2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Vehicle Speed Control Problems

"I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE DRIVER'S CONTRIBUTION TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (UA) AND TOYOTA'S ACCELERATOR/BRAKE PEDAL DESIGNS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE. I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET OF MY COMMUNITY. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 30MPH AND IT ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND IT ACCELERATED. THE HARDER I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, THE FASTER IT WENT. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE FOR A MOMENT AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP SO I PULLED THE CAR FROM THE STREET TO THE CURB COVERED BY GRASS. IT SLOWED DOWN TO SOME EXTENT AND THEN I INTENTIONALLY TO A TURN AND HIT THE MEDIAN CURB & TREE TO STOP THE CAR. I HAVE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND HAVE COLLECTED PARTIAL INFORMATION.... PLEASE FORMALLY INVESTIGATE."

Mileage: 113,835

OVER THE PAST 9-12 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THE 4RUNNER, I HAVE NOTICED THE FLOORMATS SLIDE UP BEHIND THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PEDAL WHEN I AM CONSTANTLY SWITCHING BETWEEN THE TWO (EG. HEAVY TRAFFIC, LONG TRIPS, ETC.). I USUALLY AM ABLE TO PULL THEM BACK DOWN AT A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN; HOWEVER, ON TUESDAY, JULY 29TH, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT THAT WAS NOT ONLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT WHILE ON A 200+ MILE TRIP AS WELL. I BELIEVE THAT THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED MY CAR TO HAVE LIMITED BRAKING ABILITY IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLE INCREASED ACCELERATION. THE NHTSA'S FINDINGS SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THIS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10384563 STATES THAT "I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE... BUT THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING" AND THEN "TOYOTA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE... AND SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE MAT" IS ONE OF MANY THAT HAVE FINDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THE MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED MY WRECK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED SEVERELY. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK TO CEASE THE ABNORMAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING THE VEHICLE IDLES AT DIFFERENT RPM'S CAUSING IT TO LUNGE FORWARD WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR SHUTS DOWN, INCREASING THE RPM'S. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FENDER BENDER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 43,257

THIS WAS THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO THE RED LINE UPON SHIFTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THIS OCCURRED WITH BOTH A COLD ENGINE AND A WARMED UP ENGINE. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT DEPRESS. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN NEUTRAL BROUGHT THE IDLE BACK TO A NORMAL LEVELS.

Mileage: 80,234

I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON 10-5-10 IN MY 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, 4WD. AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A BUSY STREET AT AN INTERSECTION WITH LIGHTS, I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AT THE STOP SIGN AS THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHED, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING INTO THE LANE AT THE INTERSECTION, AND I PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE. I PUSHED THE GEAR LEVER FORWARD AS THE ONCOMING CAR VEERED INTO THE NEXT LANE TO AVOID ME. CONTINUING TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE, I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, BUT THE ACCELERATION WAS STILL ACTIVE AND MY TIRES SQUEALED IN REVERSE, SO I SHIFTED DOWN INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED, AND THE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED ALSO. SINCE THE ACCELERATION STOPPED I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY, AND THERE WAS NO COLLISION, THANKFULLY. TOYOTA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AS USUAL, FINDING NOTHING, AND SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE MAT AND THAT WAS THAT. I EMAILED THE GENERAL MANAGER ABOUT MY SITUATION AND HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I SAID I AM AWARE OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL ACCELERATOR AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM BUY MY 2007 AND SELL A 2011 4RUNNER WITH THE "SMART PEDAL" TECHNOLOGY. HE AGREED AND NOW I OWN A NEW 2011 4RUNNER. *TR

Mileage: 53,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED INTO THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED AN INSPECTOR WOULD EVALUATE THE VEHICLE FOR FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DECISION ON REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MINOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP IT FROM ACCELERATING. HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

LTR TO NHTSA RE TOYOTA SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENTS FM OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER, REQUESTING POSSIBLE DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. SHE FRANTICALLY PUMPED THE BRAKES AND ALSO ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TWO MILES AFTER THE ACCELERATOR INITIALLY BECAME STUCK, BY CONTINUALLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATOR LOOSE.*JB

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HARBISON AND DIVISION ST. SOUTHBOUND AT HARBISON ST.,WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY RIGHT FOOT GRADUALLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPM WENT UP SO HIGH WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO PRESS HARDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE HIGH ACCELERATION LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP AT THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WHICH HAVE CAUSED AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AT MY LEFTSIDE TO SWERVE TO ITS LEFT TO AVOID AN IMPACT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER IT WAS IGNORED BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. THERE WAS NO REPAIR DONE ON BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED. THE OWNER HAVE NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE OF MANUFACTURER NOTICE OF DEFECT. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND NOT REPORTED. ALSO NO FIRE, PROPERTY DAMAGE, CRASH OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 15,932

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. SUDDENLY, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FLOOR AREA WAS INSPECTED REGARDING THE FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT, TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,100.

Mileage: 33,000

WE OWN A 2007 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, BOUGHT NEW IN OCT. 08, THAT HAS SUDDEN BURST ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS. WHEN SETTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR ANOTHER STOP, TRUCK WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WHILE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN, AT SOME TIMES STRONGER THAT OTHERS. HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, TO NO AVAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD MULTIPLE TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED 5 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN UPDATED 06/04/10

Mileage: 20,000

WE WERE STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT IN THE LEFT TURN LANE. WE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN OUR VEHICLE JUST TOOK OFF AND WE REAR ENDED A TRUCK. DIDN'T HURT THE OTHER TRUCK BUT THE FRONT END OF OUR VEHICLE IS SMASHED AND OUR BUMPER IS CRACKED. THE DEALER TOLD US TO TAKE OUT OUR MATS SO WE DID. WE RECENTLY CALLED THE TOYOTA EXPERIENCE LINE AND THEY GAVE US A CLAIM NUMBER BUT SAID SORRY WE ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF RECALLED VEHICLES. WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR VEHICLE. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY IN SEPT. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT NOTICING THAT MY CAR REVS UP FOR NO REASON & DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT. I CONTACTED ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP RECENTLY ABOUT IT NOT SHIFTING RIGHT & THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. MY MOM HAS A 2007 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER & THE GAS PEDAL STUCK 3X ON HER & MY STEPDAD LAST SUMMER ON THE INTERSTATE. NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO, HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION & COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THEY CONTACTED MARION, IL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY BOUGHT IT & THEY GAVE MY PARENTS A HARD TIME & WAS VERY HATEFUL. AFTER THE 3RD TIME THEY FINALLY CLEANED THE "THROTTLE BODY" & HASN'T DONE IT SINCE YET SHE HASN'T DROVE IT MUCH SINCE SHE IS SCARED FOR HER LIFE. SHE HAS BEEN AN AVID TOYOTA OWNER. SHE HAS OWNED 3 4-RUNNERS AND IS THINKING ABOUT GOING TO SOMETHING ELSE MAINLY ALSO BECAUSE HER DEALERSHIP IS BEING HATEFUL ABOUT ALL OF THIS. I'M SCARED FOR HER & OF COURSE FOR MYSELF SINCE THE TOYOTA 4-RUNNERS ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 120 MPH DURING RUSH HOUR. THE DEALER HAS MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST THREE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER THE WARRANTY. THE FOURTH REPAIR IS NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE FOR ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE FLOOR MATS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

Mileage: 20,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. HE HAD TO DRIVE OVER GRASS AND SMALL SHRUBS TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,000.

Mileage: 23,000

I WAS WAITING IN LINE OF TRAFFIC TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL. CAR WAS IN DRIVE, MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET. I STOMPED HARDER ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR DID STOP, BUT AT NO TIME HAD MY FOOT EVER LEFT THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND WAS NOT EVEN REMOTELY TOUCHING THE GAS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND, BUT WHEN THE INCIDENT WAS OVER, I REALIZED THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. MY WIFE OBSERVED THE INCIDENT FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT AND CONCURS THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME. SHE LATER CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MAT HAD NOT SHIFTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS, BUT CONFIRMED THAT NOTHING WAS IN CONTACT, OR EVEN NEAR THE GAS PEDAL. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY TO CHECK THE COMPUTER CODES, BUT NOTHING WAS RECORDED IN THE HISTORY. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OBSERVE THE PHENOMENON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2007. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 19,912. *TR

Mileage: 19,912

DRIVING A 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 V6 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. IN THE LEFT LANE (4 LANE HIGHWAY). I SLOWED DOWN TO CHANGE LANES ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE, I THINK APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER. AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN IN THE RIGHT LANE, I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SO AS TO NOT EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT BUT IT DID NOT COME BACK UP WHEN MY FOOT DID, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN NORMALLY AS IT SHOULD BUT RACED AHEAD. I QUICKLY LOOKED TO SEE IF MY FLOOR MAT HAD CAUSED THE PEDAL TO STICK WHICH I OBSERVED IT DID NOT. I THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TRY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE YET THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SOMEWHAT SLOW DOWN AND GUIDE THE VEHICLE ONTO AN EXIT RAMP TO MY RIGHT, ALL THE WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. I GUIDED IT ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RAMP OUT OF THE TRAFFIC PATH AND QUICKLY MOVED THE GEAR FIRST TO NEUTRAL THEN TO PARK. THIS STOPPED THE VEHICLE BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RAPIDLY REV. I THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE WHEELS WERE POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, AND I AVOIDED ANY KIND OF CRASH OR INJURY. THEN I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS. I LET THE VEHICLE SIT OFF FOR A MINUTE OR SO, THEN LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN PARK I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AGAIN UPON WHICH THE ENGINE REVVED AS HIGH AS BUT DID NOT MOVE. SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION FOR GOOD AND CALLED A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR HELP WHO SWIFTLY AND SEAMLESSLY RESPONDED TO MY VEHICLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY BEING EXAMINED BY THIS DEALERSHIP AND THE CAUSE AND REMEDY ARE YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP RESPONDED BY SENDING A TOW TRUCK TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT THE LOCAL POLICE TO LET THEM KNOW SUCH HAD BEEN ARRANGED. *TR

VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN AIR CONDITIONER ON. HAZARD AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. WILL DRIVE ITSELF FORWARD UP HILLS AND ALONG FLAT ROADS WITHOUT ACCELERATOR BEING TOUCHED WHEN AC IS ON. THE HIGHER THE AC FAN SPEED THE FASTER THE VEHICLE GOES. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE "COMPUTER PROGRAM" TO FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE APPROXIMATELY AN INCH APART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR HE ALSO INADVERTENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK UPDATED 1/31/2007 - *NM

Mileage: 200