Problems with 2008 Toyota RAV4 STEERING

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the rear passenger tie rod failed, causing the contact to loose control of the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer diagnosed that the tie rod separated from the vehicle. both rear tie rods were replaced. the manufacturer was notified and assisted with repairs to the failure. the failure mileage was 76,000 and the current mileage was approximately 77,000. updated 04/27/12*lj the consumer stated he was reimbursed 1/4 of the price and was told the issue would not be look in to any further. updated 04/27/12

Cpsc#i1210211a. 2008 toyota rav4. consumer stated while driving on interstate 93 one of the rear tie rods fell apart, causing him to swerve back and forth across four lanes. *ln the consumer stated the cost to replace the tie rod was $500. the mechanic informed the consumer the failure was due to wear and tear.

The steering started feeling loose and there is a pronounced clunk any time you turn the wheel either when stopped or moving. dealer says the steering column is worn and needs to be replaced. dealer claims it's not a safety issue, but i can not see how a steering issue can not be a safety issue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. while driving approximately 35 mph and turning the steering wheel, the contact heard a thumping noise and noticed a hesitation in the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technicians stated the intermediate steering shaft had to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. the contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the dealer advised that a component in the steering wheel failed, and caused the illumination of the air bag warning light. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was 88,143 and the failure mileage was unknown.

While driving the steering becomes tight does not smoothly go into a curve as if the steering needs to be lubricated throws off the vehicle because i have to jerk the wheel.i am afraid i'm going to have a crash due to this. *tr

Number 1 -- i am very happy with my rav4. it was a cold evening after dark and i left work. the battery had failed. not a problem, i got a jump and the car started. i let it sit and obtain some charge. what was very unusual were the number of systems that could fail whenever a power surge was needed, say from the power steering, power brakes, etc. the power surge would lead to a lights out, or loss of steering, or engine temporarily stalling, etc. it recovered each time after the surge was over (good news). i am reporting this because if the battery failure had occurred at speed i could have easily lost control of the car. i view myself as very lucky. the battery was the original battery supplied with the car. i have not yet returned it for re-cycling. it it would be helpful to you for safety study reasons i can make it available.

Tl* the contact owns 2008 toyota rav4. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the power steering failed. the contact stopped the vehicle and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure, but believed that the failure was due to an electrical issue. the dealer repaired the battery and various other electrical components. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage 40,000.

I went to the dealer because i heard a clunking noise when turning the steering wheel. they did not hear anything and i could not do anything because the vehicle was under warranty. a year later, at a routine checkup, they said they heard the sound and it was a damage steering shaft and rack & pinion. a year later the same sound, but only the steering shaft was replaced. the year after that, the noise again and they had to replace the steering shaft and rack and pinion. today i was told that i have to change the rack and pinion. i read on internet that this is a common problem throughout rav4 2008, but this is ridiculous. *tr

2008 toyota rav 4 limited has had handling issues on the freeway with stability. this has happened a couple of times. dealer says that "nothing is wrong." previous time this occurred, vehicle returned handling differently. considering the computer brain running this car, we believe they reset the computer. this is happening again. we are taking it in again. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. the contact stated that when trying to stop at a stop sign, the brake pedal would not move down as he tried to depress it and he could not steer the vehicle. he continued moving forward until the vehicle collided with a guardrail. the contact was slightly injured and a police report was taken. he contacted the dealership and was told that no one could inspect the vehicle until it was repaired at the body shop. the vehicle was at the body shop at the time of the complaint. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer to-date. the current and failure mileages were 18,561.

Steering column clunking sound when ever you turn the steering wheel left or right or going at speeds of 25-35 and 55-70. the noise was narrowed down to the steering column assembly. *tr

Dangerous torque steer on 2008 toyota rav4 4x4. has been an issue since vehicle was new. dealer twice has told me it is normal for this vehicle and the sienna is even worse. you can lose control of vehicle while accelerating to pass. *tr

I was driving in a snow storm at approximately 20miles/hr.the road had not been plowed recently, so there was some snow that had accumulated, but it was certainly passable and i was driving a 4 wheel,toyota, rav 4, 2008, in excellent upkeep. all of a sudden the car started drifting to the right, when i tried to slowly correct the direction of the vehicle, the steering would not work. i could not move the wheel, the brakse did not work, everything in the car froze. i was helpless and had to watch as the car slowly drove itself off the side of the road into a deep ditch. half way through this harrowing time span a beeping noise came on(the vehicle stability control system?), but only after the car was incapacitated for what seemed like minutes. i was on a straight away and there were no hills at this location. the vehicle traveled approximately 300+ feet, as evidenced by the track marks left in the snow. luckily the ditch was filled with snow, so i did not crash into a tree or roll over. the snowpack stopped the car and it ended up tilted on its right side, buried almost to the top of the passenger window. when i tried to open the right window to crawl out, it was inoperable. i was towed out of the ditch and because of the soft snow cover there was no damage to the car. i have also had 1 other steering problem with the car when it did not respond as expected(although the steering wheel was not frozen) and i subsequently side swiped a car i was passing while driving in a parking garage. i am an excellent new england driver with a stellar driving record. this car has been a disaster the infrequent times i it. it usually sits in the garage, since i prefer my 109,000 mile, reliable, 2001, mercury mountaineer; after experiencing the first steering event with the rav4, which i know was not my fault. i drove the rav 4 during the second incident because i thought it would be safer, being a new car! ha *tr

Slipping brakes, requiring frequent checkups and replacement popping noise in the steering wheel ( which after two years of complaining, i was informed is a defective steering shaft ) sudden acceleration increasing noise from under the vehicle jumping when the vehicle is place in reverse. *tr

Steering wanders - 2008 toyota rav4 with electronic-assisted. steering wanders slightly from the day it was purchased. *tr

When turning left there is a click or cluck sound. only turning left not right have had the problem since purchased new in 2008. now seating at 92k miles. never in an accident

I have experienced a clunking noise when turning the steering wheel at low or no speeds for much of the time i have owned the car. it was reported and checked while under warranty. the dealer made an adjustment but did not record it in their service records. now, at 42,159 miles, the noises have become more frequent and i can feel it while turning the wheel. today, the dealer found a technical service bulletin for intermediate shaft noise and are recommending replacement of the shaft. checking the web i have found that there have been many complaints on this with 2006 - 2008 rav4's including numerous reports to the nhtsa. it is a known safety issue. i contacted toyota today and was told there is no recall on the vehicle for it and the car is out of warranty. i will have to pay the cost for the shaft replacement. since this is a known safety problem, i feel there should be a recall on it and toyota should take care of the repairs at no cost. *tr