Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)

575 consumer complaints on file.

#10521171June 22, 2013
ENGINE
THE ENGINE IS BURNING TOO MUCH OIL TOO QUICK AND WOBURN TOYOTA SERVICES REFUSE TO RESEARCH DEEPER FOR THE PROBLEM, I HAVE ALL EXTRA WARRANTIES AND THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL THE AMOUNT OF OIL THE CAR IS CONSUMING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520939June 20, 2013
ENGINE
THE ENGINE DIED ON OUR VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT STOPPED WORKING BUT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE TO FIND OUT WHY. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS BUT IT RAN OUT OF OIL & CEASED THE ENGINE. IT WAS ONLY 4 MONTHS SINCE OUR LAST OIL CHANGE. PEOPLE ARE TELLING US IT SHOULD NOT HAVE RAN OUT THAT FAST WITHOUT THERE BEING A LEAK. TOYOTA SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. BY ONLY 525 MILES!!!! THIS IS OUR SECOND TOYOTA & WE LOVED THEM. WE WERE INTENDING ON BEING LIFE LONG CUSTOMERS. BUT NOW WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA! ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES!! WE NOW HAVE $13,000 LEFT TO PAY ON THE VEHICLE & CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT & HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520950June 20, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE, AS STOPPED TRAFFIC WAS AHEAD. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 07/16/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED MOST OF THE DATA WAS DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET AS FAR AS IMPLICATIONS CONCERNING THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE TIME OF IMPACT. SPECIFICALLY, THE VEHICLE SPEED SHOWED VERY LITTLE REDUCTION IN MPH UNTIL LESS THAN ONE SECOND BEFORE IMPACT, ASSUMING TIME 0 REPRESENTS IMPACT. THE DATA SUPPORTED THE CONSUMERS CLAIM THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE TO HIS BRAKING WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF APPARENTLY STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD AFTER HE HAD COMPLETED A LANE CHANGE. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR RATE AND ENGINE RPM DATA DID NOT SUPPORT THE COMMON EXPLANATION THAT HE WAS PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. HIS REACTION AT THE TIME WAS TO BRAKE AS A PANIC STOP, BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP BEFORE IMPACT OR AT LEAST GREATLY REDUCE HIS SPEED BEFORE IMPACT. UPDATED 10/21/13
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10520951June 20, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WATERPUMP LEAKING. WATER PUMP DID NOT MEET FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. WATER PUMP LEAKING ENGINE BLOCK VERY DAMP . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520630June 19, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520784June 19, 2013
ENGINE
THIS VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, UP TO 1 QT. WITHIN 1,000-1,200 MILES, BASED ON MY OWN AND A TOYOTA DEALER'S CONSUMPTION TESTS. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS "NORMAL" CONSUMPTION AS DOES TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (T-SB-0094-11) WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES A CONSUMPTION ISSUE ON MY MODEL AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. I HAVE READ ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PISTON ASSEMBLY THAT IS CAUSING THIS, HOWEVER, TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CONTEND THAT THIS ISSUE WAS LIKELY PRESENT WITHIN MY WARRANTY BUT, SINCE I DIDN'T DISCOVER IT UNTIL AFTERWARDS, I AM SIMPLY OUT OF LUCK WITH AN ENGINE THAT CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL. THE DEALER QUOTED ME $3,400 TO REPAIR. I PURCHASED A TOYOTA FOR ITS PERCEIVED RELIABILITY, BUT AM NOW STUCK WITH A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE THAT I WILL HAVE TO MONITOR CLOSELY AS LONG AS I OWN IT. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A RECALL, DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IN TERMS OF VEHICLES AFFECTED AND THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519768June 14, 2013
ENGINE
WATER PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519358June 11, 2013
AIR BAGS
TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY, I CAME TO A STOP, THE SUV BEHIND ME DID NOT REALIZE WE WERE STOPPED. HE HIT ME AT ALMOST FULL SPEED, THIS PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME, AND THEM INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM. BASICALLY A 4 CAR PILE UP, THE CAR THAT HIT ME AND THE CAR I WAS PUSHED INTO BOTH BLEW THEIR AIR BAGS. I WAS HIT THE HARDEST AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT BLOW, I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP TWO WEEKS BEFORE FOR WARRANTY WORK AND RECALLS, NOTHING WAS EVER SAID ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I'M NOT SURE WHY MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10515955June 10, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE ENGINE, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED A LEAK IN THE EVAPORATION CANISTER WHICH WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM WAS RESET TWICE ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,191.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10516125June 10, 2013
STEERING
I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF MY FIANCE AT WORK AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL DROPPED ROUGHLY 8 INCHES HITTING MY LEG. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN BE MOVED 8 TO 12 INCHES UP AND DOWN WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE. IT CAN ALSO MOVE BE MOVED 6 TO 8 INCHES LEFT TO RIGHT WITH NO RESISTANCE. IT'S NOT GUIDED IN ANY WAY, YOU CAN MOVE IT AROUND IN A LARGE CIRCULAR MOTION. THE CAR AMAZINGLY ENOUGH STILL STEERS. THE STEERING ASSEMBLY IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AS WELL AS THE RACK AND PINION. THOUGH WHEN YOU DO ATTEMPT TO STEER, IT MAKES A HORRIBLE POPPING SOUND, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE SHAFT IS NO LONGER IN A FIXED POSITION. UPON INVESTIGATION IT LOOKS LIKE A FACTORY WELD HAS FAILED. FOR A 2008 RAV4, THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REINFORCEMENT BAR. THIS IS A LARGE BAR THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF YOUR DASHBOARD. THIS BAR HAS A FEW WELDED MOUNTS ON IT THAT ALLOW YOU TO BOLT ON THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY, WHICH HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE, IT IS THESE WELDS WHICH HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE STEERING WHEEL HAD DROPPED 5 MINUTES EARLIER WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I COULD HAVE EASILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10519281June 8, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ONBOARD COMPUTER (ECM) PROGRAM IS DEFECTIVE IN THE 2008 RAV4, AND PROBABLY OTHER YEARS AND MODELS, CAUSING OWNERS TO UNNECESSARILY BRING CARS IN AND PAY FOR UNNEEDED SERVICE. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR TO BEGIN AN INTERSTATE DRIVE, 3 FAULT INDICATORS (CHECK ENGINE,VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, 4 WHEEL DRIVE) ILLUMINATED. FOLLOWING OWNERS MANUAL, MY WIFE CALLED THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER WHO TOLD HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER IMMEDIATELY, AND TO DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY, TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL ROOM WHEN FOLLOWING OTHER VEHICLES, AND NOT TO ATTEMPT SUDDEN STOPS. ANOTHER FAULT INDICATOR (CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE) PRESENTED ITSELF ENROUTE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REASON FOR ALL 4 FAULT INDICATIONS WAS THE #6 CYLINDER MISFIRED 1 TIME A FEW SECONDS AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THE ECM IS PROGRAMMED TO GIVE THESE 4 FAULT INDICATIONS FOR A CYLINDER MISFIRE, BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHY. HE SAID THAT HE COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE SINGLE MISFIRE, BUT THAT HE FOUND AND TIGHTENED A SLIGHTLY LOOSE AIR INTAKE HOSE THAT COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE CAUSED THE MISFIRE. HE TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE FOR ME TO MAKE MY INTERSTATE DRIVE WITHOUT COMING TO THE DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDED THESE 4 FAULT INDICATIONS IS DEFECTIVE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. 1. A SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE IS UNRELATED TO AND HAS NO EFFECT UPON THE THREE SYSTEMS POINTED TO BY THE FAULT INDICATIONS (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, 4 WHEEL DRIVE, CRUISE CONTROL) 2. A SINGLE CYLINDER MISFIRE AT STARTUP IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION REQUIRING IMMEDIATE SERVICE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WITH EXTRAORDINARILY CAUTIOUS DRIVING ENROUTE. 3. DURING THE 1 HOUR DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CYLINDERS OF THE VEHICLE FIRED SUCCESSFULLY AROUND 360,000 TIMES, AND THE PROGRAMMING DID NOT RECOGNIZE THIS FAULTLESS OPERATION AND AUTOMATICALLY CLEAR THE FAULT INDICATORS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514922June 3, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON AND SCAN SHOWS THAT IT IS A "SPIRAL CABLE" THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNKNOWN TO ME WAS THAT AIRBAG WOULDN'T DEPLOY WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON. CAR HASN'T BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT AND THIS APPEARS TO BE LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE THIS EVENT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND DUE TO HIGH FREQUENCY OF THIS EVENT BEING REPORTED...IT SHOULD BE A RECALL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513963May 28, 2013
ENGINE
I HAVE OWNED THIS 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 SINCE I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. I DID ALL THE OIL CHANGES MYSELF ON TIME. AFTER APPROX 2 1/2 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES I NOTICE CONSIDERABLY LESS OIL IN DRAIN PAN AT OIL CHANGES. I STARTED PULLING THE DIP STICK BETWEEN CHANGES AND SAW THAT IT NEEDED SUBSTANTIAL OIL ADDED BETWEEN CHANGES. NOT UNTIL CLOSE TO MY WARRANTY EXPIRING DID I FIND OUT THAT THEIR IS A TSB FROM TOYOTA ON THIS VERY 2.4 LITER ENGINE FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT TOYOTA ADMITS IS THEIR FAULT. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF NOT CHECKING THEIR TOPPED OFF OIL LEVEL ON MY DIP STICK BEFORE THEY APPLIED A SECURITY SEAL. THE DEALER HAD ME RETURN AFTER 1K MILES, WHICH BY THE TSB THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD ME RETURN IN 1200 MILES. THEY PULLED THE DIPSTICK WHILE I WAS NOT PRESENT AND STATED THAT IT WAS WELL WITHIN RANGE. I HAVE SINCE PERFORMED MY OWN CONSUMPTION TEST 7,000 MILES AFTER THE DEALER DID , AND MY ENGINE IS CONSUMING 1.2 QUARTS IN 1080 MILES. THIS IS A FAIL BY TOYOTAS' OWN TSB GUIDE LINES. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP CUSTOMERS WITH THIS SITUATION THEY HAVE PUT THEM IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513497May 25, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. INSTEAD, WHEN NOT NEEDING TO USE IT, IT HANGS DOWN AT LEAST 3 INCHES FROM THE CEILING, CREATING A VISIBILITY AND SAFETY HAZARD! THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TOYOTA BY MANY TOYOTA OWNERS, INCLUDING BOTH UNDER WARRANTY OR OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MIRROR VISOR, COSTING AROUND $150, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512578May 17, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THOUGHT THIS WAS DUE TO THE RECALL ABOUT WHICH TOYOTA SENT OUT A RECALL NOTICE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE 5 RECALL NOTICES ADDRESSED, IT WAS STATED THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO A AIRBAG SPIRAL CABLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. TOYOTA WANTED @ $500 TO REPLACE THE CABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509094April 22, 2013
SUSPENSION
WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE REAR STABILIZER LINK ASSEMBLY (RH) BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM ASSEMBLY DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE BOLT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505745April 10, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED A SECOND TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CYLINDER AND THE REAR PASSENGER CALIPER MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, BOTH PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,030. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503397March 18, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF AFTER THAT. I HAD THIS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL IN 2011. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE SPIRAL CABLE. THE COST TO FIX THIS WAS $500.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG AND IS A FAULTY SYSTEM GIVEN THAT THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I SEE ON THE WEB THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS CAR ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS TOO. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A CAR WITH THAT MILEAGE. PLEASE HELP IN GETTING THIS THROUGH AS A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501244March 4, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR WILL NOT SNAP BACK UP TO THE VEHICLE'S HEADLINER AND STAY THERE. IT REMAINS IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500923March 1, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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