2008 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 708 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Toyota RAV4. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. After that come cruise control (13%) and suspension (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 708 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 56 and 20
- Injuries and deaths
- 48 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 66,000 miles 524 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 88 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 62 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 73 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 114 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 73 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 40 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 34 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 23 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 9 |
What the data shows
Among the 524 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 66,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 79,000 miles (122 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 56 complaints mention a crash; 20 complaints mention a fire; 48 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 with enough data (344 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 14 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
"takata recall" I had a wreck march 8, 2017 and I could not control the steering wheel and landed in some heavy bushes on a off ramp. When to the hospital with neck problems and put a report into my insurance. The car was in motion when the steering problem happen. On I-5 58 south bound off ramp near intersection with nw morgan street, grants pass, oregon happen so fast could not break.
Mother was driving home from work when her 2008 toyota rav4 suddenly veered left and accelerated head on into a tree. Witness statement that she was driving normally previous to accident. No health issues to explain events. Updated 9/21/2011
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. The vehicle was sitting in a residential garage when it was started and all frontal and rear curtain airbags deployed. The housing for the curtain air bags flew across the vehicle and there was damage to the pet element, leather interior and front and passenger sides of the vehicle. A passenger sustained severe lacerations to the left hand from the seat belt tightening around the hand upon deployment. Another passenger sustained burns to the chest from the explosion.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the engine was abnormally burning two quarts of oil every 3,000 miles. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer but the vehicle was neither diagnosed for the failure or repaired. The failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 60,000. Updated 04/10/12 updatyed 04/23/12
ABS light, vsc light, brake light and traction control light illuminated causing all systems to be inoperative. After taking car to local dealer problem was found to be bad left wheel speed sensor, harness for sensor and wheel hub that had corrosion on it possibly from living in an area that deices roads with salt. In my research it has been brought to my attention through several toyota blogs this is a recurring problem around the country.