2008 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

2008 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A JAMMED GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FLOOR MATS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ONE QUARTER BLOCK OF A CITY BLOCK, VEERING TO THE LEFT AND DEMOLISHED ONE CAR. THE VEHICLE THEN CONTINUED ANOTHER QUARTER BLOCK AND DESTROYED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN TURNED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER IT CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *JB

LOST BRAKING POWER AND THERE WAS A CRUNCHING SOUND, HAD BOTH FEET ON BREAKING PEDAL & TRUCK WOULDN'T STOP. IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING AND ABS/ANTI SKID LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUR TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE PREVIOUSLY DUE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FOUR TIRES BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V373000 (SUSPENSION: REAR). THE VIN WAS ELIGIBLE; HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A DEFECT WAS NOT PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEATS BECAME WORN, FRAYED AND DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE DAMAGED REAR SEATS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STARTED THE INGITION. THE VEHICLE WAS POSITIONED INTO THE SELECTED GEAR, FOLLOWED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,963. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

WAS GOING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH CARWASH, AUTO IN NEUTRAL. REACHED THE END, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT AUTO INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN, GOING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE END OF THE CARWASH. HAD THE BRAKES ON BUT THEY DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. TURNED THE CAR TO MISS A TELEPHONE POLE AND WENT OUT INTO 4-LANE HWY., CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, STOPPING MY VEHICLE FINALLY. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OUR INS. CO. REPAIR/ESTIMATE SHOP. DO NOT HAVE A CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM AS YET, STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HALT AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH SUCH FORCE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ACCELERATING VEHICLE THAT THE ACTUAL BRAKE PEDAL FRACTURED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND OCCUPANTS FROM THE FOREGOING VEHICLE SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS DUE TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE. ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CURRENTLY, SHE WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,500.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAIST AND BECAME LOCKED IN PLACE. EACH TIME THE PASSENGER WOULD TAKE A BREATH OR MOVE, THE BELT WOULD LOCK TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AROUND THE PASSENGER. THE SEAT BELT WAS CUT TO REMOVE THE PASSENGER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,500. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB

THIS IS MY EFFORT TO SUBMIT A COMMENT ON YOUR REGULATIONS, NOT A COMPLAINT OF AN INCIDENT. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS FORM BY LOU MOLINA AT NHTSA. I AM A DRIVER WHO FOR HEALTH REASONS WISHES TO SIT ERECT. I AM NOT FAT, AND OF NORMAL HEIGHT (5'6"). THIS LAST WEEKEND I PURCHASED A RAV4. THE HEADRESTS INTRUDE INTOLERABLY INTO MY HEAD SPACE. IN ORDER TO SIT AT MY PREFERRED ANGLE AND KEEP MY BACK TO THE SEATBACK, MY HEAD IS TILTED DOWN SO THAT I MUST RAISE MY EYES TO LOOK OVER MY EYEGLASSES, OR MY STRAIGHT VISION IS DIRECTED TO THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I TRUST THAT THESE HEADRESTS MEET YOUR STANDARDS. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE ENGINEERED THIS STANDARD FOR AN OBESE, FAT-SHOULDERED PERSON WITH TIGHT HAMSTRINGS, SOMEONE WHO PREFERS TO DRIVE RECLINED TO ACCOMMODATE HIS BELLY AND IS HELD AWAY FROM THE SEATBACK BY HIS OWN PADDING. MY PRESENT APPROACH TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IS TO TURN THE HEADREST BACKWARDS, AND I AM FULLY AWARE THAT THIS DEPRIVES ME OF THE NECK SAFETY I WOULD HAVE HAD FROM AN OLDER DESIGN OF HEADREST. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE COMMENTS IN SECTION VII OF RIN 2127-AH09, "SPECIFICALLY, THEY MAINTAINED THAT SMALLER FEMALE OCCUPANTS TEND TO UTILIZE STEEPER SEAT BACK ANGLES. ACCORDING TO THESE COMMENTERS, A BACKSEAT OF 50 MM MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INTRUSIONS INTO THE SPACE WHERE THESE OCCUPANTS TYPICALLY PLACE THEIR HEADS, FORCING THEIR HEADS INTO AN UNNATURAL FORWARD-TILTING POSITION" IS DESCRIPTIVE OF MY SITUATION. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE NHTSA TO CONSIDER MINORITY AS WELL AS MAJORITY NEEDS IN DRAFTING SUCH REGULATIONS. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO DRIVERS WHOSE COMFORT AND SAFETY HAS BEEN DIMINISHED BY YOUR DECISIONS. THANK YOU, MELISSA READING *TR

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SEMI ON AN UPHILL IN MY NEW 2008 RAV4 WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL SINCE I WAS GOING UPHILL AND PASSING, BUT WHEN I EASED MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL REMAINED PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I HAD ENTERED A SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WAS ACCELERATING RAPIDLY. I STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR HOPING TO SPRING IT LOOSE AND TRIED THE BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL. AS I WAS REACHING SPEEDS WELL INTO THE 90'S AND WITHIN SECONDS OF PLOWING INTO THE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME I REACHED DOWN AND GRABBED THE GAS PEDAL AND PULLED UP ON IT. IT DID COME UP THEN AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID CRASHING. I WAS TERRIFIED AND THOUGHT I WOULD DIE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY INSISTED IT WAS CAUSED BY MY FLOOR MAT AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT SINCE IT WAS NOT A TOYOTA FLOOR MAT. I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL WHEN I REACHED DOWN FOR IT, IT WAS SIMPLY STUCK. THEY CONTINUE TO BLAME THE FLOOR MAT, MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN PUT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT SCARES ME EVERY DAY TO DRIVE IT. I NEVER, EVER FLOOR IT AND NOW KNOW TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SHOULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN---ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE CRASHED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I AM VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA BLAMESHIFTS AND DODGES THE ISSUE BY BLAMING THE MATS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEIR RECALL HOTLINE TOLD ME IT IS MY PROBLEM SINCE MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I DID BUY THEIR MAT AFTER THE INCIDENT, ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER THAT I SHOULD REMOVE IT SINCE IT COULD CAUSE ACCELERATOR ENTRAPMENT. MY DEALER STILL BLAMES THE WHOLE PROBLEM ON MY NON COMPLIANT MAT EVEN THOUGH THEY RECALLED THEIR OWN MATS, TOO. IT IS VERY DISTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHERS AND GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. SO MANY DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS, AND I EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN ONE. WE HAVE BOUGHT 5 TOYOTAS FROM THIS DEALER AND HAVE HAD NO SUPPORT AND HAVE BEEN TREATED RUDELY. *TR

NHTSA SEARCH RESULTS FOR 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES REPORTS THIS DATA: RECALLS 14, INVESTIGATION 4, COMPLAINTS 468. MY QUESTION IS, HOW MANY DEFECTS IN A VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE? IF I HAD BEEN INFORMED BEFORE PURCHASE OF ALL THESE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AN SERVICEABILITY PROBLEMS, THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD EVER HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE NHTSA JUST FACE THE REALITY AND DECLARE THE CAR UNFIT FOR THE ROAD AND THAT IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND CONSEQUENTLY REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE AND SCRAP THE VEHICLE?

1ST OIL CHANGE MENTIONED WHINE IN TRANS. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND 15,000 OIL CHANGE SAID SOMETHING AGAIN STILL; NOTHING WRONGTHIS WHINE NOISE IS BETWEEN 38/47 MPH. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN 10 MILES BY DISTRICT MANAGER AND DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TO VERIFY CONDITION CONDITION HEARD IS NORMAL PLANETARY GEAR NOISE CONSIDERED NORMAL AND NO REPAIRS NECESSARY. 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4 THE WHINE IS VERY ANNOYING I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW OR NO SPEEDS FOR MUCH OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT WAS REPORTED AND CHECKED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER MADE AN ADJUSTMENT BUT DID NOT RECORD IT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. NOW, AT 42,159 MILES, THE NOISES HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND I CAN FEEL IT WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. TODAY, THE DEALER FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE AND ARE RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE SHAFT. CHECKING THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WITH 2006 - 2008 RAV4'S INCLUDING NUMEROUS REPORTS TO THE NHTSA. IT IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TODAY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR IT AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE COST FOR THE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIRS AT NO COST. *TR

BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 RELEASES ON IT'S OWN WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR IN STOP-AND-GO-TRAFFIC. IT'S MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, BUT HAPPENS ONCE IN AWHILE IN WINTER. IF I HAVE TO STOP FOR ANY REASON, WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT RELEASES ON ITS OWN AND GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I USUALLY HAVE TO START PUMPING THE BRAKE SO THAT IT DOESN'T START ROLLING INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. (A SALESPERSON ADMITTED TO ME THAT HER CAMRY DID THE SAME THING AND THAT SHE GOT RID OF THE CAR.) I WANT MY CAR REPAIRED AND SAFE TO DRIVE, OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF IT AND I CANNOT AFFORD THAT AT THE MOMENT. *TR

UNDER CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS (WET SNOW, ICE & FREEZING TEMPS) THE DEFROST SYSTEM WILL NOT KEEP ICE FROM FORMING OVER ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER 10 TO 12 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT IS NECESSARY TO STOP AND SCRAPE ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPERS. IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO STOP ON NARROW MOUNTAIN ROADS IN A BLIZZARD! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE BEING RUPTURED. THE COOLANT DRIPPED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA IS NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS THE ONE WHO STRUCK THE DEER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 TO 45 MPH WITH BOTH REAR WINDOWS OPENED, THE AIR PRESSURE IS VERY STRONG AND UNBEARABLE ON THE CONTACT'S EARS. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY STATED THAT NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,300. UPDATED 09/13/08.*LJ UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

I OWN A TOYOTA RAV 4 FROM 2008. MY BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. IT HAVE THE PUMP THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. I HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING IT TO THE DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT YET. ALL THE TIME THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING THAT WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU OR REPORT IT TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF TOYOTA. I AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN ON BOARD. WE BOUGHT THIS SUV AS A FAMILY CAR BUT NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT WITH PEACE OF MIND. WE NEED SOME HELP TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED. SOME OF THE DEALERS GET BACK TO ME SAYING "THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE" EITHER SELL IT OR WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING. MAKE : TOYOTAYEAR:2008 MODEL : RAV 4 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED MICE ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE CLEAN AIR INTAKE AND STATED THAT SHE HAD CAUGHT FIFTY-SEVEN MICE TO DATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO PREVENT THE MICE FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC IN 2008, WHERE THEY PLACED SEALANT ONTO THE VEHICLE TO KEEP THE MICE FROM ENTERING BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE UP A HILL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE EXCESSIVELY AND THE RPMS INCREASED BETWEEN 1,500 TO 2,000. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE OVER DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING OR ASSISTANCE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURES SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TOLD HER NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THAT WHENEVER SHE DROVE IN REVERSE, THE NORMAL RPM SHOULD BE BETWEEN 700 AND 900. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO SOFTWARE CREATED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 943 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

RAV 4 HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES DUE TO POOR ENGINE DESIGN FROM TOYOTA, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

MY 2008 RAV4 SUV SUDDENLY GOES TO FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN. I HAVE TO PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CAR OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASING THIS SUV NEW. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO SEE THE CAR WHILE IT IS RACING UP, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AND I CAN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN ON WILL. *TR

WINDOW FOGGING - 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED WITH CLIMATE CONTROL. WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW A CERTAIN DEGREES, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSES ALL THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN DRIVING. THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER CONTROL IS INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS, INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD SINCE IT NO LONGER BLOWS "CONDITIONED" DRY AIR ONTO THE SURFACES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHENEVER HE DROVE THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE SPEED AND THE RPM'S WOULD NOT DECREASE FOR 10 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19,754.

I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA RAV4 (2008 LS) IN THE SUMMER OF 2008. I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I REPORTED IT THEN AND THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES IT WENT IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE SAME - THAT'S JUST WHAT TOYOTAS DO. THE PROBLEM - WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IDLING, THE CAR HESITATES. THERE IS A SECOND OR 2 DURING WHICH THERE IS NO POWER. THEN, THE POWER KICKS IN AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD, NOT BECAUSE THE PEDAL IS STICKING BUT BECAUSE THE CAR SUDDENLY "CATCHES UP" WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY TWO DEALERS IS THIS: IN THE TOYOTA, THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED DOWN AND WHEN THE CAR'S COMPUTER SENDS THE INFORMATION TO THE CARBURETOR, OR WHATEVER PASSES FOR IT IN NEW ENGINES. THAT CAUSES THE SEQUENCE - PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, HESITATION, THEN SURGE. THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HEAVY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. OPENINGS IN THE TRAFFIC ARE USUALLY SMALL BUT ADEQUATE IF THE CAR RESPONDS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR HESITATES, THEN SURGES, THE OPENING CAN BE MISSED AND THE CAR AND DRIVER ARE AT RISK FOR A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO INTERMITTENT SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, EVEN WHEN EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR. I'M FILING THIS BECAUSE I SEE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS GONE PAST THE STICKING PEDAL TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN THE CARS. SO I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE HELPFUL. PS-I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE A LITTLE LUCK AND A QUICK FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALL THAT PREVENTED ONE. PSPS-I WILL GLADLY PROVIDE THE VIN # BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT AVAILABLE NOW. *TR