Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.
vehicle
2008 / toyota / rav4
known issues
6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-20)
complaints
575 on file (2008-01-31 → 2026-04-13)
recalls
0
investigations
0
fars
73 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
Steering column clunking and weld failureSTEERING24 complaints2016-02 → 2022-03rav4-2008-steering-column-weld-failure
11058315 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
11127909 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELDING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR
10954949 I HAVE 106.700 MILES ON MY CAR AND I START HEAR CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES INSIDE ON MY RACK AND PINION WHEN MY CAR IS NOT IN MOTION AND I TURN MY WHEEL I HEAR THIS NOISE ALSO WHEN II HIT POTHOLES I FEEL SOMETHING LOOSE IN MY STEERING WHEEL AS FAR AS IM SEARCHIG MANY PEOPLE OF
Rear suspension arm recall repair and parts delaySUSPENSION27 complaints2016-02 → 2021-07rav4-2008-rear-suspension-arm-recall
10966686 REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM ASSEMBLIES IN FALL 2016 I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA REGARDING THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM. THREE TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIR
11093827 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
10909880 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD FRACTURED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED
Rear differential coupler noise and failurePOWER TRAIN5 complaints2017-06 → 2021-03rav4-2008-rear-differential-coupler-noise
11289346 THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING THAT MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO LOCK UP AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THE CAR MAKES TERRIBLE BUMPING NOISES AT LOW SPEEDS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL LOCK UP
11081892 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
Frame rust and paint peelingSTRUCTURE9 complaints2016-05 → 2025-06rav4-2008-structure-rust-paint
11468822 Severe rust on frame and undercarriage. Other 2008 Toyota models were recalled due to the same rust issues. Unsure of when rust first started
11445126 This vehicle will not pass inspection due to unsafe frame/rotted frame. I've brought it to three different shops to see if it was just one area of the frame, but the whole framework has been declared unsafe. It has been well cared for and is in excellent condition otherwise and
10971247 HOOD LATCH FAILURE. DRIVING FOR OVER 3 HOURS ON HIGHWAY, SUDDEN GUST OF WIND, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD POPPED UP. WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOW, PULL OVER, AND CLOSE HOOD. BACKED UP WITH BUNGEE UNTIL I GOT HOME. I'VE REPLACED THE LATCH, (WITH TOYOTA OEM LATCH) BUT HAVE NOTICED WHEN
Excessive oil consumption from 2AZ-FE engineENGINE62 complaints2016-02 → 2025-12rav4-2008-engine-oil-consumption
11362070 VEHICLE CONSUMES MORE OIL THAN THE NORMAL.HAVE FOUND OUT THAT 2007-2009 TOYOTA RAV 4,(2AZ-FE ENGINES) HAVE A FAULTY PISTON AND RINGS DESIGN.THESE ENGINES BURN OIL,BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY DESIGN
11217353 BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, AT ABOUT 85K MILES I NOTICED IT BEGAN TO USE MORE OIL. THE ENGINE NOW USES ABOUT 2 TO 3 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (EVERY 3K)
11154588 STARTED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT NEEDS THE NEW PISTONS AND RINGS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL NOT DO IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS 4 MONTHS PAST THE WARRANTY EXTENSION TOYOTA ISSUED. THAT
10995470 VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A 3-LANE CITY STREET, CROSSING A TWO-LANE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BROADSIDE AT THE PASSENGER REAR QUARTER PANEL, SPUN AROUND 720 DEGREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. PASSENGER SIDE
10992213 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE
10894637 BACKING MY RAV4 OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, I DID A THREE POINT TURN IN THE DRIVE WAY. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN TO GET CLOSER TO MY GARAGE THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ONLY THE SIDE BAGS AND SEAT BELTS, AND I DID NOT CONTACT ANYTHING. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.
Cite this
Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.
Wrench.Pro (2026). 2008 Toyota RAV4 vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2008/toyota/rav4
@misc{wrenchpro_2008_toyota_rav4_2026,
author = {Wrench.Pro},
title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2008 Toyota RAV4},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2008/toyota/rav4}},
note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}
