2007 Toyota RAV4: jerking or lurching

Filed Apr 29, 2019 · 105,000 miles · IL

The lh sunvisor does not stay up. It continues to flip down midway blocking the driving view and at a position to hit the forehead if a jerk is there. I believe this issue has been been reported by multiple rav4 owners with no known action from toyota

Filed Nov 10, 2018 · Acceleration, Brakes · 173,000 miles · OH · crash

I have owned a 2007 toyota rav 4 for 10 years. I was leaving a delaware, ohio, hospital parking lot, backing out slowly, my foot on the brake, while turning the wheel to the left. Suddenly the engine roared and I shot backward, smashing into the car parked behind where my car had been. The car I hit was somewhat damaged in the rear driver's side fender. The impact shoved it out of its space and almost into a small truck to the right. My car's rear windshield shattered and the right back bumper and side were crumpled. This was the second time this happened to me. The first time, I again was backing from a tight spot, this time turning the wheel to the right, when the engine roared and the car lurched backward. That time, I hit nothing. It happened another time when my husband was backing, again from a tight spot while turning the wheel. Back at the hospital lot. I informed the front desk employee, who informed the ohiohealth hospital police. Two officers reported, took my information and began searching for the other car's owner. I also called the city police; an officer came but left after conferring with ohiohealth's police. I then took the car directly to my local insurance agent, who connected me with a claims adjuster. At first I theorized that my foot on the brake must have pivoted slightly as I turned in my seat to ensure I could back safely. My foot must have pressed the gas pedal. Pressed with considerable power, given the car's backward leap. Nov. 8 I tested this theory on my driveway, and saw immediately it was impossible. I would have had to lift my foot from the brake deliberately to press the gas firmly. This car's regular maintenance has been done at the local toyota dealer. My car was not among those recalled for sudden acceleration problems, but I believe it should have been. The car is registered in my husband's name, (xxxxx). 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).

Filed Nov 16, 2016 · Transmission · 180,000 miles · NC

Transmission slips or jerks after vehicle slows down and speeds up. This is unsafe in traffic due to vehicles following behind and stops which could cause a rear end collision due to hesitation when vehicle should be excelerated but it slows then jerks back which can be felt when driving. Even felt during excelaration in normal driving conditions. This happens during pressing down on gas petal when the transmission gears should change smoother, it slips or jerks into place, then slows back down again after acceleration.

Filed Nov 1, 2016 · Steering, Transmission · 141,000 miles · MO

When I back up on any kind of an incline, the car jerks and the steering wheel shakes. It feels like I have "hit" something it jerks so badly. If I let off the gas pedal, it stops the jerking but the minute I press the gas pedal again, it jerks again and makes a terrible noise. I can still back up but it feels like the underside of my car is falling out. It's been going on since I purchased it used 2 years ago. I kept thinking it was me until I googled it today and saw several other people have the same issue. I feel it's unsafe and toyota needs to take care of it. My vehicle already qualified for the oil consumption issue and was repaired earlier this year. Needs to be a national recall and fixed properly.

Filed Mar 30, 2015 · Suspension · 51,000 miles · WI

March 27, 2015 at 2:40 pm. Sunny, 38, clear road conditions. Exiting off us 43 and south onto us 41 at approx. 40 to 45 MPH. The car suddenly jerked to left, then swerved to the right. I took my foot off the gas but did not brake. Steering was difficult but not impossible. The car felt(althoughi am not sure) as though it went up on two wheels each time it swerved to the left or right. The car came to a stop and I was able to move it to the far side of the highway. I looked beneath the car and saw an approximately 10 inch rod with the sticker that said "recall safety". I took a photograph of the broken part, called a tow truck and the toyota dealership. I believe if I had been going 65 miles per hour I would have been unable to have any control and may have rolled over injuring, or worse myself and others.

Filed Aug 3, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 47,608 miles · TX

As I was driving home, the check engine, the trac and vsc lights all came on at the same time. I also heard a hissing noise when I pressed down on the brakes. I went to a mechanic to see what the problem might be, but it was late in the day and everyone was closing. He told me it sounded like a vacuum leak in the brake booster and to bring it back first thing monday (he seemed to think it'd be okay to drive over the weekend). On the drive home the brake light came on and there were a few times where I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop the car at all. It was quite scary! I was pressing the brake pedal as hard as I could and then it finally grabbed, the car jerked, and the seat belts tightened up around me. I worked today (saturday) and the same thing happened to and from work, only now I am using the emergency brake to slow the car and I put it in park at stop lights. My next trip will be straight to a mechanic! It seems it is not common for brake boosters to fail and I am learning that other toyota rav4 owners have had the same problem, several ending in accidents. This should definitely be addressed by toyota, as it is a huge safely issue, and possibly be cause for a recall.

Filed Feb 13, 2013 · Steering · 40,000 miles · MA

Sudden clunk noise and jerking motion in steering wheel.

Filed Dec 27, 2010 · Fuel system · OH · crash

On december 20, 2010, I was pulling my 2007 toyota rav 4 into a parking space at strip mall. I had pulled in and then backed up to pull in straighter. My foot was on the brake as I was changing from reverse to drive and I gave the car some gas to get me into the space. Suddenly, the engine revved as if the gas pedal was to the floor. The car lurched forward and crashed into the concrete base of a light pole. All this happened in the space of a few seconds and maybe 10 to 15 feet. After the car was stopped, I looked down to see if somehow I accidentally hit the gas but my foot was squarely on the brake. Friends and onlookers helped me until my husband arrived.luckily I was not injured but very shaken up. My husband took pictures from every angle plus a view of the floor area around the gas and brake pedal. The gas pedal did not get caught on the floor mat. I know this was a case of sudden acceleration, no doubt about it. After my husband finished talking to our insurance agent, we had the car towed to the toyota dealer which happened to be only several miles away. The incident was reported to the service advisor exactly as it happened. She indicated that they ( the dealer ) had no reports of sudden unintended acceleration. We asked the dealer to investigate as it was our contention that this was not driver error. On december 21, the dealer service advisor called us back to let us know that they could not do anything else to the vehicle as toyota experience would be conducting an investigation. We spoke to the toyota spokesman explaining what happened and he asked us what we would like toyota to do . We said we would like the car repaired and the acceleration module changed out at toyota's expense. He then explained that it might take up to 74 days for them to complete their investigation. We also explained to our insurance what we were doing. We feel toyota will drag this out to get us to use our insurance but we know what happened and we're sticking to our story.

Filed Oct 27, 2010 · Acceleration · FL

2007 toyota rav4. S10 appropriate handling- letter from regarding toyota problems *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle would lurch forward after hitting the brake. He stated when he started the vehicle it would rev up to 2,000 RPM. He tried to get it down below 2,000 RPM by hitting the accelerator pedal, but it had no effect.

Filed Mar 23, 2010 · Airbags, Transmission · 20,750 miles · NH

Toyota 2007 rav4 with 20,000 miles, since I purchased has had some issues with the acceleration lurching forwrd both while barely touching the gas pedal or turning corners, and going up a small hill or a large hill. Ive still got the warranty till may2010, they checked it out and couldnt find anything wrong. Hello toyota ! Now im reading about all these transmission problems that rav4 isnt disclosing to the public! The service knows about the problem so why wont they fix I ? Im on a disability and need safe reliable transportation. Where do I stand ? What do I do next? It may be the transmission or cps? Im sitting here with the proof that it was looked at . As I drove it home from school yesterday and turning a corner going on an incline it lurched forward , that isnt good for me or the car and they wont fix it it only happens once and awhile wwhat do I do ?

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Acceleration · 15,948 miles · WV

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. She stated that while driving up a hill at 35 MPH, the vehicle starting jerking and attempted to accelerate without intent. She then tapped her foot on the brake pedal and the vehicle started to decrease in speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test and the dealer could not duplicate the failure. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure has occurred three times. The failure mileage was 15948 and the current mileage was 37000.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Transmission · 43,000 miles · MA

On several occasions while driving my wife's 2007 toyota rav4, the motor revved momentarily while I was braking. The last instance was in the summer of 09 while driving through a campground at approximately 5 MPH. A person crossed the road in front of me and I applied the brake to let him pass. While driving through the campground, the motor revved (I am estimating it revved from idle to about 17-1800 RPM) and the vehicle lurched forward, startling the pedestrian crossing in front of me. Fortunately my foot was on the brake and I just applied the brake harder and no one was hurt. On several other occasions previous to these incidents, I experienced similar problems, and I had previously dismissed them thinking that perhaps I could have stepped on the brake and gas at the same time. I know this not to be the case in this latest instance because my wife and I were returning from the beach and I was barefoot, so I know did not step on both the gas and brake simultaneously. The gas pedal also did not stick. I was idling through the campground at the time without my foot on the gas at all.