This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The steering started feeling loose and there is a pronounced clunk any time you turn the wheel either when stopped or moving. Dealer says the steering column is worn and needs to be replaced. Dealer claims it's not a safety issue, but I can not see how a steering issue can not be a safety issue.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 35 mph and turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a thumping noise and noticed a hesitation in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technicians stated the intermediate steering shaft had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.
Number 1 -- I am very happy with my Rav4. It was a cold evening after dark and I left work. The battery had failed. Not a problem, I got a jump and the car started. I let it sit and obtain some charge. What was very unusual were the number of systems that could fail whenever a power surge was needed, say from the power steering, power brakes, etc. The power surge would lead to a lights out, or loss of steering, or engine temporarily stalling, etc. It recovered each time after the surge was over (good news). I am reporting this because if the battery failure had occurred at speed I could have easily lost control of the car. I view myself as very lucky. The battery was the original battery supplied with the car. I have not yet returned it for re-cycling. It it would be helpful to you for safety study reasons I can make it available.
2008 Toyota rav 4 limited has had handling issues on the freeway with stability. This has happened a couple of times. Dealer says that "nothing is wrong." Previous time this occurred, vehicle returned handling differently. Considering the computer brain running this car, we believe they reset the computer. This is happening again. We are taking it in again.
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that when trying to stop at a stop sign, the brake pedal would not move down as he tried to depress it and he could not steer the vehicle. He continued moving forward until the vehicle collided with a guardrail. The contact was slightly injured and a police report was taken. He contacted the dealership and was told that no one could inspect the vehicle until it was repaired at the body shop. The vehicle was at the body shop at the time of the complaint. The contact had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. The current and failure mileages were 18,561.
- Woodside, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I was driving in a snow storm at approximately 20miles/hr.the road had not been plowed recently, so there was some snow that had accumulated, but it was certainly passable and I was driving a 4 wheel, Toyota, rav 4, 2008, in excellent upkeep. All of a sudden the car started drifting to the right, when I tried to slowly correct the direction of the vehicle, the steering would not work. I could not move the wheel, the brakse did not work, everything in the car froze. I was helpless and had to watch as the car slowly drove itself off the side of the road into a deep ditch. Half way through this harrowing time span a beeping noise came on(the vehicle stability control system?), but only after the car was incapacitated for what seemed like minutes. I was on a straight away and there were no hills at this location. The vehicle traveled approximately 300+ feet, as evidenced by the track marks left in the snow. Luckily the ditch was filled with snow, so I did not crash into a tree or roll over. The snowpack stopped the car and it ended up tilted on its right side, buried almost to the top of the passenger window. When I tried to open the right window to crawl out, it was inoperable. I was towed out of the ditch and because of the soft snow cover there was no damage to the car. I have also had 1 other steering problem with the car when it did not respond as expected(although the steering wheel was not frozen) and I subsequently side swiped a car I was passing while driving in a parking garage. I am an excellent new england driver with a stellar driving record. This car has been a disaster the infrequent times I it. It usually sits in the garage, since I prefer my 109,000 mile, reliable, 2001, Mercury Mountaineer; after experiencing the first steering event with the Rav4, which I know was not my fault. I drove the rav 4 during the second incident because I thought it would be safer, being a new car!
Dangerous torque steer on 2008 Toyota Rav4 4X4. Has been an issue since vehicle was new. Dealer twice has told me it is normal for this vehicle and the sienna is even worse. You can lose control of vehicle while accelerating to pass.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kingwood, TX, USA