Page 8 of 12 · complaints 351–400 of 575

2008 Toyota RAV4 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Engine
Filed Jul 31, 201378,000 milesCA

ENGINE IS BURNING TOO MUCH MOTOR OIL. HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING A LITER OF OIL IN THE CAR EVERY TWO WEEKS. THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE R&R PISTON AND RING SET. MY VIN ID IS IMPACTED BY THIS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 30, 201325,000 milesVT

I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS BEEN GETTING LOUDER, LIKE A DIESEL. I'VE BEEN TOLD THE FAN IN THE WATER PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 25,000 MILES ON IT! THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND MUST BE A DEFECT. UNFORTUNATELY, MY DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED ONE MONTH AGO. NOW IT IS GOING TO COST ME $800 TO REPAIR. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM ONLINE, WHICH PROVES THERE IS A DEFECT INVOLVED, BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. IF THE WATER PUMP GAVE OUT WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD, I COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WITH POOR CELL SERVICE. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE ON TOYOTA'S PART AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 28, 201335,000 milesNY

BURNING OF ENGINE OIL!!! EVERY 1,000 MILES 1 QUART OF ENGINE OIL WOULD BURN. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Jul 22, 201377,077 milesGA

INSURANCE CLAIM # [XXX]/PROGRESSIVE POLICY # [XXX]MY FATHER-IN LAW WAS DRIVING BACK FROM THE VET OFFICE WITH HIS TWO DOGS AROUND 9:15 AM ON JUNE 20, 2013. HE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH IN A 50 MPH DRIVE ZONE WHEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR FLEW UP HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD WAS BLOCKING HIS VIEW , HOWEVER HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD USING THE SIDE WINDOW. HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE HOOD AND DRIVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP "KENNYS COLLISION CENTER" LOCATED IN MONREVILLE, AL. 36460, AT 352 HWY 136 , PHONE #251-575-9241. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE HOOD,ROOF, AND SIDE FRONT PANELS, REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $2,778.09, I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ATHENS , GA. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WHEN THE CAR HAD 70K MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE NEEDED FOR THE CAR HAVING 70K MILES. I LIVE IN NICHOLSON, GA AND WAS VISITING MY IN-LAWS IN AL WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A "SAFETY" DEFECT IN THIS CAR. I ALSO REQUEST A RECALL INSPECTION FOR THESE RAV 4'S - I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM MILTON MARTIN DEALERSHIP IN GAINESVILLE AROUND OCT 2010. I HAVE HAD THE CAR MAINTAINED AT THE ATHENS DEALERSHIP SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. INCLUDING OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE . UPDATED 7/31/13 *CN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 19, 201348,155 milesFL

I TOOK MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. RESEARCHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT MANY RAV4 OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SITUATION. THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY RAV4S. A SO CALLED DEPENDABLE CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE REACHING 100,000 MILES. CERTAINLY, TOYOTA MUST CLEARLY KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD ADDRESS IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAN DISRUPT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 19, 201357,000 milesTX

I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA RAV4 IN JANUARY 2008 AT TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH; MY WARRANTY EXPIRED ON JANUARY 19, 2012. THE CAR HAS AROUND 58,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I WOULD BRING IT IN, TO THE SAME AGENCY, EVERY 5,000 MILES FOR THE ROUTINE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. ON JUNE 9, 2011 I BEGAN TAKING MY TOYOTA TO FREEMAN TOYOTA IN HURST SINCE IT WAS CLOSER TO WHERE I LIVE. UNFORTUNATELY, I NOTICED THAT AFTER 2,500 MILES THE FLUID LEVELS WERE DANGEROUSLY LOW BEFORE THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DUE. THEREFORE I WOULD BRING IN THE CAR EARLIER THAT EXPECTED. WITH EVERY VISIT THE RESPONSE THAT THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTING ME GAVE ME WAS, -DON'T WORRY, WE'LL TOP IT OFF. EVEN THOUGH MY RECORDS DO NOT EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE FLUID LEVELS, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE PROBLEM SINCE THEN. ON JUNE 27, 2013, I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH DUE TO THE SAME CONCERN; I WAS TOLD THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN OIL LEAK THAT WOULD POSSIBLY BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS SUGGESTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO CHECK THE ENGINE TO SEE WHY SO MUCH OIL WAS BEING ABSORBED, BUT THAT IT COULD COST ME UP TO $800. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER AT THIS AGENCY STATING THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT NOT SUGGESTING A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY CAR WITHIN MY WARRANTY TIME FRAME WAS COMPLETELY UNETHICAL AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS FAIR TO ASK ME TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED WHEN I HAD EXPRESSED THIS CONCERN WHILE I STILL UNDER THE WARRANT

Engine
Filed Jul 8, 201375,000 milesIL

AT AROUND 75,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED USING OIL AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I NEED TO ADD A QUART EVERY THOUSAND MILES. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 1, 201370,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE HAD BUCKLED INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ONE OF THE TIE ROD BOLTS WAS MISSING AND HAD CAUSED THE TIE ROD TO BECOME BENT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

Steering
Filed Jul 1, 201365,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECOMES TIGHT DOES NOT SMOOTHLY GO INTO A CURVE AS IF THE STEERING NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED THROWS OFF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL.I AM AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE A CRASH DUE TO THIS. *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 27, 201366,000 milesNY

SIMILAR TO SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL, MY VEHICLE IS ALSO EXHIBITING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, UP TO 1 QT. WITHIN 1,000-1,500 MILES, BASED ON MY OWN CONSUMPTION TESTS. THE DEALER HAS CHANGED THE OIL SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR BEGIN TO BURN OIL AT AROUND 66,000 MILES. MANY TIMES I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS - DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS "NORMAL" CONSUMPTION AND WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS 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 LIKE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS, I TOO AM STUCK WITH A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE THAT I TOO 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. SADLY, TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS! *TR

Engine
Filed Jun 22, 201365,000 milesMA

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

Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2013100,525 milesPA

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Jun 20, 2013113,000 milesCA

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 20, 201339,691 milesNC

WATERPUMP LEAKING. WATER PUMP DID NOT MEET FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. WATER PUMP LEAKING ENGINE BLOCK VERY DAMP . *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jun 19, 201385,000 milesNE

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

Engine
Filed Jun 19, 201393,667 milesOH

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

Engine
Filed Jun 14, 201335,904 milesKY

WATER PUMP REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 11, 2013100,000 milesTX

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

Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2013124,191 milesCT

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.

Steering
Filed Jun 10, 201365,000 milesMA

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 8, 201354,450 milesOH

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

Air Bags
Filed Jun 3, 201360,000 milesAZ

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

Engine
Filed May 28, 201330,000 milesMA

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

Visibility/Wiper
Filed May 25, 201358,000 milesCO

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

Air Bags
Filed May 17, 201380,000 milesAR

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

Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 2013140,000 milesCO

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 10, 201379,000 milesWI

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

Air Bags
Filed Mar 18, 201360,000 milesMA

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

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 4, 201386,020 milesVA

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

Air Bags
Filed Mar 1, 2013113,000 milesTX

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 26, 201356,340 milesLA

WAS DRIVING 2008 RAV4 OUT OF TOWN WITH MY WIFE. CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES AND ENGINE STARTED REVVING UPWARD. HAD TO PRESS ON BRAKE WITH FULL FORCE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE CAR "BUCKED" AND ENGINE ALMOST RED-LINED AT 6000 RPMS. SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND WENT THROUGH RED LIGHT AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE. TRIED TO REPLICATE IN NEUTRAL AND COULD ONLY GET TO 5000 RPMS. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING AS I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN HOW TO REACT TO SUCH AN UNEXPECTED AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY PERFORMED HEALTH CHECK ANALYSIS AND SAID "ALL OK AT THIS TIME". UNHAPPY WITH THE RESULT OF THE "CHECK", CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK AND WAS TOLD TO CALL 800-331-4331 (TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN CA) TO FILE A REPORT. REP TOOK DOWN ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND PUT ME ON HOLD TO CHECK INTO THE MATTER. CREATED A CASE NUMBER AND NOTIFIED CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A FIELD TECH REP LOOK AT THE CAR. HOPING THEY CAN RECTIFY THE SITUATION (COMPUTER GLITCH?) AS MY WIFE IS NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE, INJURY OR DEATH. SINCE THE 2008 WASN'T PART OF THE RECENT ACCELERATION/FLOOR MAT RECALL, IF YOU'VE HAD A SIMILAR SCARE WITH YOUR 2008 RAV4, PLEASE CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND REPORT IT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR

Visibility
Filed Feb 16, 201360,000 milesOR

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR STARTED SAGGING. FOR A WHILE I COULD PUSH IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD STAY. AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS, I COULD NOT USE IT ON THE SIDE WINDOW, IT JUST HUNG DOWN. IT FINALLY WAS UN-USABLE. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED IT, BUT IT TOOK 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO GET IT REPLACED. I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT A VISOR FOR A WEEK WHILE THEY ORDERED PART. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 13, 201320,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO THE EXTENSIVE RUSTING OF THE FRAME, DRIVESHAFT, FRONT CONTROL ARMS, REAR SUSPENSION, REAR SHOCKS, AND THE PASSENGER REAR RIM. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT RUST WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT ENVIRONMENTAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 4, 2013220,000 milesWA

WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT, I PULLED INTO THE OPEN LEFT HAND LANE SO AS NOT TO BE BEHIND A TANKER TRUCK, AND WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES TRIED TO STOP THE CAR AT THE LIGHT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND RATHER THAN COMING TO A FULL STOP AT THE LIGHT, I SLID THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION. HAD I NOT BEEN IN A LANE WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND HAD THERE NOT BEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ONCE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. THEN I DROVE TO A NEARBY GAS STATION AND DROVE AROUND THEIR PARKING LOT TO TEST THE BRAKES AND THEY SEEMED FINE. I ALSO CHECKED TO SEE IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FREE FROM THE CARPET AND IT WAS. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 20, 201370,828 milesMT

AIR BAG LIGHT ON...CODE B1801 SEE ITS A COMMON FAILURE ON TOYOTA NOT COVERED ON ANY RECALLS, DRIVER AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 9, 2013120,000 milesAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Steering
Filed Jan 9, 201337,370 milesNJ

RESISTANCE IS FELT AT INTERVALS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING FEELS LOOSE, UNRESPONSIVE AND DANGEROUS. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND AN UPGRADED PART EXISTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. HAD COMPLAINT ESCALATED TO TOYOTA CORPORATE REGIONAL MANAGER. WAS ONLY OFFERED 15% OFF REPAIR AT DEALER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CREATED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. THANK YOU. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Dec 18, 201240,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS THE ENGINE RPMS ABNORMALLY INCREASED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH INTO GEAR. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THIS WAS CALLED JACK RABBIT STARTS. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/29/2013 *JS

Electrical System
Filed Dec 14, 201275,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO ACID LEAKING HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND AS A RESULT, BATTERY ACID LEAKED ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, THE ENGINE COVER, AND THE HOSES. THE FAILURE CAUSED ALL OF THE PARTS TO CORRODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 83,000. UPDATED 1/15/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED A THIRD BATTERY HAS LEAKED. UPDATED 1/23/2013 *JS

Steering
Filed Dec 13, 201233,000 milesNY

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

Suspension
Filed Dec 10, 201234,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Steering
Filed Dec 8, 201220,000 milesOH

2008 (STARTED AT 20,000 MILES, 1 YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY) TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE DRIVE SHAFT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. WE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT'S A CONSTANT SOUND! WHY THEY SAID THIS IS UNEXPLAINABLE. IT'S BEEN NON STOP SINCE AND GETTING WORSE. WE READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR RAV 4 OWNERS. WE WILL BE TAKING IT BACK IN AGAIN AND WILL PROBABLY BE TOLD THE SAME THING. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TAG ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM BY TOYOTA ALSO. THE REPAIR IS AVERAGED TO BE $800 AND SOME DEALERS ARE WILLING TO SHARE IN THE REPAIR COST. THIS SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S 100% RESPONSIBILITY! *TR

Engine
Filed Dec 6, 201271,000 milesNJ

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10444712 COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING DETAILS: MY 2008 RAV 4 ALL WHEEL DRIVE BURNS ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE SUV TO TOYOTA ON 01/19/2012 FOR OIL CONSUMPTION. TECH CHECKED OIL. OIL LEVEL WAS 1/2 QUART LOW. THE TECH TOPPED OFF OIL. I PICK UP RAV AT 1:30 P FROM DEALER AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL. THE TECH OVER FILLED THE OIL ABOUT 8 OZ. I VERIFIED THIS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY TECH WOULD OVER FILL IT. THE DEALER WOULD LIKE TO RECHECK OIL LEVEL IN 1000 MILES. HOWEVER, TECH OVER FILLED IT SO WHEN I BRING IT BACK THEY CAN SAY SEE IT DOESN'T BURN THAT MUCH OIL. I WONDER IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. MILEAGE 71393. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)[XXX] OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0 FAIL DATE: 01/19/2012 DEATHS: 0 DATE ADDED TO DATABASE: 1/20/2012 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Steering2 injured
Filed Dec 3, 201248,255 milesWA

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & HANUKKAH! BOB BRIDGE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY AGE & BACKGROUND. THEY CHARGED ME $1280 OUT THE DOOR FOR TSB RECALL SERVICE. IT'S UNFAIR & ABSURD 4 ME PAYING TOYOTA'S DESIGN FLAWS. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME GET IN TOUCH WITH PORTLAND REGIONAL OFFICE SO THEY CAN START REIMBURSEMENT TO ME? BOB BRIDGE IS MILKING BOTH ME & TOYOTA DISTRICT MANAGERS. THEY TOOK 14 DAYS TO PUT IN NEW STEERING SHAFT AND OFFERED ZERO IN-DEPTH REPORT ON FAILURE & STEERING SHAFT'S WARRANTY. RUSHED THROUGH THE JOB AND LEFT ME DYING BATTERY & ALTERNATOR. T-SB-0318-08 (STEERING SHAFT RECALL) STEERING NOW FEELS HARD SINCE THEY DIDN'T REFILL POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. MY ALTERNATOR & BATTERY WAS LEFT AS IS WITH DIMINISHING CAPACITY. I WILL ONLY PAY $150 OUT THE DOOR LABOR FOR THIS TSB SERVICE, THE REST WILL BE PAID BY TOYOTA'S DISTRICT OFFICE. WHEN CAN YOU SEND ME MY CHECK? *TR

Suspension
Filed Dec 3, 2012124,000 milesNH

I RECEIVED A "INTERIM" RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM AND THAT FAILURE OF THE REAR TIE ROD COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THEY INSTRUCTED OWNERS TO CALL ONLY IF THEY EXPERIENCED ANY STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I DID NOTICE THAT RECENTLY ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP THAT I WOULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED AND THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THE DAY AFTER I SCHEDULED MY VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM NO. 1 SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY 4 LANE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO INITIALLY START TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH AND AS I TRIED TO PULL OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE I THEN LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN SPUN AROUND IN THE DIRECTION OF ON COMING VEHICLES. FORTUNATELY WE DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST AT THE TOP OF AN EXIT OFF RAMP. NOW THAT I EXPERIENCED HOW SERIOUS THIS REALLY IS I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS AS TO WHY TOYOTA DIDN'T ADVISE ME TO IMMEDIATELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS AND DEADLY CRASH. *TR

Steering
Filed Dec 2, 201236,500 milesCA

EVERY TIME I MAKE A TURN (RIGHT OR LEFT), I HEAR THIS KNOCKING SOUND ON MY STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO BREAK. I JUST NOTICED THIS RIGHT AFTER I REPLACED THE BATTERY. *TR

Power Train
Filed Nov 20, 2012FL

FOR A WHILE I RECALL A LIGHT FLASHING ON MY DASH BUT IT WOULD DISPPEAR BEFORE I COULD ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT WAS. ON MAY 31, '12, I WAS ABLE TO SEE IT WAS THE OIL LIGHT. APPARENTLY MY RAV4 WAS RUNNING "LOW" ON OIL AND I DIDN'T KNOW. SO ON JUNE 1 (61,469MILES) I TOOK IT IN AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR COULDN'T "ELABORATE" WHAT HAPPENED, SO THEY TOPPED OFF THE OIL UNTIL I WAS DUE FOR ANOTHER MAINTENANCE. (I DID HAVE ANOTHER SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE BEFORE MY NEXT INCIDENT) WELL, DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF NOV '12 I NOTICED THE FLASHING AGAIN AND I COULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT WAS FLASHING UNTIL NOV 17 WHEN I HAD TO HIT MY BRAKES AND BAM, THE OIL LIGHT AGAIN! WHEN WE GOT HOME & RAV WAS COOLED OFF WE CHECKED THE OIL.....AND GUESS WHAT, I HAD NO OIL AGAIN! I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEP'T (AFTER DOING RESEARCH AS TO THIS HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY) AND SINCE A TSB DOESN'T MEAN CRAP TO THEM, I HAVE TO DO THIS OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 60,000MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE "LIFE TIME POWERTRAIN WARRANTY" THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE LOT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND OPENED A CASE, BUT THEY WILL NOT EVEN BEGAN TO REVIEW IT UNTIL THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST COMES BACK "ABNORMAL". SO IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE TO WORRY IS MY "ENGINE" GOING TO BLOW UP DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. WHEN WILL TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND MAKE THIS A RECALL RATHER THAN A TSB....IS IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO FRONT

Air Bags
Filed Nov 20, 2012153,132 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AS THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,132 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,136.

Engine
Filed Nov 16, 2012MA

MY 2008 RAV 4 IS BURNING OIL AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE. THIS BEGAN LAST DECEMBER WHEN MY OIL LIGHT FLICKED ON WHEN I WAS BRAKING. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO A SERVICE STATION THEY SAID I HAD NO OIL. I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT IT BACK TO MY DEALER A FEW TIMES FOR THE LIGHT COMING ON AND BEING OUT OF OIL. I HAVE ALREADY DONE THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BACK IN MAY BUT TOYOTA FELT THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR TO HAVE LOST OIL IN 1569 MILES (PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). I JUST HAD IT BACK AT THE DEALER BECAUSE AFTER DRIVING ONLY 3,200 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE, MY OIL LIGHT FLICKED ON AGAIN. WHEN I CHECKED IT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THERE IS A TSB OUT FOR THIS ISSUE WITH MY CAR, AND SEVERAL OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA, BUT SINCE I DON'T HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA DIRECTLY. TOYOTA DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE AND CONTINUED TO QUOTE ME PAGE 314 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THE OIL CONSUMPTION CRITERIA ON THE PAGE. FOR SOME REASON THEY COULD NOT SEE THE NOTES FROM MY DEALER FROM EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT I HAD RUN OUT OF OIL AFTER 3,200 MILES. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ACTUALLY SAID TO ME "WHAT IS IT YOU WANT US TO DO?" I TOLD HIM I WANT YOU TO FIX MY CAR THAT YOU KNOW HAS A PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE TSB. I WAS TOLD TO ONCE AGAIN DO THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WITH MY DEALER. I AGREE WITH OTHERS, IF MY CAR IS SET TO GO 5000 MILES WITHOUT AN OIL CHANGE, BUT I ONLY WENT 3200 AND HAD NO OIL, HOW CAN THEY NOT RECALL THE V

Steering
Filed Nov 14, 201249,500 milesUT

STEERING COLUMN CLUNKING SOUND WHEN EVER YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT OR GOING AT SPEEDS OF 25-35 AND 55-70. THE NOISE WAS NARROWED DOWN TO THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2008 Toyota RAV4 → · Every RAV4 year → · How the figures are calculated →