue under 60MPH. I use my cruise a lot over 35MPH.

 

In NO WAY I am posting the following Video to promote any Product and instead trying to point out that these Sealed Automatic Transmissions will need some sort of maintenance to solve many of the shifting issues many here are experiencing, especially after many many miles down the road.

If you read your Toyota Owners' manual they are completely against any additives or special formulated cleaners etc....etc....

However, you really can NOT see the condition of the Automatic Transmission because these units lack a dip stick.

Okay, there is the video, just for REFERENCE ONLY and consider taking your RAV4 to a trusted Pro Shop that can perform a fluid change out and drop the pan to inspect the magnets and any possible sludge build-up on the inside of the pan. Clean and replace filter and replace Automatic Transmission Fluid per Toyota's recommendation, without Cleaners nor additives would be my go to thoughts.

 

you guys who have had these transmission shift issues or rough shifts, have you had any worries or big problems from it? Or is everything fine? I’m just wondering long term what potential damage could be done. Sometimes if I’m rolling through a stop and I end up punching it, the transmission feels like it was trying to downshift, but then upshifted and created like a double shift, I can’t really explain it but it felt odd.

 

Do you guys get the rough shifts still? Around 1-2-3? Rough downshift to 1st or 2nd when coming to a stop.

 

Hello Warren,

Believe it or not, I am up at 41,000 original miles on my mom's 2014 RAV4 XLE made in Japan.

I have zero issues with rough shifts or down-shifts, however, soon I would need to think about changing the Automatic Transmission Fluid in both the Transmission and Front-Drive Differential.

Anyone has done a Fluid Change yet?

 

i've noticed the same weird shifting on our 'new to us' 2016 se with 22k miles on the odo. i chalked it up to the 6 speed trans. i've had 3 toys with the old 4 speed trans and they all worked great the entire time i owned them. no fuzzy shifting, no gear hunting or nothing. just crisp shifts when necessary. when they went to the 5 speed trans in 2005 camry's, this mess started and went well into 2008 or so as far as i can tell from posts i've read. and now the 6 speed trans seem to have the problems as well. guess i gotta learn how to drive it like the engineers designed it be driven or live with it...smh
tony

 

There is always transmission "issues" whether that is the current 8-speed, the previous 6-speed, the old 5-speed, the other 4-speed, or the seemingly bulletproof older 4-speed.

At the very least, do a drain and fill to verify capacity then whatever happens afterwards happens.

 

yep, when it hits 30k i will do a drain and fill but at 22k, it's a bit early. i do miss me some bulletproof 4 speeds toy xmissions tho....

 

Gotta get that MPG... it's just something you grow accustomed to. Or you move on to CVT and complain about that or you move onto a different manufacturer and deal with their transmissions.