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2021 8-speed transmission whining noise

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LocalExploring

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My 2021 RAV4 LE has 81,000 trouble-free miles (130,000 km), but the 8-speed automatic transmission began making a whining noise just yesterday. It is most noticeable when the vehicle is accelerating, and the pitch increases with the vehicle speed. It does not change pitch when the transmission shifts gears, so it appears to be coming from the output side of the transmission. It isn't as loud when you are coasting (when the engine is not under load). I have never seen any fluid leak from the transmission. It is front-wheel-drive. Has anyone else heard a noise like this, or does anyone have a guess what it could be?
Video here:
 
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#7 ·
I recently had the same noise on a 2012 Highlander Hybrid, which has a CVT. I was pretty sure it was in the transmission, too. I changed the oil and it had no effect. I took it to a dealer and for their $73 estimate fee, found out it was a wheel hub bearing. I never would've guessed that. They wanted $1700 parts & labor to change two hub bearing assemblies out. I did a little research on the parts, and aftermarket parts added up to $212 for both hubs (the Toyota brand hub/bearing assemblies were $448 each!). Watched a couple of Youtube videos and it didn't look that hard to me. So I declined their estimate and did it myself. Wasn't a bad job, it took a couple hours for each one. Noises gone.

Not saying you've got the same thing going on, I have no way of knowing. But it's something to check.
 
#8 ·
manukabay said:
I recently had the same noise on a 2012 Highlander Hybrid, which has a CVT. I was pretty sure it was in the transmission, too.
Click to expand...
manukabay said:
, found out it was a wheel hub bearing.
Click to expand...
LocalExploring said:
My 2021 RAV4 LE has 81,000 trouble-free miles (130,000 km), but the 8-speed automatic transmission began making a whining noise just yesterday.
Click to expand...
Lots of things can cause that whining in the OPs video. He has 81K miles which is not really a lot where you would expect damage. However, the whining could be from CV bearings, wheel bearings, alternator bearings, pilot bearing in crankshaft, center driveshaft rubber bearing assembly, and on and on. It is notoriously hard to diagnose such noises and their cause from the driver's seat.
 
#12 ·
Black_TRD22 said:
that post doesn't talk about a whining noise.
Click to expand...
Problems comes in many forms of sounds, clunks, shifting, etc etc. Was just noting the "problems" ties to the 8AT.
Maybe the whine comes from a JIT "fix" to 8AT Toyota did, and now a new whine comes from that "fix"?
I had an Acura once that had a Honda "fix" made to the problem AT, the fix got in just before the AT got into my Acura, but I never had any issues.
 
#13 ·
LocalExploring said:
My 2021 RAV4 LE has 81,000 trouble-free miles (130,000 km), but the 8-speed automatic transmission began making a whining noise just yesterday. It is most noticeable when the vehicle is accelerating, and the pitch increases with the vehicle speed. It does not change pitch when the transmission shifts gears, so it appears to be coming from the output side of the transmission. It isn't as loud when you are coasting (when the engine is not under load). I have never seen any fluid leak from the transmission. It is front-wheel-drive. Has anyone else heard a noise like this, or does anyone have a guess what it could be?
Video here:
Click to expand...
Did you ever figure out what the whining noise was?
 
#14 ·
It's hard to tell from the video but if I had to guess it might be a wheel bearing or CV joint. If you have the ability to, you can try to put the front end on jack stands and wiggling/rotating the front tires and see if there is any play or grit.
If it's a CV joint, don't cheap out and buy any china made junk on amazon or rock auto. Have the CV joint taken apart and repacked with new bearings/grease. I've learned from experience in trying 2-3 CVs on an old Corolla. Nothing was like a rebuilt OEM Toyota.
 
#15 ·
japoki1982 said:
It's hard to tell from the video but if I had to guess it might be a wheel bearing or CV joint. If you have the ability to, you can try to put the front end on jack stands and wiggling/rotating the front tires and see if there is any play or grit.
If it's a CV joint, don't cheap out and buy any china made junk on amazon or rock auto. Have the CV joint taken apart and repacked with new bearings/grease. I've learned from experience in trying 2-3 CVs on an old Corolla. Nothing was like a rebuilt OEM Toyota.
Click to expand...
If a CV joint is noisy and gritty, it's likley beyond just re-packing with grease.
I have used many parts from RA w/o issue, but choosing the better brands from RA is key.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Thanks to everyone who responded. Here's an update - I took it to the local Toyota dealer. They said they could definitely hear the noise, and they didn't know what it was, but they said they couldn't very well justify giving me a new transmission for a faint noise that didn't affect anything. I asked them if they would check the fluid level, and they said no. I know it's a pain in the butt to check, but they've got all the equipment handy and it would probably only take them 10 minutes, vs. an hour or me. Oh well. They told me to keep driving it, and come back if it got worse. Well, now it's been 8 months since I first noticed the noise, and it has almost 110,000 miles (175,000 km). The noise got slightly louder over the first month it was happening, but since then, the noise level hasn't gotten any louder. I still don't know what it is. I got some Toyota WS fluid and I'm going to do a drain-and-refill this weekend ( I probably should have changed it way back when the noise began).
 
#17 ·
LocalExploring said:
Thanks to everyone who responded. Here's an update - I took it to the local Toyota dealer. They said they could definitely hear the noise, and they didn't know what it was, but they said they couldn't very well justify giving me a new transmission for a faint noise that didn't affect anything. I asked them if they would check the fluid level, and they said no. I know it's a pain in the butt to check, but they've got all the equipment handy and it would probably only take them 10 minutes, vs. an hour or me. Oh well. They told me to keep driving it, and come back if it got worse. Well, now it's been 8 months since I first noticed the noise, and it has almost 110,000 miles (175,000 km). The noise got slightly louder over the first month it was happening, but since then, the noise level hasn't gotten any louder. I still don't know what it is. I got some Toyota WS fluid and I'm going to do a drain-and-refill this weekend ( I probably should have changed it way back when the noise began).
Click to expand...
Weird odd noises that should not be there.......................... seems normal.

It probably calmed down, because the gear shaving and bearing wear slowed down. ;)

110kmi and not yet an oil swap or filter change?

If it were me, I would be changing fluid and filter asap. Also send sample of the fluid to Blackstone for wear material analysis.
 
#18 ·
LocalExploring said:
I have never changed the transmission fluid. I will see what my dealer charges. I may try to do it myself.
Click to expand...
One should not surprised when issues arise after not changing your transmission fluid @ 130.000 kms !

To all the owners manual thumpers .... yes I know it says to change the fluid at 60.000 (100.000kms) .. but even that is stupid in my educated opinion . (technician for over 15+ yrs )

General rule with all automotive technicians is to cut ALL oem stated fluid change intervals in HALF if you want the components to be trouble free and last multiple hundreds of thousands of miles.

OEM wants these items to fail so that they get profits after warranty has expired , in turn most people trade up to a new model . OEM fluid change intervals do not have the true longevity of the component in mind .

Changing the fluid now will most likely not fix the issue , you will only be draining 1/3 of the total capacity , More problems may arise after the fact as well .

Also Toyota WS is Mediocre at best , its a NON synthetic fluid basic atf supplied for toyota by mobil exxon. , there are much better fluid options out there that meet or exceed the requirements of Toyota. like Valvoline maxlife atf - which is full synthetic .

These Aisin Transmission can last a very long time without any issue IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED. which yours has not unfortunately
 
#20 ·
LocalExploring said:
Thanks to everyone who responded. Here's an update - I took it to the local Toyota dealer. They said they could definitely hear the noise, and they didn't know what it was, but they said they couldn't very well justify giving me a new transmission for a faint noise that didn't affect anything. I asked them if they would check the fluid level, and they said no. I know it's a pain in the butt to check, but they've got all the equipment handy and it would probably only take them 10 minutes, vs. an hour or me. Oh well. They told me to keep driving it, and come back if it got worse. Well, now it's been 8 months since I first noticed the noise, and it has almost 110,000 miles (175,000 km). The noise got slightly louder over the first month it was happening, but since then, the noise level hasn't gotten any louder. I still don't know what it is. I got some Toyota WS fluid and I'm going to do a drain-and-refill this weekend ( I probably should have changed it way back when the noise began).
Click to expand...
I have this same noise and the dealership opened a Toyota Case and just heard toyota approved the dealership to order the transmission and replace it. I am at 59,700 miles so just beat the 60k warranty.
 
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