NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota RAV4. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSING. THE SAFETY CONCERN WAS REPORTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/9/14*CN
I CAN NOT GIVE THE INFO. THAT YOU ARE ASKING ME ABOUT THE DAMAGE OF MY VEHICLE IN THE ABOVE QUESTION ,BECAUSE IT KEEPS DELETING MY ANSWERS. ON THIS PAST 12/16/2013 AT 3:15PM I WAS PULLED OVER BEHIND A CHEVY,TRAILBLAIZER WAITING FOR A EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO PASS BY,SUDDENLY MY NEW RAV-4 DECIDED THAT IT WANTED TO GO FOR A FAST RIDE,WETHER I LIKED IT,OR NOT.I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET TO SEE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. BY THE TIME I LOOKED BACK-UP,IT WAS TO LATE FOR ME TO PULL-UP ONTO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE,OR PUT INTO (N).THIS WAS MY THIRD INCEDENT WITH THIS HAPPENING,EVERY BODY KEEPS SAYING THAT THIS HAPPENED ON 12/19/2013,NOT SO ! ON 01/11/2013 I ALMOST KILLED A GIRL PUSHING A BABY CARRIAGE AND HOLDING HANDS WITH HER LITTLE BOY IN A CROSSWALK AT 12/30 PM.I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND THEY INVESTIGATED IT AND SAID,"ALL 14 ACCIDENTS WHERE MY FAULT ,BECAUSE OF THE MATTS ON MY FLOOR."I JUST HAD MY INSURANCE CO. INVESTIGATE IT THE OTHER DAY.I DON'T HAVE ALL THE RESULTS BACK YET! ROCKINGHAM TOYOTA AND SCION,NH. SOLD ME THIS CAR ,I GAVE THEM TWO TRADE-INS,A 2010 CAMARO SS,RS,AND MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA WHICH I BROUGHT TO THEM THAT NIGHT FOR A RECALL ON MY TRUCK,TO REPLACE THE ROTTED-OUT FRAME,AND ROTTED-OUT REAR BRAKES.THEY SAID NO TO FIXING MY BRAKES,AND I HAD THE RECALL LETTER TO SHOW THEM.DID NOT HELP! SO THEY SOLD ME THIS LEMMON,AND SENT ME A CHECK IN THE MAIL FOR $23,000.I GOT RIPPED-OFF,THEY CLOSED THE DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS,AND THEY WOULD NOT LET ME NEAR MY TRUCK AND CAMARO.HE SAID "COME BACK TOMORROW TO GET YOUR BELONGINGS OUT OF THEM".I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY ,AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS TO LATE,THE AUTOS ARE ON A TRAIN WRITE NOW,HEADING TO WISSCONSIN.HELP ME PLEASE ! *TR
I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON A 6 LANE EXPRESSWAY WITH A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. HANDS AT TEN AND TWO - JUST WATCHING THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH IN THE FAR LEFT LANE SO PEOPLE COULD TURN ON THE ROAD. I HAD BEEN HAVING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY FOR AWHILE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAD JUST GOTTEN A 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND AFTER REMOVING A TIRE WITH A NAIL IN IT FOUND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE TIRE, WHICH TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET (APPARENTLY RUN FLAT TIRES ARE STILL IN JAPAN,,) SO, I BACK TO MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE- I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I LOST ALL STEERING IN MY VEHICLE AND I WAS HEADED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HIT THE TALL CEMENT MEDIAN AND I PULLED AS HARD AS I COULD BACK TO THE RIGHT. AFTER I HIT I HAD A LITTLE CONTROL AGAIN. WITH BOTH DRIVERS SIDE TIRES STRIPED FLAT I HAD ENOUGH STEERING TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND GET BACK ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PULL THE THING INTO A SIDE PARKING LOT TO BE TOWED. I FEEL LIKE THE THING IS TRYING THE KILL ME! WARRANTY HAS TO COVER THIS BUT I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE TO TRADE IT IN. TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE [XXX] THING. ATLLEAST I HAVE TWO WITNESSES THAT CAN VERIFY MY EVENT INCASE TOYOTA TRIES TO SCREW ME OVER. RAV4S R DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE RECALLED OR PEOPLE R GOING TO DIE. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,350. UPDATED 02/11/2014*LJ
2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON SIX OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABOUT 2 1/2 INCHES AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE LEFT COLLAR BONE DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
THE REAR SEAT SHAKES OVER ANY ROUGH SURFACE. IN WATCHING THE HEADREST FOR THE REAR SEAT IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WHILE DRIVING THERE IS ABOUT A 2-INCH SIDEWAYS TRAVEL. HAVE TRIED THE SEAT IN VARIOUS POSITIONS AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS. BY ROUGH I DON'T MEAN POTHOLES...THINGS LIKE CHANGING LANES OVER REFLECTOR BUTTONS, FREEWAYS WITH RAIN GROOVES, THINGS LIKE THAT. MY 12 YEAR OLD JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE'S REAR SEAT DOESN'T SHAKE AT ALL IN THESE CONDITIONS, BUT THIS RAV4 REAR SEAT MOST CERTAINLY DOES. THE SHAKING IS SO BAD SOMETIMES THAT IT RATTLES. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AN INFANT CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO THIS BACK SEAT AS THE INFANT MY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE SHAKING OR VIBRATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (TOYOTA CARLSBAD, CARLSBAD CA) ON OCTOBER 7TH 2013 AND THEY VERIFIED THE ISSUE. RATHER THAN TAKE STEPS TO CORRECT IT THEY TESTED ANOTHER RAV4 IN THE SAME WAY AND FOUND THAT IT TOO HAD THE SAME CONDITION AS MINE. BASED ON THIS THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS A 'NORMAL CONDITION'. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. NEVER HAVE I SEEN A CAR WITH A SEAT SHAKE SUCH AS THIS. IN TESTING FURTHER I FIND THAT IF SOMEONE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE REAR SEAT SHAKING SEEMS TO REDUCE. IF SOMEONE SITS IN THE REAR SEAT AND THEY WEIGH 150 POUNDS OR SO THERE IS A MINOR VIBRATION FELT AND THE SHAKING IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. HOWEVER, IF ONLY THE DRIVER IS IN THE CAR THE SHAKING RESUMES OR ANY LESS-THAN-PERFECT ROAD CONDITION. I FEEL AS THOUGH TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PRIMARILY FOR THE RISK OF INJURY TO INFANTS STRAPPED IN THE SEAT AS WELL AS COCKPIT NOISE (RATTLE). IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE TO BE SURE. *TR
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR LOST POWER. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR STOPPED AND THE CHECK EV SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON. THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ
ON THREE OCCASIONS DURING 2013, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED TO STOP THE CAR. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 THE ACCELERATION AND MOVEMENT FORWARD WAS MORE PRONOUNCED AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A NOTICEABLE SOUND OF THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED AS THE BRAKE WAS BEING SLOWLY APPLIED DURING AN APPROACH TO AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT OR INVOLVEMENT OF THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE AND NO POSSIBILITY THAT THE DRIVER'S FOOT COULD HAVE HIT THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME AS HIS FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE BRAKE. WE REQUESTED THAT THE CAR BE EXAMINED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT AND THE CORRECTIVE ACTION NEEDED. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT IT COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. *TR
NOT SURE OF DATE, BUT THE OUTSIDE HOUSING OF SPARE TIRE CAME OFF GOING THRU CAR WASH... THIS WAS AN AUTOMATIC WASH NO BRUSHES WAS USED. NOW IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS COULD HAD HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES... I DID TAKE IT THE FOX TOYOTA AND THEY FIXED THE INNER HOUSING BECAUSE THE SCREW ANCHOR WAS LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. WOULD NOT STOP. *TR
I WAS SLOWLY MANEUVERING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR REVVED UP, JUMPED OVER THE CONCRETE BARRIER, OVER THE CURB AND SIDEWALK. I WAS HEADED DIRECTLY TOWARD A BUILDING AND A LARGE PLATE GLASS WINDOW. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR, AND FELT SQUISHY WHEN I PUSHED THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, TURNED OFF THE KEY AND HIT A PARKED CAR IN ORDER TO STOP. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE LIGHT WOULD COME ON ANY TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. *TR
I AM FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT SPONGY BRAKES BEHAVIOR IN A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING WERE THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR AND REDUCED STOPPING POWER DURING APPLICATION. THE SPONGY BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO PRESENT WITH ENGINE OFF. I REPORT THIS EVENT TO TWO SEPARATE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WHICH TECHNICIANS CLAIMED THIS IS A NORMAL FUNCTION AND THIS IS A SOFT PEDAL DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP). THE SECOND DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE (2011 TOYOTA RAV4) AND IT ALMOST DID THE SAME THING (ENGINE OFF - PEDAL WAS STILL SPONGY BUT WAS LESS THAN MY VEHICLE). SINCE BEING A ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN BEFORE BECOMING AN MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I BLEED THE BRAKES WHICH ONLY HELPED A LITTLE AND THERE WERE NO FLUID LEAKS. FINALLY, I RESEARCHED THAT THE ABS PUMP MIGHT NEED TO BE ACTIVATED USING A SCANNER TO CYCLE THE ACTUATORS THAT MIGHT HOLD AIR TRAPPED INSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY PREVIOUS PLACE ON EMPLOYMENT WHERE I CONSULTED THIS ISSUE WITH THE SHOP MANAGER IN WHICH HE AGREED THAT THIS IS A POSSIBILITY. THE SHOP MANAGER PERFORMED THE ABS PUMP CYCLING PROCESS WITH THE SCANNER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND FIRM LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO BE (PROCEDURE TIME: 5 MINUTES!). I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA TRAINED TECHNICIANS AND ANY GOOD TECHNICIAN KNOWS THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SOFT PEDAL DESIGN ESPECIALLY WITH A VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER WITH ENGINE OFF (HYDRAULIC FLUID IS ONLY SLIGHTLY COMPRESSIBLE!). ONLY VEHICLES WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER CAN EXPERIENCE A BRAKE PEDAL FEELING SPONGY SINCE THE BOOSTER WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF (APPROX:10 ' 20 BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATIONS ' DIESEL & VERY FEW GAS VEHICLES). IT SEEMS TO ME TOYOTA IS SKIPPING A STEP IN THERE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. *TR
THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS THE 8TH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT. 2012. AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN BRAKE APPLIED CAR REVVED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD. SINCE NOTHING STOPS THIS EXCEPT TURNING OFF IGNITION THIS WAS DONE AGAIN AND CAR RESTARTED AND NO FURTHER INCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND AFTER HAVING CAR THERE FOR 2 DAYS WAS TOLD NO REPLICATION COULD BE MADE. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA AND AFTER MORE DELAYS HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A RENTAL. CAR IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE IS DOING NOTHING UNTIL HE HEARS FROM CALIFORNIA THAT MAY APPROVE SUPER TECH TO LOOK AT CAR. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH TOYOTA DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY ARE IN DENY MODE UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA AFTER THIS POOR RUN AROUND SERVICE ON BOTH COASTS. *TR
ON A SUNNY HOT DAY VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROX 20 OUTSIDE. ENTERED THE VEHICLE ONCE NO MISHAP. UPON SECOND ENTRY "3 MINUTES APART" WHEN DOOR WAS CLOSED REAR WINDOW JUST FELL APART. I FOUND GLASS ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REMAINING GLASS IN THE VEHICLE. WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPEN IS THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. NOT AWARE OF ANY PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. TOYOTA WAS GIVEN TWO ATTEMPTS TO REVIEW THE GRIEVANCE ON EACH OCCASION CLAIMING OWNER FAULT OR RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
I DRIVE A TOYOTA RAV4 V6 LTD, 2012 PURCHASED ON JAN 2, 2013. PRIOR TO THAT WE HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY 1999 WITH MORE 200K MILES ON IT. ON JULY 24TH, 2013, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH INSIDE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND WAS TURNING RIGHT TO PARK. I WAS ALMOST PARKED WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED AND ZOOMED OVER PARKING STOPPER, BREAKING OVERHEAD STORAGE BIN, ZOOMED AHEAD AND BANGED INTO THE BUILDING STAIRS. I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE ALL THROUGH, BUT THE CAR DIDNT STOP UNTIL IT HIT ON TO THE STAIRS OF APARTMENT. THE WHEELS WERE STILL ROLLING BUT IT COULDN'T GO AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY STAIRS AND FINALLY AFTER CONTINUOUSLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE IT STOPPED. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ALL ALONG ON THE BRAKE AS IT ALWAYS IS WHEN I'M PARKING. BODY OF THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH GLASS PIECES ALL OVER ME. LUCKILY MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS SAFER AT BACK IN HER CAR SEAT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. I'M HAVING MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE I'M A WOMAN EVERYONE WAS QUICK TO CONCLUDE THAT, I HAD STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF BRAKE. BUT I KNOW MY FOOT WAS ALL ALONG ON THE BRAKE, UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE, ALTHOUGH I HAD INSURANCE TO COVER THE CAR, THE VALUE IS ZILCH NOW. THE CAR WAS NOT TOTALED AND REPAIRS WAS WORTH MORE THAN 20K. DRIVING THE CAR NOW, DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME AS THE COLLISION CENTER DID A CRAPPY REPAIR JOB. NOW THE CAR MAKES SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING, AS THOUGH IT WILL COME APART. WE ARE LEFT WITH NO OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST TO DRIVE THE SAME CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. AFTER NOTIFYING TOYOTA AND AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS THEY COLLECTED THE EDR AND SENT US A REPORT STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS OUR FAULT THAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE TOYOTA HAD ISSUES RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PRIOR TO BUYING THE RAV4. *TR
SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES PEDAL BECAME VERY SOFT AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHILE I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE JANUARY AND IT'S VERY SCARY. I'VE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA FOR TOMORROW 6/3. *TR
2012 TOYOTA RAV4 REAR CARGO DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED, AND GLASS FELL INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED, AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS BEING CLOSED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN GARAGE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO REAR WINDOW HAD BEEN NOTED. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS, AS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED; HOWEVER TOYOTA FEELS DIFFERENTLY, AS I CAN'T PROVE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS, SINCE THE GLASS IS IN A MILLION PIECES INSIDE MY VEHICLE AND ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I AM FAIRLY SURE A SPACE ALIEN CAME DOWN AND HIT THE BACK GLASS SHARPLY, EXACTLY AT THE MOMENT I WAS CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR...BUT I CAN'T PROVE THAT EITHER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD, THE FLUID FAILED TO EXIT THE WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE IN THE SNOW AT 5 MPH, THE ABS FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO REPEATEDLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE OF NEW TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLE, WE HAD ONSET OF ACID SMELL WHENEVER AIR-CONDITIONER TURNED ON. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, THE ODOR DISSIPATES, AND AIR-CONDITIONER FUNCTIONS ADEQUATELY. THERE IS NO ODOR WHEN HEAT IS TURNED ON. WE HAD NO TIME TO DEAL WITH IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE WE WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER (WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR) TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ODOR. THEY CHANGED THE AIR-CONDITIONER FILTER, BUT STILL THE ODOR PERSISTS. ONLY THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON OUR CAR. IS THE ACID VAPOR HARMFUL TO THE OCCUPANTS OF OUR CAR? WHY DOESN'T IT GO AWAY? THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT...WHAT SHOULD WE DO? IT HAS NOW BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 1.5 YEARS! *TR
VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN FROM ORIGINAL SPEED OF 45MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP AND ACCELERATE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE HARDER THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED THE HIGHER THE RPMS AND FOOT WAS NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND BRAKE PRESSED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SHUT OFF AFTER JOLTING FORWARD. AFTER GETTING CAR RESTARTED IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AT 45 MPH AND SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME. THIS WAS A FRIDAY NIGHT. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER NEXT MORNING AND MADE APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT ON TUESDAY JUNE 4. HAD TO USE THE RAV ON SUNDAY JUNE 2 TO PICK UP A PART AT THE HARDWARE. RAN FINE FOR THE 4 MILES OR SO TO THE HARDWARE. UPON STARTING THE CAR, AFTER LEAVING THE HARDWARE, IT REVVED UP TO A VERY HIGH RPM THEN DROPPED BACK TO NORMAL. DRIVE BACK HOME WAS OK. ON THE WAY TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON JUNE 4 I COULD WATCH RPMS FLUCTUATE IN AN ABNORMAL MANNER AFTER HITTING THE BRAKE FOR A STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHILE AT THE DEALER I FILED A CASE WITH TOYOTA. I SAT THERE FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS BEFORE THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. I SAID I WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME IF THEY HAD NOT TRIED ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT A CALL IN FOR THE LOCAL TOYOTA REP AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *TR
UNABLE TO SECURE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ON 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2012. *TR
THE REAR SIDE WINDOW (NOT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW - THE STATIONARY ONE TO THE TRUNK) SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AFTER GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY ENCLOSED GARAGE. THERE WAS NOTHING HITTING THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW WAS NOT CHIPPED OR CRACKED BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. 90% OF THE GLASS IS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR INDICATING AN EXPLOSION VS IMPLOSION. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN RUNNING AT THE TIME. AIR PRESSURE INSIDE AN ENCLOSED CAR SHOULD NOT CAUSE A WINDOW TO EXPLODE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 62. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD! *TR
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. WHEN TRIED TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND PRESSED THE BRAKE THEN INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE CAR WAS GOING FORWARD. IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR AT FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RPM WENT UPTO 9000. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE NUMBER OF TIMES THEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED AS NORMAL. IT WAS REALLY SCARY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED RIB AND STERNUM INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,800. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/20/2013 *JS
2012 RAV4, SECOND INCIDENT, 1ST WAS DISMISSED. WAS DRIVING APPROX 20 MPH IN A 35MPH BUSINESS DISTRICT ON 4 LANE STREET. PRESSED BRAKE WITH RIGHT FOOT TO DECELERATE FOR STOP LIGHT & CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITH ENGINE REVVING. I DEPRESSED BRAKE FURTHER WITH MORE STRENGTH AND TOOK LEFT FOOT AND PLACE ON TOP OF RIGHT FOOT. HAD THE FEELING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MOVING AS WELL BUT WASN'T TOUCHING IT. CAR CONTINUED TO JERK FORWARD, ENGINE REVVING, WITH BRAKES PARTIALLY ENGAGED FOR APPROX. 20 FEET. THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED STOPPING THE CAR. WAS INCHES FROM CAR IN FRONT. RESTARTED CAR AND FINISHED DRIVE HOME. CHECKED CAR MATS BUT STILL IN PLACE ON BRACKETS. HAD CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND NO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BUT DID FIND THAT BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS HAD BEEN DEPRESSED. SUGGESTED I MUST HAVE STEPPED ON BOTH ACCIDENTALLY. NOT A CHANCE. WAS WELL AWARE OF FOOT/FEET PLACEMENT. SERVICE MGR SHOWED ME WHAT TO DO "SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN." EXCUSE ME?! TOLD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FOR BRAKES TO ENGAGE OR ANOTHER GEAR TO STALL THE ENGINE AND STOP THE CAR. 1 WK LATER, REGIONAL INSPECTOR SPENT DAY W/CAR AND REPORTED NOTHING WRONG. DID SHOW BOTH PEDALS DEPRESSED AT SAME TIME LONG ENOUGH TO TRIP SENSOR BUT NOTHING WAS WRONG. DEALER SUGGESTED I REPORT TO TOYOTA. REPORTED INCIDENT TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER. NOT HAPPY. 2 INCIDENTS, OTHER REPORTS ONLINE, AND IT'S A 2012 THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THIS. FEEL LUCKY I DIDN'T REAR END SOMEONE, ESPECIALLY AS THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW VERY MUCH UNTIL IT DIED. SCARED SILLY FOR NEXT TIME. DO NOT WANT MY RAV. AM BEING TOLD CAR IS PERFECTLY SAFE BUT NO ONE AT DEALERSHIP WOULD SIGN STATEMENT SAYING I WAS SAFE AND THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. HMMM. WANT THEM TO TAKE CAR BACK! PURCHASED NEW IN OCT. 2012 W/LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 10/22/14*CN
MADE A RIGHT TURN AFTER STOPPED AT RED LITE. COMING UP TO LINE OF TRAFFIC STOPPED AT ANOTHER LITE I STEPPED ON BRAKE AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN THREE TIMES WHILE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. POLICE REPORT FILED. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER NEXT DAY THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD TO CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO WOULD ARRANGE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. THIS WAS DONE AND I'M WAITING FOR A CALL FROM THEM TO SET DATE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
I JUST READ ABOUT SOMEONE IN CANTON,ILLINOIS WHO SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE; WE HAVE A 2012 ( MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2012, PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2012, ) RAV4 LIMITED WITH A V-6, THE FIRST TIME I HAD A STOPPING PROBLEM WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO ABOUT 3,000 AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE , SO PUSHED THE START BUTTON TO SHUT IT DOWN, ATTEMPTED TO REPEAT THIS PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED, WITH THE SELECTOR IN PARK I NOTED IF MY FOOT WAS SLIGHTLY AT AN ANGLE WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL , IT WOULD CATCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, WOULD RUN THE RPM UP TO 3,000 OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, I AM SURE THERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WEAR SIZE 12 SHOES, MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME; THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH A CAMERA, I OVERSHOT THE LIMIT LINE , MAY GET A CITATION IN THE MAIL? HAVE PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED THIS WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, JUST TO GET THE STANDARD RESPONSE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE CONFIDANT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ; MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THERE IS SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL EITHER BEING TOO CLOSE OR AT THE SAME HEIGHT , SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED AT SOME POINT , THE 269 HP ENGINE OVER RIDES THE BRAKE SYSTEM , MINE HAS SMOKED THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED .; I ALSO NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA, COLORADO , THE SERVICE MANAGER IS LOOKING INTO THIS , MY THOUGHTS IN LIGHT OF ALL THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH STUCK GAS PEDALS , THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED QUICKLY . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL WHEN THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ROLL THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO CLEAR A DOORWAY, THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET. AT THAT TIME I PULLED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOMENTARILY, THEN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE PICKING UP SPEED RAPIDLY AS EVIDENCED BY THE REVVING OF THE ENGINE. I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE SINCE HOLDING IT TO THE FLOOR WAS DOING NOTHING. BY THIS TIME I HAD GONE THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE, THROUGH A DITCH OVER A CURB AND CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED TO PASS THROUGH A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL AND INTO THE BACK OF A PARKED R.,THE VEHICLE IMPALING ITSELF ON THE STEEL PIPES OF A MOTORCYCLE CARRIER ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE R.V. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE RAV4 WAS TOTALED AND AMAZINGLY I SUFFERED ONLY MINOR BUMPS AND BRUISES. AT NO TIME DID ANY OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 01/15/15*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED GREATLY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
AFTER OWNING MY NEW 2012 RAV 4 FOR ONLY 3 DAYS, I VISITED A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND ATTEMPTED TO PARK MY CAR ON A SLIGHTLY SLOPED DRIVEWAY. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE PUSH BUTTON START BUT NEGLECTED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, SOMEONE SHOUTED, "YOUR CAR IS ROLLING - STEP ON THE BRAKE!". BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO REENTER THE CAR, IT HAD ALREADY ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. MY RAV 4 WAS DAMAGED, AS WAS THE VW PASSAT WAGON IT RAN INTO. THE DAMAGE TO MY BRAND NEW CAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE $1000. THE DAMAGE ESTIMATE TO THE OTHER CAR IS NOT KNOW YET BUT AT LEAST IN THAT VICINITY. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS IN BETWEEN THE 2 CARS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON I-70 AROUND MP 129. THIS IS JUST BEFORE GLENWOOD CANYON. THERE WAS A FLASHING ICY ROAD SIGN AT WHICH TIME, I SIGNALED MY INTENTION TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE WHICH I DID. I SLOWED DOWN AND PUT MY CAR IN 3RD. THIS WAS JUST BEFORE A CURVE TO THE RIGHT WHERE THE ROAD AND VISIBILITY NARROW. THE RIGHT LANE WAS COMPLETELY ICED OVER AS I REALIZED WHEN I GOT AROUND THE CURVE. IN FRONT OF ME, I SAW A PILEUP, BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC WERE BLOCKED. I TAPPED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT BECAUSE OF THE ICE, I DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN. I WENT AROUND ONE CAR STOPPED IN MY LANE TO AVOID HITTING IT FROM BEHIND. I WENT AROUND ON THE SHOULDER. I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE. IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME WAS A SIERRA 4X 4 THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND IT WAS ALSO BLOCKING THE SHOULDER. I PLOWED INTO IT ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRUCK AT A RATE OF ANYWHERE OF 25 - 30 MPH. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DOG AND I WERE BOTH RESTRAINED AND WE SUFFERED NO INJURIES. MY CAR IS IN ALL LIKELIHOOD TOTALED. *TR
I HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, STOPPED BY A PALM TREE. IT HIT THE CAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PERHAPS FOR GOING TO SLOW OR NOT. I WILL SAY THAT THE PALM TREE STOPPED THE CAR. I WAS MOVING FORWARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE TREE. I FRACTURED MY SHOULDER. I DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER, AND BRUISED SEVERAL RIBS. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I WAS IN A HOSPITAL FOR FIVE DAYS, SURGERY TOOK PLACE THERE. I WAS UNABLE TO WORK FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. *TR
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TUES NITE IN NOV2012 AT 930EST. I HAD BEEN PLAYING BRIDGE AT A CLUB HOUSE . I ATTEMPTED TO START CAR(THIS IS A KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEM)BY NORMAL PROCEDURE. PRESS BRAKE, THEN PRESS START BUTTON.NOTHING HAPPENED!I WAITED A FEW SECONDS, TRIED AGAIN,NO JOY. I GOT OUT TO MAYBE HITCH A RIDE, BUT ALL OTHERS HAD LEFT. I OPENED AND CLOSED ALL DOORS PLUS THETAILGATE. I GOT BACK IN AT THE CAR STARTED OK. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER AFTER ATTENDING A PIZZA PARTY AT WALMART PARKING LOT 3PM HOT DAY, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I SLAMMED ALL DOORS AGAIN AND THE CAR STARTED.I DON'T KNOW IF SLAMMING DOORS IS ELECTRICALLY INVOLVED, MAYBE A TIME DELAY IS THE ANSWER.THE NEXT TIME WAS ON JULY 18 2013. IHAD BEEN PLAYING BRIDGE AT THE CLUBHOUSE AT 1PM, I FINISHED AT4PM (ANOTHER HOT DAY) THE CAR WOULD NOT START I NOTICED THEWINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK, IN FACTNOTHING ELECTRICAL WOULD WORK. ICALLED MY ROAD SERVICE AND THEY VERIFIED BAT WAS LOW, THEY CHARGED FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND CAR STARTED.I DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE PROBLEM REAPPEAR.THEY KEPT THE CAR OVERNITE AND SUPPOSEDLY WENT OVERTHE CIRCUITS.BY THE WAY THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS 3947 MILES AND CAR WAS 14 MONTHS OLD!THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM THE NEXT TIME BUT THAT'S NO ALWAYS CONVENIENT. MY 2 YR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MAY OF 2014 AND I HAVE HAD 2 ADDITIONAL OCCURRENCES ,ONE IN JUNE 2014 AND ONEIN JULY2014. IM AFRAID TO GO ON ANY TRPS OUT OF TOWN FOR FEAR IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE FOR TOYOTA TO FURNISH ME A SCHEMATIC OFTHE CIRCUITRY INVOLVED OR PROVIDE A BYPASS SWITCH SO THAT THE RF CIRCUITRY CAN BE DISABLED AND THE CAR COULD BE STARTED LIKE A NORMAL CAR! BY THE WAY,THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES,4 TIMES WHILE IN WARRANTY! *TR
DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND BRAKING FOR CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. READJUSTED MYSELF AND PRESSED HARDER ON BRAKES BUT STILL ROLLING. BRAKES TO FLOOR BUT STILL MOVING. HAD BRAKE PRESSED TO FLOOR AND ENDED UP ROLLING INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MINOR SCRATCHES ON MY FRONT BUT NONE ON CAR AHEAD OF ME. GOT OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND BECAUSE COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY I COULDN'T STOP. NO DAMAGE TO REAR. GOT BACK IN CAR AND DROVE HOME. BRAKES WORKED FINE SINCE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. UNSURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT I DID NOT SLAM ON BRAKES AND WAS ALERT AND PAYING ATTENTION WHEN BRAKES FAILED MOMENTARILY. DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME CAR WAS FINE. HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT SOMEONE FROM A RAV4 SITE SAID I SHOULD POST HERE. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. A CAR WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WERE GOING TO TAKE OFF. I PUSHED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS FAR DOWN AS I COULD. LUCKILY, THE APPROACHING CAR TURNED DOWN THE STREET I WAS STOPPED ON AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR SURGED FORWARD LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE FROM MY HOUSE. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. AFTER I GOT IN THE DRIVEWAY, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE CAR BACK UP AGAIN. I DROVE IT UP AND DOWN THE DRIVEWAY A FEW TIMES AND IT WAS FINE. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS IN PLACE. VERY SCARY! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED DRASTICALLY. THE CONTACT DECELERATED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY AND TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250. ..UPDATED 01/16/2013 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 1/25/2013 *JS
11 OCT 12 - I BOUGHT A 2012 RAV4. 24 OCT 12 - I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED. I PUSHED THE BRAKE HARD AND THE CAR DECELERATED. A FEW MINUTES LATER I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AT MY HOUSE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED. BEFORE I COULD PUSH HARDER ON THE BRAKE THE CAR RAN THE STOP SIGN AND THEN DECELERATED. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ACCELERATION ISSUES. I TOLD THE REP I LOOKED AT MY FOOT POSITION IN BETWEEN INCIDENTS AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS TOGETHER. THE REP TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS YEAR RAV4. HE SAID TAKE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO THEM. THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THAT THE FLOOR MAT BEING CAUGHT UP UNDERNEATH THE BRAKE WAS THE ISSUE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE REP FROM TOYOTA WOULD LOOK AT IT. 5 NOV 12 - TOYOTA CALLED TO SAY THE TOYOTA REP COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. 6 NOV 12 - I WENT TO TOYOTA TO PICK UP MY CAR. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AND STOPPED THE CAR TO WAIT FOR TRAFFIC. AFTER SITTING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS, THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I FIRMLY PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND LOOKED AT MY FOOT TO ASSURE MYSELF I WASN'T NEAR THE GAS PEDAL. I VERIFIED THE FLOOR MAT WASN'T ON THE GAS PEDAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AS IT WAS REVVING UP AND NOTICED THE TACHOMETER WENT BETWEEN 6500 TO 7000 RPM'S (IN THE RED). WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED FOR ME TO TURN, I MADE A TURN, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND THE ACCELERATION DECELERATED. I DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA AND EXPLAINED WHAT JUST HAPPENED. 7 NOV 12 I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CORPORATE TELLING ME THAT I COULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED AND SHATTERED, SENDING GLASS PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SMALL CUT TO LEFT MIDDLE FINGER. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SUNNY AND DRY WITHOUT ROAD HAZARDS. NO OTHER VEHICLES IN VICINITY. NO GRAVEL ON ROAD. WINDOW APPEARED TO BE INTACT PRIOR TO THIS SPONTANEOUS INCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AS THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES HARDER AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SENT SOMEONE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/19/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS
DRIVER DOOR AN D WINDOW AND COORDINATED LOCK ARE OUT OF SYNC: DRIVE ABOUT 1 MILE AND LOCK CLOSES LIKE SOUND OF BULLET. HAD BEGUN ABOUT 6 MOS. FOLLOWING PURCHASE (AUG, 2012). TAKING TO DEALER TOMORROW & LEAVING CAR UNTIL PROPERLY REPAIRED! THIS IS A TOYOTA RAV4 (2012), PURCHASED NEW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW VEHICLE TO MAKE NOISES BUT PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES PAD AND SHIM KIT. ADDITIONALLY, ALL OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE LUBRICATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BURNS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS ALSO INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
I PARKED MY CAR IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS STREET WITH MY CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY A MAN FACING CAR YELLED "YOUR CAR!" MY NEW CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN THE STREET BACKWARDS, GAINING SPEED DOWN THE INCLINE, HEADED FOR CURB, SIDEWALK AND HUGE TREE. I CHASED THE CAR DOWN THE STREET, GOT DOOR OPEN, JUMPED INSIDE VEHICLE AS IT WAS MOVING AND SLAMMED ON BRAKE, INJURING MY BACK AND SHOULDER IN THE PROCESS. THE PUSH-BUTTON START ALLOWED CAR TO "FREE-WHEEL" OUT OF CONTROL WHEN TURNED OFF, LEFT IN DRIVE, AND KEY LEFT IN CAR. I AM IN AND OUT OF CAR MANY TIMES A DAY. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED WILL ALLOW ME, WITHOUT WARNING, TO LEAVE CAR IF LEFT IN "DRIVE". I WAS NOT INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION WOULD ALLOW MY CAR TO BECOME A POTENTIAL WEAPON, FREE WHEELING, IF LEFT IN DRIVE AND UNATTENDED. I WOULD LIKE THIS SITUATION TO BE REMEDIED TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. EVEN AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, I CANNOT BE SURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE WARNING SYSTEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE FASTENING THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE, THE BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO LUBRICATED THE BUCKLE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
I OPENED THE VEHICLE TRUNK TO PLACE A SMALL BOX INSIDE. WHEN I SHUT THE TRUNK DOOR, THE GLASS ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE, REAR QUARTER PANEL SHATTERED. THE LOCATION WAS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING BECAUSE THE WINDOW WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND MY INFANT'S CAR SEAT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR SCRATCHES OR CRACKS ON THE PANE. ALSO, THERE WAS NOTHING ON OR NEAR THE GLASS THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT. *TR
THE HEAD RESTRAINT WILL NOT LET ME SIT UP COMFORTABLY. IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD CAUSING NECK PAIN. CAN'T JUST LEAN SEAT BACK MORE AS SOME SUGGEST. THAT WOULD JUST DECREASE THE INADEQUATE BACK SUPPORT IN THE SEAT EVEN FURTHER! *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026