Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2008)
575 consumer complaints on file.
- #11102376June 18, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OVER OIL CONSUMPTION
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11098033May 25, 2018STEERING
I AM HAVING A STEERLING NOISE ISSUE WHEN BACKING UP OR MOVING FORWARD THERE'S A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA THAT I CAN FEEL IN THE WHEEL. I FEEL IT IN THE WHEEL WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY OR UNEVEN SURFACES AS WELL AS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IDLING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LOCKS. THIS VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED MY AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER MECHANIC WHO FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM BUT DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11093827May 14, 2018SUSPENSION
HAD THE FIX FOR THE 3RD RECALL OF THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS IN JUNE 2014. BOTH SUSPENSION ARMS NOW ENCASED IN EPOXY AND WARNING LABELS APPLIED. RESULT OF POORLY ENGINEERED FIX IS THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WITHOUT FULL REPLACEMENT OF BOTH SUSPENSION ARMS ON EVERY ALIGNMENT. TOYOTA'S FIX HAS CREATED UNDUE BURDEN OF COST ON OWNER TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT OR FOREGO ALIGNMENT AND HAVE RAPID WEAR OF TIRES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT RESULTING IN ADDED EXPENSE OF NEEDING TO REPLACE TIRES MORE OFTEN IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFE DRIVING. SEARCH OF THE INTERNET IS FINDING OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM, I.E., BEARING THE COST FOR TOYOTA'S POOR INITIAL DESIGN AND POORLY THOUGHT OUT RECALL FIX.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11090154April 25, 2018STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THERE WAS ABNORMAL MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,600.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11084622April 11, 2018ENGINE
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11082055March 29, 2018STEERING
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WORN OUT : MAKING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY ALSO WHEN REVERSING CAR TOYOTA TECHNICIAN FOUND THIS DEFECT/ISSUE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11081892March 28, 2018POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HEARD A REALLY LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOWNEAST TOYOTA IN BREWER, MAINE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON JULY 6, 2017, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLER FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE NINE YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11076295March 5, 2018ENGINE
2008 TOYOTA RAV4 EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. AFTER REACHING 100,000 MILE ON MY VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO USE 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,200-1,500 MILES. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM (TSB TO DEALERS) BUT REFUSE TO OFFER ANY RESTITUTION TO CUSTOMERS IF THE VEHICLE HAS PASSED THE 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS FREE OF ANY CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11074229February 22, 2018STEERING
VERY BAD CLUNKING / POPPING SOUND WHEN I BACK UP AND TURN MY WHEELS. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN I FIRST DRIVE THE SUV IN THE MORNING. ONLY HAS 96,000 MILES ON IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11073495February 18, 2018ENGINE
IT HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND HAS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF. I HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES OR LESS. I FEEL I HAVE TO CARRY OIL EVERYWHERE AND THAT I NEED TO CHECK THE DIP STICK FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER HAS CHARGED A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THINGS THAT HAVE NOT FIXED IT YET AND NOW IS QUOTING ME $3800.00 FOR ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC/REPAIR. THEY NEVER ONCE MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE IS A KNOWN CONSUMPTION PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE ON ANY OF MY OTHER EXPENSIVE VISITS TO THEM BACK WHEN MY MILEAGE WAS UNER 150,000 MILES. IT'S KNOW OVER 167,000 MILES AND SO IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR SO CALLED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11067319February 6, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOYOTA RAV4 2008 LIMITED SUNROOF EXPLODED GOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE (NO OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS WE WERE NOT UNDER/HAD NOT JUST GONE UNDER AN INTERSTATE OVERPASS). I WAS DRIVING - SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. HUSBAND IN PASSENGER SEAT AND SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD POP. GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER US. WE PULLED OVER, PATCHED IT THE BEST THAT WE COULD AND TOOK STATE ROADS HOME (3 HR INTERSTATE DRIVE VS 5 1/2 HOUR, 55 MPH BARELY DRIVE HOME. TOOK TWO REPLACEMENT SUNROOF KITS TO GET IT RIGHT. INSURANCE PAID IN FULL UNDER GLASS POLICY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11066567February 1, 2018ENGINE
ECSESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION OVER LAST YEAR INCREASING OVER TIME NOW USING 5-6 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGE... TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPAIR'
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11064718January 24, 2018POWER TRAIN
I FOUND OUT TOO LATE ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE 2AZ-FE ENGINE. MY PROBLEM STARTED AFTER THE WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT. MY CAR BURNS A LOT OF OIL AND I HAVE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE OR ADD OIL FREQUENTLY (EVERY FEW WEEKS OF ADDING OIL). I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THIS PROBLEM AND DIDN'T FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE FIXING THIS UNTIL I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS THE PROBLEM. I SEE CLASS ACTION SUITS AND OTHERS THAT WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. I EVEN HAVE HAD MY CAR INTO TOYOTA FOR REPAIRS AND WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SO NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH ONLY 147,000 MILES THAT NEEDS FREQUENT OIL THAT TOYOTA WON'T STAND BEHIND. IF IT WAS JUST MY CAR I MIGHT NOT BOTHER REPORTING IT, BUT ITS NOT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11061117January 8, 2018ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COULD NOT PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-331-4331 AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11058315January 3, 2018STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 RAV 4 AND I MADE A TURN & ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL LITERALLY BECAME FREE FLOATING. I CAN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL 8 TO 12 INCHES UP AND DOWN WITH NO RESISTANCE. I CAN ALSO MOVE IT 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. I WAS ABLE TO STILL STEER SOMEWHAT. THE COLUMN STILL SEEMS TO BE ATTACHED TO SOMETHING. WHEN YOU DO STEER, IT MAKES A HORRIBLE POPPING SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP SAID: A FRAME WELD DID GIVE OUT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY IS EVERYTHING BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE STEERING 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 THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY INTO, IT IS THESE WELDS WHICH FAILED. THE AIR DUCT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL ONTO MY FEET/PEDALS WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY IT DIDNT GET CAUGHT BEHIND MY PEDALS. I SOFT DRIVE APPROX 8000-9000 MILES A YEAR. I'VE HAD NO ACCIDENTS. TOYOTA IS CHARGING ME $2200 TO REPLACE THIS & WILL NOT COER THE COSTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE & I DID RESERCH & THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES! CHECK IT OUT HERE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/99-4-3-MECHANICAL/115306-STEERING-ASSEMBLY-FRAME-WELD-BROKE.HTML
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11053750December 10, 2017SUSPENSION
AN "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" WAS ISSUED FOR MY CAR IN AUGUST 2016 FOR THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM WHICH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MY DEALER IS STILL UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A REMEDY BUT A SHORTAGE OF PARTS, AND TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BE PUT ON THE WAITING LIST. REALLY? I'VE ALREADY WAITED 18 MONTHS. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE EVERY DAY AND HEAR GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11053408December 8, 2017ENGINE
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV 4 (2008), WHICH I LOVE. IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL CAR. NO REAL PROBLEMS TO SPEAK OF. BUT AT AROUND 146,000 MILES I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MY OIL LIGHT COME ON 1/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I ADDED OIL AND MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO BRING IT UP TO MY MECHANIC. ANOTHER 1/4 OF THE WAY THE OIL LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I HAD TO ADD MORE OIL. MY CAR HAS 149,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE EVERY 5,000 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. IT IS NOW BURNING ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 1200 MILES. THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE AMOUNT THAT TOYOTA CALLS A PROBLEM AND EXCESSIVE, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS HOPING TO KEEP MY CAR FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, ESPECIALLY SINCE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SAID 'GET A TOYOTA, THEY LAST FOREVER'.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11048694November 27, 2017AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AVONDALE TOYOTA (10005 PAPAGO FWY, AVONDALE, AZ 85323, PHONE: (877) 554-6890) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11048380November 25, 2017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ABNORMAL ACCELERATION AT TIMES WHEN I'M IN THE FREEWAY OR SIDE STREET. AS IF PEDAL STICKS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11048229November 24, 2017SEAT BELTS, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (RIVERTOWN TOYOTA, 1661-A WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904, (706) 322-8891) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0