2018 Toyota RAV4: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Sep 5, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · 134,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon entering her carport in an attempt to park(P), the vehicle surged forward without warning. The vehicle blew through the carport's back wall and crashed into her neighbor's fence before coming to an independent stop. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact did not seek medical attention but did sustain soreness in her neck, shoulders, and back. The carport's back wall, a bicycle, the neighbor's fence, and the hammock were all destroyed as a result of the accident. A police report was filed. The dealer was notified of the failure and immediately referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer informed the contact that an engineer could be sent to a nearby dealer or independent mechanic to perform an investigation into the defect. The vehicle had yet to be serviced or diagnosed for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000

Filed Nov 2, 2023 · Acceleration, Electrical · WI

Approximately mid May 2023, 5:15 PM +/_, while stopped at a red light while leaving the work parking structure, the engine revved up and wanted to move forward. Forcing the driver to apply heavy pressure on the brakes to avoid being forced into the intersection. An opening presented itself, the brakes were released and the car entered the intersection. Once moving forward the "unintended acceleration" stopped and the car performed as normal.There were no check engine, need service lights or indicators on the dash. With none of the above present we didn't expect a dealership to take our word of the incident. Then, on Oct 19th, app 5:30 PM the unintended acceleration happened again. While in town driving and stopped at a red light the engine revved up and the unintended acceleration was trying to force the car forward. Excessive pressure was needed on the brakes to hold the car in place and the transmission was put into park. Once in park the revving stopped. With a foot on the brake the car was put into drive and it performed normally. The driver was upset with a high level of anxiety of not knowing if or when it could happen again. The potential of hitting a pedestrian, another vehicle or being T-boned was very high in both incidents. An appointment was made at the dealership t next day and couldn't get it in until 10-31-23, 7:20 PM. Before taking it to the dealership we tried to replicate the unintended acceleration. After 8 miles and 30 minutes we were not successful. The dealership could not reproduce the event but acknowledged with documentation that this is a known problem. I am in possession of a Toyota Dealer UA Process Flow chart specific to these events. After the dealer went into the vehicle history they are saying there is nothing wrong with the car and the cause is driver error. The dealer can not give me a specific date of the event they claim was driver error. We have driven the car for almost 4 years, majority driven by one person with no incident.

Filed Nov 18, 2021 · Brakes, Transmission · 18,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that upon exiting a parking lot, with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact was forced to engage the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Once the vehicle was stopped, the contact was able to resume normal driving. After the initial failure, the contact experienced the failure on two separate occasions. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle remained in possession of the dealer. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and informed her that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

Filed Aug 10, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · WA · crash

The first incident happened on June 9, 2021. I was turning right very slowly into a parking spot at a grocery store when the car suddenly accelerated rapidly, even when I depressed the brake very hard. My car hit a row of small trees that formed a border between the parking lot and the street. The impact was so hard that there was over $5,000 in damage to the front of the car. I was in shock as it felt like the car was out of control. The second incident July 27, 2021. Again, I was turning right to reach the exit of a parking garage at a medical clinic. I was going very slow because I was approaching the ticket booth to exit the parking garage. Just as I completed the turn, the car accelerated and lurched forward toward the arm that keeps cars from exiting. I was able to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake hard, and I did not hit the arm at the exit point. Again, it was shocking and very frightening for this to happen.

Filed Jul 8, 2020 · Acceleration, Body · 15,000 miles · NC · crash

On 7/3/20 at about 3 pm edt I was preparing to turn left and exit my neighborhood. I was stopped. I pressed on the accelerator and the vehicle suddenly accelerated straight ahead at a high rate of speed. I was unable to stop the vehicle. I travelled about 100 to 150 feet, climbed an enbankment and landed in a small wooded ravine. I was attempting to exit my neighborhood onto a paved road.

Filed Jun 14, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · 47,800 miles · ME · crash

Pulled into driveway and had foot on break. Going very slow to park . Went to put car into park and car lunged forward and hit garage. Backed up and car went very fast so had to move forward again out of road. Put car into drive and cat surged forward and out of control. Able to avoid garage but car went beside garage, and into slight drop off. I was able to stop car by flooring break and putting into park. Called police they made report, called roadside service and towed to downeast toyota in brewer maine. It's now going to have information pulled and researched to determine what happened. No pictures. A lot of damage to front and maybe underneath. Car went over a cement block.