What 254 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SMOKE AND FUMES BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE,GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND RAISED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY. A PERSON NEARBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND CAME TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED. LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE ALSO RESPONDED.

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THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE PARKING LOT. NOBODY WAS INSIDE THE CAR AT THAT TIME. IT HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED.FIREFIGHTERS PUT OUT THE FLAMES LATER. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS INJURED OR HURT.

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED ON, THEN OFF. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND ON TO A PARKING LOT. THINKING THAT A BATTERY CABLE POSSIBLY HAD COME LOOSE, I RAISED THE HOOD. THE AREA AT OR NEAR THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED 9-1-1, BUT BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER RAV4 DRIVERS MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE.

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MY SEAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK IN A CRASH BUT THE PASSENGER WORKED

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A ROAD WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, A BICYCLIST MADE A SUDDEN RIGHT TURN AND ENDED UP TOO FAR IN THE ROADWAY. THE BICYCLIST ALSO HAD A DOG ON A LEASH. TO AVOID HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN AND DOG, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT. DUE TO THE LAYOUT OF THE ROAD, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A CREEK OFF THE ROAD NEARBY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS WELL AS INJURIES TO THE HEAD, ARMS, AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND INTERIOR DUE TO THE WATER THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS WAITING FOR AN OFFICIAL DAMAGE REPORT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL IT WAS DETERMINED IF THE SENSORS WERE HIT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. IT OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND AGAIN WHEN YOU GET SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS APRIL 2017. I WAS DRIVING ALONG A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET AT 20 MPH. WHEN I STOPPED AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, IT SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I APPLIED THE BRAKES; THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE SECOND EVENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 4, 2018. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE; I STOPPED SO I COULD RENTER THE SPACE. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE CAR ROARED OFF AND BECAME AIRBORNE. IT FLEW OVER THE MEDIAN AND HIT THE CAR PARKED IN THE SPACE OPPOSITE. THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN IT ACCELERATED AND WHEN IT HIT THE OTHER CAR WAS SO FAST I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE FLYING AND THE CAR WAS IN TOTAL CONTROL. I FEEL THERE IS SOME FLAW IN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CONTROLLING THE GEARS. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BECAUSE IT OCCURRED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. MY PASSENGER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED - A BRUISED CLAVICLE, PROBABLY FROM THE SEATBELTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, SHE STRUCK AN ONCOMING VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES CEASED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO THREE TRUCKS AND A TREE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 379.*TT CONSUMER STATED SHE STARTED REVERSING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATION, SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE IT DID NOT STOP AS A RESULT THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT 3 PARKED TRUCKS. UPDATED 8/15/18*JB

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POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION WITH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). CAR FAILS TO BRAKE PROPERLY AND SLIDES WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED THE BRAKE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP, SLID INTO THE BACK OF AN 18-WHEELER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLES HAD MINOR DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

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THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CAR, RENTAL OR ANYTHING. EVERY TIME WE CALL OUR TOYOTA CASE MANAGER OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER RETURN OUR CALLS.

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HI, WE (MYSELF, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER) HAD AN ACCIDENT DATED 08/02/2015 DUE TO BRAKES IN OUR TOYOTA 2013 RAV 4 DIDN'T FUNCTION. WE WERE TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED OF 65/HR AND THERE WERE 3 CARS AHEAD OF US THAT BRAKED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL CARS TO STOP INCLUDING OUR CAR BUT INSPITE OF FULL BRAKING IT FAILED TO AND HAPPENED TO CRASH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. OUR CAR JUST COULD NOT COME TO COMPLETE STOP. WE STRONGLY FEEL ITS NOT SAFE FOR OUR FAMILY TO DRIVE IN THAT CAR ANY MORE. WE HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AS WELL, BUT ITS BEEN 3 DAYS HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. ALL THEY DID WAS EMAIL US SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH US WHEN WE DID NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS AT OUR END. WE REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND IT MIGHT BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. THANKING YOU, [XXX] FAMILY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

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THE THROTTLE STUCK ON THE CAR. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT WENT OVER A 10 FOOT FALL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A VERY SCARY RIDE. I TRIED EVERY WAY TO STOP THE CAR BUT COULD NOT . I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE UNINTENDED EVENT. I AM STILL VERY SORE THREE WEEKS LATER AND HAVE SOME SPINAL SPRAIN AND WRIST SPRAIN, CERVICAL SPRAIN AND BOTH KNEES BRUISED BOTH KNEES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS AFTER I CONSULTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY....UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF *TR UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT REMAINED STUCK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED AND CRASHED INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

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THIS WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE OTHER PARTY SPUN INTO OUR LANE (LOCAL ROAD) AND DESTROYED OUR FRONT END. AIR BAGS DID NOT APPEAR TO CAUSE THE INJURY (FRONT PASSENGER HAD A BROKEN RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A POSSIBLE SEPARATED STERNUM). THE AIR BAGS SEEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY BUT DID NOT DEFLATE AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE INJURED PERSON (FRONT PASSENGER). ALSO, ONE OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASED ITS CHEMICAL INTO THE FACE OF THE INJURED PERSON CAUSING THEM A LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NO INJURIES.

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 36 AND BEFORE THE RED LIGHT I LEFT MY RIGHT LEG FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET READY TO STOP BY THE RED LIGHT . AT THAT MOMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND TO MY LEG PRESSING AND THE TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND HAVING CARS STOPPED INFRONT OF ME BY THE RED LIGHT I HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A BIG TREE. THE DAMAGE REACHED ALMOST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT HOOD; HOWEVER, NO ANY AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED OR ACTIVATED DUE TO THE CRASH AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BY THE AMBULANCE AND BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVEN DAYS AND FOR THE FIRST FOUR DAYS I LOST ANY SENSATION IN MY BOTH LEGS WITH A SEVER SPINE PAIN AND UNTIL NOW MY BOTH LEGS HURT ME AND SO DOES MY BACK ( SPINE ). PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE CAR STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND ALL THE SERVICES WERE CONNECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE. THE LAST WAS CONDUCTED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON SEP 15, 2014 AT 13:25 - 14:39. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE EXACTLY AS THE DEALER RECOMMENDED.....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF..........UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN

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MY WIFE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH HER 2013 RAV4 WITH ONLY 14K MILES IN WHICH SHE WAS T-BONED. BOTH THE PASSENGER DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS WAS EFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE ALMOST FLIP TO ONE SIDE BUT DIDN'T AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FAIL APART. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO FRAME DAMAGE ON THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AND ABSOLUTELY NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I BELIEVE THE THEIR IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT CAUSE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NOT TO BE DEPLOYED. I'M SO HAPPY MY NEW BORN AND 18 MONTH OLD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE DURING THAT TIME. *TR

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I GOT MY NEW TOYOTA RAV4 2013 EARLY IN 2013. ON THE SECOND DAY I OWNED IT I NOTICED THAT THE THREE TALL AND BROAD REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS OBSCURED AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF MY VIEW OUT THE REAR WINDOW. I TOOK THEM OUT AND HAVE KEPT THEM OUT SO I CAN HAVE CLEAR VISION TO THE REAR. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THE TALL AND BROAD HEAD REST ON THE PASSENGER SEAT ALSO OBSCURED MY VIEW OUT TO THE RIGHT. I SIDE-SWIPED ANOTHER CAR EARLY IN AUGUST, AFTERWARD TELLING THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER THAT I DID NOT SEE THE CAR AT ALL, HAD NO IDEA OF WHERE IT HAD COME FROM. IT WASN'T UNTIL SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THAT I REALIZED THAT I HAD NOT SEEN THE OTHER CAR BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SEAT HEAD REST OBSCURED MY 'OVER THE SHOULDER VIEW' TO THE RIGHT. I REALIZE THAT THESE HEAD RESTS ARE PRESUMED TO PREVENT NECK WHIPLASH INJURIES. AS IT HAPPENS I AM A PHYSICIAN AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF WHIPLASH INJURY. BUT HEAD RESTS SUCH AS THESE, AT LEAST IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4 2013, ARE VERY DANGEROUS AS THEY OBSCURE THE DRIVER'S VISION BOTH TO THE REAR AND TO THE RIGHT. *TR

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I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO AN EXIT DRIVEWAY. ABOUT 12 FEET DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WAS A CEMENT BRICK WALL PARALLELING THE DRIVEWAY. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR ROCKETED INTO THE CEMENT BRICK WALL. FORTUNATELY,, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I WAS NOT INJURED BADLY NOR WAS ANYONE ELSE. $ 13,000 TO FIX MY CAR AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TOME AGAIN. I WILL BE LIKE DRIVING A TIME BOMB. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO TOYOTA AND HAVE THEM CHECK MY SYSTEMS AND CERTIFY, THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. *TR

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DEAR SIRS, I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, WE HERE ON THE ISLAND OF CURACAO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY VEHICLES WHICH ARE CHINESE AND THEIR VIN NO, ARE ALSO CLONED, I BELIEVE THIS IS A WORLD PROBLEM, AND ALSO US MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WORLD PROBLEM, AND THEY CAN ALSO HELP TO EXPOSE THIS SITUATION. I HAVE POSTED MANY ON BLOGS, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE CLONING OF CARS. THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH SOME ONE BOUGHT A VEHICLE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER A RAV4 2013 AND WE CAME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A 2010 MEXICAN CLONE CAR. AND I HAVE REPORTED THESE ALSO TO OTHER AGENCIES IN USA , ONE OF THEM IS THE SEC SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION WHISTLE BLOWER DEPARTMENT. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A LARGE ANIMAL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE BODY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS LATER INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER THIRTY DAYS LATER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A BEAR. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT DEFLATE AFTER DEPLOYMENT, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

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THE TOYOTA WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH NORTH BOUND AND A MERCEDES MADE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF THE TOYOTA. THE TOYOTA T-BONE THE MERCEDES AT 35 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS ON THE TOYOTA DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN THE TOYOTA SUFFERED SEVERAL INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, HANDS, LEG AND FEET AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE TOYOTA WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE CARRIER. *TR

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2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL SHE HIT A CEMENT POST IN FRONT OF THE PARKING AREA.

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