2019 Toyota RAV4: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Sep 16, 2025 · Transmission · WI

I’m reporting a safety issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 that has recently started and is getting worse. The problem seems related to the start-stop system or something in the powertrain. When I come to a stop—at a stop sign, red light, or roundabout—the car doesn’t always respond normally when I try to start moving again. Sometimes there’s a hesitation, and other times it lurches forward unexpectedly when I lightly press the gas pedal, like you normally would. It feels like a jolt, almost like whiplash. It’s especially dangerous in roundabouts or tight traffic situations because I can’t predict how the car will respond. I’m worried I could accidentally hit another car, or get rear-ended myself because the car doesn’t move smoothly or reliably when restarting from a stop. Even when I turn off the start-stop system, the issue still happens. It feels like a hesitation followed by a sudden surge. The RPMs don’t change, but the car still lurches. Yesterday, for the first time, I noticed the car slightly accelerated on its own after stopping, which was very concerning. I found out through Toyota’s official website that there is a technical service bulletin about this issue that came out before we owned the vehicle. But because it’s not a full recall, the dealership said they wouldn’t fix it unless we paid the $80 diagnostic fee. We’re now just out of warranty. We’re making $580 monthly payments on a car that I don’t currently feel is safe to drive. There are no warning lights or messages on the dash. I’ll be taking it to Le Mieux Toyota in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in two weeks to have it inspected, but I wanted to report this because I believe it’s a safety issue that should be looked into. I have two small kids and I’m genuinely worried about getting into an accident, especially when merging onto highways or driving in busy intersections. I’ve seen people say this system can be recalibrated, but the fact that this is happening without any dashboard warning and is worse.

Filed Dec 23, 2024 · Acceleration · 70,000 miles · MA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to approximately 45 MPH unintendedly. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the brake pedal, and the accelerator pedal felt stuck, causing the front of the vehicle to crash into a building. There was no property damage. There was no warning light illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact was able to exit the vehicle. The contact sustained bruising and a fractured rim on the right hand. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where the contact underwent surgery. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the police report information available. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled by the insurance company. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would have the vehicle inspected. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Apr 4, 2024 · Acceleration · 36,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon accelerating from a stop, the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was uncontrollable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact that there were no open recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

Filed Sep 18, 2023 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MI

Unintended acceleration.

Filed May 22, 2023 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA · crash

Sudden Unintended Acceleration....ONCE AGAIN! I was pulling into a parking stall of a shopping center at about 2-3 mph. I started to apply the brakes. Simultaneously, the car lurched forward hitting a retention pole. In an attempt to stop the car from going any further, I continued to press down on the brake pedal and shifted into reverse. The EDR shows that the gasoline engine reached 2200 rpms, while the hybrid electric motor reached 2300 rpms. The car performed a backward semi circle maneuver, eventually hitting a cement wall and coming to a stop. Even though there were two (2) impacts (one going forward and one going backward) no air bags were deployed. If there had been people in the area, they easily could have been killed. The damage to the car was extensive and the car was "totaled". The car manufacturer inspected the car and downloaded the Event Data Records. SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN'T BE REPRODUCED!! There were/are no error codes and all car manufacturers, including my automobile's, refuse to acknowledge the issue. At the very least, could the federal safety agency PLEASE REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS, ALBEIT INFREQUENT, DANGER?

Filed Dec 30, 2022 · CA · crash

As I was turning into a parking spot my car made a growling noise and suddenly lunged forward and accelerated at high speeds, hitting two cars and only stopping once the car hit a wall. I had no control of the car as it accelerated and the brakes did not work.

Filed Feb 18, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 10,349 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2019 toyota rav4. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle independently accelerated and lunged forward whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The contact also stated that the vehicle doors would lock randomly leaving him locked inside the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to browns toyota of glen burnie (7167 ritchie hwy, glen burnie, md 21061) where the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact then took the vehicle to koons annapolis toyota (1107 west st, annapolis, md 21401) to get a second diagnostic test performed. The contact was informed that the engine, the driver's seat, transmission, TCM, transfer clutch, and the brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,349.

Filed Aug 29, 2020 · Acceleration · 5,100 miles · FL · crash

I was pulling into my garage when my rav4 took off like a rocket and hit the concrete back wall.*dt the consumer has stated that the incident occurred once more when the consumer was at the tampa international airport in the cell phone parking lot. The vehicle suddenly accelerated and diagonally went ahead and collided with 2 other vehicles.

Filed Jun 2, 2020 · Acceleration, Suspension · 9,880 miles · NY

I received 2 speeding camera tickets due to sudden acceleration noticed time to time, front suspensions are not even and rough, transmission is not smooth when changing gears and/or stopping vehicle.

Filed Feb 10, 2020 · Acceleration, Transmission · 20 miles · IL

2019 rav 4 xle premium I purchased a year ago continues to lurch when suddenly accelerating from a rolling stop. An example is when pulling up to a red light and the light suddenly turns green, I'll take my foot of the brake and tap the gas and the car hesitates then accelerates. This motion jerks me and other passengers in our seats.