Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)
575 consumer complaints on file.
- #10630228September 2, 2014ENGINE
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AS I DO EVERY 3000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS LITTLE OIL. THEY LOOKED FOR LEAKS ETC. NONE FOUND. THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. ABOUT 1500 MILES IN MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MY BROTHER IN LAW WHO IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR 30 YEARS AND TAKES CARE OF MY CAR TELLS ME MY CAR IS CONSUMING OIL AND YOUR TALKING A BIG JOB ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO RUN A CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH I DID AND YES THAT IS WHAT I AM TOLD. THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO UNLESS I PAY TO HAVE IT FIXES WHICH IS VERY COSTLY I WAS ADVISED TO CHECK OIL EVERY 1000 MILES AND FILL. UPON RESEARCH THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS TOYOTA OWNERS NOT ONLY ON RAVA4'S BUT OTHER MODELS AS WELL AROUND THE 2006/2008 TIME FRAME. TOYOTA ADMITS TO PROBLEM AND FIXES IN LATER MODELS BUT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT!!!! I HAVE JOINED EVERY LAW SUIT, COMPLAINT BOARD, ETC. AND FOR THIS REASON WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10628595August 26, 2014VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S VISOR IS LOOSE. IT WON'T FOLD UP. PLEASE KINDLY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. THANKS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10622510August 15, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V37000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIRS FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10621846August 12, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND 4WD LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER WE PURCHASED VEHICLE. WE WERE ADVISED TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO RESET, IT WORKED UNTIL CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THEN THE LIGHTS CARE ON AGAIN, AND 4WD WOULD NOT WORK. OUR DRIVEWAY REQUIRES 4WD! TOOK IT TO TOYOTA SERVICE NEAR OUR HOME, HE CALLED WARRANTY COMPANY, THEY WOULD NOT PAY BECAUSE EVAP CANNISTER AND HOSES HAD PREVIOUS WATER DAMAGE, AND WERE RUSTED. MANLY HONDA IN SANTA ROSA HAS PUT US OFF FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. THIS IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR FOR OUR DAUGHTER. THEY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS. WE WERE INFORMED TOYOTA ONLY COVERED THIS PROBLEM UP TO 70,000 MILES. TO TAKE IT TO DEALER!! THEY WILL NO LONGER RESPOND. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10619302August 6, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR WOULD NOT START, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT REMAINED ON EVEN WHILE KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION. ALSO, THERE WAS A HUMMING AND SLIGHT TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING HAD SHORTED OUT AND SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS CAUSING SOMETHING TO STAY ON CONSTANTLY AND IT WAS DRAINING THE BATTERY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET SOMEONE ELSE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SO I PULLED UP MY CARPET AND SURE ENOUGH THE ENTIRE FLOOR BOARD WAS COVERED WITH WATER AND THE PAD WAS COMPLETELY SOAKING WET. IT APPEARS THAT WATER HAS DAMAGED SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE VOID OF LEAKS AND ABLE TO FUNCTION IN RAIN AND SNOW CONDITIONS. TOYOTA REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THIS IS THE LINK TO THE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS EXPERIENCE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/96-4-3-GENERAL/93222-RANDOM-DASH-LIGHTS-GAUGES-EVEN-KEY-REMOVED-2.HTML. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10611307July 17, 2014SUSPENSION
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED A SECOND URGENT RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM, MEANING THEY DIDN'T FIX IT THE FIRST TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT LOCAL DEALERS AND TOYOTA USA SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10609219July 9, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EVAPORATIVE CONTROL (EVAP) SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW. THIS DESIGN FLAW ALLOWS WATER/DEBRIS/ETC TO ENTER THE EVAP SYSTEM, RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REPLACE PIECES OF THE EVAP SYSTEM SUCH AS FILTER EMISSION HOSES, CHARCOAL CANISTER, CANISTER VENT VALVE, OR ACCORDING TO MY LAST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP VISIT THE WHOLE EVAP SYSTEM! NEWER RAV4 MODELS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE A COVERING UNDER THE CAR AS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS SUCH AS RAIN WITHOUT RISKING AN EMISSION HOSE OR CHARCOAL CANISTER GETTING DEBRIS IN IT OR GETTING CAUGHT ON SOMETHING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10607437July 1, 2014SUSPENSION
I RECEIVED AN "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" FROM TOYOTA SOMETIME JAN - APRIL 2014, REGARDING "REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS (NO 1), ONE OF SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES I'VE RECEIVED SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE I CANNOT GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN I CALLED IN LATE MAY AND AGAIN TODAY. AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PART AND ADVISED TO CALL BACK AT END OF THE SUMMER. WHAT IS THE POINT OF SENDING OUT THESE URGENT SAFETY RECALL NOTICES IF THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THEM FOR SUCH A LONG TIME? IT SHOULDN'T BE TITLED "URGENT" IF NO REMEDY CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE CAR. IF IT IS TRULY AN URGENT SAFETY ISSUE, TOYOTA SHOULD BE WORKING HARDER TO HAVE THE PARTS READY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10605605June 24, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WATER PUMP STARTING MAKING INCREDIBLE DIESEL / MECHANICAL GRINDING SOUNDS. COOLANT LEAKING FROM WATER PUMP. WATER PUMP BEARING OVERHEATING - ODOR CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. CHECKED INTERNET - THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG RAV4 V6 OWNERS - MANY OWNERS HAVING REPLACED WATER PUMP ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE AT 25,000K MILES! DEALERS CHARGING ANYWHERE FROM US $325.00 - $900.00. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10605234June 23, 2014VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN THE VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE 8 RECALLS. UPDATED 09/11/2014 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10604706June 20, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V383000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PARTS DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10604373June 18, 2014ENGINE
THE CAR IS BURNING OIL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BURNING 1/2 QUART EVERY 1200 MILES & TO KEEP ADDING OIL. THAT THIS USAGE WAS WNL. AFTER AN ONLINE SEARCH I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN DEALING WITH. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WILL BE RUNNING OUT SOON. I FEEL THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THEY SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING. I HAVE FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH THE USA COOPERATE OFFICE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10598906June 17, 2014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VAPOR CANISTER FOR CAPTURE OF FUEL VAPOR FROM FUEL TANK BECOMES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLES GO THROUGH SNOW OR WATER. CANISTER, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SEVERAL HOSES EITHER DANGLES UNDER VEHICLE OR PULLS LOOSE. THE LOSS OF THE CANISTER CAUSES ENGINE LIGHT TO INDICATE MALFUNCTION OF EMISSIONS SYSTEM. TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED MOUNTING SYSTEM ON NEWER MODELS WHICH INCLUDES A SHIELD UNDER THE CANISTER AND MORE CONNECTION POINTS, BUT HAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE A CORRECTION FOR OLDER MODELS. CANISTER HAS COME LOOSE OR OFF TWICE; ONCE DRIVING ON SNOWY ROADS AND THE SECOND TIME WHEN VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER ON HIGHWAY AFTER HEAVY RAIN. WITH CANISTER DISCONNECTED IT DISABLES 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND ALSO WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS TESTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10598550June 16, 2014SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 TOYOTA NOTIFIED ME OF THIS RECALL IN APRIL, 2014, AS I WAS IN THE LAST GROUP NOTIFIED. SINCE THEN, REPEATED CONTACTS TO MY DEALER RESULTED IN BEING TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. TODAY, JUNE 16, THEY STATED THEY COULD INSPECT THE CAR LATER THIS MONTH, AND IF PARTS ARE NEEDED [PARTS HAVE BEEN NEEDED IN NEARLY ALL CASES], I WOULD THEN BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, AND IT COULD BE MANY MONTHS, IF EVER, THE PARTS WOULD ACTUALLY ARRIVE. TODAY, CUSTOMER SERVICE AT TOYOTA HQ TOLD ME THAT PARTS CAN ONLY BE ORDERED AT THE RATE OF 1 PER WEEK. A CHECK OF YOUR RECORDS INDICATES THAT LESS THAN 10% OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THE RECALL. IS THIS GOOD PERFORMANCE, OR JUST A DODGE BY THE MANUFACTURER TO LIMIT THE COST OF ACTUALLY PERFORMING THE RECALL, BY MOVING SO SLOWLY THAT FEW VEHICLES ARE IN FACT REPAIRED? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO, SHORT OF GARAGING THE CAR FOR THE NEXT YEAR; OR DRIVING A POSSIBLY UNSAFE VEHICLE? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10597096June 9, 2014STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE AND THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,262. UPDATED 9/8/14*CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595551June 2, 2014POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 RAV4 TOYOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HUMMING NOISE AS UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 114,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595249May 31, 2014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE MUFFLER HAS ALREADY SHOWN CORROSION TO THE POINT IT IS LOUD AND NOW MAY CAUSE HEAT ISSUES AND VAPOR ISSUES INTO THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10594349May 27, 2014STEERING
VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURN. DIAGNOSED WITH RACK & PINION PROBLEMS BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AT 20, 070 MILES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10593456May 22, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND WENT FOR THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK A FOLDED DECK CHAIR WHICH WAS PUSHED THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10593464May 22, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V383000(SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. DR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0