2008 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

14 safety recalls list the 2008 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 575 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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14 safety recalls for the 2008 Toyota RAV4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Suspension: rear

   NHTSA 16V596000 Reported August 12, 2016 337,449 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that…

   Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at…

2. Seat heater/cooler (seats)

   NHTSA 16V396000 Reported June 2, 2016 7,749 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and…

   Remedy: 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. Owners may contact SET customer…

3. Seat belts: rear/other

   NHTSA 16V096000 Reported February 19, 2016 1,123,752 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat…

   Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.…

4. Power window devices and controls (visibility)

   NHTSA 15V689000 Reported October 22, 2015 1,814,284 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing…

   Remedy: 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…

5. Seat heater/cooler (seats)

   NHTSA 14V743000 Reported November 19, 2014 3,233 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression…

   Remedy: 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…

6. Inflator module (air bags)

   NHTSA 14V168000 Reported April 9, 2014 1,486,413 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly,…

   Remedy: 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…

7. Suspension: rear

   NHTSA 13V383000 Reported August 28, 2013 780,584 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. 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…

   Remedy: 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…

8. Power window devices and controls (visibility)

   NHTSA 12V491000 Reported October 10, 2012 2,519,424 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal…

   Remedy: 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…

9. Suspension: rear

   NHTSA 12V373000 Reported August 2, 2012 780,584 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. 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…

   Remedy: 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…

10. Air bags: side/window and air bags

    NHTSA 11V245000 Reported April 21, 2011 307,848 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 highlander, highlander hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 rav4 vehicles. 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…

    Remedy: 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…

11. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 11V113000 Reported February 24, 2011 1,363,244 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. 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.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may…

12. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 10V035000 Reported February 3, 2010 271,417 vehicles potentially affected GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.

    Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 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.

    Remedy: 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,…

13. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 10V036000 Reported February 3, 2010 153,418 vehicles potentially affected SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC

    Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact southeast toyota at…

14. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 09V223000 Reported June 15, 2009 27,080 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. 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."

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.

575 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2008 Toyota RAV4 have filed 575 complaints with NHTSA; 42 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 32 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,330 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 83 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Engine137
• Vehicle speed control92
• Suspension79
• Steering69
• Air bags51
• Power train30
• Unknown or other29
• Electrical system26

What owners are reporting

“My airbag light came on and I received a letter saying there was a recall but unfortunately I threw out the letter and when I called Toyota said there was a recall but it was fixed in 2012 when I didn”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 13, 2026 · Air bags

“My daughter and I are leasing our Toyota Rav4 almost paid off. Our last 2 oil changes done by professional the engine has burned off the oil in between the oil changes. I seen multiple complaints for”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 4, 2025 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2008 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 2WD, RAV4 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Toyota RAV4 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 2008 Toyota RAV4

Other Toyota models

• Camry18,189 complaints
• Prius12,516 complaints
• Corolla11,739 complaints
• Sienna8,549 complaints
• Tacoma8,440 complaints
• Tundra6,922 complaints
• Highlander5,745 complaints
• 4Runner4,860 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.