Recall csj was performed 08/01/14. Rear toe-in set at 0.10. On 08/28/19 dealer found rear toe at 0.08 left and 0.25 right and reported it as "failed". Then informed us that alignment can't be corrected due to recall csj and we should drive the vehicle "as is' or pay for replacement rear tie rods. Recall gov was not performed. The vehicle has increased steering sensitivity..
2008 Toyota RAV4: ball joint or control arm failure
15 of the 575 complaints about the 2008 Toyota RAV4 describe ball joint or control arm failure.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 75,000
- recalls
- 3
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls and 8 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Ball joint or control arm failure by model year
What owners say
We dropped off our 08 rav 4 at the dealer due to (faulty recall rear tie rod repairs done in 2013.) I put a new set of expensive tires. Now at approx 34,000 miles now I notices extreme wearing prematurely with possible safety concerns. Our repair shop said the (rear suspension tie rods) can not be adjusted due to toyota's (recall rear tie rods epoxy glue!) this means wheel alignment can not be properly. However, while driving on city streets or the highway you heard rumbling tire noises.
Rear suspension arm (tie rods) fixed under recall campaign 13v 383000 have become loose. After several calls to the manufacturer and to two different dealers, toyota has denied to help with the cost of repairs. Obviously their recall "fix" has not worked and I think they should be held responsible for the repairs due to this fact.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 15 MPH, a popping noise was heard from the rear of the vehicle. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the rear passenger side tie rod fractured. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. While driving at 65 MPH, the rear of the vehicle swayed left to right. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the bolt that attached the rear passenger's side tie rod to the vehicle had detached. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle had previously been repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v383000 (suspension). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000. Updated 01/20/16*lj
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v383000 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to have all four tires replaced. The mechanic stated that the rear tires could not be aligned due to the epoxy from the recall remedy. As a result, the lower control arms needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
My 2008 toyota rav 4 had a recall for the rear lower control arms, the first recall was around jan. 12, 2013. (64,306) miles. At this time toyota tightened the control arms to the correct torque and I believe completed alignment. About 1 yr later, on jan.17, 2014 (78,847) miles, the lower control arms where replaced, alignment was done, and epoxy was applied to the bolts for a permanent fix approved by toyota. When having my brakes replaced at toyota dealer on may 17, 2015 (101,475) miles, they informed me my rear alignment was out slightly. I was told the only way to fix this is to have the same job done, as was done in january 2014, at a cost of approx. $900.00. I was told I must have hit a pot hole?? This was a toyota recall for a defect on their part with their parts. Obviously, the permanent fix didn't work. I guess they would expect me to pay every time my vehicles rear comes out of alignment to pay $900.00. My toyota rav 4 has always been serviced at the same toyota dealership in vineland, new jersey, which is where I purchased it new. I contacted toyota corp, and they where no help. Also, having a problem with excessive oil consumption, like many others. What has happened to toyota and their reputation!
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, she noticed that the rear passenger's side tire had buckled inward. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The technician stated that one of the tie rod bolts was missing and had caused the tie rod to become bent. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v373000 (suspension) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while at the dealer, the contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive to the extensive rusting of the frame, driveshaft, front control arms, rear suspension, rear shocks, and the passenger rear rim. The contact was also informed that rust was not a defect but environmental. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.
I received a "interim" recall notice from toyota stating that there was an issue with the rear suspension arm and that failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. They instructed owners to call only if they experienced any strange noises coming from the rear of the vehicle. I did notice that recently especially when backing up that I would hear a popping noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. I called and they scheduled an appointment with my local dealership for the following week. The day after I scheduled my vehicle to be looked at the rear suspension arm no. 1 separated while driving on a busy 4 lane highway. This caused the vehicle to initially start to sway back and forth and as I tried to pull over to the breakdown lane I then lost complete control of the vehicle which then spun around in the direction of on coming vehicles. Fortunately we did not suffer any injuries and the vehicle came to rest at the top of an exit off ramp. Now that I experienced how serious this really is I have serious concerns as to why toyota didn't advise me to immediately bring the vehicle to a dealership. This could have been a serious and deadly crash.
Rear wheel support failed. Wheel bent to the side causing loss of control and near accident. The mechanic reported that right rear end link bent. Right rear wheel tie rod have come off center nut and no thread remaining and right rear shock leaking. They replaced right rear-end link tie rod and shock. Performed wheel alignment. The same toyota dealer performed prior alignment november 20, 2009. When I had the new alignment checked (buying new tires) just few days later I was told that the alignment was still off. The toyota dealer refuse (by rescheduling appointments) to recheck the alignment and repair it. I was billed $729 and toyota refused to consider that this was secondary to defect but claimed it was my fault that I must have hit the suspension even though that never happened.
Loud noise from back of car and then right rear suspension collapsed causing me to loose steering control of vehicle. No other cars around, road was straight and level with just grass to the side. Brakes still work so car was brought to stop as it went by itself to the right. This is a one owner car that was never abused or off-roaded. Car was taken by flatbed to local toyota dealer who replaced the right rear inner/outer tie rods at no cost and gave me a free car wash. *tr
Service bulletins that may apply
- Obsolete notice
- Region Letter: Safety Recall completion is important not only in satisfying government requirements but...
- Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have...
- Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have...
- Summary to be provided on a future date.
- Safety Recall CSJ (?2006 ? 2011 RAV4; Rear Lower Suspension Arm No. 1?) involves inspection of the Rear...
- Toyota: there is a clunking noise heard coming from rear of vehicle and one or both rear stabilizer links...
- Toyota: the rear differential coupling, when driving some vehicles, may exhibit a growl noise, due to...
Related recalls
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- 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. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
- Risk
- Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V‑383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V‑383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.
Recall number 16V596000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- 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 wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
- Risk
- Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be launched in phases from September 2013 through mid-April 2014. All owners will receive notification of the recall, with most receiving second notifications when parts are available in their area. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes Toyota and Lexus recall 12V‑373. All vehicles that have been inspected and remedied under the previous recall need to be re-inspected and have the appropriate remedy applied.
Recall number 13V383000 · Recall details
Suspension: rear
- What is wrong
- 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 wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
- Risk
- Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331 or Lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 12V373000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2008 Toyota RAV4 ball joint
Is ball joint or control arm failure a common problem on the 2008 Toyota RAV4?
15 of 575 owner complaints about the 2008 Toyota RAV4 (3%) mention ball joint or control arm failure. The model year with the most reports is 2007.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2008 Toyota RAV4?
There are 3 recalls and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2008 Toyota RAV4
Oil consumption 90Sudden acceleration 33Airbag light 27Harsh shifting 21Engine failure 17Check engine light 16Jerking 14Steering noise 13Fire or smoke 12ABS 11Adaptive cruise 10No deployment 10Stalling 9Knocking 8Won't start 8Grinding brakes 6Power steering loss 6Warning lights 5
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