There are 8 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 1998 Toyota RAV4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT IN A WALGREENS DRUG STORE LOT IN OUR 1998 TOYOTA RAV 4. SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MPH. SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ABOUT A FEW FEET BEFORE THE PARKING SPOT WHICH CAUSED HER TO JUMP A CURB AND CRASH INTO A COLUMN OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. MY WIFE HAD EXTENSIVE BRUISING AND GREAT PAIN IN THE CHEST AREA WHICH NECESSITATED A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY BRUISES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STORE COLUMN. IT IS ESTIMATED THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH OR MORE WHEN IT HIT. *TR
THE GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF THE FIRE WALL , WITH BOLTS STILL IN TACT TO THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS THROTTLE PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS PEDALS WERE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND ARE OF SAME HEIGHT. *NLM....*AK
ACCELERATION PEDAL STICKS, MOSTLY ON TAKE OFF. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING FORCED VEHICLE INTO A REAR END ACCIDENT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OUT WHILE GOING UP HILL, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU ARE GOING WEST NOT EAST. GO FIGURE. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL.
1998 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 7 OF THE 11 YEARS SHE HAS OWNED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE, SO THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD OR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP AND DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE SERVICE CENTER LUBRICATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB
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 May 4, 2026