Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)

575 consumer complaints on file.

#10376424January 12, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374614January 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN EITHER THE PARK POSITION OR THE DRIVE POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED WHICH WOULD TAKE TIME TO ARRIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,397.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375610January 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
NUMBER 1 -- I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY RAV4. IT WAS A COLD EVENING AFTER DARK AND I LEFT WORK. THE BATTERY HAD FAILED. NOT A PROBLEM, I GOT A JUMP AND THE CAR STARTED. I LET IT SIT AND OBTAIN SOME CHARGE. WHAT WAS VERY UNUSUAL WERE THE NUMBER OF SYSTEMS THAT COULD FAIL WHENEVER A POWER SURGE WAS NEEDED, SAY FROM THE POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ETC. THE POWER SURGE WOULD LEAD TO A LIGHTS OUT, OR LOSS OF STEERING, OR ENGINE TEMPORARILY STALLING, ETC. IT RECOVERED EACH TIME AFTER THE SURGE WAS OVER (GOOD NEWS). I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IF THE BATTERY FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT SPEED I COULD HAVE EASILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I VIEW MYSELF AS VERY LUCKY. THE BATTERY WAS THE ORIGINAL BATTERY SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR. I HAVE NOT YET RETURNED IT FOR RE-CYCLING. IT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU FOR SAFETY STUDY REASONS I CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374228December 31, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND STEPPING ON THE BREAK PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPPED THEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT MY CONTROL SPED UP FORWARD AND CRASHED TO TWO PARKED CARS IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT SPEED OF 15 MPH. WHEN I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY LIFTING THE EMERGENCY PARKING HANDLE, THE CAR REVERSE ITS DIRECTION BACKWARD AND HIT A BUILDING AND STOPPED .THE CAR'S ENGINE DID NOT BECOME IDLE WHILE I WAS STEPPING ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND THE CAR BECAME WITHOUT MY CONTROL AFTER SLOWED DOWN TO LESS THAN 5 5 MPH AND MY FEET WERE ON THE BREAK PEDAL ALL THE TIME .SUBSEQUENTLY, I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE WEST LAPD AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ANY DRUGS .I HAVE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR WHICH SENT AN INSPECTOR TO RETRIEVE ANY INFORMATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT MY CAR HAS SPECIAL ACCELERATION PEDAL WHICH OPERATED BY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE WHICH COULD CAUSE SURGING FORWARD GOING FROM CLOSED THROTTLE TO OPEN THROTTLE. IN THE MEANTIME STILL WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURE RESPONSE TO MY CLAIM. I AM MATURE EXPERIENCED RESPONSIBLE DRIVE FOR YEARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE MY CLAIM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373513December 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
BRAKES WERE REPORTED AS RUSTED OUT AND WERE REPLACED DURING A 10,000 MILE STANDARD SERVICE. COST WAS NEARLY $1000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373078December 27, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PULLED INTO PARKING SPACE AT WORK DOING ABOUT 5-10 MPH. SLOWED TO TURN INTO SPACE, GIVING CAR JUST ENOUGH GAS , WHEN CAR LAUNCHED FORWARD HITTING A CHAIN LINK FENCE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES, SO I TRIED PUMPING BRAKES BEFORE IMPACT . BRAKE PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, SO I USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP CAR BEFORE IT CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE TO CAR AND FENCE. I DID NOT REPORT INCIDENT, BUT TOOK CAR TO LACEY COLLISION, AND THEY ESTIMATED DAMAGE AT $1500. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS..NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. THEY ONLY ADMITTED THAT YES, MY BRAKES WERE A BIT 'SOFT'. BUT CAR WAS NOT ON THEIR RECALL LIST.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372201December 23, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
I RECENTLY GOT MY OIL CHANGE DONE AND TIRE ROTATION FOR MY TOYOTA RAV 4. I WAS TOLD BY A NON TOYOTA SERVICE PERSON TO TAKE MY CAR TO TOYOTA TO GET THE SHOCKS CHECKS OUT SINCE THEY WERE LEAKING AND I WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH TOYOTA. MY CAR IS ONLY LIKE 2 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS BEFORE AT LIKE 20K MILES ONLY. TOYOTA HAD FIXED MY LEFT REAR SHOCKS ONCE BEFORE TOO. SO THIS WAS NOT SURPRISING TO ME KNOWING THAT THE RIGHT SHOCKS/STRUTS WERE MESSED UP THIS TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID MOISTURE ON THE SKOCKS/STRUTS WAS NORMAL AND NOTHING WAS LEAKING. ALSO THE NEW TIRES THAT I HAD REPLACED A FEW MONTHS BACK WERE WORN OUT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHOCKS/STRUTS WERE NOT A REASON FOR THAT. SINCE I WILL RUN OUT OF MY 36,000 MILES WARRANTY IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS I AM CONCERNED IF TOYOTA IS BEING HONEST ABOUT MY SITUATION OR THEY JUST DON'T CARE. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372011December 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GREETINGS, WE HAVE A 2008 RAV4 WHICH HAS TWICE EXHIBITED UNCONTROLLED ENGINE ACCELERATION. MY WIFE HAS CONTACTED TOYOTA TO NO AVAIL. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THE RAV4. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OUR COMPLAINTS AS A MORTAL SAFETY CONCERN. IT IS AS IF WE ARE TRYING TO CON THE COMPANY. AS A LIFELONG SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, THIS IS VERY DISTURBING. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO OUR POSSIBLE ACTIONS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370420December 13, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 LTD (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 65 MPH. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THEN DRIVE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN SO THE CONTACT RUBBED THE TIRES ALONG THE CURB AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT FAINTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360952October 17, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG ECU ON 2008 RAV4 NEEDS REPLACING . STARTING AT 52000 MILES DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON. RECENTLY IT WOULD STAY ON (82000 MILES), AFTER DEALER INSPECTION IT WAS DECLARED THAT A NEW AIRBAG ECU IS NEEDED AT A COST OF $670. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360813October 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA RAV4 (35K MILES) PURCHASED IN 12/07. AFTER A 40 MILE DRIVE, WE WERE SITTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR APPROX 20 MINUTES. DURING A STOP, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING LOUDLY AND LUNGED FORWARD. WITH BOTH FEET STILL ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO CREEP FORWARD UNTIL HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF. THIS IS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. AFTER SETTLING DOWN, AND DISCUSSING THE ACCIDENT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE, NO DAMAGE TO THEIR CAR, SO NO NEED TO FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT. WE CALLED TOYOTA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. AND TOOK THE CAR DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST DEALER. AFTER A CHECKING OUT THE CAR, THEY FOUND NO ISSUES, AND SAID THE CAR WAS 'TO TOYOTA'S SPECIFICATIONS', AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULDN'T GUARANTEE HOW IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359429October 6, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 KEEPS LOSING OIL . LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. RETURNED TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY PUT IN WRITING "UP TO 1 QT IN 1000 MILE IS CONSIDERED NORMAL BY TOYOTA. SINCE OIL CHANGES ARE REQUIRED EVERY 5000, IS TOYOTA SAYING IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO BE DOWN 5 QTS? ASKED REPS FOR EXPLANATION AND THEY STATED THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME WITH ONE. AT THIS RATE I SHOULD HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357824September 27, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TURNED ON IGNITION AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10353402September 1, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON OFF AND ON FOR TWO YEARS ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4. EVERYTIME I BROUGHT IT IN THE MECHANIC WOULD RUN A TEST AND SAY THAT IT WAS JUST A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM. WE ASKED THEM IF IT WAS OK TO DRIVE AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. ON THE DAY THE AIRBAGS REALLY MESSED UP MY FRIEND AND I WERE SITTING IN MY CAR, I TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES EXPLODED. IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD PUT A BOMB IN MY CAR. MY FRIEND FRACTURED HER STERNUM AND I HAD A SEVERE CLOSED HEAD INJURY, A HOLE IN MY EAR DRUM, AND THE MUSCLES IN MY NECK WERE MESSED UP. THE RAV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND DO A FINAL CHECK ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10350695August 19, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT '08 TOYO RAV4 NEW FROM SERRA TOYO IN B'HAM AL. NOW WITH 54K MILES AND NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND UPON BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, AS WE CAME TO A NEAR STOP, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT 8-10 FT STOPPING ONLY INCHES SHORT OF THE CAR AHEAD OF US. I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME AND THE CAR HAD DECELERATED TO A NEAR STOP, SO THIS IS NOT A STUCK ACCELERATOR. FLOOR MATS WERE NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVEN SO, I DECIDED THAT I MUST HAVE ERRED IN SOME WAY AND MOVED ON. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER AS WE WERE PULLING INTO A BUSINESS, WE HAD AN IDENTICAL REPEAT, THIS TIME COMING WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. THERE WAS NO DOUBT THIS TIME THAT THIS WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. IT IS THE DISTINCT FEELING OF THE ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED DOWN AND OVERRIDING THE BRAKE. EACH TIME, THE STOP WAS NOT AS A RESULT OF MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT WAS SIMPLY RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATION STOPPED BEFORE WE HIT ANYTHING. I CALLED FOR A FLATBED AND PAID $160 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 60 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP AS DRIVING WAS NOT AN OPTION. SERRA ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATORS COME IN AND CHECK THE CAR OUT. THEY CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WE COULD PICK IT UP. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WE LIVE ON A MAJOR HWY AND IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY IT COULD HAVE PRODUCED TRAGIC RESULTS. I NEED HELP! WHAT DO I DO? I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERV. AND THEY SAID IF THE INVESTIGATORS SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO. THE '08 RAV4 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS AND I SUSPECT THAT TOYOTA IS SIMPLY GOING TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS YET ANOTHER MODEL YEAR. IF YOU HAVE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS IN A '08 RAV4, PLEASE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. PLEASE ADVISE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349124August 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LAST NIGHT I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WHILE STOPPING AND WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AFTER MY CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE ON A COLD ENGINE (ALTHOUGH THE TEMP OUTSIDE WAS IN THE 70S). THE AIR CONDITIONER MAY HAVE BEEN ON IN THE CAR. I WAS JUST COMING UP TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ROAR AND THOUGH I SAW A CAR COMING ON THE CROSS STREET, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR SEEMED TO BE HARD TO RESTRAIN FROM MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 2008 RAV4 V6 WITH ABOUT 15,000 MILES, AND I HAD MY FOOT SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE. THERE IS NO FLOOR MAT AS I REMOVED THAT THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEWS THAT MATS COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SLIGHT INCREASE IN RPMS THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING CYCLES, AND THIS WAS SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE BEYOND THAT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. AT THAT POINT, I SMELLED A VERY DISTINCTIVE CHEMICAL SMELL, PROBABLY FROM THE TIRES SINCE THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR WERE BOTH WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND IT WAS FINE FOR THE 10 MINUTE DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND THEY SAID IT SHOWED NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME TO "MONITOR THE CAR AND NOTE THE TACHOMETER READING IF IT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN." TO BE HONEST, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE MADE TOO MUCH OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEN I NEVER EXPECTED IT TO HAPPEN TO ME. I AM RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW, SO I WANT IT NOTED THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR OF RAV4 MAY ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF SO QUICKLY THAT THE COMPUTER DIDN'T REGISTER THE PROBLEM? I'M JUST GLAD THAT I WASN'T ON THE OPEN ROAD, BUT AT A STOP SIGN WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347826August 6, 2010
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANG FROM THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT TWO BOLTS WERE FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. IN ADDITION, ALL FOUR TIRE BOLTS WERE EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRE BOLTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344537July 21, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 LIMITED, 6 CYL., PURCHASED NEW, NO PRIOR ISSUES, APPROXIMATELY 28,400 MILES, WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED BRAKES WITHOUT RESPONSE. PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, STANDING ON THE BRAKES, ABS, WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE AND COLLIDING INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO ER. OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO INJURIES. VIN NUMBER BEGINNING WITH "J". COLLISION SHOP REPORTS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10344118July 19, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2008 RAV 4 SIDE AIR BAGS INFLATE WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. VEHICLE IS IN REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10336648June 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING, WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND STEERED INTO A CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB, INTO A FENCE AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FOOT AND CRUSHED DENTURES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS DECLARED TOTALLED. THIS WAS NOT THE CONTACT'S FIRST INSTANCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION . SHE WAS ADVISED BY HER DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,415.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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