2008 Toyota RAV4: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2008 Toyota RAV4: 14 recalls, 575 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
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Recalls
14 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #09V223000 · 2009 · 27,080 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on August 18, 2009.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V035000 · 2010 · 271,417 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: This does not meet the standard requirements.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V036000 · 2010 · 153,418 vehicles
What's wrong: 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Why it matters: A driver May overload a vehicle which May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on May 27, 2010.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #11V113000 · 2011 · 1,363,244 vehicles
What's wrong: The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Why it matters: A stuck open accelerator pedal May result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
The fix: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early April 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any Toyota all-weather floor mat.
Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #11V245000 · 2011 · 307,848 vehicles
What's wrong: In the curtain shield airbag (csa) system, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle. If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light (malfunction indicator light: mil) will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag csa remains available in the event of a side crash. If both sensors fail nearly…
Why it matters: Inadvertent activation of the csa and/or the seat belt pretensioner can cause injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors, free of charge. Toyota intends to send an interim owner notification to owners early to mid-May, 2011 when sufficient parts and remedy becomes available.
Suspension Vehicle recall #12V373000 · 2012 · 780,584 vehicles
What's wrong: If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) May develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #12V491000 · 2012 · 2,519,424 vehicles
What's wrong: The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process May cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Why it matters: If the switch overheats, it May melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their…
Suspension Vehicle recall #13V383000 · 2013 · 780,584 vehicles
What's wrong: If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) May develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be…
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V168000 · 2014 · 1,486,413 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a flexible flat cable (ffc). Due to the shape and location of the ffc's retainer, the ffc could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.
Why it matters: If the ffc is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
The fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota vehicle owners, and general motors will notify the Pontiac vibe owners. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in May 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Toyota will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. General motors sent Pontiac…
Seats Vehicle recall #14V743000 · 2014 · 3,233 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience compression of the seat cushion which May damage the seat heater wiring.
Why it matters: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #15V689000 · 2015 · 1,814,284 vehicles
What's wrong: During the manufacturing of the power window master switch (pwms), grease lubricant May have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Why it matters: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch May cause a short circuit and the switch assembly May overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the pwms circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V096000 · 2016 · 1,123,752 vehicles
What's wrong: In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats May be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Why it matters: A cut seat belt May not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016.
Seats Vehicle recall #16V396000 · 2016 · 7,749 vehicles
What's wrong: The electrical wiring in the seat heaters May be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Why it matters: If damaged, the copper strand heating element May short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Set will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016.
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V596000 · 2016 · 337,449 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that May have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm May have thread damage and May rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Why it matters: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 16 mention a fire, 32 injuries and 2 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (137): the most common themes are excess oil use (68), leaks (21), warning light on (18).
- Speed control / throttle (92): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (23).
- Suspension (81): the most common themes are noise or vibration (15), steering problems (8).
- Steering (73): the most common themes are steering problems (60), noise or vibration (35).
The 2008 Toyota RAV4 has 575 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 32 RAV4 model years for complaints (2.0× the average RAV4 year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (83 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 66,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (1004 complaints, 14 recalls), 2009 (327 complaints, 15 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2008 Toyota RAV4.
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FAQ
Does the 2008 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 vehicle recalls for the 2008 Toyota RAV4. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2008 Toyota RAV4 problems?
Owners have filed 575 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (137), speed control / throttle (92), suspension (81).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2008 Toyota RAV4 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.