2021 Toyota RAV4: lane keeping assist jerks the wheel

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Driver assistance · SC · crash

While changing lanes in my 2021 Toyota RAV4 with my turn signal activated, the Lane Departure Alert / Lane Tracing Assist system applied an unexpected steering input that pulled my vehicle directly into a Jersey barrier, resulting in physical contact with the barrier. I was intentionally and safely moving into the adjacent lane when the system intervened abruptly and steered my vehicle toward the barrier. My speed was approximately 55 - 60 mph. The weather was rainy off and on but not raining at the time. The road surface was damp. The lane markings were clear and no dashboard warnings appeared prior to the steering event. I had my blinker on and was actively changing lanes. The lane‑assist system should not have intervened during a deliberate lane change, yet it applied a strong steering correction that overpowered my input. I attempted to counter‑steer, but the system’s force caused my vehicle to strike the barrier. My vehicle made contact with the Jersey barrier, causing damage to the driver’s side of my vehicle. The unexpected steering input created a sudden loss of control and a dangerous situation that could have resulted in a more severe crash. I am aware of other 2021 RAV4 owners reporting similar unintended steering behavior with lane‑assist systems, including steering toward barriers or roadside objects. This appears to be a recurring safety defect involving the vehicle’s lane‑keeping functionality. A lane‑assist system overriding a driver‑initiated lane change, especially with the turn signal activated, and steering the vehicle into a fixed object presents a serious risk of injury or death.

Filed Nov 22, 2025 · Airbags, Driver assistance · GA · crash

I was involved in an accident on the interstate traveling at about 80 mph and I hit a guard rail. I swerved, and then the lane assistance kicked in and made me lose control of the car completely, which is how I slammed into the guard rail. In that process, none of the airbags deployed and I had a passenger in the car.

Filed May 19, 2022 · Driver assistance · OH

I have reported this issue to Brunswick Toyota Service Advisors twice. The lane keep assist will pull and yank all over the lane. This is an SUV and it is a very scary experience feeling a taller vehicle make quick adjustments and almost feel as if the steering wheel is going to be yanked out of your hands. This will happen at all speeds cruise control and lane keep are active.Both times the Service Advisors advised me that I should just turn it off because that is what most people do. I did not buy a car with this feature to turn it off. The 2nd time I was advised I would be contacted by someone to schedule an appointment to have it looked at, no one ever contacted me. There are multiple reports of other people experiencing the same sharp adjustments and unable to keep in it's lane and this needs to be investigated. Thank you.

Filed Feb 16, 2022 · Electrical · GA · crash · 1 injury

Lane keeping assistance over corrected and caused an accident that resulted in total loss of my vehicle. My tire crossed white line , I was trying to gradually adjust to keep from over correcting. The lane keeping assistance caused the steering to pull in the opposite direction and would not allow me to correct. The more I tried to get back in the lane the harder the lane assistance pulled in the oppposite direction. It ultimatley jerked the steeing wheel in the opposite direction a caused me to hit a tree head on.

Filed Nov 14, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · CO

We bought our new 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid on Sept. 1, 2021, but didn't drive it on a highway until Oct. 4, 2021. On that day, I was driving on Interstate Hwy 70. I entered that highway near Copper Mountain, CO and was driving east to return to Denver. It is a big highway with wide, well marked lanes. I set my cruise control speed to 63 mph. Almost immediately, I noticed that the Lane Centering steering adjustment system seemed to be taking the car from close to the left lane line to close to the right lane line, and back and forth. A couple of times, it even drifted to or over the lane line and triggered the Land Departure Alert alarm. At first, I tried to overcome the automated Lane Centering adjustment by manually steering against it, but the swaying back and forth across the lane became increasingly wide and violent. I was unable to control it. It was terrifying. For a moment, I was sure that I would crash. I don’t know if I hit the brake pedal, but I did quickly press the CANCEL button on the cruise control, and that ended the swaying back and forth. The whole experience lasted probably less than one minute, and at no time did I notice any alarms or warning signals. I took the car to my dealership and asked them to check the functioning and settings of the cruise control and lane tracing assist functions. They told me that my settings were normal and that everything was working properly. I informed Toyota customer service about the problem and told them of my near crash. They consulted with my dealership's service department and repeated that everything was working properly. Neither the dealer nor Toyota customer service offered any explanation of reasons for my near crash. I have continued to drive the car, but I have tried to disable all the "safety" features that allow the car to take control of my steering. I am afraid to try to reproduce the problem myself, and I am quite sure that my dealer did not attempt to do that either.

Filed Aug 11, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · FL · crash

While using Cruse control. It did not slow the vehicle. I could not turn it off. The brakes would not work. I ran thru an intersection against the light. Bounced over the median. I turned off the ignition, still coasted about 1/2 mile. Finally I jammed the gear shift lever into Park. Toyota has the vehicle for inspection and reading of the black box. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS OF THE FAILURE. WARNING MESSAGES DID DISPLAY DURING THE FAILURE, WHICH WERE "CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE", "BRAKE FAILURE", AND "LANE DEPARTURE".

Filed Mar 5, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 2,000 miles · CA

Vehicle battery completely dead after only 3 days of not being driven. Vehicle would not start and could not be jump started. Vehicle is only 2 months old. Wireless charging does not charge consistently. Intermittent connection only and gets very hot. Usb phone connection randomly disconnects and reconnects. Occasionally the voice command prompt on center control is activated and stays connected when connecting a phone through USB and cannot exit to see information display. Remote start from fob will not work. Lane departure system too sensitive and takes over steering of car causing countersteering from driver control.

Filed Feb 26, 2021 · Driver assistance, Steering · 1,000 miles · OK

This vehicle has intermittent operation of its lane keep assistance. One activated, it regularly will do the opposite of keeping your lane. It has run me off the road and also into the lane of oncoming traffic. I have reported to the dealer but they couldn't replicate it. I have escalated to the dealer as this happens very frequently and is in safe. Upon activation of the lta, it turns the steering wheel approx 15- 20 degrees and immediately takes you out of the lane. The lane departure system kicks in and then tries to bring you back and this goes on and on with clearly marked lanes. If I didn't apply quite a bit of force to prevent the departure I could have well been an incident. The vehicle was in motion, going down a well marked interstate highway, night and day time, no rain or snow/ice. The vehicle recognized the lane departure (beeps) but it was the vehicles system that drove the car out of the lane (with my hands on the wheel of course). A video can be shared upon request.