2008 Toyota RAV4: multiple warning lights

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Engine · 95,000 miles · CA

At around 80k miles my mechanic noticed the engine was burning up oil too quickly and advised I bring it in more often for him to check the oil and to add if needed. He did this for me until one day all the dashboard lights came on and he told me my engine was shot. I purchased a 100k warranty and when I took it into toyota they said they would run a test and to come back in 1200 miles. The parts manager even admitted that this was a very common problem with the 2008 fleet of 4 cylinder engines! As soon as I left the engine cut out while I was on the freeway. Towed the car back to toyota, they kept it there a month waiting for the warranty tech to come inspect the engine. He claimed I did not maintain my engine and that the warranty would not cover any costs. I ended up selling the car to a mechanic at the shop for 800$ this covered the bill toyota sent me for having the vehicles engine taken apart, they were going to charge me to put it back together but was offered the money from an employee to take it off my hands. I bought this car brand new in 2008 with the 100k warranty, I hate toyota and will never purchase a vehicle from them ever again and I tell everyone I know to stay clear from these jerks.

Filed Aug 11, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 70,000 miles · OK

I have a 2008 toyota rav4 and it has had a whining sound when idling or accelerating for a week. Today I was driving it and the power steering quit while I was driving it. I could barely steer it, if my wife was driving, she could not have turned the vehicle. Many of the warning lights came on- brake light (checked the parking brake), ABS, SRS, battery, vsc, maintenance, and slip indicator lights. Also the radio quit working, all at once. New battery installed last month. We have owned this vehicle since new from the dealership, had 2 recalls fixed for air bag sensor and floor mats, but no other problems until this.

Filed Dec 19, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 75,000 miles · TX

Date is approximate, but this has happened numerous times, not always under the same conditions. It has happened after being driven in light rain & heavy rain & after vehicle being parked & restarted all of the lights would illuminate. Initially while driving in moderate rain, multiple vehicle warning lights illuminated, cruise control failed on freeway @ set speed of approx 60 MPH due to rainfall. While continuing to function, the vehicle started to feel like it was rolling on marbles & the feel was a little unnerving, but you are able to maintain control of the vehicle. Diagnostics revealed multiple codes, but once reset all lights were out & the vehicle performed normally again, until driven in rainy conditions. Independent garage said to take it to toyota when the rain induced the warning lights again & I'm headed to a toyota dealer this morning after a light rain on saturday morning all lights illuminated again & the cruise will no longer engage. Don't know if this has been reported by any other rav 4 owners, but independent garage so far has said "we can't find a failure just a lot of codes & once we clear the codes it is okay." if I understand the premise of the warning lights they are there to indicate something requires attention - so my faith in "there's nothing wrong or we can't find anything" is a little shaken. I spoke with toyota & they deny that this has ever been reported by any rav 4 owners & I would have to bring it to them when the failure & warning lights come on - they will see them this morning. Thank you for your time.

Filed May 3, 2010 · Acceleration, Electrical · 15,250 miles · CO

My fiancee and I were driving, 2008 rav4/limited/v6/4wd. We were at a stop light. I was driving, I had my foot on the brake for about 30 seconds waiting for light to turn green. It was a busy intersection here in denver and there was a car in front of us. All of a sudden the accelerator took off and I could feel the car trying to move forward. Luckily, I already had my foot on the brake and I pressed down even harder on the brake as I immediately put the car in neutral. When I put it in neutral the accelerator continued to rev higher than it was before. I slammed the gear shift into park and shut the car off. We were obviously shaken from this and just sat there for a minute as we realized what had just happened. My fiancee wanted to get out of the car and call a tow truck. I wanted to try and start the car again but leave it in park and test it out. I started the car without touching the brake and it did it again. Every light on the dash board lit up like a christmas tree. We were in park so the car could not move but the RPM's were on the way to redlining and I turned off the car again. The lights around the speedometer had never lit up like that before. Seriously every dummy light on the car was lit and flashing. We were completely scared at this point and we just turned on the emergency lights and just sat there in shock. We sat there for ten minutes at this busy intersection trying to figure out what to do. I decided to try it again and this time the car started normally. My fiancee was afraid to drive it but I assured her if it happened again I could just put it in neutral and we could pull over to the side of the road. We drove directly to the dealership. We explained what happened and they said the would check it out. They called later that day and said all the diagnostic tests were normal. They told me it must have been the floor mats. That is impossible since the floor mats weren't even touching accelerator. Updated 05/12/10 *bf updated 07/16/10.*jb

Filed Feb 18, 2009 · Engine · 17,500 miles · AK

While driving under 25 MPH the vehicle without reason or notice shuts down. It is able to start up right after, however the only reason that you know it has shut down is that all the dash lights come on. This has happened about five times. The dealership says the there is nothing wrong. The vehicle has not been change in anyway.