2008 Toyota RAV4 Reviews

Oil consumption between changes; was told this is normal.

Noisy timing chain tensioner.

Washer spritzers failed.

Run flat tires replaced with a different model, due to excessive road noise.

All repairs serviced under warranty.

Recalled for load capacity label.

Recalled for floor mat.

Recalled for accelerator pedal.

Recalled for air bag sensors.

Recalled for a faulty window switch, that could lead to a fire.

Recalled for rear tie rod ends.

In my mind I thought at first that this would be a great car, and it really could be if a little more effort was put into the build quality.

Gas mileage is great, seating is comfy, but not on long trips, but the dash layout and interior materials could be a little better.

The outside appearance is quite attractive, and the handling is very crisp.

I like the fact that mine is one of the few that doesn't have the spare tire on the back tailgate.

I don't like the fact that I was told that the oil burning is normal; I did some research, and found that this is a common problem that is annoying many other owners, even on different Toyota models.

I will never buy a RAV4 again.

Oh - did I mention the recalls?

Steering rack had to be replaced due to leakage at around 22000 miles. Shortly after that, the high pressure power steering hose blew fluid everywhere.

Also a lot of road noise; changed the tires and that was no help. This makes the interior cabin space very noisy as well.

I like the looks and smooth power. But that is not enough for me to be satisfied. A four year old SUV like this should not have the problems it does, from a brand name that is supposed to be so good.

So far nothing has gone wrong with the car. But this is expected being a Toyota. Over the years, I've had too many Toyotas to mention. Superb car for reliability!

One of the larger compact SUV's on the market, with spirited performance.

So far the car has taken me from city traffic to the beaches (got bogged once) to the sand dunes. Overall it is a fun and versatile car.

The 2.4 engine definitely needs to be revved for any performance to take place. Especially on the highway when over taking. If you spend most of your travels on longer trip, maybe the V6 might be a better option.

But be warned, that when revved hard, the fuel economy suffers greatly. This probably one of my only complaints I have on the car. To get decent economy in the city, you just need to tap the accelerator pedal ever so slightly.

Otherwise the built quality is pretty good. They do seem to use cheap plastic for the power window button and parts of the interior door handle. Other than this, the rest of the material seems to be high grade.

I keep my tire pressures at 35 psi in order to help me with the fuel economy. I have also found that I get the best fuel economy and slightly better performance using 98 RON at the pump. But then again, I've always used 98 in all my cars. I just feel it is a better fuel and a cleaner fuel.

The steering is pretty nimble and accurate. If you are doing a lot of long distance driving around windy roads, it tends to get pretty tiring as you have to focus quite a bit as there tends to be a bit of an understeer issue.

I find the RAV4 being more than capable for most people's needs, and it has the backing of the Toyota badge. I highly recommend it if you are in the market for a compact SUV.