3rd gen Toyota RAV4 2006–2012

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Larger again, with an optional 3.5L V6, an optional third row, and a side-hinged rear door. Automatic only.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Four-cylinder burning oil 2006–2008

What to check: Check the oil level and ask how often it is topped up. Ask for records of any engine work done under Toyota's program ZE7.

Toyota's warranty enhancement program ZE7 covered excessive oil use in the 2006–2008 RAV4's 2AZ four. Its longer cover ran 10 years or 150,000 miles from first use, so it has ended. Excessive oil use is the top complaint for the 2007 and 2008 on CarComplaints.com, and Toyota bulletins on the 2AZ engine reach to 2013 model years without naming models.

Sources ^1,2,3,4,5
V6 water pump All years

What to check: Look for coolant leaks and a low coolant level, and ask whether the water pump has been replaced.

Four members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads name the V6's water pump as a worry, and one says the job is costly. They disagree on whether the engine has to come out to change it.

Sources ^6,7
V6 VVT-i oil line All years

What to check: Ask for proof that the VVT-i oil line repair was done.

Three members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads warn that a rubber VVT-i oil hose can burst, and one says that cuts oil to the top of the engine.

Sources ^6,7

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: The 2011 2011 One source so far

SlashGear lists the 2011 among the used RAV4s to buy, with the caveat that its reliability score only just makes the cut.⁸
Sought after: 3.5L V6 All years

Six members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads favor the V6, for its speed and, two of them say, its reliability. One member there prefers the four, and two others are not fans of the V6.^7,6
Avoid: 2.4L four 2006–2008 Less sought after

A BobIsTheOilGuy member who owns two V6s calls the 2.4L four an oil guzzler, and Toyota's program ZE7 covered excessive oil use in the 2006–2008 four.^6,2

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.