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2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,445 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 brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 082019

RAV4

  • miles

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

I'm checking to see if there is a recall on the exhilaration of gas pedal. Every time I stat the truck it has a loud and high exhilarate in an stationary position. When I put it into drive it takes off at a fast rate

- Peoria, IL, USA

problem #6

Oct 172017

RAV4

  • miles
Vehicle in motion on street sudden acceleration.was going slow step on brake put in park. Heard engine reup felt like wanting to go by itself. Happened once to my wife and once to me while driving on city street. Call Toyota dealer service dept. Asked about recall. Was told yes for recall. Too vehicle in was giving printout of recalls.showing floor interference problem to accelerator. Was not offered a recheck on ongoing same accelerator problem.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #5

Mar 012016

RAV4

  • 102,000 miles
This was my problem one year ago and listed on this page under the date 3/6/2015 ABS light, vsc light, brake light and traction control light illuminated causing all systems to be inoperative. After taking car to local dealer problem was found to be bad left wheel speed sensor, harness for sensor and wheel hub that had corrosion on it possibly from living in an area that deices roads with salt. In my research it has been brought to my attention through several Toyota blogs this is a recurring problem around the country. Several people have had the same complaint and the associated cost to fix this problem is expensive. If an owner fails to fix the problem the outcome could become catastrophic in inclimate weather. Exactly one year later the right side wheel hub assy. And wiring harness went out. This time I changed it all myself saving almost $600 from having it done at Toyota dealer. This problem is going to kill someone. While waiting for the parts to come in the car was being driven by my wife during a rainstorm. Another driver pulled out in front of her and she had to brake hard. Due to the ABS being inop. It caused the vehicle to slide. I haven't found any other complaints on here but I'm almost positive it has happened to someone else. It's a terrible design and like I said someone will be killed due to the lack of concern.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #4

Jan 132016

RAV4

  • 125,648 miles

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

The vehicle was taken in to replace a defective emergency break cable on 1/13/16. The vehicle was repaired at a local shop and when the vehicle was getting removed from the repair stall the side curtain air bags deployed. The vehicle was started and shifted into reverse, as the vehicle was shifted into reverse the side curtain air bags deployed. The vehicle was stationary on a flat floor at the time of the air bag deployment. I contacted Toyota and they inspected the vehicle ON1/27/16, they concluded that the air bag system was operating properly at the time of the incident. A safety recall boe-curtain shield air bag sensor was completed on the vehicle on 1/19/12 according to the letter I received from Toyota after there inspection. I realize that Toyota only read the event recorder. There have been a few times the stability control lights would inadvertently blink at inappropriate times but never when there was a chance to get a diagnosis from a computer reading at a service facility.

- Kaukauna, WI, USA

problem #3

Oct 082015

RAV4

  • 124,019 miles
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 warning lights all came on. The brake pedal felt very stiff and I was not able to do any repetitive pumping of the brake. I called 911 and requested assistance. When the front traffic came to a hold I had to use my emergency brake and my entire car slipped to the left. We almost got hit by the bus behind us. Some good samaritans saw what happened and helped me to get my car off the road. That day, my 9 yrs. Old son and I could have been killed. I request that Toyota investigates/recalls the brake actuator assemblies for Toyota Rav4 2008. In the subject vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. Within the actuator is an electrical terminal that connects the brake actuator motor and the circuit board of the skid control electronic control unit (ECU). Due to manufacturing variation, there could be a reduction in contact force between the two components of the terminal, causing oxide film to increase resistance. A larger than normal increase in resistance can cause the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the skid control (vehicle stability control or vsc) system, antilock brake system (ABS), and traction control system. Lfthis occurs, these systems could become inoperative, which could increase the risk of a crash.

- Union City, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 012015

RAV4

  • 94,000 miles
ABS light, vsc light, brake light and traction control light illuminated causing all systems to be inoperative. After taking car to local dealer problem was found to be bad left wheel speed sensor, harness for sensor and wheel hub that had corrosion on it possibly from living in an area that deices roads with salt. In my research it has been brought to my attention through several Toyota blogs this is a recurring problem around the country. Several people have had the same complaint and the associated cost to fix this problem is expensive. If an owner fails to fix the problem the outcome could become catastrophic in inclimate weather.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #1

Jan 312013

RAV4

  • 54,450 miles
The onboard computer (ECM) program is defective in the 2008 Rav4, and probably other years and models, causing owners to unnecessarily bring cars in and pay for unneeded service. When I started the car to begin an interstate drive, 3 fault indicators (check engine, vehicle stability control, 4 wheel drive) illuminated. Following owners manual, my wife called the nearest Toyota dealer who told her to bring the vehicle to a Toyota dealer immediately, and to drive cautiously, to allow additional room when following other vehicles, and not to attempt sudden stops. Another fault indicator (cruise control would not engage) presented itself enroute. The service technician said the reason for all 4 fault indications was the #6 cylinder misfired 1 time a few seconds after I started the vehicle. He said the ECM is programmed to give these 4 fault indications for a cylinder misfire, but he did not know why. He said that he could find no reason for the single misfire, but that he found and tightened a slightly loose air intake hose that could not possibly have caused the misfire. He told me that it would have been fine for me to make my interstate drive without coming to the dealership. I believe that the onboard computer programming that provided these 4 fault indications is defective for the following reasons. 1. a single cylinder misfire is unrelated to and has no effect upon the three systems pointed to by the fault indications (vehicle stability control, 4 wheel drive, cruise control) 2. a single cylinder misfire at startup is not an emergency situation requiring immediate service at a Toyota dealership with extraordinarily cautious driving enroute. 3. during the 1 hour drive to the dealership the cylinders of the vehicle fired successfully around 360,000 times, and the programming did not recognize this faultless operation and automatically clear the fault indicators.

- Loveland, OH, USA

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