2011 Toyota RAV4 Owner Complaints

ON DEC. 11, 2010, I PURCHASED MY 2011 RAV4. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO CONTACT TOYOTA AND THE DEALER AND TAKE MY RAV4 TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURS RANDOMLY WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AND IS MORE POWERFUL WITH EACH EPISODE. WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVS VERY LOUDLY AND THE VEHICLE FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL SPEED IN WHATEVER GEAR I AM IN (I.E., DRIVE OR REVERSE). IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, I HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ON THE LAST OCCURRENCE - JAN. 2, 2011 - THE ENGINE REVVED SO STRONGLY THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND WE COULD SMELL THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. ON JAN. 2ND, THE RAV4 HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLATBED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED FOR 2 WEEKS AWAITING TOYOTA TECH'S. WHEN THE TOYOTA TECH'S FINALLY MADE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DOWNLOADED THE ONBOARD DATA AND TOOK IT TO THEIR LAB TO ANALYZE. ONCE I AGAIN, I WAS TOLD, 'NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS RAV4; IT DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM'. IT IS CLEAR TO ME EITHER TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE TO RECORD AND DIAGNOSE THIS REAL AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM OR THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM. I CANNOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, PUTTING MY LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IN DANGER. THIS RAV4 NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO TOYOTA SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY AND CORRECT THIS DEFECT.

1/19/2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, HIS FOOT MADE CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE DESIGN COINCIDED WITH NHTSA STANDARDS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500.

2/24/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV- 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,900.

1/7/2014

WHEN DRIVING AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32 DEGREES (FREEZING) THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND THE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS FOG COMPLETELY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VISIBILITY ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN IN COLD WEATHER IS IF THE DEFROST IS ON FULL BLAST WITH NO HEAT ON THE FEET. EVEN THEN, THE REAR WINDOWS ARE COMPLETELY STEAMED UP AND THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WINDOWS ARE ONLY PARTIALLY CLEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST 7 TIMES. IF THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE BEEN DISMISSIVE OF THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN PHOTOS. WHEN THEY HAVE REPRODUCED THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A CAUSE. *TR

12/18/2014

I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION EVENT ON APRIL 6TH. I FOLLOWED TOYOTA'S INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE AND EVEN MET WITH A TECHNICAL EXPERT AND WE AGREE ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS: THE EVENT WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP AS TWO SEPARATE EVENTS IN THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. AN INITIAL VSC EVENT (SUDDEN ACCELERATION) CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE ABS EVENT (MY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER IN RESPONSE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION) IF A CHECK OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IMMEDIATELY, BOTH EVENTS WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN STORED IN THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. THE SMALL CAPACITY OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE, COUPLED WITH THE RECORDING OF MANY FREQUENT TRACTION CONTROL (TRAC) EVENTS PUSHED THE RECORD OF MY ABS- AND VSC EVENTS OUT OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. THE ABS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY AS IN MY INCIDENT. SO, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT REMAINS UNRESOLVED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT HAVE ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I THINK TOYOTA IS ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT THE US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ORDER TOYOTA TO DO THE FOLLOWING SINCE THEY REFUSE TO DO IT VOLUNTARILY OR AT MY REQUEST: INCLUDE AN IMMEDIATE EXAMINATION OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE IN THE HEALTH CHECK. CREATE, AND INSTALL IN MY RAV4, A NEW VERSION OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL SOFTWARE THAT IMPLEMENTS THE FOLLOWING CHANGES: A.SEPARATE QUEUES FOR EACH FOR EACH OF THE THREE TYPES OF ABS HISTORY EVENTS: ABS, TRAC, AND VSC B.INCREASED ABS HISTORY QUEUE CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT 90 DAYS OF EACH OF THE THREE TYPES OF EVENTS ARE STORED. C.ALL ABS HISTORY EVENTS ARE TIME-STAMPED AND DATE-STAMPED. *TT

5/23/2012

I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WIDTH ON MY 2011 TOYOTA RAV. MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY DRESS SHOES AND RECREATION BOOTS ARE GETTING CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I SWIVEL FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I CAME CLOSE TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I AVOIDED THE ACCIDENTS BY QUICKLY SLIDING MY RIGHT FOOT TO THE RIGHT AND COMPLETELY LIFTING MY FOOT UP AND OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING ONE OF THESE MANEUVERS, MOVING MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT RESULTED IN THE LIP OF THE SOLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE HITTING THE GAS PEDAL AND CAUSING ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN I WEAR SNEAKERS, AS THE SOLE OF THE SNEAKER DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROXIMATE HALF-INCH LIP ON THE SIDES. ALSO AND MOST IMPORTANT, I DRIVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAMRY, WHICH I TRADED IN FOR THE RAV. THE ABOVE VEHICLES HAS CLOSE TO A FIVE INCH WIDTH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. I'VE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER. THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE OF MY CONCERN, FORWARDING MY COMPLAINT TO THE AREA MAINTENANCE MANAGER. I MET WITH THE AREA MANAGER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. HE PROCEEDED TO TAKE PICTURES OF MY SHOES AND THE 3 INCH WIDTH BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. THAT MEETING ENDED WITH THE AREA MANAGER OPENING A CASE AND THE PROMISE HE WOULD REFER MY PROBLEM TO HIS APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT. TO DATE, MY CASE IS STILL WITH TOYOTA. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER MAINTENANCE MANAGER HAS CONTACTED ME ADVISING THAT THE CASE IS BEING HANDLED AT A HIGHER LEVEL. *JS

6/7/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPES) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR, DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED DUE TO THEM BEING UNSAFE. UPDATED 04/28/16. *JB

2/18/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V069000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 15V557000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

3/23/2016

ACCORDING TO OUR INSURED, THE INSURED HAD PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE, DAMAGING THE WALL, THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE TYPHOON SHUTTERS. *TR

7/17/2012

THERE IS A HESITATION AT LOW SPEEDS, CAUSING ENGINE TO INTERMITTENTLY LOOSE POWER FOR 1.5-2.5 SECONDS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHERE CARS GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION ARE ALREADY TRAVELING 70-75 M.P.H. AND WHERE MAKING TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE POWER IS NECESSARY TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS CONDITION HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND NOT SUITABLE FOR NORMAL DRIVING. THIS HESITATION ALSO SEEMS TO BE NOTED IN THE RELATED NHTSA REPORT EXAMINING THE TOYOTA ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION AND AT THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED, THEY HAVE ADVISED ME THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE ONE THAT DOES INVOLVE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ETC AND SELECTION OF A FORWARD GEAR. *TR

7/17/2012

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY INCREASED SPEED ON ITS OWN, I APPLIED BRAKES, THE BRAKING DID NOT SLOW THE CAR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SPEED, I THEN SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE NOISE ROARED LOUDLY, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARD, THE CAR STOPPED, WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR LOUDLY FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS. *TR

11/14/2011

THIS IS AN INCIDENT INVOLVING SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION. I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN THE WHERE GREAT MALL PARKWAY TURNS ONTO EASTBOUND MONTAGUE EXPWY IN MILPITAS, CA. DESPITE HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CREEP FORWARD. I RESPONDED BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM TO ENGAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED THROUGH THE RESISTANCE POINT AS IS TYPICAL WHEN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE SO I QUICKLY MOVED THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE FAILURE TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA AND THE COMPLAINT WAS ASSIGNED CASE NUMBER [XXX]. I FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, PIERCEY TOYOTA, ON APRIL 13, 2012. THE SERVICE MANAGER COMPLETED AN INSPECTION AND SUBMITTED A REPORT TO TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICES. TODAY, MAY 2, 2012, I FOLLOWED UP WITH BOTH THE PIERCEY TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AND WITH TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. ANTHONY OF TOYOTA TOLD ME, ESSENTIALLY, THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURE AND REFUSES TO GIVE ME A FORMAL WRITTEN RESPONSE. ANTHONY CONTINUED BY SAYING THAT IF THIS RESPONSE WAS NOT SATISFACTORY TO ME, THEN I SHOULD GET AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL. I SUBMIT THAT THE SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH TOYOTA--AT LEAST WITH MY VEHICLE--AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT TOYOTA IS 'GIVING THE FINGER' TO THE PROBLEM AND TO THE UNITED STATES AND THAT TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WILL LIKELY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE IF TOYOTA DOES NOT FIND A REAL SOLUTION. I AM PREPARED TO SUBMIT MORE DOCUMENTS AND DETAILS REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE PUT DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH AN OFFICER AT YOUR OFFICE SO THAT I CAN ENTER A FULL AND FORMAL COMPLAINT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

5/2/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG FAILED TO PROTECT HIM WHEN THE IMPACT WAS HARDER THAN NORMAL AND CREATED A SMOKE THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER INTERNAL BRUISING AND A CRACKED RIB. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE CHEST, WHICH CAUSED BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,000.

5/3/2012

ACCORDING TO OUR INSURED, THE INSURED HAD PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE, DAMAGING THE WALL, THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE TYPHOON SHUTTERS. *TR

7/17/2012

WHILE DRIVING NORTH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY I WAS ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 20 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE VERY BAD, AS IF ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD HIT THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS BEEN RIDING A LOT ROUGHER SINCE ABOUT JAN 30TH. *TR

4/7/2013

2011 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUSPENSION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION, WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

12/23/2013

VEHICLE HAS EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE COMPLAINT WAS DISMISSED. TECHNICIANS SAY THEY TEST DROVE AND DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING. THE SMELL PERSISTS. *TT

9/29/2011

THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. IT SOUNDED/ROARED LIKE GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED 6 DIFFERENT TIMES: 11/03/2011 WITH 1000 MILES, 11/05/2011 WITH 1110 MILES, 01/04/2012 WITH 2650 MILES, 02/26/2011 WITH 4606 MILES, 03/06/2012 WITH 4692 MILES, AND 03/19.2012 WITH 4932 MILES.

3/31/2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE, VIBRATE AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A STEERING ANGLE SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ZERO POINT CALIBRATION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,039.

1/24/2011

WHEN EVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND A CLUNK CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA RAV 4, ON 6 OR 4 CYLINDER MODELS. WHEN THERE IS NO STEERING INPUT, THERE IS NO NOISE OR CLUNKING FELT IN THE WHEEL AT ANY SPEED, ONLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I HAD REPORTS OF THIS BY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR, BUT WHENEVER I DROVE IT, IT DID NOT OCCUR, AS IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT THAT TIME. IT NOW CLUNKS CONSISTENTLY WHENEVER THE WHEEL IS TURNED. *TR

11/27/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4 . THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 500.

10/19/2011

ACCORDING TO OUR INSURED, THE INSURED HAD PULLED INTO HIS DRIVEWAY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO THE HOUSE, DAMAGING THE WALL, THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE TYPHOON SHUTTERS. *TR

7/17/2012

THIS IS AN INCIDENT INVOLVING SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION. I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN THE WHERE GREAT MALL PARKWAY TURNS ONTO EASTBOUND MONTAGUE EXPWY IN MILPITAS, CA. DESPITE HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CREEP FORWARD. I RESPONDED BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM TO ENGAGE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED THROUGH THE RESISTANCE POINT AS IS TYPICAL WHEN THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE SO I QUICKLY MOVED THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I REPORTED THE FAILURE TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA AND THE COMPLAINT WAS ASSIGNED CASE NUMBER [XXX]. I FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, PIERCEY TOYOTA, ON APRIL 13, 2012. THE SERVICE MANAGER COMPLETED AN INSPECTION AND SUBMITTED A REPORT TO TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICES. TODAY, MAY 2, 2012, I FOLLOWED UP WITH BOTH THE PIERCEY TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AND WITH TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. ANTHONY OF TOYOTA TOLD ME, ESSENTIALLY, THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURE AND REFUSES TO GIVE ME A FORMAL WRITTEN RESPONSE. ANTHONY CONTINUED BY SAYING THAT IF THIS RESPONSE WAS NOT SATISFACTORY TO ME, THEN I SHOULD GET AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL. I SUBMIT THAT THE SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH TOYOTA--AT LEAST WITH MY VEHICLE--AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT TOYOTA IS 'GIVING THE FINGER' TO THE PROBLEM AND TO THE UNITED STATES AND THAT TOYOTA'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WILL LIKELY KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE IF TOYOTA DOES NOT FIND A REAL SOLUTION. I AM PREPARED TO SUBMIT MORE DOCUMENTS AND DETAILS REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE PUT DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH AN OFFICER AT YOUR OFFICE SO THAT I CAN ENTER A FULL AND FORMAL COMPLAINT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

5/2/2012

I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATION EVENT ON APRIL 6TH. I FOLLOWED TOYOTA'S INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE AND EVEN MET WITH A TECHNICAL EXPERT AND WE AGREE ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS: THE EVENT WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP AS TWO SEPARATE EVENTS IN THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. AN INITIAL VSC EVENT (SUDDEN ACCELERATION) CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE ABS EVENT (MY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER IN RESPONSE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION) IF A CHECK OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IMMEDIATELY, BOTH EVENTS WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN STORED IN THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. THE SMALL CAPACITY OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE, COUPLED WITH THE RECORDING OF MANY FREQUENT TRACTION CONTROL (TRAC) EVENTS PUSHED THE RECORD OF MY ABS- AND VSC EVENTS OUT OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE. THE ABS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY AS IN MY INCIDENT. SO, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT REMAINS UNRESOLVED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT HAVE ENGAGED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I THINK TOYOTA IS ENGAGED IN A COVER-UP REGARDING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I REQUEST THAT THE US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ORDER TOYOTA TO DO THE FOLLOWING SINCE THEY REFUSE TO DO IT VOLUNTARILY OR AT MY REQUEST: INCLUDE AN IMMEDIATE EXAMINATION OF THE ABS HISTORY QUEUE IN THE HEALTH CHECK. CREATE, AND INSTALL IN MY RAV4, A NEW VERSION OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL SOFTWARE THAT IMPLEMENTS THE FOLLOWING CHANGES: A.SEPARATE QUEUES FOR EACH FOR EACH OF THE THREE TYPES OF ABS HISTORY EVENTS: ABS, TRAC, AND VSC B.INCREASED ABS HISTORY QUEUE CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT 90 DAYS OF EACH OF THE THREE TYPES OF EVENTS ARE STORED. C.ALL ABS HISTORY EVENTS ARE TIME-STAMPED AND DATE-STAMPED. *TT

5/23/2012

I HAVE A SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WIDTH ON MY 2011 TOYOTA RAV. MY PROBLEM IS THAT MY DRESS SHOES AND RECREATION BOOTS ARE GETTING CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN I SWIVEL FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, I CAME CLOSE TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I AVOIDED THE ACCIDENTS BY QUICKLY SLIDING MY RIGHT FOOT TO THE RIGHT AND COMPLETELY LIFTING MY FOOT UP AND OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING ONE OF THESE MANEUVERS, MOVING MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT RESULTED IN THE LIP OF THE SOLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE HITTING THE GAS PEDAL AND CAUSING ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN I WEAR SNEAKERS, AS THE SOLE OF THE SNEAKER DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROXIMATE HALF-INCH LIP ON THE SIDES. ALSO AND MOST IMPORTANT, I DRIVE A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AND THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN. I ALSO DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAMRY, WHICH I TRADED IN FOR THE RAV. THE ABOVE VEHICLES HAS CLOSE TO A FIVE INCH WIDTH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. I'VE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER. THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE OF MY CONCERN, FORWARDING MY COMPLAINT TO THE AREA MAINTENANCE MANAGER. I MET WITH THE AREA MANAGER EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. HE PROCEEDED TO TAKE PICTURES OF MY SHOES AND THE 3 INCH WIDTH BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. THAT MEETING ENDED WITH THE AREA MANAGER OPENING A CASE AND THE PROMISE HE WOULD REFER MY PROBLEM TO HIS APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT. TO DATE, MY CASE IS STILL WITH TOYOTA. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER MAINTENANCE MANAGER HAS CONTACTED ME ADVISING THAT THE CASE IS BEING HANDLED AT A HIGHER LEVEL. *JS

6/7/2012

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN IN A PARKING LOT ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT TO POSITION MY CAR BEHIND A PICK-UP TRUCK (TOWING A TRAILER) WAITING TO TURN RIGHT. MY CAR SHOT AHEAD AND CRASHED INTO THE TRAILER. APPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOTHING. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT SHOT BACKWARDS AT THE SAME HIGH SPEED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TACH READ--IT WASN'T A PRIORITY AT THE TIME. HAD THE TRUCK AND TRAILER NOT BEEN AHEAD OF ME, I WOULD HAVE SHOT ACROSS A HEAVILY TRAVELED HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. LAST MARCH I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO MY FREEZER AND THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I LIKE THE CAR BUT, FRANKLY, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW. *TR

10/4/2012

I WAS DRIVING DOWN SUBURBAN ROAD AT APPROX 20-25 MPH BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. THE BRAKES LOST POWER AND ENGINE QUICKLY REDLINED TO 6000 RPM. IT WAS ONLY BY IMMEDIATELY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THAT I AVOIDED RUNNING A REDLIGHT AND PLOWING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I PLACED IN PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE WITHIN 3-5 SECONDS TO AVOID ENGINE DAMAGE. I WAITED ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS STUCK AT A RED LIGHT BEFORE RESTARTING ENGINE AND LIMPING IT BACK HOME LESS THAN HALF A MILE AWAY. *JS

2/6/2015

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I PACKED MY CAR TO GO ON VACATION. I PUT THE DOG IN THE CAR AND RETURNED TO MY HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WAS LOCKED. I ASSUMED I HAD INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE SO IGNORED IT. OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS, THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY. ON JULY 6, 2015, MY MOTHER AND I WENT TO WALMART. I WENT IN AND SHE STAYED IN THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND SHE COULD NOT OPEN IT WITH THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE DOOR, SO I HAD TO USE MY REMOTE. TODAY, I WAS TAKING THINGS OUT OF THE REAR COMPARTMENT AND THE KEYS WERE HANGING IN THE DOOR TO THE HOUSE. I HEARD THE CAR DOOR LOCK ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE COULD OPEN THE DOOR AND WATCH IT LOCK ITSELF IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE OF BEING OPENED. DURING THAT TIME, THE INSIDE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT WOULD ONLY OPEN WITH THE REMOTE OR THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION TOMORROW, BUT TOYOTA CORPORATE WILL NOT ASSURE ME THAT I WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE RAV4 AND THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO DIAGNOSE THIS FOR FREE. IF THEY DON'T, I WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR IN. I TOLD THEM I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND COULD INVOLVE CHILDREN GETTING LOCKED IN A CAR WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR (IF THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE MANUAL LOCK). ...UPDATED 09/11/15 *BF UPDATED 10/13/15*JS

7/15/2015

I PURCHASED MY 2011 RAV4 ON 10/19/10, WITH 3 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS OF 1/31/11 THE ODOMETER NOW READS 2605 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE GAS CONSUMPTION WAS VERY HIGH. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HARRISBURG, PA WHICH IS ONLY 120 MILES FROM MY HOME IN PHILADELPHIA, PA AND BURNED A FULL TANK OF GAS UPON MY RETURN HOME. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSE TO GET 28 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH EQUALS TO 420 MILES ON A 15 GALLON TANK. ALSO, I HAVE A 24 MILE ROUNDTRIP COMMUTE EACH DAY AND BY THE END OF THE WEEK MY TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE THE COMPLAINT BUT WAS TOLD, AS I SUSPECTED, THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AM FILLING THE TANK UP ON AVERAGE EVERY 4 DAYS. I ALSO NOTICE THAT AS I AM DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE IS MOVING DOWNWARD. NO ONE SEEMS TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND I AM ALWAYS FED THE STORY OF HOW WELL MADE AND SOPHISTICATED THAT THE ENGINE AND COMPONENTS ARE. I HAVE BEEN PURCHASING TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. THIS IS MY FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND I AM REGRETTING PURCHASING IT. I WANT THIS MATTER THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BUT I AM ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING. I AM NOT A MATHEMATICIAN BUT I CAN COUNT AND MY 2011 RAV4 GAS MILEAGE IS HORRENDOUS. *TR

1/31/2011

WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WE GET AN OVERPOWERING SULFUR SMELL IN THE CABIN. *KB

8/17/2011

HAVING JUST DESCENDED A HILL, I TRIED TO BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING A SHARP CURVE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING, THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE WAS REVVING. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AS I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.

5/12/2011

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE VEHICLE I LEASE, BUT I SUSPECT IT APPLIES TO ALL TOYOTA RAV4 MODELS OF THIS SAME DESIGN VINTAGE, AND MAY ALSO APPLY TO OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THE BASIC PROBLEM, AS SHOWN IN THE ANNOTATED PHOTO AVAILABLE AT HTTP://JRGSPACE.HOMESTEAD.COM/RAV4_ENGINEERING_DESIGN_FAIL__1.JPG IS THE INADEQUATE SPACING BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS, WHICH ALLOWS EVEN RELATIVELY SMALL SHOES TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS DURING "URGENT", OR EVEN "NORMAL" BRAKING SITUATIONS. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT THE POINT (OR PLANE) AT WHICH EFFECTIVE BRAKING IS ACHIEVED IS AT LEAST 1/2" BELOW OR "BEYOND" THE PLANE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ALMOST GUARANTEEING THE APPLICATION OF POWER DURING BRAKING. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ENGINEERING DESIGN FAILURE AND WILL ALMOST ASSUREDLY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO, AS I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS MYSELF ALREADY WHERE THIS INTERFERENCE WAS A FACTOR. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA AS A TOP PRIORITY. *TR

11/17/2011

THE THIRD ROW SEAT HEADRESTS ONLY HAVE TWO POSITIONS.(ALL THE WAY UP OR ALL THE WAY DOWN) NEITHER COVERS THE HEAD OF A CHILD. IN THE DOWN POSITION MY CHILD'S HEAD IS ABOVE THE HEADREST. IN THE UP POSITION, HIS HEAD IS BETWEEN THE TWO METAL BARS. THE THIRD ROW SEATS ARE VERY TIGHT AND CERTAINLY NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD ADULTS COMFORTABLY. HOWEVER THE HEADRESTS ONLY FIT AN ADULT SIZE BODY. *JS

6/19/2012

WE PURCHASED THIS USED CAR IN THE FALL OF 2014. THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 49 CFR PART 571 [DOCKET NO. NHTSA-2004-19807] RIN 2127-AH09, HEAD RESTRAINTS, FINAL RULE, THE HEADRESTS ON THIS VEHICLE PROTRUDE SO FAR FORWARD THAT THE DRIVER HAS TO BEND HIS HEAD AND NECK FORWARD AS WELL AS PULL THE UPPER BACK FORWARD OFF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THIS HAS RESULTED IN STRAINING OF THE NECK AND SPINE WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO NECK INJURY WITH NERVE PAIN IN THE ARMS, NECK AND UPPER BACK AFTER SPENDING TIME DRIVING! THE HEADREST IS ONLY ADJUSTABLE UP AND DOWN, NOT FORE AND AFT. PLEASE RETHINK THE REGULATION. SAFETY PROTECTION FROM WHIPLASH IS ADMIRABLE, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF HORRIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE DAILY DRIVING RESULTING IN HEAD, NECK, SHOULDER AND UPPER SPINE STRAIN. HUMANS ARE NOT CRASH TEST DUMMIES. WE CAN CONTOUR OUR SPINE TO A SEAT AND IN OUR OLDER VEHICLES WE CAN ACTUALLY PLACE OUR ENTIRE BACK FLAT AGAINST THE SEAT WITH THE HEADREST NATURALLY RIGHT BEHIND AND IN LINE WITH THE HEAD AND NECK. *TR

3/20/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA TIRES, SIZE P225/65/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT SAW THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP BECAUSE THERE WERE EXTERIOR DAMAGES TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FENDER, BUMPER, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TRIM AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE AND LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE TIRE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,985.

10/15/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4 EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR TIRE LINE SIZE: 225/65/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A PUNCTURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DOT AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TR

12/10/2013

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD. THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS PUSHING CAR FROM BEHIND. ENGINE REVVED UP AND WE WERE MOVING INTO THE INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL RED. PUSHED VERY HARD ON BRAKE AND QUICKLY PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 6,500 RPM IN NEUTRAL, THEN BACK TO NORMAL.

1/18/2012

LATE MODEL TOYOTA RAV4'S FROM MY RESEARCH SEEM TO HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTER REQUIRING REPLACEMENT (SEE NHTSB 10033407). MY CAR (ALTHOUGH NOT A 2009) HAS THE SAME EXACT OBD DIAGNOSTIC CODES LISTED IN THE BULLETIN ABOVE YET 2011 RAV4'S HAVEN'T BEEN LISTED WITH THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA WARRANTS THEM FOR 3 YEARS, 36K MILES BUT MOST SEEM TO FAIL JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDS. MY 2011 RAV4, 4 CYL. WITH 51K MILES EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 19 MONTHS (AND 46K MILES) AFTER MANUFACTURE (9/10) AND TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION IS A $1000+ REPAIR. ALL OTHER EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT ON MY CAR IS WARRANTED FOR UP TO 80K MILES OR 8 YRS AND IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. *TR

12/4/2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF SULFUR EXHAUST FUMES EMITTING INSIDE OF THE CABIN. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO SMELL THE STRONG ODOR. THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200.

4/28/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT STOP ILLUMINATING AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO CANCEL, ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. UPDATED 09/21/11

7/19/2011

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE VEHICLE I LEASE, BUT I SUSPECT IT APPLIES TO ALL TOYOTA RAV4 MODELS OF THIS SAME DESIGN VINTAGE, AND MAY ALSO APPLY TO OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THE BASIC PROBLEM, AS SHOWN IN THE ANNOTATED PHOTO AVAILABLE AT HTTP://JRGSPACE.HOMESTEAD.COM/RAV4_ENGINEERING_DESIGN_FAIL__1.JPG IS THE INADEQUATE SPACING BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS, WHICH ALLOWS EVEN RELATIVELY SMALL SHOES TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS DURING "URGENT", OR EVEN "NORMAL" BRAKING SITUATIONS. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE FACT THAT THE POINT (OR PLANE) AT WHICH EFFECTIVE BRAKING IS ACHIEVED IS AT LEAST 1/2" BELOW OR "BEYOND" THE PLANE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ALMOST GUARANTEEING THE APPLICATION OF POWER DURING BRAKING. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ENGINEERING DESIGN FAILURE AND WILL ALMOST ASSUREDLY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY DONE SO, AS I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS MYSELF ALREADY WHERE THIS INTERFERENCE WAS A FACTOR. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE NHTSA AS A TOP PRIORITY. *TR

11/17/2011

MY RECENTLY PURCHASED RAV4 2011 ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE AND MY PASSENGER DOOR MIRROR CAUGHT THE EDGE OF MY GARAGE AND SHATTERED. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE. I WAS NOT TOLD BY THE SALESMAN, THE MANUAL ALSO DOES NOT STATE IT. THE REPLACEMENT OF MY MIRROR WILL COST ME $360.00 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT COULD HAVE ROLLED BACK INTO MY WIFE AND SHE IS NOT REPLACEABLE. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAPPEN WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IF NO ONE IS MENTIONING IT TO YOU, HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO KNOW? SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT EVENTUALLY. IT WAS ALMOST MY WIFE. IT WILL SOON BE SOMEONE ELSE. *KB

11/28/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STOPPING, HIS FOOT WOULD HAPHAZARDLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE FLAW IN THE VEHICLE DESIGN. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5,000. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT A COLLISION, AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 05/15/12

4/4/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50-55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LOOSE, BECAME STICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND ALL THREE DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,991 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,613. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY AND THE BAS DID NOT ENGAGE THE DISTANCE TO STOP VEHICLE.

4/23/2012

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY, ANTILOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONS STOP FUNCTIONING AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR ALL TURN ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKING APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY BUT I AM UNABLE TO REENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE RECALL OF THE 2012 RAV4 BUT THE 2011 IS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

4/13/2014

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY, ANTILOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONS STOP FUNCTIONING AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR ALL TURN ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY. I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKING APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY BUT I AM UNABLE TO REENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE RECALL OF THE 2012 RAV4 BUT THE 2011 IS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

4/13/2014

LOUD BANG WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A HAMMER HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED AROUND 1000 MILES AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT HAPPENS TYPICALLY WHEN PASSENGERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND OR 3RD ROW SEATS AT SPEEDS USUALLY ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE, 3RD ROW SEAT RAV4 NOW AT 73K MILES. IT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN A FEW MILES OF EACH INCIDENT OR GO HUNDREDS OF MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. VERY ALARMING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES YET EVERY TIME THEIR TECHNICIANS TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR TEST DRIVE, THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

4/22/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

8/18/2016

SINCE SUMMER OF 2014, AFTER TWO YEARS OF DRIVING MY NEW 2011 RAV4, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HAS NOT OPERATED PROPERLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO DOWN OR UP, OFTEN, IT WILL GET STUCK. THE LIGHT ON THE BUTTON BLINKS AT TIMES, AT TIMES IT DOES NOT LIGHT UP. THE WINDOW MOTOR I AM TOLD HAS SEVERAL FINGERS THAT OPERATES THE WINDOWS AND SEEMS TO WORK WHEN TRIED ON SOME KIND OF MACHINE, HOWEVER, TWO GOOD MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY IT SHORTS OUT WITH OPERATING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. REPLACING THE WINDOW MOTOR IS APPROXIMATELY $460.00 FOR THE PART ALONE, BUT MECHANICS CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE WINDOW WILL NOT SHORT OUT SOMEHOW AGAIN. WHEN THE WINDOW IS STUCK DOWN, I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT, AND, WEATHER CONDITIONS LIKE RAIN, SNOW, EXTREME COLD--MAY KEEP ME FROM DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FOUND A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME WINDOW PROBLEM; HOWEVER, TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT IN THAT PARTICULAR RECALL. RADIO/CD PLAYER--HAS SHORTED OUT SINCE 2014. WHEN I PRESS A BUTTON TO CHANGE STATIONS, THE RADIO WILL TURN OFF. IF I PRESS REWIND ON THE CD PLAYER, THE PLAYER TURNS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THREE YEARS ON MY RAV4 THAT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN PURCHASED DECEMBER 2011. *TR

10/17/2016

TAKATA RECALL: WHY THE LIGHT 4WD , TRAC ON AND CHECK ACTIVATE WENT IS RAINING WENT I MY CAR IS PARK

12/27/2016

2011 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CAR HACKING ISSUE. *LD UPDATED 04/10/2017 *JS

4/10/2017