2012 Toyota RAV4: jerking or lurching

Filed Mar 25, 2025 · Acceleration · CO

Over the last several years, I have experienced a minimum of four, possibly one or two more, incidents of this vehicle accelerating at a high rate while I have had my foot on the brake. In all of these cases, I was braking to come to a stop - braking quickly and hard in a couple cases. While braking and slowing, my engine revved/accelerated at a very high rate. In all of these incidents, I changed gears to neutral, and the acceleration stopped. These incidents were random and very far apart from one another in terms of time. In all cases, my foot was firmly (and only) on the brake pedal, and my floor mat was in the proper position and secure. There was nothing in contact with the acceleration pedal. On Monday, March 10, 2025, I got into my car in our garage to go to work. The car started normally. When I put my car into reverse, the engine started revving/accelerating at a very high rate and it was lurching, like it was trying to move. Luckily, my foot was firmly on the brake, and the brake held. I quickly put the car back into park, and the engine began revving/accelerating at an even higher rate. I then turned the car off. Again, I checked my floor mat, and it was in place and secured, my foot was only on the brake pedal, and there was nothing touching the acceleration pedal. This was a frightening experience, and at that point I decided that I would never drive this car again. If I did not have my brake firmly engaged, my car would have shot out of my garage when I put it in reverse. Upon researching the problem, my husband and I read about the unintended acceleration that many people have experienced with Toyotas, causing numerous deaths and injuries, and about the class action law suit with Toyota. Although the investigation seemed to chalk the incidents up to "user error" - foot being on the wrong pedal, floor mats affecting the acceleration pedal, etc. - I know with 100% confidence that none of these were the case. I will be notifying Toyota, as well.

Filed Feb 27, 2023 · Engine · FL

On Friday, 1/20, I got in my vehicle, turned it on and the engine maintenance light came on. First and only time in the few months I have owned it. While driving home in heavy traffic from work in Lutz, my RAV4 uncontrollably accelerated at a full stop lurching forward towards the vehicle in front of me. It did this 4 times on my drive home to Spring Hill nearly causing multiple potentially catastrophic accidents. I stayed in the far-right lane for the duration of my drive home with the exception of two left hand turns I had to make. Each time I came to a stop I kept further distance from the vehicle in front of me. I put it in neutral, pressed firmly on the brake, once at a full stop the engine was still revving up to 4-5,000 rpms. I steered the wheels to the right to avoid the vehicle in front of me in preparation that it would not stop accelerating. It was/is not a floor mat issue, those clip into place, it was not me accidentally pressing on the gas pedal. I have 30+ years of a good driving record and experience in all types of conditions. This is something seriously mechanically and electrically wrong. This put myself and any other vehicle or pedestrian around me at great risk of major collision or bodily injury. Since this is an intermittent problem, like the abundance of other complaints, neither my mechanic nor the Toyota dealership can reproduce it.

Filed Jan 3, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 77,113 miles · OH

My 2012 rav4 main evap canister went bad at only 77,113 miles. It almost costed me $1550 to get this part replaced, but thankfully was able to convince the dealership to get me a deal on the repair. There is no reason for this part to go bad so quickly. I do not top off my gas and I have had it in for routine maintenance at the dealership since it was purchased. To make the situation worse, when the check engine light comes on, the 4wd and traction control units turn off, making my car hard to control in the snow. I was told by tuffy this is a common thing and that was a previous recall for older vehicles. The code was on for a few weeks, didn't clear. I had it diagnosed at tuffy and the dealership, same diagnosis. I have also had a problem with the transmission jerking when I put the car into drive, even in warm weather, when it's the first drive of the day. This has been occurring since I purchased the vehicle with 40k on it.

Filed Dec 21, 2015 · Acceleration · 53,700 miles · NY

12/21/15 - my vehicle was stationary. I just finished refueling and started the car. I had my right foot on the brake, and switched from park to drive. My left foot stayed on the floor, to the left of the brake pedal. Without removing my right foot from the brake, the engine revved and the car lurched forward. I pressed extremely hard on the brake to keep the car from moving forward, and could hear and feel the engine and brake fighting each other. This lasted approximately 3 seconds and the engine returned to idle. The brake and accelerator pedals are not that close, it would be impossible to press both at the same time.

Filed Sep 17, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 19,000 miles · FL

This has happened about three times. When I am stopping the car with my foot on the brake the engine suddenly revs up and I have to really exert pressure on the brake to prevent the car from lurching ahead. After a few seconds of braking, the engine stops revving.

Filed Sep 15, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 19,637 miles · NH

While foot was one the brake and vehicle was stopped the engine accelerated by itself. The car lurched forward I slapped the shifter into neutral and shut the vehicle off.this has happened two other times since. I took the vehicle to the toyota dealer the last time this occurred 9/13/14 they put it on the computer and could not detect any faults.I googled this condition and found similar complaints online.note each time this has occurred prior to the acceleration the anti skid light has come on as I was applying the brake.

Filed Mar 20, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 32,212 miles · GA

Rough engine, car speed up without feet on pedal,slow braking I took the car into dealer the next day(3/19/2014) this am and they told me they have to duplicate what I had experienced. They stated they did not see anything on the computer data, but will test on next morning of 3/20/2014 to drive it.the complaints were that I was driving in a 70 mile zone and the car accelerated to 90 miles the car shifted out of d drive to 3d on it's own while driving and also rough engine while accelerating higher than the speed limit, and while braking,isaw very little stoppage.also same day near my home,I stopped at a stop sign,when taking off the car jerks forward to 22 miles.this was not the first time I had reported to them, was after I had the 2010 toyota rava4 about similar problems, they offered to buy it back the 2010 model in return for the 2012 toyota rav4 that I got in 2012.my maintenance is up to date also.it is scary when you experience a problem like this, thank god for no accident.update as of last night no communication on findings or repairs,I received a call while reporting this information to you(safer car), a rep [xxx],stated they cannot find anything wrong with car, they checked all data drove the car could not fine anything,I asked about engine and transmission, he stated that they checked the levels,data could not find anything, for me to could come pick the car up, I insist they do a more intensive look into this, the guy became aggressive, and stated he has to check with his manager to check again later today.tony meyers manager of gainesville toyota called stated could not duplicate what I was experiencing,stated he drove the car to the mall of georgia , he found a down shift when going down a hill,car was safe, and that the shift was a normal thing,and there is nothing else they could do and for me to come and pick up the car. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 20, 2013 · Acceleration · 15,000 miles · NH

The latest incident was the 8th time this has occurred since purchased new in sept. 2012. After highway driving approached a traffic light and when brake applied car revved up and lurched forward. Since nothing stops this except turning off ignition this was done again and car restarted and no further incident. Contacted dealership and after having car there for 2 days was told no replication could be made. I contacted the toyota office in california and after more delays have not been given a rental. Car is still at dealership and the service manager said he is doing nothing until he hears from california that may approve super tech to look at car. Very dissatisfied with toyota dangerous situation and they are in deny mode until someone is seriously hurt or killed. Will never buy another toyota after this poor run around service on both coasts.

Filed Mar 14, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 7,600 miles · PA

2012 rav4, second incident, 1st was dismissed. Was driving approx 20 MPH in a 35mph business district on 4 lane street. Pressed brake with right foot to decelerate for stop light & car in front of me, car suddenly surged forward with engine revving. I depressed brake further with more strength and took left foot and place on top of right foot. Had the feeling the accelerator pedal was moving as well but wasn't touching it. Car continued to jerk forward, engine revving, with brakes partially engaged for approx. 20 feet. Then engine shut off completely and brakes fully engaged stopping the car. Was inches from car in front. Restarted car and finished drive home. Checked car mats but still in place on brackets. Had car towed to toyota dealership. They found no unintended acceleration but did find that both brake and accelerator pedals had been depressed. Suggested I must have stepped on both accidentally. Not a chance. Was well aware of foot/feet placement. Service mgr showed me what to do "should this happen again." excuse me?! Told to shift into neutral for brakes to engage or another gear to stall the engine and stop the car. 1 wk later, regional inspector spent day w/car and reported nothing wrong. Did show both pedals depressed at same time long enough to trip sensor but nothing was wrong. Dealer suggested I report to toyota. Reported incident to toyota customer experience center. Not happy. 2 incidents, other reports online, and it's a 2012 that wasn't supposed to do this. Feel lucky I didn't rear end someone, especially as the car didn't slow very much until it died. Scared silly for next time. Do not want my rav. Am being told car is perfectly safe but no one at dealership would sign statement saying I was safe and this wouldn't happen again. Hmmm. Want them to take car back! Purchased new in oct. 2012 w/less than 10 miles on it.