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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,534 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Toyota RAV4 suspension problems

suspension problem

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2008 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #39

May 192015

RAV4

  • 64,306 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2008 Toyota rav 4 had a recall for the rear lower control arms, the first recall was around Jan. 12, 2013. (64,306) miles. At this time Toyota tightened the control arms to the correct torque and I believe completed alignment. About 1 yr later, on Jan.17, 2014 (78,847) miles, the lower control arms where replaced, alignment was done, and epoxy was applied to the bolts for a permanent fix approved by Toyota. When having my brakes replaced at Toyota dealer on May 17, 2015 (101,475) miles, they informed me my rear alignment was out slightly. I was told the only way to fix this is to have the same job done, as was done in January 2014, at a cost of approx. $900. I was told I must have hit a pot hole?? this was a Toyota recall for a defect on their part with their parts. Obviously, the permanent fix didn't work. I guess they would expect me to pay every time my vehicles rear comes out of alignment to pay $900. My Toyota rav 4 has always been serviced at the same Toyota dealership in vineland, New Jersey, which is where I purchased it new. I contacted Toyota Corp, and they where no help. Also, having a problem with excessive oil consumption, like many others. What has happened to Toyota and their reputation!

- Vineland, NJ, USA

problem #38

Apr 172015

RAV4

  • 100,000 miles
The rear suspension wheel nuts gave up, which caused the entire car go to the ditch. My wife and my two kids was on the car, and luckily they get out and safely stopped the car. Toyota informed me that they repaired these rear bolts last year because it had recall before, but still the issue is happening even if they perform repair. Literally this can cause a lot of bad accidents and lost if Toyota even don't repair correctly on the rear suspensions of Rav4.

- Snellville , GA, USA

problem #37

Feb 032015

RAV4

  • 50,007 miles
Alignment on rear wheels cannot be performed because of safety recall performed by Toyota on my 2008 Rav4. The recall was to correct a safety issue on the rear lower suspension arms. The remedy for this issue does not allow for any adjustment to correct out of alignment on the rear of vehicle. This is an absurd correction of a problem. Why aren't all 2006-2011 Rav4 owners up in arms about the inability to align the rear of their vehicles? no Rav4 owner should accept the premature, uneven wearing of tires because Toyota cannot properly fix their manufacturing problem. Premature tire wear is not only costly to the consumer it also creates a potential safety issue with tire failure and impaired accident avoidance.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #36

Feb 022015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 83,037 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Completed recall at dealership on 11/11/14 for rear lower suspension arm and the left wheel camber went in at -0 (well within specifications) and came out at -1 just barely within specifications( just noticed today because it failed an alignment test). Today, 2/2/15 (3 months and 2100 miles later) it is now not within specifications at -1. I complained to the service manager and was told that the fix to the rear lower suspension arm was a permanent fix and the car's rear alignment can no longer be changed because of the fix. I can't believe the dealership, as well as, Toyota would allow a permanent fix to a vehicle that was barely within specifications knowing that the fix was permanent. Now there is a high probably, that the tires on my car will not wear properly and the toe will be out as well.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #35

Jan 142015

RAV4

  • 66,000 miles
I would like to file a complaint about Toyota hampton dealership in town, lafayette, la. 888-755-2961 (service). My wife and I have called this number multiple times and have been transferred several times but reached nowhere. We have left multiple messages but don't receive any phone call back from them. My wife even went there to make an appointment but they simply told her that they don't have opening. This is regarding a safety recall for our car. I am hoping that this recall is not an emergency issue but the customer service we received at this dealership was very strange. Answering service is a joke and people working there have an issue with foreigners. All I am concerned with is that I want the recall issue to be taken care of and I am not going there to make friends. I could care less if they treat me like outsiders. I would completely avoid this place but unfortunately it is the only one in town.

- Lafayette , LA, USA

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problem #34

May 302014

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 13V383000 (suspension) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #33

Mar 042013

RAV4

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Rav4 Toyota. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 13V383000 (suspension). However, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Kailua-Kona , HI, USA

problem #32

Jul 052014

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 13V383000 (suspension), but the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Lyons, IL, USA

problem #31

Jan 022014

RAV4 6-cyl

  • miles
Toyota dealer not being supplied with replacement parts. Dealer has no idea how much longer it will take to perform recall repair. I have waited 9 months and still getting the same story about no available parts and no timetable for repair. This is for recall csj. Chuck patterson Toyota in chico, ca is my Toyota dealer.

- Paradise, CA, USA

problem #30

May 012014

RAV4

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, there was a loud abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 12V373000 (suspension) and NHTSA campaign id number: 13V383000 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the wheel bearing/hub assembly was replaced and while servicing the vehicle, the mechanic noticed that the nut that goes onto the axle, which holds the wheel bearing in place on the right front wheel bearing, was crooked. The mechanic stated that the recall repairs were not completed properly. The contact felt that the recall remedy instruction failed to remedy the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000. The VIN was not available.

- Lake Mary, FL, USA

problem #29

Aug 012014

RAV4

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle would become uncontrollable and the steering wheel would become unstable. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 12V37000 (suspension) however, the recall repairs failed to remedy the failure. The dealer was not able to determine how to remedy the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

- Charlotte , NC, USA

problem #28

Jul 172014

RAV4

  • miles
About 2 months ago I received a second urgent recall letter from Toyota regarding the rear lower suspension arm, meaning they didn't fix it the first time about a year ago. Have been trying to fix the problem but local dealers and Toyota usa say they don't have the parts and don't know when the parts will be available.

- Superior, CO, USA

problem #27

Jul 012014

RAV4

  • miles
I received an "urgent safety recall" from Toyota sometime Jan - April 2014, regarding "rear lower suspension arms (no 1), one of several recall notices I've received since owning this vehicle. However, this is the first time where I cannot get this problem fixed at the local dealership, because the affected parts are not available when I called in late may and again today. And the dealership cannot tell me when they will get the part and advised to call back at end of the summer. What is the point of sending out these urgent safety recall notices if the dealerships do not have the parts to fix them for such a long time? it shouldn't be titled "urgent" if no remedy can be done to fix the car. If it is truly an urgent safety issue, Toyota should be working harder to have the parts ready.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #26

Apr 092014

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota rav-4. the contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign id number 13V383000 (suspension); however, the part was not available to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the parts delay. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Davidson, NC, USA

problem #25

Apr 072014

RAV4 4-cyl

  • miles
Regarding NHTSA campaign number: 13V383000 Toyota notified me of this recall in April, 2014, as I was in the last group notified. Since then, repeated contacts to my dealer resulted in being told the parts were not available. Today, June 16, they stated they could inspect the car later this month, and if parts are needed [parts have been needed in nearly all cases], I would then be placed on a waiting list, and it could be many months, if ever, the parts would actually arrive. Today, customer service at Toyota hq told me that parts can only be ordered at the rate of 1 per week. A check of your records indicates that less than 10% of the affected vehicles had been repaired in the first 6 months of the recall. Is this good performance, or just a Dodge by the manufacturer to limit the cost of actually performing the recall, by moving so slowly that few vehicles are in fact repaired" is there anything I can do, short of garaging the car for the next year; or driving a possibly unsafe vehicle"

- Casper, WY, USA

problem #24

Oct 142013

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 13V383000(suspension). The contact stated that the repair had exceeded a reasonable amount of time. The dealer indicated that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the delay. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #23

May 012014

RAV4 4-cyl

  • miles
Toyota rav 4 (2)- consumer writes in regards to rear suspension arm recalls. 2008 Toyota rav 4. the consumer stated the vehicle was taken to dealer after receiving a recall notice regarding the suspension. The consumer stated she was astonished that both vehicles needed to have the same part replaced. Especially on the 2008 model, which was 2 years newer than her other vehicle.

- Waymart, PA, USA

problem #22

Nov 162013

RAV4

  • 141,448 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the rear end of the vehicle pulled into a different direction in which the vehicle was traveling and the steering wheel would vibrate excessively. The failure did not occur until after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign id number: 13V383000 (suspension) however, the alignment was adjusted after epoxy was added. Additionally, the tires became worn prematurely and damaged within five weeks. The mechanic was unable to perform an alignment because the epoxy had to be removed prior to making the repair. The contact was offered a goodwill repair by the manufacturer, who stated that they would only replace the rear arms however, she would assume the repair cost of the alignment and the epoxy kit. The contact was not able to drive the vehicle until four new tires were purchased. Also, no repairs could be made to the vehicle until the epoxy was removed. A second recall service was performed on the vehicle and the rear arms were replaced as well as epoxy being added to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 141,448.

- Hopatose, NJ, USA

problem #21

Apr 112014

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 88,200 miles
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.

- Oswego, NY, USA

problem #20

Jun 142012

RAV4 6-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
After my car received the first recall service (early 2014) for the rear suspension, about 5000 miles later I began to hear noises at freeway speeds from the passenger rear tire area. Not long after this noise started, I received the (mailed from Toyota) second recall notice regarding the back suspension. This was in Sept 2013. Each month I call Toyota for the second recall service and they never "have the parts necessary" for the second recall service. Each time there is no "idea" when these parts will be in. The noise is continually getting worse and now appears at much lower speeds. For the first service, I was told by Toyota my car was totally rusted (even tho the car was from the South us) and had been "dangerous". I see this safecar site mentions these second stage recall are to be completed between Sept 2013 and April 2014. Today is 4/9/2014 and the Toyota dealers in this area still claim they do not have the parts. Also today there now are new recalls for this same car how long will we wait for those parts?

- Marietta, GA, USA

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