DefectRecord Public Record - Not a Government Site

Home / Toyota / RAV4 / 2008

Model Year Problem Record

Toyota RAV4 2008 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2008 Toyota RAV4: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

575Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints
14Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls
10Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations
76Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Did a Recall Cover It?

The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Engine162 complaints

162 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Speed Control92 complaints

92 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 11V113000.

Suspension82 complaints

82 complaints; 3 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 12V373000, 13V383000, 16V596000.

Steering74 complaints

74 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Air Bags62 complaints

62 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 11V245000, 14V168000.

Power Train39 complaints

39 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes35 complaints

35 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other29 complaints

29 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System28 complaints

28 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure19 complaints

19 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seat Belts18 complaints

18 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 16V096000.

Visibility18 complaints

18 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 12V491000, 15V689000.

Fuel and Propulsion System16 complaints

16 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment7 complaints

7 complaints; 3 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 09V223000, 10V035000, 10V036000.

Wheels6 complaints

6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires5 complaints

5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats4 complaints

4 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 14V743000, 16V396000.

Lighting3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

09V223000Reported June 15, 2009 - 27,080 vehicles potentially affected

Equipment. Recall covering the equipment system, reported to NHTSA on June 15, 2009. The campaign covers an estimated 27,080 vehicles across all affected models.

10V035000Reported February 3, 2010 - 271,417 vehicles potentially affected

Equipment. Recall covering the equipment system, reported to NHTSA on February 3, 2010. The campaign covers an estimated 271,417 vehicles across all affected models.

10V036000Reported February 3, 2010 - 153,418 vehicles potentially affected

Equipment. Recall covering the equipment system, reported to NHTSA on February 3, 2010. The campaign covers an estimated 153,418 vehicles across all affected models.

11V113000Reported February 24, 2011 - 1,363,244 vehicles potentially affected

Vehicle Speed Control. Recall covering the vehicle speed control system, reported to NHTSA on February 24, 2011. The campaign covers an estimated 1,363,244 vehicles across all affected models.

11V245000Reported April 21, 2011 - 307,848 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on April 21, 2011. The campaign covers an estimated 307,848 vehicles across all affected models.

12V373000Reported August 2, 2012 - 780,584 vehicles potentially affected

Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on August 2, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 780,584 vehicles across all affected models.

12V491000Reported October 10, 2012 - 2,519,424 vehicles potentially affected

Visibility. Recall covering the visibility system, reported to NHTSA on October 10, 2012. The campaign covers an estimated 2,519,424 vehicles across all affected models.

13V383000Reported August 28, 2013 - 780,584 vehicles potentially affected

Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on August 28, 2013. The campaign covers an estimated 780,584 vehicles across all affected models.

14V168000Reported April 9, 2014 - 1,486,413 vehicles potentially affected

Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on April 9, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 1,486,413 vehicles across all affected models.

14V743000Reported November 19, 2014 - 3,233 vehicles potentially affected

Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on November 19, 2014. The campaign covers an estimated 3,233 vehicles across all affected models.

15V689000Reported October 22, 2015 - 1,814,284 vehicles potentially affected

Visibility. Recall covering the visibility system, reported to NHTSA on October 22, 2015. The campaign covers an estimated 1,814,284 vehicles across all affected models.

16V096000Reported February 19, 2016 - 1,123,752 vehicles potentially affected

Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on February 19, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 1,123,752 vehicles across all affected models.

16V396000Reported June 2, 2016 - 7,749 vehicles potentially affected

Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on June 2, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 7,749 vehicles across all affected models.

16V596000Reported August 12, 2016 - 337,449 vehicles potentially affected

Suspension. Recall covering the suspension system, reported to NHTSA on August 12, 2016. The campaign covers an estimated 337,449 vehicles across all affected models.

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

EA12006Opened June 14, 2012 - Closed February 12, 2013

Power Window Master Switch Fire. Resulted in recall campaign 12V491000.

EA12006Opened June 14, 2012 - Closed February 12, 2013

Power Window Master Switch Fire. Resulted in recall campaign 12V491000.

EA12006Opened June 14, 2012 - Closed February 12, 2013

Power Window Master Switch Fire. Resulted in recall campaign 12V491000.

PE12002Opened February 6, 2012 - Closed June 14, 2012

Power Window Master Switch Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE12002Opened February 6, 2012 - Closed June 14, 2012

Power Window Master Switch Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE12002Opened February 6, 2012 - Closed June 14, 2012

Power Window Master Switch Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE12013Opened June 4, 2012 - Closed September 13, 2012

Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 12V373000.

PE12013Opened June 4, 2012 - Closed September 13, 2012

Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure. Resulted in recall campaign 12V373000.

RQ10003Opened February 16, 2010 - Closed March 1, 2011

Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration. Resulted in recall campaign 11V112000.

RQ10003Opened February 16, 2010 - Closed March 1, 2011

Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration. Resulted in recall campaign 11V112000.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20087
200922
201083
201131
201245
201363
201463
201557
201649
201760
201831
201926
202012
20217
20227
20233
20241
20257
20261
How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.