Check a VIN

2008 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

160 complaints (28% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 80,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints
160
of this car's complaints
28%
typical mileage
80,000
crashes
2
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Engine
    5
  • Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
    3
  • Cooling system
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Toyota RAV4 engine problems in other years

1994200020052010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Toyota RAV4 engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Oil consumption 90Engine failure 17Check engine light 16Stalling 9Knocking 8Won't start 8

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 2008 Toyota RAV4 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Dec 4, 2025 · Engine · CT

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 this same issue for other owners and that there's not been any recalls only investigations. I read 1 person their engine caught fire. I'm disabled if what happened to that person's family happened to my Toyota I might not be as lucky as I, my daughter and my oldest daughter who is disabled and needs help moving and I'd have to get my dog out of the car and we all get safely away from the car and pray we were in a safe area no one else gets hurt. This oil burning from these cars is a dangerous safety hazard and expensive. Instead of a investigation recalls are needed to get the malfunctioning pistons replaced before someone physically gets injured or killed. This is a known issue by the Toyota manufacturer and obviously more and more owners are finding and coming forward with complaints. As for me and my daughter the car is not a new model but it's a new vehicle to use and we didn't know about the pistons malfunctioning issues or oil burning off until it happened. Please do a recall so this issue will be resolved not just investigations because investigations aren't helping nor protecting the consumers/owners. Toyota knew/knows of the safety issues and won't step up to the plate to fix something they know is faulty. Oil is burning out of my car's engine in between oil changes, done by a professional, it really needs to be addressed and safety recalls sent out to hold Toyota accountable for something they know is faulty on their cars

Filed Aug 21, 2025 · Engine · WI

My engine recently start to burning oil. Toyota had an extended Warranty for this issue which had to do with piston rings failure. which has expired. Searching the internet this problem is popping up all over the internet. Calling you

Filed Apr 15, 2025 · Engine · MO · fire

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. However, the problem was made worse when my mother used my vehicle to pick up some family from the nearest airport. On her way home, my engine blew a hole through itself, causing an engine fire. If it wasn't for the swift thinking of my stepfather, she, him, and my brothers could've been seriously injured or killed. I firmly believe this has to do with the reason why the engine was burning oil.

Filed Feb 21, 2025 · Engine · IL

The Rav4 is burning oil and consumption of oil. The oil is gone out before the next oil change. This has been going on for a while. There are no leaks and the milage on the 2008 Rav 4 Limited is only 88153.

Filed Oct 22, 2024 · Engine · NC

See Attached Letter

Filed Aug 31, 2023 · Engine, Steering · MA

I have a toyota rav4 2008 2.4 the motor is no leaking oil, no blue smoke but i put 4 quarts oil on 1.000 miles,the comsuption oil is too much and the steering wheel column have problem and that is danger .i see on Google the problem on this car toyota rav4 2008 2.4 is came with factory problem on pistons and rings I call bernardi toyota framingham,ma on 08/27/2022 and i talk a service guy the problem and he say the recall for my car expires on 2018 but i read on Internet recall nver expires if the company o factory Still on ,I did call to service on toyota weslleyle,ma on 08/29/2023 and the service guy toll me the same My phone number [XXX] .. [XXX] my name Thank you.very much for help me INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 22, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · KY

Starting in June 2018, I have had seven episodes of unintended acceleration. (I have owned the car, purchased in private sale, since June of 2013.) There were common elements to each incident:1. gradually slowing; 2. foot on brake; 3. engine accelerates sharply, a moment before complete stop in first six, a moment after in seventh and last. In each incident able to maintain control as foot already was on brake; yet in three of the incidents, including the last two, the car bucked forward a few inches despite the pressure on the brake. Situation resolved when I turned off the ignition, a reflex developed after the first incident. This last incident was particularly upsetting as I was in a long line of slow moving cars on a relatively narrow road with pedestrians on each side of my car. Each incident has been reported to the local dealer with which I have been trading for many years. They did a thorough inspection when I reported the incidents to them in January of 2020 and again just today after the last incident that occurred on May 19, 2023. They could find nothing wrong and include on their report "TAS STATES SUSPECTED DRIVER ERROR, PEDAL MISS [sic] APPLICATION." I do NOT accept this conclusion. I note in the last incident I had come to complete stop momentarily before the engine accelerated and despite my heavy pressure on the brake bucked forward, with control established only when I shut the engine down. During the entire period of these incidents I also have been driving two other vehicles, a 2008 Camry and a 2023 Camry. I have had no such incidents while driving these two cars. I do NOT drive with two feet, always the first question asked when such an incident is reported. Finally, I believe my car dates from a period when Toyota was vehemently denying such a problem in their cars when they knew full well that such was the case, a deception for which they were found criminally liable. Such history does not instill confidence in corporate Toyota.

Filed Jul 20, 2022 · Engine · 110,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her husband checked the oil level and noticed that the oil level was low. The contact stated that two weeks prior to the failure, an oil change service was performed. The contact stated that her husband added oil; however, two weeks later he checked the oil level again and the oil level was low. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed one quart of oil every two weeks or approximately every 200 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the service manager stated that it was a known issue with the vehicle. The contact was notified of a TSB however, the vehicle was over the mileage. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed May 6, 2022 · Engine · IN · fire

Vehicle suddenly lose power while the cars are being driven, the engine shut off, and catch on fire.

Filed Jan 31, 2022 · Engine · 150,000 miles · NC · fire · 1 injury

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. The contact's wife reported that the vehicle began to make a loud buzzing noise from the engine. The contact's wife was able to pull over on the road shoulder when she noticed smoke issuing from under the hood. The vehicle burst into flames from under the hood. The contact's wife and daughter jumped out of the vehicle, the daughter burned the palm of her right hand. The police and fire department arrived. The police attempted to extinguish the fire and called the fire department which extinguished the fire with water. The vehicle was undrivable and the police had it towed to an impound lot. The police nor the fire department issued a report. The daughter did not seek medical attention for the burn on her right hand. The contact said that the insurance company will inspect the vehicle this week. The contact said the vehicle was completely burned. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Questions about the 2008 Toyota RAV4 engine

Does the 2008 Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?

Owners have filed 160 complaints about the engine of the 2008 Toyota RAV4, 28% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2008 Toyota RAV4 engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 80,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Toyota RAV4 engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Toyota RAV4 have bad engine?

The Toyota RAV4 model years with the most engine complaints are 2007 (236 complaints), 2019 (216 complaints) and 2020 (193 complaints).

Other 2008 Toyota RAV4 problems

Acceleration 92Suspension 81Steering 73Airbags 58Transmission 37Brakes 34Electrical 27Body 19Seat belts 18Visibility 18Fuel system 16Driver assistance 7Wheels 6Tires 5Seats 4Lights 3Locks 2

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2008 Toyota RAV4?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history