2001 Toyota RAV4: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Mar 9, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 111,219 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

My 2001 silver toyota rav 4 had a sudden unintended acceleration problem when I was decelerating to a complete stop at an already congested intersection with traffic lights. I was applying brake pressure from 20 MPH, down to 15,10,5, down to 2 MPH, coming to a complete stop, my rav 4 engine suddenly started to rev-up/race wildly and very loud in a matter of 3, or 4-5 seconds (the engine/RPM sounded similar one would hear when you would be accelerating entering a freeway via the entrance ramp). My rav 4 shot forward so fast like it was on some rocket launching pad. My foot was on my brake pedal almost to the car floor and I could not stop the car from moving into the back - and rear ending the car in front of me which was about 10-15 feet in front of me, that was stopped waiting for the light to turn green at the already congested stop light intersection. Damage was done to the rear end of the SUV door hatch and the attached tire mounted on the back of the SUV in front of me. Damage on my rav 4 was car hood folding back and up and my front upper and lower section of my bumper and plastic grill area. I immediately reported the unintended acceleration problem to t he toyota motor company the next day and they sent a 3rd party engineering analysis to examine my car. The investigator spent 4-5 hours examining my car and couldn't elaborate his findings but has submitted the information he was able to retrieve, back to the toyota motor co. Apparently, my 2001 rav 4 is a first generation model/version and didn't have the elaborate detailed edr devices installed in them, however some other device/devices, could possibly be retrieved? The final report by toyota taken by the 3rd party field engineering analysis will take 3-4 weeks from this report I have posted. A police report was filed (please see the scanned info- for further investigation).

Filed Feb 22, 2019 · Body, Brakes · 111,219 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

My 2001 rav 4 rear ended a car in front of me, and it was due to a major unintended acceleration of the engine. I am an experienced driver with no prior accidents and my foot was not on the wrong pedal when I was slowing down - applying my brake pedal when I was approaching a bumper to bumper congested intersection (around 5pm). All of a sudden as I applied more pressure on my brake pedal de-accelerating from 20 MPH down to 10 then to 5 MPH to 2 MPH, my 2001 rav 4 engine suddenly accelerated (the engine started to race and the RPM was going crazy making a loud engine sound) I was only 10-15 feet from the car in front, and the immediate acceleration of the engine (it sounded like it was rev ving around 80 MPH in less then 2-3 seconds) suddenly shot my car forward (like a rocket)! The engine had full possession of my acceleration. I immediately applied more pressure to the brake pedal but the force of the intense unexplained acceleration wouldn't allow me to completely stop my car! My rav 4 rear ended the back of the car in front of me, and the engine was still racing, pushing the car in front of me,when it finally stopped it's own acceleration and I had time to turn off the motor. The engine had full acceleration possession of my rav 4! I signed and sent back a toyota consent form they sent me to examine the edr and other recording devices to further investigate, explain what the hell went wrong with the ecu or whatever computer system is in the rav 4. I trust toyota will pay for the damage that my rav 4 did to the other car as well as mine. This could have been worse and could have caused a death and/or massive injury to others and myself as well as major property damage. I want full reimbursement of my original full purchase price I had paid for this 2001 rav 4 I had bought back in 2001-2002 for this defective rav 4.

Filed Aug 21, 2014 · Brakes, Transmission · 177,882 miles · TX

Vehicle accelerated by itself while driving at 45mph. I had to use both brakes to stop the car and experienced a harsh shift condition while trying to shift to park. Dealership checked it out and stated that the ECM has been reprogrammed in 2007 and they were unable to duplicate anything at this time because no warning light came on during the incident even though I reminded them about the class action lawsuit for 2001-2003 model year rav4s.

Filed Nov 9, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 95,000 miles · MO

Just purchased this vehicle in september of 2013 with only 95,000 miles. Two days after purchase, the check engine light came on. Dealer said it was the catalytic converter. So it was replaced at a cost of over $600. Then two days later, the check engine light came back on. Dealer said it was the o2 sensor, that bill was nearly $350. Now for the icing on the cake. Four days after that repair, I was pulling out of my driveway to go to work and the vehicle did not want to shift in to gear, lunged forward and I nearly ran over some children at a bus stop! The dealer said the issue is with the ECM and possibly the transmission. The ECM was replaced at nearly $1100 and the problem still exists! Dealer said next step is to replace transmission. That cost is $5700 and I can't afford it. There are so many complaints about this vehicle for similar problems. Why can't the government mandate that toyota has to stand behind this problem? Children were nearly ran over because of this problem and toyota will not do a [xxx] thing about it. Very sad. *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 1, 2011 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 130,000 miles · CA · crash

Toyota rav4 2001 sudden acceleration, and throttle surge... No way to stop car with brake pedal.

Filed Nov 21, 2009 · Transmission · 108,000 miles · KY

Going at below 40mph car on the expressway in rush hour traffic to take my son to school my 2001 toyota rav4 began to jerk repeatedly under acceleration. This was extremely frightening as I felt the car would lunge forward out of my control and hit the cars in front of me! It would stop if over 40 could be maintained. A few days prior I experienced this 2 single jerks while driving through a parking lot. The car was taken in to a nearby dealer for diagnosis. I am being told that I need to replace the car's computer and may possibly need to replace the transmission. Toyota has issued a service bulletin on this some years ago but I was never notified. The jerking represents a very serious safety and consumer liability and there should be some recourse for prevention.

Filed Feb 19, 2003 · Acceleration, Brakes · MN

Brakes were applied vehicle suddenly accelerated.*jb,...

Filed Jul 13, 2002 · Acceleration · NY · crash

Our rav4 2001 accelerated on its own after we came to a stop and resulted in us crashing head on into a brick building without the airbags opening causing tremendeous amount of damage to the building both autos on each side and of course our car. Two days before, it accelerated again after we came to a complete stop waiting in line for gas just missing us crashing into a truck.

Filed Aug 24, 2001 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash

While coming to complete stop by pressing ABS brakes, vehicle suddenly accelerated and hit a stonewall. Dealer has been contacted.please provide further details. Consumer has taken photographs of vehicle/ wall and ground, showing no tire marks.