Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)

575 consumer complaints on file.

#10592679May 20, 2014
ENGINE
I BEGAN TO NOTICE A BURNT OIL SMELL WHEN I WOULD RETURN HOME FROM SCHOOL IN THE EVENING, I CHECKED MY OIL, THE DIP STICK SHOWED NOT A TRACE OF OIL! THE VEHICLE WAS HALF WAY BETWEEN OIL CHANGES AT THE TIME, MY HUSBAND ADDED 4 QUARTS OF OIL (SO WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT WAS EMPTY) AND BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA. THEY "CHECKED IT", CHANGED THE OIL, AND SENT US ON OUR WAY TELLING US TO MONITOR THE OIL LEVEL. THIS WAS AT 68K MILES. IT WAS NEXT DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 73,000MILES I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL YESTERDAY AT 71,000 MILES AND IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN, WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T GET ME IN FOR 10 DAYS!! I CALLED ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. THE SERVICE MGR ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH "CERTAIN RAV 4 ENGINES" AND THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE (NOT A RECALL-HE MADE THAT CLEAR). HE EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR PROCEDURE BEFORE IT CAN BE REPAIRED THOUGH BY DOING TWO OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS (THAT I HAVE TO PAY $24.95 FOR, AND DRIVE 1200 MILES EACH) THEN I WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THEM TO DO AN ENGINE REMOVAL AND DISASSEMBLY FOR $575 TO DETERMINE IT IS NOT SOMETHING I HAD DONE TO THE CAR. I HAVE BABIED THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY ONE! I NEVER GO BEYOND 4000 MILES FOR AN OIL CHANGE, EVER. NOW I HAVE TO DRIVE MY FAMILY AROUND IN A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS VEHICLE WHILE THEY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPAIR THE ENGINE THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FOR YEARS!! UNACCEPTABLE! THIS IS TERRIFYING KNOWING THAT MY ENGINE COULD SEIZE AT ANY MOMENT WHILE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH MY CHILD. IT IS EQUALLY AS FRIGHTENING TO REALIZE THAT I MAY END UP HAVING TO PAY $6000+ FOR A NEW ENGINE FOR THIS PIECE OF DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE I AM STILL PAYING FOR BECAUSE TOYOTA BELIEVES THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. PLEASE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592024May 19, 2014
AIR BAGS
SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE RECALL ON 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 (AIRBAG). *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10587978May 14, 2014
SUSPENSION
TOYOTA RAV 4 (2)- CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR SUSPENSION ARM RECALLS. *SMD 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ASTONISHED THAT BOTH VEHICLES NEEDED TO HAVE THE SAME PART REPLACED. ESPECIALLY ON THE 2008 MODEL, WHICH WAS 2 YEARS NEWER THAN HER OTHER VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587488May 9, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL AND WOULD SMELL OF BURNING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586916May 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
WAS PARKED AT A REST STOP, WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND HAS NEVER TURNED OFF. HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SENT IN APRIL, 2014 FOR THE MOST RECENT RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587125May 7, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE PULLED INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED AFTER EPOXY WAS ADDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRES BECAME WORN PREMATURELY AND DAMAGED WITHIN FIVE WEEKS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE EPOXY HAD TO BE REMOVED PRIOR TO MAKING THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A GOODWILL REPAIR BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE REAR ARMS HOWEVER, SHE WOULD ASSUME THE REPAIR COST OF THE ALIGNMENT AND THE EPOXY KIT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL FOUR NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED. ALSO, NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE EPOXY WAS REMOVED. A SECOND RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR ARMS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS EPOXY BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,448.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586517May 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE NOISE INCREASED IN PITCH AND VOLUME WITH SPEED. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A BAD MAGNETIC COUPLING BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND REPLACED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586116May 2, 2014
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEATS BECAME WORN, FRAYED AND DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED REAR SEATS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584623April 24, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,140 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578734April 15, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED 2 SERVICE RECALLS WERE PERFORMED. AFTER THE SERVICES WERE PERFORMED, THE CONSUMER STATED A FRIEND PICKUP UP THE VEHICLE, AND EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING EVENTS: WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE VERY ROUGH WITH CONSIDERABLE VIBRATION, AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON 3 CYLINDERS. THE DEALER CLAIMED WITH A LITTLE DRIVING THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT AND NO LONGER BE AN ISSUE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE ROUGH IDLE WOULD SOMETIME HAPPENS AFTER THE RECALL SOFTWARE UPDATE. OVER THE NEXT 3 WEEKS, THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE DAILY AND IT CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH. AS SHE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INSTEAD ACCELERATED, AND SHE BEGAN QUICKLY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE DID COME TO A STOP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT A LOWER RATE, BUT STILL RUNNING ROUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578783April 10, 2014
ENGINE
AT AROUND 80K MILES MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS BURNING UP OIL TOO QUICKLY AND ADVISED I BRING IT IN MORE OFTEN FOR HIM TO CHECK THE OIL AND TO ADD IF NEEDED. HE DID THIS FOR ME UNTIL ONE DAY ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND HE TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS SHOT. I PURCHASED A 100K WARRANTY AND WHEN I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA THEY SAID THEY WOULD RUN A TEST AND TO COME BACK IN 1200 MILES. THE PARTS MANAGER EVEN ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 FLEET OF 4 CYLINDER ENGINES! AS SOON AS I LEFT THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. TOWED THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA, THEY KEPT IT THERE A MONTH WAITING FOR THE WARRANTY TECH TO COME INSPECT THE ENGINE. HE CLAIMED I DID NOT MAINTAIN MY ENGINE AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY COSTS. I ENDED UP SELLING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AT THE SHOP FOR 800$ THIS COVERED THE BILL TOYOTA SENT ME FOR HAVING THE VEHICLES ENGINE TAKEN APART, THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER BUT WAS OFFERED THE MONEY FROM AN EMPLOYEE TO TAKE IT OFF MY HANDS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2008 WITH THE 100K WARRANTY, I HATE TOYOTA AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM THEM EVER AGAIN AND I TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO STAY CLEAR FROM THESE JERKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578455April 9, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
AFTER MY CAR RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL SERVICE (EARLY 2014) FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION, ABOUT 5000 MILES LATER I BEGAN TO HEAR NOISES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FROM THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE AREA. NOT LONG AFTER THIS NOISE STARTED, I RECEIVED THE (MAILED FROM TOYOTA) SECOND RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE BACK SUSPENSION. THIS WAS IN SEPT 2013. EACH MONTH I CALL TOYOTA FOR THE SECOND RECALL SERVICE AND THEY NEVER "HAVE THE PARTS NECESSARY" FOR THE SECOND RECALL SERVICE. EACH TIME THERE IS NO "IDEA" WHEN THESE PARTS WILL BE IN. THE NOISE IS CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE AND NOW APPEARS AT MUCH LOWER SPEEDS. FOR THE FIRST SERVICE, I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA MY CAR WAS TOTALLY RUSTED (EVEN THO THE CAR WAS FROM THE SOUTH US) AND HAD BEEN "DANGEROUS". I SEE THIS SAFECAR SITE MENTIONS THESE SECOND STAGE RECALL ARE TO BE COMPLETED BETWEEN SEPT 2013 AND APRIL 2014. TODAY IS 4/9/2014 AND THE TOYOTA DEALERS IN THIS AREA STILL CLAIM THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. ALSO TODAY THERE NOW ARE NEW RECALLS FOR THIS SAME CAR HOW LONG WILL WE WAIT FOR THOSE PARTS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578553April 9, 2014
TIRES, WHEELS
I READ ON YOUR WEBSITE RECALLS RELATED TO WEIGHT CARRYING CAPACITY WHEELS & TIRES APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE. PLEASE INFORM WHETHER DEALER FIXED IT WHILE I WAS THERE FOR OTHER RECALLS. PLEASE INFORM ME IF I NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573320March 19, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE WHEN OUR 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS FAILED TO MAINTAIN STABILIZATION WHEN HAVING TO DECREASE SPEED IN EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES. (USUALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THAN 45 MPG) OUR VEHICLE'S REAR SUSPENSION MAKES THE DRIVE FEEL UNSAFE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. ATLANTA TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THESE INSTANCES YET NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED AS OF TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573571March 19, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL. I BOUGHT THE RAV4 2.4 ENGINE 2008 BRAND NEW. VERY WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER'S RECORDS. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2010, I START NOTICING THAT THE OIL LEVEL IS GETTING LOWER EVERY TIME BEFORE THE OIL CHANGE. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO SOME LEAK. THE DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO LEAKS IN THE ENGINE OIL AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION RATE IS ACCEPTABLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WOULD BE, BUT THEY ARGUED THAT IT IS STATED IN THE OWNER MANUAL. IT GOT WORSE BY TIME, NOW I HAVE TO ADD A FULL QUART OR MORE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES JUST TO AVOID ENGINE DAMAGE. I OWNED MANY CARS BEFORE, OLDER MODELS, NONE OF THEM REQUIRED ADDING OIL BEFORE THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER, I FOUND THAT IT IS NOT ONLY MY CAR. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT. I EVEN FOUND A DOCUMENT WITH VIN'S OF THE CARS AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE TSB-0094-11 (PISTON RING?) CONSUMING THAT MUCH OIL IS NOT NORMAL, AND I BELIEVE WILL SHORTEN THE ENGINE'S LIFE AND IS REALLY BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE OF IT'S REPUTATION OF BEING DEPENDABLE AND IT HAS A BIG NAME BEHIND IT. I HOPE SOMEONE ASK TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565860February 25, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,372.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565077February 20, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE BURNING OIL HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/9562/TOYOTA/RAV4/TOYOTA-RAV4-BURNS-OIL/P8 HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/URL?SA=T&RCT=J&Q=&ESRC=S&SOURCE=WEB&CD=2&VED=0CCKQFJAB&URL=HTTP%3A%2F%2FWWW.NEWSCIONXB.COM%2FATTACHMENTS%2F2ND-GEN-SCION-XB-TALK%2F278D1322767463-WILL-SCION-FOLLOW-TOYOTAS-TSB-RELEASE-OIL-CONSUMPTION-T-SB-0094-11.PDF&EI=JMRXTO2GMUGAIAL09PYUDG&USG=AFQJCNENAO8YTDVZLWCLJ6SJNZ8R0LLCNQ. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565116February 20, 2014
SUSPENSION
COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS IS 3RD TIME I HAVE GOT A NOMINATION! DON'T HAVE THE PARTS! REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS (NO.1). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565178February 20, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE AIG BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564005February 12, 2014
SUSPENSION
BEFORE THE START OF A 2000 MILE ROAD TRIP, I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND COMPLAINED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION. I WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE. WHILE DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY, I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SWERVING IN ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND ENDED UP DRIVING OFF THE ROAD - LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND OR I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME A RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION PIN HAD BROKEN, AND THIS WAS PART OF A TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL. TO DATE (2/12/14) TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN STEPS TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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