2025 Toyota RAV4

Sudden self-acceleration by new RAV4 hybrid with less than 1000 miles on it. I made a hard left at low speed onto an uphill residential street. Saw a car backing down the street 1/2 block ahead so I took my foot off accelerator to slow down. Instead, car self-accelerated while my foot was not pressing any pedal, and shot uphill and over a speed bump, throwing the car off course toward parked cars. I stepped hard on brake, and assisted braking probably also kicked in. Car slammed to a stop. No damage or injuries. I took the car to Toyota dealer service immediately to report and address self-acceleration. Was told Vehicle Control History confirmed an event but not its nature or cause; didn’t find problem. Dealer claimed they reported incident to Toyota national center as UA (Unintended Acceleration), as we requested. Returned the car to me without repair or further diagnostic steps. There was never any follow up by Toyota, local or national. One year later, a similar self-acceleration by this car after a hard left turn at low speed caused life-threatening event and damage. I was told then that Toyota corporate had no record of first UA incident. The 2nd incident is reported separately on this site. I have now realized it’s important to report each incident.

2 incidents of Sudden Unintended Acceleration. No warning lights etc in either. Car damaged but available for inspection. Now encountering difficulties initating Toyota investigation. 1st incident (4/18/25; mileage 967) occurred after a hard left turn. After turn onto uphill street, I took my foot from accelerator to slow and maintain distance from a car backing down hill ahead. Instead, car self-accelerated and shot uphill, over speed bump with increasing speed. Did not respond to braking until it was close to hitting a parked car. Stopped with a slam; probably brake assistance engaged. No damage or injury, but I was shaken. Took car immediately to Toyota dealer to inspect. Was told RoB confirmed an event but not its nature or cause; identified nothing wrong. They hypothesized cruise control might have been triggered accidentally (no evidence, not plausible). Claimed they submitted report to Toyota national center. After 2nd incident, Toyota national said they had no record of 1st event. Their standard safety inspection protocols were not followed. Returned car to me without repair or follow up. 2nd incident ensued. 2nd self-acceleration event (2026) also occurred after hard left turn to make U turn at low speed, braking while completing turn. When I took my foot off brake, before I could press it on accelerator, car shot diagonally across street. Jumped curb and traveled at considerable speed 100' up landscaped slope. Destroyed 6 large shrubs and 3 trees 9' tall. Did not stop despite constant driver braking. Forward collision prevention system did not engage to prevent uprooting trees. Car stopped only after I turned steering wheel sharply to left to avoid hitting a full-size tree trunk. Then car responded to braking, acceleration ended, car stopped next to tree without impact. Terrifying life-threatening event but only damaged landscape and car. Police came, assessed incident, determined not a police matter, did not file police report.

COMPONENT: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) / accelerator pedal. Vehicle is available for inspection at Autocentro Toyota, San Juan, PR, where it has been retained since 2/28/2026. INCIDENT: On 2/28/2026 at 7:45 AM, while entering a private driveway at under 5 MPH to park, my 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE (VIN [XXX] , 3,164 miles) suddenly and involuntarily accelerated without driver input. I categorically affirm I did NOT press the accelerator. The vehicle struck a metal gate, causing frontal damage. Airbags did not deploy. OEM floor mat was properly secured; no aftermarket parts installed. SAFETY RISK: Sudden unintended acceleration at low-speed parking maneuver. Had a pedestrian, child, or another vehicle been in the path, this would have caused serious injury or death. The defect is unpredictable and the driver cannot anticipate or override it. INSPECTION: Vehicle inspected 3/20/2026 by Engineering Analysis Associates (EAA), a firm contracted and paid by Toyota — NOT independent. EAA downloaded electronic data and concluded the accelerator was pressed 1 second before impact. I dispute this finding: I did not press the pedal. No independent inspection has been allowed. Full EAA report was never provided to me. On 4/23/2026, Toyota Motor North America (Ms. Delve L., Legal Claims Administrator) declined assistance based solely on EAA's data. WARNING SIGNS: UNKNOWN. No warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the incident. The vehicle had functioned normally since purchase on 4/25/2025. ADDITIONAL: Vehicle retained by dealer 73+ days without repair or substitute vehicle. Consumer complaint filed with Puerto Rico DACO (Case XXX). Similar unintended acceleration incidents reported in 2024 RAV4 Hybrid and Prime models in NHTSA database. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

We were on a funeral procession when suddenly the car accelerated at a very high speed and hit the end of guard rail head on. My wife on the passenger side and two people at the back were all taken to the emergency room. I got pinned on the steering column and taken out via the roof. I had severe abrasions on both legs, wife has 3 broken ribs,the 2 passengers suffered whiplash and complains of chest pains. Car was purchased 11/3/2025 and I took it for a recall fix about a month ago at Burien Toyota dealership where we bought it. Incident # 2026-55959 Seattle police. At present our car insurance is investigating and our claim # is 082 0356939 Allstate.

The front camera fails which does not allow for the cruise control to operate. The speed odometer does not specify the correct speed when driving the car. The feature of telling you how fast you are supposed to go does not operate correctly specifying the wrong speed you are supposed to go. The tires have already been replaced because the metal was coming out of the tires causing the car to not operate correctly there was wobbling in the tires causing the car to feel like the tires were about to come off the tires. The transmission not shifting properly in eco mode.

I have owned this new vehicle for only approximately 2 months and have had at least 4 instances where the vehicle does not respond immediately to my foot on the accelerator when attempting to restart from a stop. Three times I was at a stop light and when I attempted to go as the light turned green there was no acceleration response from the gas pedal for a couple of seconds, and in two of the instances because I had my foot pressed far on the gas attempting to get power, there was a sudden acceleration and lurch forward. Most recently, on the fourth occasion I was turning out into traffic from a parking lot after being at a standstill and got no response and instead rolled slowly out in front of an oncoming car until after a few seconds the accelerator finally responded and I could go. I believe this is a safety risk as it could happen when I was attempting a left turn in traffic, which would subject me and my passengers/children to an extreme risk of being hit. I took the car into the dealership after the first two instances and they were not able to reproduce the incidents and offered no help. There are no warning lamps or indicators that appear when this occurs. The first incident occurred about three weeks into my ownership of the vehicle.