2017 Toyota RAV4: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Dec 1, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

While driving the vehicle on an uphill stretch of highway with cruise control set at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly slowed down without warning. A distinct clunk was heard at the same moment. The cruise control system attempted to restore speed, and the engine became noticeably louder, but the vehicle struggled to return to the set speed. The driver tapped the brake to disengage cruise control and manually pressed the accelerator to resume normal speed. The trip was completed without additional events. After parking, the check engine light illuminated and the cruise control system became disabled on all subsequent drives. No warning indicators were present at the time of the initial failure, and there were no vehicles ahead that would have triggered the collision-avoidance system. Two days later, the vehicle became an intermittent no-start and eventually failed to start entirely. The vehicle was towed to a dealership for inspection. Technicians confirmed an electrical malfunction and reported that the multiplex ECU was likely experiencing an internal short. A parasitic draw test showed an abnormally high current draw of approximately 113 mA, which disappeared when the dome-light fuse and later the multiplex ECU were disconnected. The failure is intermittent and appears to involve an internal electrical short within the multiplex ECU. The sudden loss of cruise control function, abrupt deceleration, and subsequent intermittent electrical behavior created a safety risk, as the electrical malfunction occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. The issue was confirmed by a dealership service department.

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Driver assistance · VA

My 2017 Toyota RAV4 XLE is experiencing unsafe behavior with the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). When driving around modest or slight turns, the ACC frequently loses tracking of the vehicle ahead and suddenly accelerates, then harshly brakes once it reacquires the vehicle. This creates a jerking motion and significantly reduces my confidence in the system. On one occasion while traveling approximately 45 miles per hour on a slight curve, the ACC began rapidly accelerating toward the vehicle in front of me as if no vehicle was there, forcing me to perform an emergency manual takeover and disengage the ACC to avoid a potential rear end collision. This issue is repeatable and appears to be related to how the ACC detects vehicles ahead while cornering. I am requesting that this behavior be investigated as a potential safety defect.

Filed Jun 2, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · KY

Vehicle surges when accelerating since it was new. Throttle goes dead where engine idles but now power at all. Does it from a standing start, does it on hills and when merging onto a freeway. Now it happens on cruise control, when set on 75 mph engine loses power and slows down to 45 for a few minutes then shutters and speeds back up to 75. This past month if you let the fuel get down to 1/4 of a tank it will happen all the time. On interstate this week it happened and slowed to 35 mph and wouldn't go any faster until more gas was added. No check engine light ever. Dealer has checked twice and says no codes found and can't get it to happen it's a intermittent problem. We almost got hit by a semi on the interstate this week week due to this happening and I was unable to get out of his way because I no throttle response at all.... But engine was idling that all. Had to turn the engine off for 45 minutes before it would have any throttle response at all. Drove down the emergency lane to the next exit and filled up with gas. Engine surged for next 60 miles home. This is a huge problem! I am going to my local Toyota dealer tomorrow to talk with them again about this problem. If they give me the run around again I am going to file a lawsuit against Toyota and the dealership!

Filed Nov 10, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 5,000 miles · UT

With rain and snow the sensor start beeping and warning of objects in front of the vehicle when there are nothing. Driving in snow gets the sensors blocked and you cant use the cruise control.

Filed Jun 15, 2018 · Brakes · 14,000 miles · CO

Front rotors caused the front end and steering wheel to vibrate terribly when driving the speed limit of 70 MPH when you just touch the brake peddle. The rav 4 2017 only has 14,900 miles. I brought rav 4 to dealer for normal 15,000 mile maintenance. I was told the rotor need to be resurfaced... For $180.00....called it "normal wear and tear" it appears that in colorado or mountain areas that rotor normally need to be resurfaced. The rava 4 front end shook violently almost lost control of steering the rava 4 at 70 MPH. Then dealer said oh that is normal, we have to resurface rotors of rav 4 (2017) in this area all the time. On may 16, 2018 I called 800‑331‑4331 toyota us head quarters and spoke to customer service rep. Case # 1805162014 and he said he would call the autonation toyota service manager on arapahoe in colorado and get back to me in a few days. Well on may 31, 2018 customer service from toyota called me after I spoke with on may 30, 2018 to andrea, explaining the situation. The offical response was oh that is just normal wear and tear for rav 4 2017 rotors...it is your cost if a recall is issued on the rotors you will be notified! The rest of the story, I took a trip from denver, co to phoenix, az may 3, 2018. I had approx 13,000 on the rav 4., which requires driving down hill from flagstaff, az ...approx. 120 miles. That mountain driving resulted in the rav 4 braking to cause the severe shake of the steering wheel and almost loosing control of rav 4 at 70 MPH. The cruise control slows the car down as you approach other slower vehicles and if you just touch the brake peddle the rav 4 wants to shake the rav 4 apart! You loose total contol of rav 4 if leave foot on brake peddle.. Toyota says that is just normal wear and tear ... Well at speed limit on inter state ..these rotors can cause to high speed accident!!!

Filed Mar 11, 2018 · Electrical · 10,685 miles · MA

While driving on a major highway at 65 MPH. The engine shut off and all screens and gauges shut off for about 3 to 5 seconds then the car restarted on its own and began to accelerate quickly so I had to use the brakes to slow the car down. This event happened three times that day all on the highway and with the cruise control on.I called the toyota dealer to have the car checked out the car was checked out no issues found. A few weeks later I got the oil changed at the dealer and after I left the dealership the roads were icy so I was driving around 25 MPH when the engine stopped running and the dash went out for about 3 to 5 seconds and then the car started running again this happened again a few minutes later the cruise control was not on at this time. I called the dealer and an appointment was made to check the car again I also opened a claim with toyota for this issue. The car was evaluated again still no issue could be found. The response from toyota was no issue was found with the car and no further action would be taken by toyota because nothing was found on the data recorder. This car is on a toyota lease and I do not feel comfortable driving it and I will not let my wife drive this car my feeling is that someone could get hurt or worse and I do not want to see that happen. I have read that other ravs are having the same issue.

Filed Dec 6, 2017 · Acceleration, Body · 9,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 toyota rav4. While driving various speeds, the brakes activated automatically without warning, which caused the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (prime toyota rt 2, 700 old union turnpike, lancaster, ma 01523), but could not be diagnosed. The dealer stated that there was no failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also stated that the failure recurred several other times. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000. *tt the consumer stated the radar cruise control malfunctioned. *js the consumer stated the climate control adjustment knobs jammed.*js updated 9/18/18*jb *js *tr *js *tr

Filed Dec 28, 2016 · Acceleration · 2,000 miles · OH

While driving on cruise control at the posted speed limit of 65 MPH, my rav 4 came to an abrupt dead stop with no warning. There was not a car in front of mine, but a car was stopped in a median to my left facing the opposite direction of my car. I could only assume that my rav 4 apparently sensed that car when it came to a sudden dead stop. I had no idea what was happening to my car and thought the engine had shut off. A passenger with me, who is a witness to this event, is an owner of a rav 4 se without the safety sense/pre-collision system. We were shook up by this because had there been a car or semi truck trailer behind us, we could have been seriously injured or even killed. I reported this incident to the dealer, toyota of warren, where we purchased the new car, and after a day in service, they said the car was working fine with the sensors aligned correctly. I was to let them know if this situation occurred again, and it did. In another incident, again while using the cruise control and with no car in front of mine, a car in the passing lane went by me at approximately 80 MPH to my 65 MPH. My car came to a dead stop. Thank god there was not a car behind me at the time, or a serious accident could have occurred. After doing research on this safety problem that we experienced, we found a number of reports concerning this very situation happening with their rav 4's coming to sudden stops for no reason. These reports of this very problem were reported to toyota with no resolution. These owners also sold their cars at a loss because of safety issues. According to these reports, toyota does know that a problem exists, but is not being addressed.