RAV4 Automatic Transmission Problems

My 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with 168202 kilometers is having automatic transmission issues. The transmission indicator light comes on and it doesn't shift right, sometimes going into emergency mode. Could worn automatic transmission oil be the problem?

4 comment(s)

I had a similar issue with my old 2012 Opel Astra. The transmission was slipping gears and refusing to shift. Have you checked your car's battery recently? A weak battery was causing undervoltage, messing with the transmission control unit. Might be worth a look!

Thanks, I hadn't considered the battery. How could undervoltage specifically cause automatic transmission issues? What did you do to find out the battery was the problem?

Basically, the low voltage throws the whole system off. The computer needs steady voltage to control the transmission; with dips and spikes, it gets confused. I didn't figure it out myself, but my mechanic saw the low-voltage codes and swapped the battery for diagnostics. Get the fault codes checked at a workshop. It's dangerous to drive in emergency mode!

Thanks for the help. I took my RAV4 to a Toyota workshop. They confirmed undervoltage as the likely cause of the transmission issues. Replacing the battery and doing a transmission flush fixed the shifting. It cost 240€. I appreciate the community's knowledge!

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