2008 Toyota RAV4 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT, I APPLIED MY BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE NOT WORKING AS USUAL- NOT STOPPING THE CAR QUICKLY. I HAD THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO FAST AND LOUD. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, RPMS DROPPED MOMENTARILY, WENT BACK UP. I KEPT SWITCHING BACK TO DRIVE, THEN TO NEUTRAL, TILL THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN NORMALLY, NOT RACING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE UP A HILL THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE EXCESSIVELY AND THE RPMS INCREASED BETWEEN 1,500 TO 2,000. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED, THE OVER DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING OR ASSISTANCE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURES SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO RECREATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER TOLD HER NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THAT WHENEVER SHE DROVE IN REVERSE, THE NORMAL RPM SHOULD BE BETWEEN 700 AND 900. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO SOFTWARE CREATED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 943 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

I HAVE A TOYOTA 2008 RAV 4. IN OCTOBER OF 2009 I HAD THE FIRST OF SEVERAL INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENTS, ALMOST TAKING OUT A PARKING GARAGE GATE. AFTER ACCELERATING, THEN REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY HAVE A BURST OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LURCH FORWARD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER IN OCTOBER OF 2009- THEY SAID IT MUST BE USER ERROR OR THE FLOOR MATS. I REMOVED FLOOR MATS, STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT ADJUSTED THE ELECTRONICS. PROBLEM CONTINUES INTERMITTENTLY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2010, THEY SAID THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL- THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. I RECEIVED THE SAME ANSWER FROM THE TOYOTA HOTLINE. *TR

BOUGHT '08 TOYO RAV4 NEW FROM SERRA TOYO IN B'HAM AL. NOW WITH 54K MILES AND NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND UPON BRAKING FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, AS WE CAME TO A NEAR STOP, WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT 8-10 FT STOPPING ONLY INCHES SHORT OF THE CAR AHEAD OF US. I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME AND THE CAR HAD DECELERATED TO A NEAR STOP, SO THIS IS NOT A STUCK ACCELERATOR. FLOOR MATS WERE NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. EVEN SO, I DECIDED THAT I MUST HAVE ERRED IN SOME WAY AND MOVED ON. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER AS WE WERE PULLING INTO A BUSINESS, WE HAD AN IDENTICAL REPEAT, THIS TIME COMING WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING THE FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. THERE WAS NO DOUBT THIS TIME THAT THIS WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR. IT IS THE DISTINCT FEELING OF THE ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED DOWN AND OVERRIDING THE BRAKE. EACH TIME, THE STOP WAS NOT AS A RESULT OF MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IT WAS SIMPLY RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATION STOPPED BEFORE WE HIT ANYTHING. I CALLED FOR A FLATBED AND PAID $160 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED 60 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP AS DRIVING WAS NOT AN OPTION. SERRA ASSURED ME THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATORS COME IN AND CHECK THE CAR OUT. THEY CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WE COULD PICK IT UP. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. WE LIVE ON A MAJOR HWY AND IF THIS HAD OCCURRED AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY IT COULD HAVE PRODUCED TRAGIC RESULTS. I NEED HELP! WHAT DO I DO? I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERV. AND THEY SAID IF THE INVESTIGATORS SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO. THE '08 RAV4 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS AND I SUSPECT THAT TOYOTA IS SIMPLY GOING TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS YET ANOTHER MODEL YEAR. IF YOU HAVE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS IN A '08 RAV4, PLEASE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. PLEASE ADVISE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS PARKING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BUMPER AND ALMOST RAN INTO A WALL. SHE WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS SHE COULD UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THEY WILL RETURN HER CALL WITHIN TWO DAYS. HE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800. UPDATED 04/15/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/10/*JB

WAS PARKING THE CAR IN A SMALL CONGESTED COMMERCIAL PARKING AREA. I TURNED A CORNER AND SAW A SPACE, BUT HAD TO BACK UP TO PULL IN STRAIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED VERY SLOWLY, I WAS ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE PARKED CAR FACING MY CAR. SUDDENLY, AS I WAS ABOUT TO STOP MY CAR, THE ENGINE RACED AND MY CAR JUMPED FORWARD INTO THE FRONT OF THE OTHER CAR. AS I WAS ONLY A VERY SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE CAR, MY CAR DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ACCELERATE TO ANY GREAT SPEED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING, WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND STEERED INTO A CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB, INTO A FENCE AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FOOT AND CRUSHED DENTURES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS DECLARED TOTALLED. THIS WAS NOT THE CONTACT'S FIRST INSTANCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION . SHE WAS ADVISED BY HER DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,415.

ON MY WAY TO TUFTS MEDICAL IN BOSTON MASS. I PAID THE LAST TOLL IN AND NOT 200 FT FROM THE TOLL BOOTH, MY CAR STOPPED. MY RAV4 SHUT DOWN AND ROLLED BACK TOWARDS THE TOLL BOOTH (TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC). THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE LIFTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, IT SLOWLY STOPPED BUT, DID CONTINUE TO ROLL. MASS STATE TROOPERS ARRIVED IN ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES AND PLACED HIS VEHICLE SO THAT IT WOULD NOT ROLL INTO ANYONE. MY CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHILE I RENTED A CAR TO GET BACK TO WESTERN MASS. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AND FOUND NOTHING. I CAN NO LONGER TRANSPORT MY ELDERLY MOTHER TO HER APPOINTMENTS IN BOSTON WITHOUT RENTING A CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STARTED THE INGITION. THE VEHICLE WAS POSITIONED INTO THE SELECTED GEAR, FOLLOWED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,963. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

ACCELERATION INCIDENT PARKING. DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN CHELSEA MI, DOING A LITTLE UNDER 5 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKE EVEN HARDER AND THE ABS ENGAGED. FORTUNATELY I MISSED THE BMW PARKED IN FRONT. BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR 19 MONTHS AND NOTHING LIKE IT OCCURRED BEFORE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I HAD JUST BEEN TO FOR A LUBE CHANGE SAID THAT MY MODEL WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT TO BRING IT IN IF IT RECURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED THE SPEED FAILED TO INCREASE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH ENTERING A PARKING SPACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REVV HIGH. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE BODY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,230.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I TURNED LEFT AND THE CAR STARTED TO RACE AND ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH AND STUCK THERE. I TRIED PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I SWERVED TO MISS TWO CARS AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. I TRIED PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. I THEN CALLED MY FATHER WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH CARS AND TOLD HIM THE STORY AND HE TOLD ME TO TRY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TRY IT AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE CAR JOLTED FORWARD AND SLOWED DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE IGNITION FF AND WAS VERY SHAKEN AND QUITE UPSET. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LIA NORTHAMPTON TOYOTA AND INFORMED THEM I WOULD NOT BE DRIVING THIS LEASED CAR AGAIN UNLESS THEY LOOKED AT IT THOROUGHLY AND REPAIRED IT. THE TECH VERIFIED A HIGH IDLE . THE TECH FOUND A THROTTLE PLATE WAS MECHANICALLY STICKING. THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. I ALSO HAD THEM DOCUMENT IT AND GIVE ME PAPERWORK. I DID CONTACT THEM WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 2007 WAS NOT PART AND THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT MY CAR AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. I HAD AN INCIDENT IN THE FALL OF 2009 WHERE, AS I WAS BRAKING AND SLOWING DOWN, MY ENGINE REVVED UP WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL. DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED BUT THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE MY FAULT SOMEHOW. IN EARLY DEC. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, FRONT END FORWARD, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER PARKED CAR OPPOSITE MY CAR, FACING MINE. AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND BRAKING, THE ENGINE REVVED AND I HAD TO SLAM MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY FROM MY CELL PHONE, RIGHT THERE IN MY CAR, AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS WEARING "HEELS", DID I STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR BY MISTAKE, DID THE FLOOR MAT GET CAUGHT?...AND I SAID NO TO ALL OF THAT. I WENT IN THE NEXT DAY TO SERVICE, AND THEY SPENT SEVERAL HOURS LOOKING AT MY CAR, CHECKING THINGS OUT. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED, THEY SAID THEY "COULDN'T MAKE MY CAR DO WHAT I TOLD THEM IT DID". COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ASKED AGAIN ABOUT SHOES, WRONG PEDAL, ETC. SINCE THEN, I HAD ONE MORE EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATION AT THE TOP OF A HILL WHERE TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. RIGHT ABOUT THAT TIME THE NEWS OF THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS WAS BEGINNING. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND ASKED WHY I HAD NOT RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT A RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TOYOTA HAD BEEN BUILT IN JAPAN AND THEREFORE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM AND IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WHAT DO I DO NOW?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OF DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CALLED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VIN ON HER VEHICLE BEGINS WITH A "J" AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT SINCE IT WAS MADE IN JAPAN; THEREFORE, THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14000.

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE INCIDENT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FM OWNER OF A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 ON 1/17/2009. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WENT 150 FEET, BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO BRING IT A STOP. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON AN INSPECTION, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A SEMI ON AN UPHILL IN MY NEW 2008 RAV4 WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL SINCE I WAS GOING UPHILL AND PASSING, BUT WHEN I EASED MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL REMAINED PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I HAD ENTERED A SINGLE LANE CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND WAS ACCELERATING RAPIDLY. I STOMPED ON THE ACCELERATOR HOPING TO SPRING IT LOOSE AND TRIED THE BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL. AS I WAS REACHING SPEEDS WELL INTO THE 90'S AND WITHIN SECONDS OF PLOWING INTO THE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME I REACHED DOWN AND GRABBED THE GAS PEDAL AND PULLED UP ON IT. IT DID COME UP THEN AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN IN TIME TO AVOID CRASHING. I WAS TERRIFIED AND THOUGHT I WOULD DIE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY INSISTED IT WAS CAUSED BY MY FLOOR MAT AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT SINCE IT WAS NOT A TOYOTA FLOOR MAT. I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE PEDAL WHEN I REACHED DOWN FOR IT, IT WAS SIMPLY STUCK. THEY CONTINUE TO BLAME THE FLOOR MAT, MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN PUT ON THE RECALL LIST AND IT SCARES ME EVERY DAY TO DRIVE IT. I NEVER, EVER FLOOR IT AND NOW KNOW TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SHOULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN---ALTHOUGH I HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE CRASHED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I AM VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA BLAMESHIFTS AND DODGES THE ISSUE BY BLAMING THE MATS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEIR RECALL HOTLINE TOLD ME IT IS MY PROBLEM SINCE MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I DID BUY THEIR MAT AFTER THE INCIDENT, ONLY TO BE TOLD LATER THAT I SHOULD REMOVE IT SINCE IT COULD CAUSE ACCELERATOR ENTRAPMENT. MY DEALER STILL BLAMES THE WHOLE PROBLEM ON MY NON COMPLIANT MAT EVEN THOUGH THEY RECALLED THEIR OWN MATS, TOO. IT IS VERY DISTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHERS AND GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. SO MANY DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS, AND I EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN ONE. WE HAVE BOUGHT 5 TOYOTAS FROM THIS DEALER AND HAVE HAD NO SUPPORT AND HAVE BEEN TREATED RUDELY. *TR

FAX FWD LTR FM RE SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4, REPLY TO UTICA, NY OFC. *TGW EACH TIME THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SHE WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH SEVERAL CARS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WAS BY TURNING IT OFF. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE AUXILIARY POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWO SECONDS; THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES, AND CRASHED INTO FOUR VEHICLES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LANDED IN AN UPWARD 90 DEGREE ANGLE POSITION. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA RAV4 (2008 LS) IN THE SUMMER OF 2008. I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. I REPORTED IT THEN AND THE FIRST SEVERAL TIMES IT WENT IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN THE SAME - THAT'S JUST WHAT TOYOTAS DO. THE PROBLEM - WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IDLING, THE CAR HESITATES. THERE IS A SECOND OR 2 DURING WHICH THERE IS NO POWER. THEN, THE POWER KICKS IN AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD, NOT BECAUSE THE PEDAL IS STICKING BUT BECAUSE THE CAR SUDDENLY "CATCHES UP" WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY TWO DEALERS IS THIS: IN THE TOYOTA, THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE PEDAL IS PRESSED DOWN AND WHEN THE CAR'S COMPUTER SENDS THE INFORMATION TO THE CARBURETOR, OR WHATEVER PASSES FOR IT IN NEW ENGINES. THAT CAUSES THE SEQUENCE - PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, HESITATION, THEN SURGE. THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HEAVY, FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. OPENINGS IN THE TRAFFIC ARE USUALLY SMALL BUT ADEQUATE IF THE CAR RESPONDS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR HESITATES, THEN SURGES, THE OPENING CAN BE MISSED AND THE CAR AND DRIVER ARE AT RISK FOR A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO INTERMITTENT SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, EVEN WHEN EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR. I'M FILING THIS BECAUSE I SEE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS GONE PAST THE STICKING PEDAL TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN THE CARS. SO I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE HELPFUL. PS-I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE A LITTLE LUCK AND A QUICK FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALL THAT PREVENTED ONE. PSPS-I WILL GLADLY PROVIDE THE VIN # BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT AVAILABLE NOW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN SHE DEPRESSED IT ON TWO OCCASIONS. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SEEMED TO RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER MODIFIED THE FLOOR MAT. SHE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST HER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,510.

WHILE DRIVING INTO MY GARAGE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE RAV4 STARTED RACING VERY BADLY, AT THAT POINT I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE CAR ACTED NORMAL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, AND THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT I AM TERRIBLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, INTO HIS DRIVEWAY VERY SLOWLY AND AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES HIS VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HAD 1 OTHER PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500.