2025 Toyota RAV4: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash

On August 28, 2026 at about 8:00 AM, while maneuvering into a parking space at under 5 mph, my vehicle suddenly accelerated and I was unable to stop it before it struck a tree. Adaptive cruise control was off; lane keeping assistance was on, as it normally is. I attempted to brake, but the vehicle did not stop, and automatic emergency braking did not engage before impact. I do not recall any warning lamps or symptoms beforehand. A neighbor witnessed the incident. The vehicle is available for inspection. Toyota inspected the vehicle on September 5, 2026. Its letter states that the EDR readout showed accelerator pedal pressure and no brake pedal application before impact, and that it found no defect. These findings do not match my recollection, and I have asked Toyota in writing to verify them. Toyota’s letter also lists the wrong incident date (August 5, 2026), so I have requested the complete EDR report and confirmation of which stored event was read. I will update this report when I receive it. My spouse experienced a similar sudden acceleration symptom in the same vehicle on May 19, 2026, with no collision. It was not reported at the time.

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA · crash · 1 injury

was parking car in parking space when applying brakes the car revved up and lunged forward hitting a curb and with foot more firmly pressing brake pedal the car revved up more lunged forward with enough force to jump the curb and ran into a dirt embankment stopping the car. There were no warning lights, messages or other symptoms of a problem. The vehicle has not been inspected but am working on getting it inspected by a investigator. The investigation has only begun so have no information on what or why this happened.

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Acceleration · 21,000 miles · TX · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 2-3 MPH in a parking garage, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and crashed into a cement pillar. The vehicle had lunged forward previously. There was smoke or steam coming from the vehicle after the crash. The vehicle was driven in hybrid mode out of the parking garage and was eventually towed to the local dealer. The contact was sore, and medical attention was provided by a doctor. The Toyota manufacturer brand engagement center was contacted by phone and opened a case. The insurance company was contacted, and the adjuster was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · MA

Driving my one owner 2025 Rav 4 Hybrid- pulling into a parking spot while gently pressing on the brake to slow car. Car was slowing then suddenly accelerated while brake pedal still being pressed, lunged forward and hit a wall in front of the parking space. No warning lamps/alarms went off and drivers seat belt did not engage. Called dealership to report incident.

Filed Jul 2, 2026 · Acceleration · CA

Sudden self-acceleration by new RAV4 hybrid with less than 1000 miles on it. I made a hard left at low speed onto an uphill residential street. Saw a car backing down the street 1/2 block ahead so I took my foot off accelerator to slow down. Instead, car self-accelerated while my foot was not pressing any pedal, and shot uphill and over a speed bump, throwing the car off course toward parked cars. I stepped hard on brake, and assisted braking probably also kicked in. Car slammed to a stop. No damage or injuries. I took the car to Toyota dealer service immediately to report and address self-acceleration. Was told Vehicle Control History confirmed an event but not its nature or cause; didn’t find problem. Dealer claimed they reported incident to Toyota national center as UA (Unintended Acceleration), as we requested. Returned the car to me without repair or further diagnostic steps. There was never any follow up by Toyota, local or national. One year later, a similar self-acceleration by this car after a hard left turn at low speed caused life-threatening event and damage. I was told then that Toyota corporate had no record of first UA incident. The 2nd incident is reported separately on this site. I have now realized it’s important to report each incident.

Filed Jun 6, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA

2 incidents of Sudden Unintended Acceleration. No warning lights etc in either. Car damaged but available for inspection. Now encountering difficulties initating Toyota investigation. 1st incident (4/18/25; mileage 967) occurred after a hard left turn. After turn onto uphill street, I took my foot from accelerator to slow and maintain distance from a car backing down hill ahead. Instead, car self-accelerated and shot uphill, over speed bump with increasing speed. Did not respond to braking until it was close to hitting a parked car. Stopped with a slam; probably brake assistance engaged. No damage or injury, but I was shaken. Took car immediately to Toyota dealer to inspect. Was told RoB confirmed an event but not its nature or cause; identified nothing wrong. They hypothesized cruise control might have been triggered accidentally (no evidence, not plausible). Claimed they submitted report to Toyota national center. After 2nd incident, Toyota national said they had no record of 1st event. Their standard safety inspection protocols were not followed. Returned car to me without repair or follow up. 2nd incident ensued. 2nd self-acceleration event (2026) also occurred after hard left turn to make U turn at low speed, braking while completing turn. When I took my foot off brake, before I could press it on accelerator, car shot diagonally across street. Jumped curb and traveled at considerable speed 100' up landscaped slope. Destroyed 6 large shrubs and 3 trees 9' tall. Did not stop despite constant driver braking. Forward collision prevention system did not engage to prevent uprooting trees. Car stopped only after I turned steering wheel sharply to left to avoid hitting a full-size tree trunk. Then car responded to braking, acceleration ended, car stopped next to tree without impact. Terrifying life-threatening event but only damaged landscape and car. Police came, assessed incident, determined not a police matter, did not file police report.

Filed May 12, 2026 · Acceleration · PR · crash

COMPONENT: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) / accelerator pedal. Vehicle is available for inspection at Autocentro Toyota, San Juan, PR, where it has been retained since 2/28/2026. INCIDENT: On 2/28/2026 at 7:45 AM, while entering a private driveway at under 5 MPH to park, my 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE (VIN [XXX] , 3,164 miles) suddenly and involuntarily accelerated without driver input. I categorically affirm I did NOT press the accelerator. The vehicle struck a metal gate, causing frontal damage. Airbags did not deploy. OEM floor mat was properly secured; no aftermarket parts installed. SAFETY RISK: Sudden unintended acceleration at low-speed parking maneuver. Had a pedestrian, child, or another vehicle been in the path, this would have caused serious injury or death. The defect is unpredictable and the driver cannot anticipate or override it. INSPECTION: Vehicle inspected 3/20/2026 by Engineering Analysis Associates (EAA), a firm contracted and paid by Toyota — NOT independent. EAA downloaded electronic data and concluded the accelerator was pressed 1 second before impact. I dispute this finding: I did not press the pedal. No independent inspection has been allowed. Full EAA report was never provided to me. On 4/23/2026, Toyota Motor North America (Ms. Delve L., Legal Claims Administrator) declined assistance based solely on EAA's data. WARNING SIGNS: UNKNOWN. No warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms appeared before the incident. The vehicle had functioned normally since purchase on 4/25/2025. ADDITIONAL: Vehicle retained by dealer 73+ days without repair or substitute vehicle. Consumer complaint filed with Puerto Rico DACO (Case XXX). Similar unintended acceleration incidents reported in 2024 RAV4 Hybrid and Prime models in the federal safety agency database. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 10, 2026 · Driver assistance, Transmission · VA · crash

2025 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4 door utility 2.5L 4 Cyl Gas A AWD unexpected sudden acceleration My safety as well as other vehicles and occupants as could have been at risk. National Transportation Safety Boaed has confirmed 57 cpmplaints of same issue. Vehicle determined total loss by insurance inspector, Va State Police. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms proir to the problem.

Filed Sep 17, 2025 · IL

Unintended/unwanted sudden acceleration - we are aware of this happening 5 times while I was driving, all times coasting to proceed into a turn. (I DO NOT DRIVE WITH 2 FEET). In each instance, while coasting my right foot covered (above) the brake pedal. BOTH feet were off the gas and brake pedal. Tachometer suddenly and rapidly spiked and car appeared/sounded like it would surge forward. In hopes of avoiding this sudden surge forward, I quickly put car in neutral and applied brake. Car slows and tachometer returns to normal. Brought to dealer, they stated from black box inspection that I was applying brake and gas simultaneously. THIS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME; as I demonstrated to folks at dealer I physically cannot do this without causing the arthritic pain in my ankle/foot to rise to a very noticeable level. The pain would be prolonged while doing what they claimed I was doing. I vehemently deny their explanation for these occurrences. No accidents occurred, nobody was injured (in these incidents). Obviously those in my car and others near my vehicle on the road should this happen again could be injured. No warning lights, messages etc were displayed. Sporadic occurrences. Purchased vehicle July 11,2025, first occurrence (I noticed) at July 31, 2025. Dealer stated their case is closed on this as of 9/04/25. Today 9/17/25 another occurrence happened. Car is available for inspection upon request.

Filed Apr 24, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · TX

I have owned this new vehicle for only approximately 2 months and have had at least 4 instances where the vehicle does not respond immediately to my foot on the accelerator when attempting to restart from a stop. Three times I was at a stop light and when I attempted to go as the light turned green there was no acceleration response from the gas pedal for a couple of seconds, and in two of the instances because I had my foot pressed far on the gas attempting to get power, there was a sudden acceleration and lurch forward. Most recently, on the fourth occasion I was turning out into traffic from a parking lot after being at a standstill and got no response and instead rolled slowly out in front of an oncoming car until after a few seconds the accelerator finally responded and I could go. I believe this is a safety risk as it could happen when I was attempting a left turn in traffic, which would subject me and my passengers/children to an extreme risk of being hit. I took the car into the dealership after the first two instances and they were not able to reproduce the incidents and offered no help. There are no warning lamps or indicators that appear when this occurs. The first incident occurred about three weeks into my ownership of the vehicle.