2006 Toyota RAV4 Power Train

WE PURCHASED A 2006 RAV4 LIMITED THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH 2019. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING GROWL NOISE WAS NOTICEABLE A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR END STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. IN EARLY JANUARY 2015 TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (ZF4) FOR YEARS 2006-2012 RAV4 TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE BEARING REPLACED, BUT THEY PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 30TH 2017 OR 9 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE ON A DEFECTIVE PART. THESE BEARINGS COULD GO BAD AND SEIZE AT ANY TIME POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. WE HAPPEN TO OWN TWO OF THESE VEHICLES, SAME YEARS, ONE MAKING NO NOISE AND NOT GOING BAD YET, BUT THE OTHER DECIDED IT WAS TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING BEARING, NOT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT WITH THE BEARING BY INITIATING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY AFTER APRIL 30TH 2017 NO OTHER BEARINGS WILL FAIL AND IF THEY DO WE PASS THE BUCK ON THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO DEBATE THE ISSUE WITH ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES WITH YOU LISTENING, I'D RIP'EM APART. IT IS TIME THESE BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT PASS THE BUCK TO THE LITTLE GUY. THANK YOU AGAIN, (XXXX). YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT (XXXX). PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLER IS FAILING. EMITTING AN AWFUL NOISE AND GETTING WORSE. SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENHANCED EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS, UNTIL THE PART HAS WORN OUT. (DEFECTIVE) IT IS A $1400. PART PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. THEY CANNOT EXTEND THE ENHANCED EXTENDED WARRANTY ACCORDING TO THE RULES THAT NHTSA HAS SUGGESTED. DON'T YOU THINK IT IS TIME FOR NHTSA TO REQUIRE THAT TOYOTA RENEW THIS REPLACEMENT, OR CALL IT A RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS?

I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AUGUST 2006 AT TOYOTA DEALER. THERE WERE CLUNKY SOUNDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN AFTER COUPLE MONTHS OF PURCHASE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO DEALER TO REQUEST FOR A FIX BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUNKY SOUNDS FROM THE STEERING WHEEL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS NORMAL AS THE WAY THE IT CAME FROM TOYOTA FACTORY. THERE WAS NO FIX TO CORRECT THAT CLUNKY NOISES FROM STEERING WHEEL ON THAT DAY. I HAD TRUSTED TO TOYOTA'S ADVICE ON THAT DAY AND KEPT DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL OTHER MECHANICS AND FRIENDS TOLD ME THAT MY CAR NEEDED TO BE FIXED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SINCE THERE HAD BEEN CLUNKY NOISES WHEN THEY TESTED DRIVE ON MY CAR. THE SOUNDS ALWAYS CAME UP WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE AROUND 06/2014 ABOUT THE CLUNKY NOISE SINCE THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS NOTHING FROM TOYOTA TO HELP FIXING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THERE WOULD BE RECALL IF THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD. I WAS ADVISED TO WAIT FOR A RECALL. FOR SAFETY CONCERN, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER MY CONVERSATION WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 06/2014. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD QUOTED WITH A FIX FOR $600 FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR. THE CLUNKY NOISE WAS CAME FROM THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX BECAUSE THE PRICE WAS TOO EXPENSIVE SO I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR CONDITION AS IT WAS. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY ACCIDENT INVOLVED THIS ISSUE OR NOT BUT I AM VERY SURE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER SINCE THIS INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS RELATING TO THE CONTROLLING CAR'S FRONT WHEELS. FOR THE SAFETY CONCERN, PLEASE HELP TO LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT.

WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR AND THEN BACK INTO GEAR. WHEN IT POPS BACK INTO GEAR THE CAR LUNGES IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE MANNER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS CAUSE BY PREMATURE WEAR-OUT OF THE REVERSE CLUTCHES AND THE FIX IS A NEW $4000 TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO REPAIR. THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUOUS, IT WAS ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP A HILL.

TRANSFER CASE NOISE; QUELLING NOISE IS COMING FROM ENGINE ( I HEAR THIS NOISE AT LOW SPEED BETWEEN 20 MILES AND 40MILES). WHEN I PUSH GAS PEDAL VEHICLE DON,T PICK THE SPEED, ENGINE RUNS FAST AND IT JUMPS TO GET ITS SPEED.

BOUGHT USED 2006 RAV 4 FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A REPUTABLE TOYOTA DEALER IN LAKE CITY FLORIDA.WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF BUYING THIS CAR CHECKED OIL AND IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW.NOW ABOUT EVERY 1000 MILES OR LESS THIS VEHICLE IS USING NEARLY 2 QUARTS OF OIL.PLEASE HELP IN THIS MATTER.THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY DAUGHTERS GOING OFF INTO THE WORLD VEHICLE BUT ITS TURNING OUT TO BE A PIECE OF CRAP.AND A WASTE OF MONEY.I KNOW TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT.LAKE CITY TOYOTA ARE RUDE AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. AND IN HINDSIGHT BUYING THIS CAR THEY WERE VERY SKETCHY IN THE WAY THEY GOT US THERE TO BUY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.NOW I KNOW WHY.I JUST WANT THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED.WE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT.BUT ENGINE FAILURE AND OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD IS SADDENING FOR A VEHICLE WE JUST PAID 7000 DOLLARS FOR.TOYOTA WE WILL NEVER BUY AGAIN. *TR

LOUD GRINDING SOUND AT APPROX 40MPH, EASILY REPLICATED AND SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS STUCK UNDERNEATH CAR. DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE FAULTY PARTS OR COVER ANY REPAIRS. *TR

OUR 2006 RAV4 CREATES A GROWLING SOUND FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH. THE SOUND GOES AWAY WHEN ACCELERATING ABOVE 40 MPH. THE NOISE IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED WITH TIME. TWICE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. RESEARCH ONLINE LOCATED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-0080-13 WHICH DISCUSSES SYMPTOMS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR RAV IS EXPERIENCING. A CALL TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN BEING INFORMED THAT DETERIORATION OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING DUE TO CONTAMINATED BEARING COULD BE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR COST IS $1,925. I ASKED IF FAILURE OF THE COUPLING COULD BE CATASTROPHIC, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE ANSWER WAS NOT LIKELY UNLESS DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES. THIS VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE DRIVETRAIN. IS THIS A FLAW IN THE ENGINEERING/DESIGN THAT WENT INTO THIS VEHICLE? WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE BEYOND INFORMING OTHERS IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY? *TR

I HAVE A 2006 RAV4, BUILT IN NOVEMBER, 2005. MY CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND 4WD LIGHTS LIT UP ON AUGUST 16, 2013. AFTER REFERRING TO THE MANUAL AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS YIELDED NO RESULT, I KEPT DRIVING AND WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. I WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR HAD FAILED AND I NEEDED A NEW ONE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED ON 9/18/12 WITH 59,767 MILES ON MY CAR, THE DEALER MARKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID "GOOD" ON 6/17/13 WITH 65,143 MILES AND THERE WERE ONLY 66,319 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST, 2013. BEING STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR THREE DAYS ALLOWED ME TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN RAV4'S WITH LOW MILEAGE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT A HUGE PROBLEM AND EXPENSE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR (WHICH IS STRANGE WHEN AN ALARM BLEATS, REQUESTING FASTENING OF THE SEATBELT, WHEN A GALLON OF MILK IS PUT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT.) AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL TO EVEN SUGGEST THE LIGHTS THAT LIT INDICATE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED CASE #1310310749 WITH TOYOTA AND AWAIT THEIR FOLLOW UP ON PROMISES MADE. I WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE COPIES OF ANY PAPERWORK, SHOULD IT BE REQUESTED. I WOULD ASK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL AS THE TOTAL LACK OF CLARITY AND/OR DIRECTION IN THE MANUAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. *TR

WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS PROPERLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS HOWEVER WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, IT APPEARS TO MOMENTARILY GO IN TO NEUTRAL WHERE THE ENGINE WINES OUT BEFORE QUICKLY BANGING INTO THIRD GEAR. VERY HARSH SHIFTING. THIS APPEARS TO OCCUR ONLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR LONGER. AFTER THIS OCCURS, IT WILL DO THIS EVERY TIME WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER FOR SOME TIME HOWEVER WAS ONLY RECENTLY ABLE TO PROVE IT TO THEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $4000.00. *TR

MY 2006 RAV4 SPORT THAT OCCASIONALLY HAS PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, THIS USUALLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND CAN LAST UP TO 15 MIN INTO THE DRIVE. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND RECEIVE A VERY SLOW RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE; ALMOST AS IF TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE E BRAKE ON. ONCE YOU HAVE REACHED 5-10MPH IT ENGAGES AND GOES, BUT UNTIL THEN IT IS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AND TIME TO TURN AND BE OUT OF THE WAY FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC, IF YOU DON'T COMPENSATE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL LAG , YOU COULD GET T-BONED. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES I NOTICED WHEN I BACKED UP I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE REAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A "TRANSAXLE" PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V-6 ENGINE. SUDDEN AND MASSIVE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL. DEALER IS AWARE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE OIL HOSE. NO RECALL ISSUED YET. DEALER STATES "WE'RE JUST FIXING THEM AS THEY COME IN". I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. ENGINE WAS BONE DRY OF OIL IN LESS THAN 3 MILES. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED FURTHER AWAY; 1. ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED. 2. POTENTIAL FIRE - THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL AND COULD HAVE EASILY IGNITED. TOYOTA NEEDED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART. NOT "JUST REPAIR AS THEY COME IN." *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 RUBBER OIL HOSE (PART NO. 15707-31010) RUPTURE SPEWED OIL ALL OVER ENGINE AND ROAD. VEHICLE HAS 61000 MILES. THE 2008 AND LATER MODEL RAV 4'S NOW USE A DIFFERENT METAL PART (PART NO. 15772-31030). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN AFTER NOTICING ENGINE SMOKING FROM EXCESS OIL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY INSTALL ORIGINAL PART NUMBER FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 RAV 4 MODELS, EVEN THOUGH APPARENTLY THE 2008 METAL PART IS SUPERIOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVETRAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. A REGIONAL ENGINEER RECENTLY STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS TYPICAL OF A 2006 RAV4 AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO REPAIR. THE NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HOUR AND IS CURRENTLY ONGOING WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 55 MPH. THE ENGINEER ALSO STATED THAT THE SOUND OF THE TRANSMISSION IS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,070 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,100. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

PURCHASED RAV IN 1/2006 AND HAVE HAD MANY ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. FROM A SLOW/START OR STOP/START, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CAR HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRENCE IS ALL THE TIME, CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT "HARD" SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION STILL OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. *TR INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

THROTTLE LAG WHEN REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION FROM EITHER A STOP OR A T LOW SPEEDS.

I HAVE THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 BASE MODEL WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLUGGISH TO RESPOND TO BRAKING, SUCH THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES CONTINUES TO REV FORWARD FOR A SECOND OR TWO EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS LEADS TO EXCESSIVE BRAKING DISTANCES. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS THE CAUSE OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT WE SUFFERED ON 8/5/06. IN DENSE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, I WAS ABOUT 20 FEET BEHIND AN OLDER TOYOTA PATHFINDER AND HAD JUST ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 15 MPH TO ABOUT 25 MPH, AS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE VEHICLES WAS GROWING. THEN THE PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS/HER BRAKES BECAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TOO, BUT THE RAV4 DID NOT IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO SLOW. INSTEAD, I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE STILL PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD. THE RAV4 FINALLY DID BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN RIGHT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE PATHFINDER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, WE HIT THE NOW-STATIONARY PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF US AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 5 MPH. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE FRONT END OF THE RAV4 WAS MASHED IN. I HAVE DRIVEN DOZENS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES OVER NEARLY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK EVERY OTHER ONE WOULD HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WELL BEFORE THE POINT OF IMPACT (AS DID THE PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF ME, DESPITE A VEHICLE CUTTING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT). THIS LEADS ME TO SUSPECT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RAV4 TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS TIME LAG. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, THEY ROAD-TESTED AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY CLAIMED WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTING, WHICH RESULTS IN HIGHER RPMS BUT LESS FORWARD MOTION. I DON'T BUY IT. I HAVE TRIED JAMMING ON THE BRAKES TO CAUSE SUCH DOWNSHIFTING AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. *JB

DT*: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCELERATION LAG ISSUE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT SWITCH GEARS IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

I HAVE A SERIOUS DELAY IN THE ACCELERATION OF MY 06 TOYOTA RAV4. IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR TOYOTA. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 5-10 TIMES PER WEEK. *NM

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THERE IS A SEVERE HESITATION WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS MOST NOTABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A NEAR STOP. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE A/C BEING ON OR IN MY HEAD, BUT I HAVE RULED OUT THE A/C, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK WONDERFULLY ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE THROTTLE RESPONSE IS VERY SLUGGISH. SOMETIMES SEEMS TO BOG DOWN IF YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO EASE WAY BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ONCE IT GETS GOING. *NM

MY RAV4 "LAGS" OR "HESITATES" WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO GET UP TO SPEED-ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TECHNICIANS THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NEW 2006 RAV 4 WAS PURCHASED AT GRAPPONE TOYOTA, CONCORD NH, ON 7-28-06. DURING HE FIRST 600 MILES OF OPERATION PER THE MANUFACTURER. BREAK IN RECOMMENDATIONS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION REGARDING NORMAL ACCELERATION AND THROTTLE USE. THIS CONDITION LEADS IN AN INTERMITTENT FASHION TO FAILURE TO ACCELERATE WHEN MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY, FAILURE TO RESUME STEADY THROTTLE SETTING AFTER ROUNDING A CORNER, SUDDEN AND SERIOUS HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY AND SUDDEN AND SERIOUS LOSSES OF POWER ON THE ROAD. THESE SYMPTOM ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A FULL TIME THROTTLE LAG, WHICH PREVENTS NORMAL USE OF THE THROTTLE AND OFTEN, AFTER A VARIED PERIOD OF DELAY, IS FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT AND RUSH OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ON 8-22-06 AND WAS DEFERRED UNTIL 8-25-06 AT WHICH TIME THE DEALER CHECKED THE ENGINE COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THAT THE DEGREE OF MALFUNCTIONING IS "NORMAL" AND COULD NOT BE ADDRESSED. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT SINCE THIS UNCERTAIN AND ERRATIC PERFORMANCE COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL USE OF THE CAR UNTIL THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER CHOSE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AFTER 43 YEARS OF SAFE DRIVING, I'M NOT ABOUT TO DRIVE AN UNCONTROLLABLE CAR IN TRAFFIC ON PUBLIC ROADS WHEN IT MAY SUDDENLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE OR FAIL TO RESUME NORMAL SPEED AFTER BRAKING. ANY SUDDEN ERRATIC MOVES CAN BE DANGEROUS TO OURSELVES AND TO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC AND I FIND IT DEEPLY DISTURBING THAT NEITHER TOYOTA NOR GRAPPONE TOYOTA WILL BOTHER TO RETURN MY CALLS NOR ADDRESS THIS MATTER. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALLS, FACILITATED A REPAIR OR EVEN BOTHERED TO TRY TO FIX THE CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION WHICH I NOW BELIEVE IS COMMON TO ABOUT 10% OF RAV 4S BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. THANK YOU. *NM

I HAVE A NEW 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND, IN THE FIRST 2000 MILES, IT HAS FAILED TO SHIFT CORRECTLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN MERGING IN TRAFFIC. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPMS SHOOT ABOVE 4-5K BUT THERE IS NO ACCOMPANIED INCREASE IN SPEED. GIVEN THE REPEATED POSTINGS ON EDMUNDS.COM ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED CASE WITH MY VEHICLE. *JB