2012 Toyota RAV4

ROUGH ENGINE, CAR SPEED UP WITHOUT FEET ON PEDAL,SLOW BRAKING I TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALER THE NEXT DAY(3/19/2014) THIS AM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO DUPLICATE WHAT I HAD EXPERIENCED. THEY STATED THEY DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE COMPUTER DATA, BUT WILL TEST ON NEXT MORNING OF 3/20/2014 TO DRIVE IT.THE COMPLAINTS WERE THAT I WAS DRIVING IN A 70 MILE ZONE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 90 MILES THE CAR SHIFTED OUT OF D DRIVE TO 3D ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO ROUGH ENGINE WHILE ACCELERATING HIGHER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT, AND WHILE BRAKING,ISAW VERY LITTLE STOPPAGE.ALSO SAME DAY NEAR MY HOME,I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN,WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR JERKS FORWARD TO 22 MILES.THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAD REPORTED TO THEM, WAS AFTER I HAD THE 2010 TOYOTA RAVA4 ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THEY OFFERED TO BUY IT BACK THE 2010 MODEL IN RETURN FOR THE 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT I GOT IN 2012.MY MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE ALSO.IT IS SCARY WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, THANK GOD FOR NO ACCIDENT.UPDATE AS OF LAST NIGHT NO COMMUNICATION ON FINDINGS OR REPAIRS,I RECEIVED A CALL WHILE REPORTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU(SAFER CAR), A REP [XXX],STATED THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR, THEY CHECKED ALL DATA DROVE THE CAR COULD NOT FINE ANYTHING,I ASKED ABOUT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, HE STATED THAT THEY CHECKED THE LEVELS,DATA COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, FOR ME TO COULD COME PICK THE CAR UP, I INSIST THEY DO A MORE INTENSIVE LOOK INTO THIS, THE GUY BECAME AGGRESSIVE, AND STATED HE HAS TO CHECK WITH HIS MANAGER TO CHECK AGAIN LATER TODAY.TONY MEYERS MANAGER OF GAINESVILLE TOYOTA CALLED STATED COULD NOT DUPLICATE WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING,STATED HE DROVE THE CAR TO THE MALL OF GEORGIA , HE FOUND A DOWN SHIFT WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL,CAR WAS SAFE, AND THAT THE SHIFT WAS A NORMAL THING,AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AND FOR ME TO COME AND PICK UP THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON JANUARY 25 2014 I WAS DRIVING IN S SNOWY AND ICY CONDITIONS. I WAS ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN BRAKING, TURNING CORNERS, OR GENERALLY DRIVING ON THE BAD ROADS, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, AND TRACTION CONTROL FEATURES OF MY RAV4 DID NOT WORK, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE ALL OVER THE ROAD, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER; THE LIGHT FOR STABILITY CONTROL ON THE DASHBOARD GOES ON, BUT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, ESC, AND TRACTION CONTROL DO NOT WORK AND THE RAV4 SLIDES ALL OVER. GIVEN THE BAD WEATHER WE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS WINTER, IT HAS CAUSED ME TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE FOR OUR FAMILY. I TOOK THE RAV4 INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE ON JANUARY 31, 2014. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM IN THEIR SHOP SO DISMISSED IT WITH NO ACTION AND NO REPAIR I READ A COUPLE OF WEEKS OTHER THAT TOYOTA HAS RECALLED RAV4'S FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE; HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THE RECALL, HE STILL INSISTS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY RAV4. SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING FROM TOYOTA ABOUT THIS RECALL, AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE RAV4 THIS WINTER, A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE IN COMMUTING TO WORK. I FEEL MY RAV4 IS UNDRIVABLE THIS WINTER. *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

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

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

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 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

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

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