Toyota RAV4 Suspension Recall Update – Third Time’s a Charm?

Same deal. I got quoted just under $1100 to have the rear aligned on my Rav4 after the recall. This was on the same day that the dealership was promoting a "$90 Alignment Special" on their website. So, thanks to the recall, Toyota wants me to pay a $1090 premium purely because of their half-baked recall repair job.

Toyota HQ refused to cover the cost. The rep also kept saying "We can't be expected to pay for a repair." To which I explained "This is maintenance, not a repair. And I was ready to pay $90 for it, but there is no way in hell I am paying $1100 because of Toyota's substandard engineering and cost cutting."

I told the Toyota rep that I am contacting class action law firms and that didn't seem to bother her. No apologies, not acknowledgment of how unfair the situation is.

I urge all of you to google 'Automative Class Action Law Firm' and leave a message with at least three of them. This impacts over 330,000 RAV4 vehicles. Firms will likely be very interested in pursuing this.

This stinks for four reasons:

1. It seems to breach the Right To Repair act, because Toyota disabled the ability for anyone other than a Toyota dealer to perform this basic maintenance task.

2. They are forcing the customer to pay for the defective part over and over again (due to opting not to invest the time and money in reengineering the rear suspension arm). To quote the tech at the Toyota dealership "I'm really sorry but our hands are tied. This is purely because of the hokey repair that the Toyota accountants and engineers devised."

3. Because the tire store couldn't realign my rear when installing my winter tires, it means I will be clocking up uneven wear on my tires until Toyota steps up and fixes this. So, not only will they ultimately be paying for fixing the problem with the rear suspension arm, my lawyer will see that they buy me a new set of tires while they're at it.

4. Prior to this issue, I LOVED my car and I LOVED Toyota. I would preach about the brand to anyone shopping for a car. It is the first time I have ever loved a car I have owned. And my wife and I had our eyes on the new 2019 RAV4. If Toyota doesn't truly solve this issue and do what is right, I can never buy another Toyota. This is truly sad. I expected better from Toyota.

i took my rave 4 to dealership in rochester hills michigan /Fox Toyota I need help they are saying only one for this issue and will not fix my car

Have been a committed Toyota owner for many years - just bought an Avalon. I HATE my RAV4 - a 4-cylinder eco failure that gets LOWER mileage than my 6-cylinder Avalon -- by more than 10%!!

Tired of Toyota double-speak. YOU'VE had major failures which have hurt your brand. Either you care or you don't. Which is it? Brands are very slow to build (I remember your tin rust-buckets) and quick to fade. Yours is fading - especially with your competition from Korea. Your choice. I don't take Bullshit. I am American and not very concerned with interpersonal "feelings". Do right or build something else.

So my 2008 RAV4 (4x4 Sport Model) has kicked up 170,000 miles, the last 60,000 have been by me in the last year. Toyota has some seriously expensive suspension and steering maintenance, but my OEM Dealership Replaced back left toe arm survived for a decent amount of time, actually finally dying at around 160,000. If you go to NTB you can get the two toe arms replaced for around $600-$1000 with adjustable aftermarket toe arms based on the specifications Toyota never put into the service pool (unknown reasoning). I don’t remember where NTB sources their parts however, but if ya have a chat with em, they’ve always been very transparent with pricing and sourcing!

I have a 2008 Rav 4 I purchased in 2009 and have the same rear suspension issues and also get the "900-1300" dollar fix balony. I would like someone that knows what the exact parts are that I need to do this myself, where I can purchase them and then get it aligned. Last Toyota for me and I have a large family which amounts to over 200 vehicles owned and on the road. They will not be buying Toyota products anymore. Disappointed Terry

The same story line dropped off our 08 Rav 4 with 218,000 original miles at the dealer due to faulty recall rear tie rod repairs. The same BS from service manager we emailed the manufacturer 2 days ago still haven't got an answer. We went & got the SUV. Service Manager said it's a wait & see deal. He said this is the first one he seen coming back after repair because can't do proper wheel alignment. I told him that's seems hard to believe.

Same here folks. Had two new rear tires installed on my 2008 RAV at a tire dealership 3 weeks ago. They indicated there was a sticker that indicates only a Toyota Dealership can perform the alignment. Took it to Toyota and after keeping it for a full day they indicated they needed to order the parts and it would be a time consuming repair. Asked that I return the following Tuesday. After 3 hours, the Service Associate then indicated it would cost $1,092 to replace the rear lower suspension arms. Was going to reach out to corporate Toyota, but came upon these comments. I was hoping to keep the car one more year but have decided to simply trade it in "as it appears I also need two new rear sway bar links for another $602 and rear brake pads (I have my car serviced at all service intervals). I can see it's not going to be worth the headache. I will not be purchasing another Toyota. Quite unbelievable.

Yeah actually we love our 2008 Rav 4 with 218,000 original miles.Even after several recalls. We had the same problem rear control arm ball joints. We reached out to Toyota corporate they told us dealer replaced the parts once that's it. Even-thought tires uneven wear & alignment can't be done correctly. However,dealer price quote was aprox $700.00 installed both but, with the same BS epoxy used!! I told service rep to epoxy rear control arm ball joints again doesn't solve the problem !! You still can't get a correct alignment front & rear!
Here's the part Moog RK100170 Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly $97.18 each on Amazon.
Just have repair shop install them & do alignment don't waste time with Toyota.

Man, would y'all relax?! Just get a pair of adjustable toe links for less than $100/pr., pop them in, and you're good to go. Normal price at the alignment shop. No biggee.

yes i have 2009 Toyota rava 4. Four wheel drive,and it has a bad wobble while driving with a load or without. The highway a lot. Now if there's a recall on it do I have to pay for it?

Same problem with my 2010 RAV.

Does this rear Control Arm failure apply to the 2012 model Rav4 Sport2?

Between this problem and the excess oil usage problem caused by bad design of the bottom end .. Im thinking Ive just brought a piece of Junk..
WONDERFUL. ..