2008 Toyota Rav4 Wipers & Visibility Problems
16 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Wipers & Visibility Recalls (2)
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
Fix: Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.
Owner Complaints (16)
I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPING OUT OF THE CEILING MOUNT. OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING AND BECOMES A HUGE DISTRACTION WHILE TRYING TO GET IT BACK IN PLACE. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS AND NEARLY EVERYONE HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE . IT SEAMS THAT THE VISOR STUB ARM THAT GOES INTO THE CEILING MOUNT WEARS OUR WHATEVER IS HOLDING IT INTO THE SOCKET . THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS AND DOES SEEM TO BE MORE OFTEN IN THE SUMMER TIME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WHERE IT DOESN'T STAY WHERE I PUT IT. IT REGULARLY SLIPS DOWN AND AT TIMES BLOCKS MY VIEW OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN/RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL (BASED UPON INTERNET SEARCH OF THIS ISSUE). WHEN THE VISOR IS PLACED OVER THE DRIVER DOOR WINDOW, WHEN I GO AROUND A CORNER (TURN), THE VISOR WILL ROTATE AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD, AGAIN DISTRACTING ME FROM THE ROAD AND FORCING ME TO MAKE REGULAR VISOR ADJUSTMENTS AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM; A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, SO IT NORMALLY STAYS IN A VIEW-OBSTRUCTED POSITION WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO BUDGE IN TERMS OF RECALLING THIS ITEM. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA A YEAR OR SO AGO AND THEY ASKED ME FOR A QUOTE TO FIX - I SENT THEM A COPY OF THE DEALER PRICE QUOTE (AROUND $150) AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GO AWAY. I WOULDN'T NORMALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT I'VE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET....AND EVEN FROM THOSE WHO HAD THE VISOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT [XXX] IF YOU'D LIKE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC
DRIVER'S VISOR IS LOOSE. IT WON'T FOLD UP. PLEASE KINDLY HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. THANKS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN THE VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE 8 RECALLS. UPDATED 09/11/2014 *JS
DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. INSTEAD, WHEN NOT NEEDING TO USE IT, IT HANGS DOWN AT LEAST 3 INCHES FROM THE CEILING, CREATING A VISIBILITY AND SAFETY HAZARD! THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO TOYOTA BY MANY TOYOTA OWNERS, INCLUDING BOTH UNDER WARRANTY OR OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MIRROR VISOR, COSTING AROUND $150, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR WILL NOT SNAP BACK UP TO THE VEHICLE'S HEADLINER AND STAY THERE. IT REMAINS IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. *TR
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR STARTED SAGGING. FOR A WHILE I COULD PUSH IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD STAY. AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS, I COULD NOT USE IT ON THE SIDE WINDOW, IT JUST HUNG DOWN. IT FINALLY WAS UN-USABLE. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED IT, BUT IT TOOK 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO GET IT REPLACED. I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT A VISOR FOR A WEEK WHILE THEY ORDERED PART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW COULD NOT BE OPENED AND EXHIBITED A BURNING ODOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT NORTH ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA AT EXIT 161 WHEN WE HEARD AN EXPLOSION SOUND ON THE TOP OF THE CAR. I SLID BACK THE MOONROOF COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND COULD SEE THE MOONROOF GLASS WAS BROKEN, IT HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE AND THE REST WAS SHATTERED. WE WERE NOT NEAR A BRIDGE OR A TOWER OR A TRUCK WHERE SOMETHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON TOP OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE ON THE TOP OF THE CAR. THE GLASS AROUND THE HOLE WAS PUSHED UP LIKE IT HAD EXPLODED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. THEY SAID NO AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE. I TOOK IT TO WHERE MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME TO GET IT FIXED. I FOUND THIS LINK WHERE SOMEBODY ELSE REPORTED THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/?Q=&PAGE=7. *TR
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTROL OPERATES IN THE UP MODE AND CONTINUES TO GO TO THE UP (CLOSED) POSITION AFTER YOUR FINGER IS REMOVED FROM THE CONTROL BUTTON..IN OTHERS AUTOS( US) MADE, THE WINDOW STOPS GOING TO THE CLOSE POSITION WHEN YOUR FINGER IS REMOVED FROM THE CONTROL BUTTON. *TR
DEFROSTER SYSTEM IS WEAK. WHEN THERE IS ICE/SNOW BUILD-UP ALONG EDGES OF WINDSHIELD OR WINDOWS, SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE TURNED TO AND KEPT ON HIGHEST SETTING TO AVOID FOGGING ON THE INSIDE. EVEN AT THIS SETTING, IT HAS TROUBLE CLEARING FOG FROM REAR SIDE WINDOWS. SYSTEM IS PRETTY LOUD AT HIGHEST SETTING SO IT'S HARD TO LISTEN TO RADIO OR CARRY ON A CONVERSATION. *TR
THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE AND WOULD NOT MELT ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD UNDER MODERATE TEMPERATURES AND A VERY LIGHT FREEZING MIST. *TR
UNDER CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS (WET SNOW, ICE & FREEZING TEMPS) THE DEFROST SYSTEM WILL NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING OVER ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER 10 TO 12 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT IS NECESSARY TO STOP AND SCRAPE ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPERS. IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO STOP ON NARROW MOUNTAIN ROADS IN A BLIZZARD! *TR
WINDOW FOGGING - 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED WITH CLIMATE CONTROL. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW A CERTAIN DEGREES, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSES ALL THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN DRIVING. THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER CONTROL IS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS, INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD SINCE IT NO LONGER BLOWS "CONDITIONED" DRY AIR ONTO THE SURFACES. *TR