2008 Toyota RAV4 Power Train Problems
- 28
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 28 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- water pump · 7 records
- rear differential · 6 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 9 |
| 100–150k mi | 5 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
Rav4 has been maintained per toyota's recommendations. At approx 86k miles it started using up excessive amounts of oil. Oil is not leaking, nor burning (can't see anything in the tail pipes), and there's no burn oil smell anywhere. After researching, i found that in 2011, toyota issued tsb-0094-11 that acknowledged excessive oil consumption in my year vehicle. Toyota also issued a lsc ze7 which offered free repair…
ODI 11292439
Power Train
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.
ODI 11289346
Power Train
My 2008 toyota rav4 consumes too much oil. It consumes 4 quarts of oil under 2000 miles.
ODI 11206614
Power Train
I have a 2008 toyota rav4 and at the time of the issue it had approximately 150k miles. While the vehicle was moving a growling/whirring noise started to come from the rear of the vehicle. It increased in frequency and volume over time. After replacing both rear wheel bearings it was determined by a toyota dealership that the problem was with the rear differential coupler/bearing. I was notified that a warranty…
ODI 11210174
Differential Unit · Power Train
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…
ODI 11081892
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
1. Excessive oil consumption up to 1qt every 1200 miles, under normal driving conditions noticed december of 2013. 2. Ecm fails to hold reverse gear. Gear frequently slips in reverse when gas pedal is pressed, won't back up hills. Noticed december of 2013, no power when first starting up for first 10 to [redacted]. October of 2013 immediately after purchasing 3. Head gasket fail between number 2 and 3 cylinders due…
ODI 11023907
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle vibrated without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (vic's auto service located at [redacted], buffalo, ny 14219; [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the entire drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000.
ODI 10994600
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
2008 toyota rav4. 1006,000 mileage. Suddenly stalls while driving at any speed. Taken to newark toyota dealership several times since june this year unable to fix the problem. Stalled several times while driving on highway and on a city street.
ODI 10907518
Power 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…
ODI 11064718
Power Train
Rear u joint seized at 100519 miles. Noted vibration and rear wheel instability starting approx 30 mph.
ODI 10819205
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train · Service Brakes
On october 5 and 6, 2015 my 2008 toyota rav4 was in for service at piercey toyota in milpitas to replace all four tires, front/back brakes and front shock absorbers, a total of $2,000. On october 8, 2015, while i was driving my car back from stanford lucile packard over dumbarton bridge, i have noticed that my brakes would not engage and i could not slow down my car. Just before this event, the abs, vsc, and slip…
ODI 10781843
Power Train
Oil consumption problem. My toyota rav 4 has 74,000 miles on it and is using a quart of oil every 400 to 500 miles. There is currently a lawsuit against toyota for this problem. They do have a vehicle "oil consumption test." however toyota's test seems biased in their favor, as they fill the crankcase and seal the dip stick and crankcase fill hole. You then bring the vehicle back after 1,200 miles. They then check…
ODI 10983174
Power Train
Water pump has failed, despite timely and complete maintenance and normal operating conditions. A google search reveals widespread, premature water pump failure on 2008 v6 rav4 vehicles at even earlier mileages. *tr
ODI 10705473
Engine · Power Train
While stopped at a light waiting to turn left the rav4 engine began to rev and lurched forward with driver's foot still on the brake. Driver put car into neutral while holding down the brake pedal to prevent the car hurtling into the intersection. Driver then turned off the car and put gear shift to park. After 30 seconds restarted the car with foot on brake and the engine began to rev again with car in park. The…
ODI 10700938
Power Train
Vehicle in for service at my regular service location. Mechanic noted leaking rear differential and i was hearing a "whiring" noise while driving, told to contact toyota. Contacted local dealership, vehicle was looked at by the dealership and they noted it was the differential coupler. Would not cover the $1400 repair even though tsb-0080-13 and special policy adjustment no [redacted] at that date/time. Shortly…
ODI 10785370
Engine · Power Train
Just learned today that i need a new transmission for a 2008 rav4 with only 74,000 miles on it. Had the car in for service at 72,000 miles where they did the 70k mi service to include multipoint/floor mat, replaced the water pump, brake fluid flush and "engine minor". I think something is wrong here. My 5 year or 100k prepaid warranty ended in june so no coverage available. Shouldn't a transmission last longer than…
ODI 10648597
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
The vehicle slows down and the engine shuts off while driving around 65 mph or higher the throttle control is not responding very dangerous . *tr
ODI 10641577
Engine · Power Train
Water pump starting making incredible diesel / mechanical grinding sounds. Coolant leaking from water pump. Water pump bearing overheating - odor clearly discernible from inside vehicle. Checked internet - this is a very common complaint among rav4 v6 owners - many owners having replaced water pump on this year vehicle at 25,000k miles! Dealers charging anywhere from us $325.00 - $900.00. *tr
ODI 10605605
Engine · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
A little after its regular scheduled maintenance my 2008 rav4 started to make an odd noise (rattling) when reaching 40 mph at 1500 rpm. Checked fluids and noticed that engine oil was dry (burnt oil on stick) and black atf. Immediately replaced fluids (engine and ws atf). Took car to dealer and they said they didn't noticed anything unusual. Drove with tech and showed him the noise at specified conditions. He said…
ODI 10639760
Power Train · Suspension
Rear differential started making a whirring noise while driving down the road. The noise increased in pitch and volume with speed. Dealer informed me that it was a bad magnetic coupling between the transmission and the rear differential and replaced it. *tr
ODI 10586517
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
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…
2 injuries
ODI 10487195
Power Train · Steering
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…
ODI 10525726
Power Train
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…
ODI 10485310
Power Train · Steering
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…
ODI 10487755
Engine · Power Train
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…
ODI 10484944