Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)

575 consumer complaints on file.

#10822626January 27, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE AT 35 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE MUFFLER WAS DETACHED AND WEDGED NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DETACHED HEAT SHIELD WAS REMOVED. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPOT WELD ON THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK AND THE MUFFLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,536.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819205January 10, 2016
POWER TRAIN
REAR U JOINT SEIZED AT 100519 MILES. NOTED VIBRATION AND REAR WHEEL INSTABILITY STARTING APPROX 30 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10818805January 7, 2016
STEERING
VEHICLE DEVELOPED A CLUNK NOISE THAT COULD BE HEARD AND FELT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND ESPECIALLY DURING SLOW SPEED OPERATION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN 8/2015 AT ~45,000 MILES. VEHICLE ALSO DEVELOPED A LOOSE FEEL IN THE STEERING AND WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. BY 1/2016, THE PROBLEM GOT NOTICEABLY WORSE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF CHECKING THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEM, THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT". THE LOCAL SHOP OWNER STATED HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE SAME STEERING SHAFTS ON OTHER RAV4S AROUND THE SAME VINTAGE (2006-2010). I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE AGENT ALSO STATED THEY HAD "SEVERAL" INCIDENTS WITH THIS VINTAGE OF RAV4S AND STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. I THEN LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH RAV4S OF THE SAME VINTAGE AND HAD SIMILAR RESULTS WITH LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS EVENTUALLY THE STEERING SHAFT AND/OR SHAFT U-JOINT KNUCKLES COULD FAIL DUE TO THIS POOR DESIGN AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL (STEERING) OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA WILL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10818542January 6, 2016
STEERING
2008 RAV 4 HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES. WAS EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING SHAFT AT A COST TO ME OF $688. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, YEAR AND MODEL FOR A LONG TIME. WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL GENERATED FOR THIS AS TOYOTA OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF FAULTY MANUFACTURING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811411December 21, 2015
ENGINE
THE CAR IS LOOSING ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL IN 1100 MILES AND IT STARTED ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS INDUSTRY STANDARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10810960December 17, 2015
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816162December 17, 2015
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS CONSUMER 15 QUARTS OF OIL IN 36,000 MILES. ALSO, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS SOME RUST IN THE DRUM AREA THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE NOISE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809957December 14, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V166000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807775December 1, 2015
STEERING
HAVING JUST EXITED I-95, I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO PULL UP TO THE CURB AT THE PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT TO PICK UP A PASSENGER. UPON DOING SO, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A LOUD POP OR CLUNK SOUND, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LURCHED APPROXIMATELY 6-8" TO THE LEFT - AND NEARLY OUT OF MY HANDS - ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE CROWD AT THE CURB. AFTER THIS SOUND OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL (AS IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT IN 2013) WAS STILL OPERATIONAL, HOWEVER WAS ABLE TO MOVE APPROXIMATELY 6 - 9" UP, DOWN, RIGHT, OR LEFT WHILE STILL REMAINING OPERABLE. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS ASKED IF I HAD BEEN IN A FRONT-END COLLISION (ANSWER, "NEVER"), AS A FACTORY WELD HAD FAILED THAT KEEPS THE STEERING COLUMN ATTACHED TO A SAFETY ROD IN THE DASH. REPAIRS ARE EXPECTED TO RUN APPROXIMATELY $3,700. MATTER HAS BEEN SENT TO TOYOTA CORPORATE, HOWEVER NO WORD HAS COME BACK. IT APPEARS AS IF I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL REPAIR COST, DESPITE FAILURE IN FACTORY WELD. APPARENTLY NO FAIL-SAFES ARE IN PLACE SHOULD THIS WELD FAIL, SUCH THAT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ARISES, ESPECIALLY IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THREE MINUTES EARLIER WHEN I WAS IN VERY HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC, INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING EXITED, AND MOVING AT 10 MPH OR LESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681270November 9, 2015
SUSPENSION
2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR SUSPENSION ARM RUST AND FAILURE RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REAR SUSPENSION IN SPECIFICATION BECAUSE SUSPENSION ARMS WERE BENT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO SECOND OPINION, AND WAS INFORMED THE ARMS WERE NOT BENT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ARMS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH ADJUSTABLE ARMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788417November 4, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NOTICED WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT APPEARED TO HAVE A BLOWOUT. REPLACED WITH NEW BULB, DID NOT WORK. CHECKED FUSE TO LIGHT, FUSE GOOD. HIGH BEAM DOES WORK, LOW BEAM DOES NOT. CHECKED ONLINE, AND SEE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787194October 30, 2015
ENGINE
THIS VEHICLE HAS REQUIRED ABOUT 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL TO BE ADDED IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT 2 SEPARATE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, AND BOTH HAVE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT USING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND THEREFORE DOES NOT REQUIRE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO NEED 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785607October 23, 2015
ENGINE
MY CAR BURNS MORE OIL THAN IT SHOULD.WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE RECALL, THEY RECOMENDED ,I LET THEM PUT NEW OIL STEM VALVE GASKETS IN FOR $530.00. NOW MAYBE I NEED THEM BUT,EVERYTIME, I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR A RECALL THE DEALERS WANT ME TO PAY TO GET SOME THING FIXED.ENOUGH IS ENOUHG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785370October 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT MY REGULAR SERVICE LOCATION. MECHANIC NOTED LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND I WAS HEARING A "WHIRING" NOISE WHILE DRIVING, TOLD TO CONTACT TOYOTA. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOTED IT WAS THE DIFFERENTIAL COUPLER. WOULD NOT COVER THE $1400 REPAIR EVEN THOUGH TSB-0080-13 AND SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT NO 960 WAS IN PLACE AT THAT DATE/TIME. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PURCHASED PART THROUGH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND HAD INSTALLED BY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. CONTACTING TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA LETTER TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL COUPLER THAT I HAD TO HAVE INSTALLED SINCE SO MANY RAV4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIRS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THEM. I HAVE ATTACHED A FELLOW RAV4 OWNERS INVOICE THAT SHOWS COUPLER REPLACED UNDER THE SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT THAT IS ALSO ATTACHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783547October 20, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, WHEELS
ON OCTOBER 5 AND 6, 2015 MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT PIERCEY TOYOTA IN MILPITAS TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, FRONT/BACK BRAKES AND FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS, A TOTAL OF $2,000. ON OCTOBER 8, 2015, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BACK FROM STANFORD LUCILE PACKARD OVER DUMBARTON BRIDGE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN MY CAR. JUST BEFORE THIS EVENT, THE ABS, VSC, AND SLIP WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY STIFF AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO ANY REPETITIVE PUMPING OF THE BRAKE. I CALLED 911 AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE FRONT TRAFFIC CAME TO A HOLD I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MY ENTIRE CAR SLIPPED TO THE LEFT. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BY THE BUS BEHIND US. SOME GOOD SAMARITANS SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND HELPED ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. THAT DAY, MY 9 YRS. OLD SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I REQUEST THAT TOYOTA INVESTIGATES/RECALLS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT THAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED. PIERCEY TOYOTA IN MILPITAS INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT ON 10/09/15. THEY FOUND C1249 OPEN STOP LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT, C1223 ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, MY VEHICLE HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. PIERCEY TOYOTA REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10782971October 16, 2015
SUSPENSION
THE RIGHT REAR SWAY BAR LINK BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 136842 MILES. IT WAS FOUND BY THE TOYOTA DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781843October 13, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
ON OCTOBER 5 AND 6, 2015 MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT PIERCEY TOYOTA IN MILPITAS TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, FRONT/BACK BRAKES AND FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS, A TOTAL OF $2,000. ON OCTOBER 8, 2015, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR BACK FROM STANFORD LUCILE PACKARD OVER DUMBARTON BRIDGE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN MY CAR. JUST BEFORE THIS EVENT, THE ABS, VSC, AND SLIP WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY STIFF AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO ANY REPETITIVE PUMPING OF THE BRAKE. I CALLED 911 AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. WHEN THE FRONT TRAFFIC CAME TO A HOLD I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MY ENTIRE CAR SLIPPED TO THE LEFT. WE ALMOST GOT HIT BY THE BUS BEHIND US. SOME GOOD SAMARITANS SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND HELPED ME TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. THAT DAY, MY 9 YRS. OLD SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I REQUEST THAT TOYOTA INVESTIGATES/RECALLS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES FOR TOYOTA RAV4 2008. IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE BRAKE SYSTEM CONTAINS A BRAKE ACTUATOR THAT ADJUSTS THE FLUID PRESSURE OF EACH WHEEL CYLINDER. WITHIN THE ACTUATOR IS AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL THAT CONNECTS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR MOTOR AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE SKID CONTROL ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU). DUE TO MANUFACTURING VARIATION, THERE COULD BE A REDUCTION IN CONTACT FORCE BETWEEN THE TWO COMPONENTS OF THE TERMINAL, CAUSING OXIDE FILM TO INCREASE RESISTANCE. A LARGER THAN NORMAL INCREASE IN RESISTANCE CAN CAUSE THE ILLUMINATION OF VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR THE SKID CONTROL (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL OR VSC) SYSTEM, ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. LFTHIS OCCURS, THESE SYSTEMS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780740October 8, 2015
STEERING
I HAVE A 2008 RAV4. IN 2010, I EXPERIENCED A "CLUNKING" OR "THUNKING" SENSATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN ON LOW SPEED TURNS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS THE CAUSE AND REPLACED IT. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN IN 2012 AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AGAIN. IN 2015, I HAD STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH HAD A SIMILAR FEEL (A "THUNK" OR "CLUNK" FEELING WHEN TURNING). THIS TIME THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING RACK AND RELATED PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND CHARGED ME $2,400 FOR THE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780556October 7, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED LEFT TO RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BOLT THAT ATTACHED THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIE ROD TO THE VEHICLE HAD DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 01/20/16*LJ *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779478October 3, 2015
ENGINE
I AM HAVING OIL BURNING ISSUES WITH MY RAV4 ALSO. IT IS A 2008, 4 CYLINDER. I HAVE HAD MY OIL CHANGED RELIGIOUSLY IN THIS CAR AS IT WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR. EVERY 3000 MILES AND I HAVE THE ALL THE PAPERWORK. ABOUT 4-5 MONTHS AGO, EVERY TIME I PRESS BREAK AND NOTICED THE OIL FLICKER ON AND OFF. STOPPED AT A STATION AND IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY OF OIL. I HAD HAD AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT 2500 BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I THOUGHT MAY BE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID NOT PUT ENOUGH ENGINE OIL AS RECOMMENDED. NEXT TIME I TOOK MY CAR TO FIRESTONE SERVICE AND AGAIN TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS NO ENGINE OIL LEFT, THE ENGINE OIL STICK IS COMPLETELY DRY. I WAS READING ON ONLINE FORUMS THAT A LOT OF CONSUMER HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR RAV4. THERE IS NO RECALL FROM TOYOTA AND LOCAL DEALER DON'T WANT TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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