Is the 2008 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Toyota RAV4 is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota RAV4?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota RAV4 have?

14 recalls on file for this model year.

2008 Toyota RAV4

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2008 Toyota RAV4
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 575
Recalls: 14
Investigations: 4
Top problem: Engine

Complaints per year

2008: 575 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1994	4
1995	1
1996	47
1997	54
1998	77
1999	62
2000	30
2001	309
2002	527
2003	315
2004	154
2005	141
2006	705
2007	1,004
2008	575
2009	327
2010	400
2011	287
2012	260
2013	257
2014	197
2015	305
2016	239
2017	307
2018	331
2019	879
2020	635
2021	387
2022	144
2023	157
2024	175
2025	88

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine

24% · 137 reports

FIREINJURY

Show complaint excerpts

Issue started when I noticed the vehicle was burning oil, hence why I had to keep refilling the oil levels often. This is an issue many other RAV4 owners have reported.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-04-15

The contact's daughter owned a 2008 Toyota RAV 4. The contact stated that his wife was driving with their daughter on the highway at approximately 65 mph. The contact stated that his wife said no warning lights were illuminated.

NHTSA ODI report, 2022-01-31

I purchased the 2008 Toyota RAV4 with 90,600 miles on December 7/2020 for $ 7,000 . On December 13 coming home on sawgrass express way the vehicle got on fire !!

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-01-07

Vehicle speed control

16% · 92 reports

CRASHINJURYDEATH

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while stopped, she removed her foot from the brake pedal and the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-17

Was going through a drive through carwash, auto in neutral. Reached the end, put foot on brake, put auto into drive. The vehicle accelerated on it's own, going straight out of the end of the carwash.

NHTSA ODI report, 2008-10-15

Suspension

14% · 82 reports

Most commonly citing rear.

INJURY

Steering

13% · 74 reports

Most commonly citing tie rod assembly and electric power assist system.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH

Air bags

11% · 62 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

14 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

▮
2008Complaint volume 575 complaints filed for this model year.
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2009-09-18Equipment09V223000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2010-02-16Recall queryClosed 2011-03-01 Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration
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2010-05-27Equipment10V036000 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."

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2010-05-27Equipment10V035000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2011-04-13Vehicle speed control11V113000 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…

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…

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2012-01-09Air bags11V245000 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…

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…

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2012-02-06Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-06-14 Power Window Master Switch Fire
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2012-06-04Preliminary evaluationClosed 2012-09-13 Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure
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2012-06-14Engineering analysisClosed 2013-02-12 Power Window Master Switch Fire
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2012-11-05Visibility12V491000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2012-11-30Suspension12V373000 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…

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…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2013-08-27Suspension13V383000 Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010.

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 future environmental damage.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2014-10-27Air bags14V168000 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.

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.

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2015-01-29Seats14V743000 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...

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 2015.

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2015-11-25Visibility15V689000 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,...

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 to begin December 20, 2015.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2016-06-24Seat belts16V096000 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.

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.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2016-07-14Seats16V396000 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,...

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 service at 1-866-405-4226.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2016-10-03Suspension16V596000 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.

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 1-800-331-4331.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2008 Toyota RAV4 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Engine: 137 reports on file for this year.
Vehicle speed control: 92 reports on file for this year.
Suspension: 82 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 09V223000 · Equipment
Recall 10V036000 · Equipment
Recall 10V035000 · Equipment
Recall 11V113000 · Vehicle speed control
Recall 11V245000 · Air bags
Recall 12V491000 · Visibility
Recall 12V373000 · Suspension
Recall 13V383000 · Suspension
Recall 14V168000 · Air bags
Recall 14V743000 · Seats
Recall 15V689000 · Visibility
Recall 16V096000 · Seat belts
Recall 16V396000 · Seats
Recall 16V596000 · Suspension

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2008 Toyota RAV4 reliable?: Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2008 Toyota RAV4 is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota RAV4?: The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2008 Toyota RAV4 have?: 14 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.