So I bought a 2015 rav4 limited a few days ago from an Infiniti dealership. Test drove it and it was great. I got it home, and the next day I couldn’t help but hear this crunching sound when I shift from park to reverse or from reverse to drive. It only lasts for a second, but there’s a definite “crunch” sound. So I took it back and so far they’ve told me:

  1. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just an older car.

  2. Well ok, so it’s actually the motor mount. It’s ABSOLUTELY NOT THE TRANSMISSION. And the motor mount DOES NOT need to be replaced. It can be bad and left alone. And because it doesn’t need to be fixed, we won’t cover it.

  3. (After I told him google says a bad motor mount can hurt the car and it does need to be replaced) Ok. We’ll replace it for free.

I told them to wait while I get a second opinion, and if it does turn out to be the motor mount, they can do it and cover the costs.

My question is, being that the car only makes this sound when it’s not moving (only when switching from park to reverse, and reverse to drive), does it sound like it could actually be the motor mount? They said they’ve checked the transmission 2 times already and swear up and down it’s not the transmission. You’ll understand my hesitation to believe them.

My understanding of a motor mount sound would call for it to be happening while the car is moving. Only happening while shifting gears makes me worry that it’s the transmission. It drives fine. It does not jerk or jump.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

2015 rav4 limited. Automatic 145k miles

  • Narrow_Ad_8265OPBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Well, the contract says if we find an issue with the car within 30 days, I can get my money back and return the car. Them offering me a free repair is nice, but it’s a dud, no freebie is worth it to me. I’m well within the 30 days and if it’s going to be a coin toss on this car, I’d rather just return it. It’s a beautiful rav. Love it, but not enough to spend all my savings on a lemon. Had I been more sure that it was just the motor mount, then I’d be fine with it. But everyone is pointing out that you can’t really be sure.