There are 3 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2014 Toyota Avalonin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was pulling into a parking spot when my car suddenly accelerated to a very high speed. I traveled over a curb, on some pavement, through some bushes, knocked down a light pole and miraculously came to a stop. My foot was pumping the brakes to no avail. My entire car was damaged but miraculously no one was hurt. Car was towed to a mechanic who confirmed that the car accelerated with him as well. Front, back, underside, roof, tires and frames were all badly damaged.
POST COLLISION SYSTEM (WITH AUTO-BRAKE) ACTIVATED (INCLUDING SEAT BELT TIGHTENING) WITH A CLEAR ROAD AHEAD. THIS COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR DISASTER IF IT HAPPENED AHEAD OF A TRACTOR TRAILER AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS.... UPDATED 06-18-15 *BF
I HAVE HAD A DRIVING LICENSE FOR 68 YEARS WITH 3 MINOR COLLISIONS WITH NO FATALITIES OR HOSPITALIZATION. WHEN I WAS TAUGHT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I WAS INTRODUCED TO LEFT FOOT BRAKING AND TOLD IT WOULD RESULT IN FASTER BRAKING AS WELL AS INSURING THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE INTO OR THROUGH A STORE OR BUILDING WHEN MY RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL ONTO THE ACCELERATOR. WE TOOK POSSESSION OF THE AVALON ON AUGUST 6, 2014. THIS FIRST FRIGHTENING INCIDENT OCCURRED AUGUST 11, 2014. I WAS ATTEMPTING A U TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT AN ISLAND ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, EASING OFF ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOT REMOVING MY FOOT FROM IT COMPLETELY, WHILE MODERATING MY SPEED WITH SLIGHT APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES WITH MY LEFT FOOT. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND APPLIED A BIT MORE GAS, AND NOTHING HAPPENED, AND I THOUGHT THAT MY ENGINE HAD STALLED. MY TACHOMETER SHOWED THE ENGINE WAS REVVED TO 1200 RPM, BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. AFTER A DELAY I ESTIMATE WAS 3 OR 4 SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY ENGAGED, AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD A FEW MORE SIMILAR INCIDENTS ENTERING OR LEAVING PARKING LOTS IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA SERVICE REP. AT THE DEALER THAT THE TOYOTAS ARE DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE LEFT FOOT BRAKING. AFTER GOING THROUGH MY SEVERAL TOYOTA MANUALS I DISCOVERED ON PAGE 27 OF THE 2014 TOYOTA QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE A PARAGRAPH ENTITLED "SMART STOP TECHNOLOGY", WHICH EXPLAINS A FEATURE INCORPORATED TO KEEP A CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN STARTING ON A HILL I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FOR A DRIVER WITH MANY YEARS OF LEFT FOOT BRAKING. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026