What 266 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

ON JUNE10TH. I HAD A MAJOIR ACCIDENT IN WHICH BOTH MY WIFE & MYSELF SUFFERED FRACTURED STERNUMS & FRACTURED RIBS. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT I PULLED INTO A LOT IN PRINCETON, N.J. & AFTER STOPPING TO SET MY GPS, I JUST TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR & THE CAR SHOT FORWARD, AS IF SHOT OUT OF A CANNON. WHILE STOPPED I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE & THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS IN THE SAME MANNER, THEREBY STRIKING A WALL. NOW I WENT FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET, WITH NO TIME TO HIT THE BRAKE, THEREBY GOING HEADFIRST INTO A PARKED CONSTRUCTION TRUCK.

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WHEN PULLING MY 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 INTO A PARKING SPACE AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED ROARING AND ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB THAT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT, CROSSED THE ROAD, JUMPED ANOTHER CURB, AND LANDED IN A MUDDY RAVINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AND THE TECH COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA. THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR. THEY CLAIM THE EDR DETECTED NO DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE AND BLAMED IT ON EITHER ME MISTAKING THE ACCELERATOR FOR THE BRAKES OR MY CUSTOM FITTED, LOCK-IN WEATHERTECH FLOOR MAT WHICH HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2012. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS AND I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED MY CAR BUT AM NOW TERRIFIED THAT IT WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AGAIN. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, WENT OVER THE CURB, AND SLAMMED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS UNDER EVALUATION BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

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WHILE STOPPED IN A LEFT TURN LANE AT A MAJOR CITY INTERSECTION BEHIND A LINE OF ABOUT 6 STOPPED CARS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RACE AT HIGH SPEED. THE CAR MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT BEFORE I COULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE HARD. I DID THAT, PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AT THE IGNITION KEY BEFORE CHECKING ON THE CONDITION OF THE FOLKS IN THE CAR IN FRONT. THERE WAS NO WAY THAT I COULD HAVE MISTAKEN WHICH PEDAL WAS WHICH, AS I WAS ALREADY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP FROM MOVING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REMEDY. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD TO A HIGH SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED OVER A MEDIAN, A CONCRETE BARRIER, AND INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR WHIPLASH, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAITED OVER THREE WEEKS FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER TO PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS ON HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB AND UPPER TORSO CONTUSIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

NHTSA ODI 10682815

ON THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER, MY WIFE AND I LEFT SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI TO DALLAS, TEXAS TO VISIT OUR FAMILY FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. WE WERE DRIVING OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED 2012 RAV4 WITH APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES WHICH WE PURCHASED IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2014. WE STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES DURING OUR TRIP TO REFUEL AND ALLOW MY WIFE, WHO IS 6 MONTH PREGNANT, A CHANCE TO STRETCH HER LEGS. FOR MUCH OF THE TRIP, I USED CRUISE CONTROL WHEN POSSIBLE AT VARYING SPEEDS FROM 65 MPH (IN MISSOURI) TO 75 MPH (IN PARTS OF OKLAHOMA). AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM, WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TUSHKA, OKLAHOMA WE APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT DROPPED FROM 65 TO 45 MPH. THE LIGHT WAS RED, A SEMI WAS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, AND I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE CAR'S BRAKES. AS I DID SO, THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS FIGHTING MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT. I HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. AS I APPROACHED THE SEMI, I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP MY VEHICLE. FINALLY WITH LESS THAN A CAR LENGTH, MY CAR CAME TO A FULL STOP. WITH MY FOOT STILL PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKES, BOTH MY WIFE AND I HEARD THE CAR BEGIN TO MAKE A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR INTO 'PARK,' AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND I SAW THAT THE RPM GAUGE ON THE CAR ROSE TO 7-8,000 RPM. AT THIS POINT, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY INTENT WAS TO RE-START THE CAR AND SAFELY PULL OVER AFTER WE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND, AS I RESTARTED THE CAR, WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ON FRIDAY, THE 19TH, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF LEWISVILLE (TX) WHERE THEY PROVED UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I WAS CONTACTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE ON 12/29/2014 WHO INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE UNLESS THE EVENT "REPLICATED" OR SOMEONE HAD BEEN INJURED. *JS

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I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT OUR CHURCH. WHEN I TURNED INTO THE PARKING PLACE THE CAR TOOK OFF AND IT JUMPED AN 8 INCH CURBING AND RAN INTO THE PARISH CENTER WALL. IT TRIED TO CLIMB THE WALL. I PUSH THE ACCELERATOR TO TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR TOOK OFF! IT WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR! *TR

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I DRIVE A TOYOTA RAV4 V6 LTD, 2012 PURCHASED ON JAN 2, 2013. PRIOR TO THAT WE HAD A TOYOTA CAMRY 1999 WITH MORE 200K MILES ON IT. ON JULY 24TH, 2013, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH INSIDE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND WAS TURNING RIGHT TO PARK. I WAS ALMOST PARKED WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SURGED AND ZOOMED OVER PARKING STOPPER, BREAKING OVERHEAD STORAGE BIN, ZOOMED AHEAD AND BANGED INTO THE BUILDING STAIRS. I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE ALL THROUGH, BUT THE CAR DIDNT STOP UNTIL IT HIT ON TO THE STAIRS OF APARTMENT. THE WHEELS WERE STILL ROLLING BUT IT COULDN'T GO AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY STAIRS AND FINALLY AFTER CONTINUOUSLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE IT STOPPED. MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ALL ALONG ON THE BRAKE AS IT ALWAYS IS WHEN I'M PARKING. BODY OF THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH GLASS PIECES ALL OVER ME. LUCKILY MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS SAFER AT BACK IN HER CAR SEAT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. I'M HAVING MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE I'M A WOMAN EVERYONE WAS QUICK TO CONCLUDE THAT, I HAD STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF BRAKE. BUT I KNOW MY FOOT WAS ALL ALONG ON THE BRAKE, UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE, ALTHOUGH I HAD INSURANCE TO COVER THE CAR, THE VALUE IS ZILCH NOW. THE CAR WAS NOT TOTALED AND REPAIRS WAS WORTH MORE THAN 20K. DRIVING THE CAR NOW, DOESN'T FEEL THE SAME AS THE COLLISION CENTER DID A CRAPPY REPAIR JOB. NOW THE CAR MAKES SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING, AS THOUGH IT WILL COME APART. WE ARE LEFT WITH NO OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST TO DRIVE THE SAME CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. AFTER NOTIFYING TOYOTA AND AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS THEY COLLECTED THE EDR AND SENT US A REPORT STATING THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS OUR FAULT THAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE TOYOTA HAD ISSUES RELATED TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PRIOR TO BUYING THE RAV4. *TR

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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

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ROLL THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO CLEAR A DOORWAY, THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET. AT THAT TIME I PULLED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOMENTARILY, THEN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE PICKING UP SPEED RAPIDLY AS EVIDENCED BY THE REVVING OF THE ENGINE. I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKE SINCE HOLDING IT TO THE FLOOR WAS DOING NOTHING. BY THIS TIME I HAD GONE THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE, THROUGH A DITCH OVER A CURB AND CONTINUED TO PICK UP SPEED TO PASS THROUGH A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL AND INTO THE BACK OF A PARKED R.,THE VEHICLE IMPALING ITSELF ON THE STEEL PIPES OF A MOTORCYCLE CARRIER ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF THE R.V. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE RAV4 WAS TOTALED AND AMAZINGLY I SUFFERED ONLY MINOR BUMPS AND BRUISES. AT NO TIME DID ANY OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED GREATLY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,620. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN, AND THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON ITS OWN AS WELL. UPDATED 08/08/12

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