37 problems related to steering have been reported for the 2008 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2008 RAV4.
I was driving in a snow storm at approximately 20miles/hr. The road had not been plowed recently, so there was some snow that had accumulated, but it was certainly passable and I was driving a 4 wheel,Toyota, rav 4, 2008, in excellent upkeep. All of a sudden the car started drifting to the right, when I tried to slowly correct the direction of the vehicle, the steering would not work. I could not move the wheel, the brakse did not work, everything in the car froze. I was helpless and had to watch as the car slowly drove itself off the side of the road into a deep ditch. Half way through this harrowing time span a beeping noise came on(the vehicle stability control system?), but only after the car was incapacitated for what seemed like minutes. I was on a straight away and there were no hills at this location. The vehicle traveled approximately 300+ feet, as evidenced by the track marks left in the snow. Luckily the ditch was filled with snow, so I did not crash into a tree or roll over. The snowpack stopped the car and it ended up tilted on its right side, buried almost to the top of the passenger window. When I tried to open the right window to crawl out, it was inoperable. I was towed out of the ditch and because of the soft snow cover there was no damage to the car. I have also had 1 other steering problem with the car when it did not respond as expected(although the steering wheel was not frozen) and I subsequently side swiped a car I was passing while driving in a parking garage. I am an excellent new england driver with a stellar driving record. This car has been a disaster the infrequent times I it. It usually sits in the garage, since I prefer my 109,000 mile, reliable, 2001, Mercury mountaineer; after experiencing the first steering event with the Rav4, which I know was not my fault. I drove the rav 4 during the second incident because I thought it would be safer, being a new car! ha.
When turning left there is a click or cluck sound. Only turning left not right have had the problem since purchased new in 2008. Now seating at 92k miles. Never in an accident.