On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], in Greenwich CT, while I was very slowly driving into a parking space, the engine suddenly and unexpectedly surged,. The vehicle overcame the brakes and raced forward and collided with a stone wall, about 3 ft away. This was a new (since May 2025) vehicle with only approx 3,500 miles on it. I had not had any previous problems with it and there were no warning lights on the instrument panel. At the time, I was proceeding at a very low rate of speed, 1 - 3 mph. I drive only with my right foot which was on the brake, not on the gas. The vehicle accelerated with NO action on my part and collided with a stone wall approx 3 ft away and bounced back several feet. Fortunately I was close to the wall so the vehicle did not have a long distance to accelerate and I was wearing my seat belt which probably protected me from injury. No other vehicle was involved. I was the sole occupant of the vehicle. I was wearing my seat-belt, the OEM rubber mats were securely in place. The airbags did not deploy and I was not injured. I had the car towed to the Toyota dealership by AAA because I was afraid it might accelerate into traffic at a red light or stop sign if I drove it before the problem was repaired. I have reported this incident to Toyota Motor Corporation USA, through their Brand Engagement Center (as instructed by the dealership) and they are sending out an engineer to the dealership to inspect the vehicle. I do not know which part malfunctioned or failed. The vehicle is at a Toyota dealership and presumably could be inspected (unless they replace some parts). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2025 Toyota RAV4 engine complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 14 of 14, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Formal Complaint to Toyota Motor Corporation (Manufacturing) Regarding: Serious Manufacturing Defect and Failure of New Vehicle Safety Customer: [XXX] Customer Contact: Phone – [XXX] | Email – [XXX] Vehicle Purchased: (New/Recently Purchased Toyota Model) Date of Purchase: [XXX] Selling Dealership: Round Rock Toyota Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (Last 4 Digits): [XXX] ________________________________________ I. Overview of Complaint: Critical Safety Defect I am filing this formal complaint directly with Toyota Motor Corporation regarding a vehicle that, due to an apparent critical manufacturing defect, failed dangerously and repeatedly within days of purchase. This failure represents a lapse in Toyota's quality control and a serious threat to consumer safety. The vehicle, purchased new or recently, on [XXX], exhibited critical operational defects less than three days after leaving the dealership. This vehicle is demonstrably defective and unsafe, having compromised my life during a near-fatal failure on a major interstate. As the manufacturer, Toyota is ultimately responsible for the quality and safety of the product delivered to consumers. II. Factual Timeline of Critical Defects and Safety Incidents The vehicle exhibited multiple critical failures less than 77 miles and three days after purchase, severely compromising my safety and confidence in the quality of the Toyota product: •Immediate Operational Failures: The vehicle began experiencing multiple mechanical failures shortly after purchase. •Near-Fatal Highway Stall: The most severe incident involved the vehicle suddenly failing and stalling while traveling on a major interstate. This catastrophic failure is indicative of a serious underlying manufacturing or component defect and severely endangered my life and the lives of others. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While waiting in a drive-thru with “hold” feature enabled, car vibrated abnormally and shut off by itself. When I attempted to restart the vehicle, I received an error message “Engine Stopped. Steering Power Low” and another screen also appeared that said, “Not Ready to Drive. Press Brake and Push Engine Start Switch.” I followed those instructions several times and the car wouldn’t start. Eventually had to put in neutral to get out of drive-thru. Once out of drive-thru, I once again attempted to restart the car, but this time it worked. Should mention it was raining pretty heavily outside when this happened.
Check engine light came on as well as hybrid malfunction message. While on the highway could not accel or go past 60 mph, gas pedal would then not work and speed went down, I pulled car over to breakdown lane and car abruptly stopped and would not move. Many warnings flashed and car needed to be towed. Temperature rose and ignition messages came up, steering wheel locked and car was not drivable.
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