2010 TOYOTA RAV4 Power Train Problems

Transmission vavle body issue and not safe to drive

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Nashville Toyota North (2400 Gallatin Pike N, Madison, TN 37115), and diagnosed that the rear differential coupling was leaking oil, the rear driver's side axle bearing was faulty, and the radiator was leaking. The rear differential coupling, rear driver's side axle bearing, and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was past the nine-year extended warranty coverage. The failure mileage was 97,900.

Mileage: 97,900

WHILE CHANGING THE OIL, I NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE REAR AXLE. I HAD THE AXLE SEALS REPLACED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. LATER I RECEIVED A RECALL BUT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A SPECIFIC NOISE NOT FOR THE FAULTY REAR AXLE SEALS.

Mileage: 63,355

TOYOTA VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEM. MINE HAS BOTH REAR SEALS LEAKING AND WILL COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. BREATHER PLUG GETS CLOGGED AND PRESSURE BUILD UP CAUSES LEAKS. IF NOT REPAIRED, DIFFERENTIAL CAN POTENTIALLY CEASE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, IN 4TH GEAR, A VIBRATION OR SHUDDER IS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER. IT CAN BE FELT INTERMITTENTLY AS LONG AS YOU ARE HOLDING A CONSTANT SPEED. IF YOU MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN IT STOPS, BUT AS SOON AS YOU MAINTAIN SPEED AGAIN IT WILL COME BACK. IT DOESN'T NECESSARY MATTER WHICH ROADWAY YOU ARE DRIVING ON. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. A "LOCK-UP CLUTCH" DESIGN FLAW IN THE DAMPER PLATE AND SPRINGS. THIS IS ALREADY A KNOWN ISSUE FOR SOME MODELS AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. IT IS BECOMING A BIGGER, MORE WIDE SPREAD ISSUE AND THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 103,000

YESTERDAY MY CAR DROVE PERFECTLY FINE. TODAY, I AM PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THERE WAS A DELAYED REACTION, THEN A THUD AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AT THE TIME OF THE THUD. IT DID IT AGAIN WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, PROPELLING THE VEHICLE FORWARD SUDDENTLY AFTER THE THUD WAS HEARD AGAIN. WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE THUD WAS HEARD AGAIN, NOT AS LOUD. ALL OF MY DRIVING WAS ON CITY STREETS, BUT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LERCHING FORWARD AFTER THE THUD SOUND, I KEPT A VERY WISE DISTANCE FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENED BOTH IN STATIONARY AND ALSO WHILE IN MOTION. IT FEELS LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ ABOUT ISSUES WITH ECM SOLENOIDS. THIS CAR HAS RECORD OF BEING SERVICED ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. IT HAS ABOUT 148K MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 148,000

WHINING SOUND, POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION. THE SOUND HAPPENS WHEN I ACCELERATE OR MAINTAIN A CERTAIN SPEED (25-45 MPH). WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL THE SOUND GOES AWAY SO IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY. I CAN'T REALLY HEAR IT ON THE HIGHWAY BUT WHEN I'M ON THE SMALL ROADS I SOMETIMES DO. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD WITH SLIGHTLY LESS OF 100, 000 MILES. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN A FEW MORE YEARS.

Mileage: 99,150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COPELAND TOYOTA, 1554 MAIN ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

THE VEHICLE JERKS VISCIOUSLY WHEN SHIFTING. THIS OCCURS WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 1ST TO 2ND WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE WHILE TRAVERSING UP ANY TYPE OF IN LINE. THIS IS A SPORADIC PROBLEM THAT BEGAN OCCURRING AT AROUND 93,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 128,000. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING BUT I THOUGHT THE MILEAGE WAS WAY TOO LOW FOR THAT TYPE OF PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT 94,000 MILES. THIS ACTION MADE NO DIFFERENCE. RECENTLY I BEGAN RESEARCHING ON THE WEB AND HAVE FOUND INFORMATION POINTING TO THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE). EITHER SOLUTION IS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR. I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND IF TOYOTA HAS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS?

Mileage: 93,000

WE WERE PULLING OUT OF A PARALLLEL PARKING SPOT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET VERY SLOWLY. THEN SUDDENLY THE CAR UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR TOOK CONTROL ON ITS OWN AS WE WERE PULLING OUT VERY SLOWLY.

Mileage: 30,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND WERE SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Mileage: 108,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN EITHER THE DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/13/16*LJ *CN

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,975.

Mileage: 32,975

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE OR "WOBBLE" . UPON INSPECTION WAS FOUND TO BE TIRE WHICH WAS UNEVEN IN WEAR. REPLACED TIRE AND AFTER A SHORT TIME WAS FOUND NOT TO BE THE PROBLEM. UPON INSPECTION WAS FOUND SEALS ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKING . CLOSER INSPECTION FOUND REAR SUSPENSION, TIE ROD LOOSE. THIS WE BELIEVE IS DUE TO REAR SUSPENSION PARTS BEING FAULTY. PARTS ARE ORIGINAL. AT THIS TIME WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY VEHICLE WARRANTY OR RECALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL. AT THIS SAME TIME VEHICLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ALSO BEGAN TO GIVE OFF A "WHINE" SOUND. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN WORN UNEVENLY DUE TO REAR SUSPENSION BEING LOOSE CAUSING THIS FAILURE. OUR CONCERNS ARE THAT WE ARE BEING TOLD THERE IS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL TO CORRECT OR PROTECT ANYONE OWNING AND DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT TIRES WORN UNEVEN WERE ON & FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. NO FRONT TIRES HAD BEEN WORN UNEVENLY WITH THIS INCIDENT.

Mileage: 89,000

ON 07/06/14 THE CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE STOPPED . CAR MOVED TOWARD MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE. IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE MOTORCYCLE. TODAY 08/06/14 AT APROX. 20 MPH THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AS I WAS SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATOR WENT TO FULL THROTTLE UNCONTROLLABLY RUNNING THROUGH A RED LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 40,055

2010 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DRIVE GEAR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS KEYLESS. WHEN HE PARKED THE VEHICLE, WITH THE GEAR STILL IN DRIVE, HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WHICH MEANT, IF PARKED ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE, THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAPPENED ONCE, BUT LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND HIM. A TECHNICIAN FROM TOYOTA INFORMED HIM, IT WAS NORMAL.

Mileage: 36,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD INTO A FENCE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVED IMMEDIATELY TO AROUND 6000 RPM WHEN STARTED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE WITHOUT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND VISUALLY CHECKED THE FLOORMAT. IT WAS NOT TOUCHING THE THROTTLE PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE DEPRESSED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE I STARTED THE ENGINE A SECOND TIME AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. I THEN WAITED APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PUMPED THE THROTTLE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE A THIRD TIME. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY (ENGINE IDLING). I THEN DROVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER REVING ISSUES AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY REOCCURENCE SINCE THE INCIDENT DATE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FLOORMAT ISSUE, AND MY DRIVERSIDE FLOORMAT WAS REMOVED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I DISAGREE WITH THIS ASSESSMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BEFORE I HAD THE REVING ISSUE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, MY LAST INTERACTION WITH THE VEHICLE WAS TO HAVE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS PEDAL AS I WAS STEERING THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN I WAS USING ONLY THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MODERATE MY SPEED, WITH NO THROTTLE PEDAL PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY ME, AND WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, AS IS NORMAL. DO NOT SEE HOW THIS COULD BE A RESIDUAL STUCK THROTTLE PEDAL ISSUE WHEN I RETURNED TO MY AUTOMOBLE AND STARTED THE ENGINE TO DRIVE AWAY. THE ONLY OTHER FACTOR WHICH MAY (OR MAY NOT) BE RELEVENT WAS THAT WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AFTER PARKING, I DID NOT FIRST TURN THE RADIO OFF, WHICH I USUALLY DO. I BELIEVE I WAS TUNED TO A SATELLITE STATION AT THAT TIME (XM). *TR

Mileage: 18,200

ON AUGUST 3, 2011 EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. I STOPPED FOR FUEL. I THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING AND MAKING LOUD STRANGE NOISES. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING IN MY HANDS. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED BACK INTO PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ON AUGUST 4, 2011, I TOOK THE RAV4 TO QUALITY IMPORTS, A DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA. THE DEALER WANTED ME TO SEE TOYOTA'S SIDE OF THE STORY. WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT ON HIS PART, HE UNINSTALLED THE VERY HEAVY SEMI RIGID AFTERMARKET RUBBER MAT AND REINSTALLED IT TO REST ON THE ACCELERATOR. HE THEN SAID, "THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED." THIS VERY HEAVY SEMI RIGID FLOOR MAT IS PRECISELY CONTOURED TO SNUGLY FIT IN THE EXACT CONTOURS OF THE FLOOR BOARD. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THIS MAT TO MOVE, BECAUSE IT FITS SO SNUGLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE MOLDED CONTOURS. THE RUBBER MAT HAS NEVER MOVED IN OVER 6,000 MILES OF DRIVING. I HAVE A CLEAR SOFT VINYL MAT ON TOP OF THE HEAVY SEMI RIGID MAT; THE VINYL MAT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ANY TROUBLE. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HANGS ABOVE THE FLOOR MAT THUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A MAT TO SLIDE ON TOP OF THE PEDAL. THE DEALER THEN INSTRUCTED ME LEAVE AND OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS BY CALLING THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER. I CALLED 800 331 4331; I WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER 1108040789. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME HOW FAST I WAS GOING. I TOLD HIM I WAS STANDING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE; HE RESPONDED, "I GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING." HE INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT FOR A CASE WORKER TO CONTACT ME. *TR

Mileage: 6,869

I LEASED A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4 IN MARCH 2010. THE CROSSOVER HAS BEEN OKAY. ONE PROBLEM BEING WHEN I AM ON AN INCLINE, SAY AT A STOP LIGHT AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND APPLY THE GAS THE RAV4 ROLLS BACK LIKE ITS A STANDARD. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAVE BROUGHT THE RAV4 IN FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPT TELLS ME THE FEATHER BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE UNTIL I AM OVER THE INCLINE. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL RAV4 OWNERS FROM 2006 THRU 2011 AND IT SEEMS TO ME ITS ONLY THE 2.5 LITRE 4CYL THAT HAS THE ROLL BACK. THANK GOD I HAVE NOT ROLLED INTO ANYONE, BUT FEATHERING THE GAS ALL THE TIME IS TO MUCH. *TR

Mileage: 13,800

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RESPONDED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,200.

Mileage: 6,200

2010 RAV 4 ACCELERATOR STUCK GOING INTO REVERSE WITH THE RIGHT FOOT SECURELY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. PLACED CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR HIT RED LINE 7000RPM. LOOKING AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE IS NOTHING TOUCHING THE PEDAL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS TO SHUT ENGINE OFF. STUCK ECM COMPUTER. *TR

Mileage: 8,500

WHILE DRIVING MY TOYOTA RAV 4 BUILD SEP/2010, COMPLIANCE OCT 2010 AT 20KM PER HOUR, AUTOMATIC, I WAS BEGINNING TO BRAKE GENTLY AND MOVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ENGINE REV UP AT 8000 RPM. I COMPLETED THE MANEUVER TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (WITHIN MILLISECONDS OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENING) AND AFTER WATCHING THE CLOCK SHOWING 8000 RPM FOR 1 SECOND I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES, BUT I HAVE BAD DREAMS ABOUT IT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND SHE ALSO WITNESSES THE EVENT. TOYOTA IS INVESTIGATING... *TR

Mileage: 406

VEHICLE WAS AT THE STOP SIGN FOR THE HIGH SPEED TRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY A TRUCK. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO TOWARDS THE RAILROAD CROSSING WITH APPROACH OF THE HIGH SPEED TRAIN. THE DRIVER IN DESPERATION MADE A U-TURN STILL TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN DESPERATION THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE KEY REMOVED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL JUMPED THE CURB AND FORTUNATELY RAN INTO TREE WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BODY DAMAGE IS BEING REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 800

MY VEHICLE IS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4-V6 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE COASTING OR MAINTAIN A LOW SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 5MPH, I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE HESITATES ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. DURING THE HESITATION, THE ENGINE REVS HIGH AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. AT THE END OF THE HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO GEAR WITH A THUD AND A JERK TO THE CAR. I WAS INVOLVED IN THREE NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC SINCE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FOR THE 3-5 SECONDS OF HESITATION. I SEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 7,500

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 UP A MOUNTAIN DIRT ROAD IN WORLDS END STATE PARK IN SULLIVAN COUNTY PA. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 15 MPH. I HIT THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY WENT TO FULL ACCELERATION. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE, PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. THE SAME THING OCCURRED ON THE WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. THIS TIME I WAS IN LOW GEAR AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE ROAD TOOK A SHARP TURN TO THE RIGHT, WHICH IS WHY I HIT THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, AND I JUST MANAGED TO STOP SHORT OF GOING OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS ON MY TRIP HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHEN I RETURNED BUT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THE ONLY FAULT CODE IN THE SYSTEM WAS FOR THE BATTERY WHICH WAS OK WHEN THEY CHECKED IT. *TR

Mileage: 39,000

AFTER 148,603 MILES ON MY 2002 RAV4, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING BACK & FORTH BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR WITH VIOLENT SHAKING. SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE ALSO CAUSED VIOLENT/LOUD CLUNKING. A SCANNER WAS USED TO RETRIEVE TROUBLE CODES WHICH YIELDED A P0755 CODE (SHIFT SOLENOID MALFUNCTION). UPON RESEARCH ON VARIOUS TOYOTA RAV4 FORUMS I FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR

Mileage: 148,603

TOYOTA RAV4 BASE AWD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR SLOWED DOWN BUT KEPT MOVING FORWARD EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE ALL OF SUDDEN REVVED UP TO A HIGH RPM AND MADE A LOUD ROAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 900

I HAVE A 2010 TOYOTA RAV 4, V6. AWD. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS THAT MY FOOT WAS OVERLAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ALSO DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THE ACCELERATION WAS OVERRIDING THE BRAKING UNTIL I RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! LAST WEEK I ALMOST KILLED A MOTHER AND HER YOUNG CHILD DURING A PARKING SITUATION. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 5MPH WHEN I INTENDED TO COME TO A SLOW STOP OUTSIDE A NOSE IN PARKING SPOT. THE YOUNG MOTHER WAS TIEING THE SHOESTRINGS OF HER YOUNGSTER NEAR THE OUTSIDE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING SPOT I INTENDED TO USE. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING DIRECTLY TOWARD HER WHEN I SLOWLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE! I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND STOPPED THE CAR BY SHIFTING MY RIGHT FOOT TO THE LEFT WHICH ALLOWED ME TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL! WE STOPPED ABOUT 8 FEET FROM THE MOTHER AND CHILD. HAD I NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND THEREFORE HAD KNOWN HOW TO CORRECT IT, MY RESPONSE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL EVEN MORE. I COULD EASILY HAVE DRIVEN OVER THE MOTHER AND HER CHILD! I AM AWARE THAT TOYOTA HAS A RECALL ON MANY OF ITS PRODUCTS BECAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATIONS; BUT I AM UNAWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATIONS THE FOCUS ON THE CAUSE OF MY NEAR-FATAL INCIDENT. I AM CERTAIN THAT SOME OF THE ACCIDENTS REPORTED ON THE RAV 4, V6 ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LACK OF ADEQUATE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS! THIS MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND FIXED IMMEDIATELY! I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO TOYOTA USA GILBERT DYER , TORRENCE CA ON JUNE 4, 2010 WITH THE REQUEST THAT HE FORWARD IT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL AT TOYOTA. IT DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!!!! *TR

Mileage: 2,300

2 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF OUR 2010 RAV4 MY WIFE DISCOVERED WHEN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE, STEPPING ON THROTTLE TO CORRECT IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. SERVICE DEPT. SAID JUST USE TWO FEET TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 20

PURCHASED NEW TOYOTA RAV4 2010 4-CYLINDER MODEL IN FEBRUARY. WHEN AT A STOP ON MILD INCLINE (DRIVEWAY MADE OF WOODCHIPS...GOOD TRACTION), THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN FOOT IS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. DEALERSHIP INSISTED THIS IS NORMAL FOR THESE VEHICLES AND DEMONSTRATED THIS ANOMALY WITH ANOTHER RAV4 TO PROVE IT. THE ENGINE DOESN'T PRODUCE ENOUGH TORQUE FOR THE TRANSMISSION DURING IDLE TO ENGAGE THE CONVERTER APPARENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS HOT. NO ONE TOLD ME OF THIS PROBLEM DURING SALES. A 'HILL-ASSIST" OPTION IS AVAILABLE THAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. THIS MERELY PROLONGS THE BRAKING WHEN SWITCHING FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE PRESSURE CHANGES. SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THIS STUFF WHEN PURCHASING, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I ALMOST RAMMED INTO THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. THEN WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD IN RESPONSE TO THE RPM CHANGE. THIS IS A HAZARD TO THE UNWITTING BUYER AND NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY DISCUSSED WITH ALL BUYERS. THE DEALERSHIP BLOWS OFF THIS INCIDENT AS 'NORMAL' FOR THIS CAR. WHAT THEY DON'T SAY IS THAT IT IS BAD ENGINEERING...THAT THE CAR COMPUTER SHOULD RAISE RPMS UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION IS WORKING PROPERLY ON INCLINE. THE SOFTWARE CANNOT BE CHANGED SO THE CAR IS CONSIDERED 'NORMAL'. I WAS DISGUSTED WITH THE EXPLANATIONS, EVEN FROM A MECHANIC THERE I RESPECT, HE SAID THIS IS 'HOW THEY ARE'. *TR

Mileage: 30

TO WHOM CONCERN HI, MY NAME IS [XXX]. I HAVE A DISCONCERTING AND DISAPPOINTING STORY TO TELL ABOUT BUYING A NEW TOYOTA. MY FRIEND PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4 5-DOOR 4X2 SUV LTD ON 3/20/2010 AND ON 3/27/2010 THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CAR HESITATED TO ADVANCE AND AFTER 2 OR 3 MORE TRIES DID NOT RESPONDED AT ALL. SO MY FRIEND CALLED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE DEALER PICK UP THE CAR. SHE WAS INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER NEW CAR. THE CAR WAS PICKED UP THE SAME DAY 3/27/2010. ON MARCH 29, SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT ABOUT HER NEW CAR?S PROBLEM, AND THE SALESMAN ([XXX] ) TOLD HER THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT [XXX] SAID, ?THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE?. SHE LOVES THE RAV4 AND WAS CONVINCED TO ASK FOR ANOTHER RAV4, SAME MODEL, SAME PRICE; JUST ANOTHER RAV4?? SOUNDS FAIR, SOUNDS EASY, FOR HER. NOW, MY FRIEND HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ASK FOR NO LESS THAN HER MONEY BACK. HER EXPERIENCED HAS OPENED MY EYES TO THE WAY THAT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. MORE PEOPLE WILL KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY AND I KNOW THAT IS ONLY ONE OF MANY STORIES YOU HEAR, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL LEARN A LESSON FROM THIS STORY. CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN EITHER HELP OR HINDER YOUR BUSINESS AND IN THIS CASE BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE TURNED AWAY A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER WHO WANTED NOTHING LESS BUT TO DRIVE HER BRAND NEW RAV4. MIKE CALVERT TOYOTA [XXX] BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 2333 SOUTH LOOP WEST HOUSTON TX 77054 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 230

WE WERE DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED WITH APPROXIMATELY 68 MILES AND WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE WERE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED AND BEFORE THE GAS PEDAL COULD BE PRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AS IF IN NEUTRAL ALMOST HITTING A VEHICLE APPROACHING FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED MORE THAN ONCE ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALER(SERVICE SUPERVISOR) STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OPERATION WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FURTHER STATED THAT THE LEFT FOOT SHOULD BE KEPT ON THE BRAKE OR THE HAND BRAKE APPLIED WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE. I FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY TWO DAYS OLD, THEY TOOK BACK THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD THAT TOYOTA OFFERS A HILL ASSIST ITEM ON CERTAIN RAV4'S WITH A V6 AND 4CYL RAV4'S WITH A THIRD ROW SEAT ONLY. IN THE VEHICLE HAND BOOK THERE ARE NO CAUTIONS OR WARNINGS ABOUT THE VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND IN DRIVE OR ANY OTHER WARNINGS OR CAUTIONS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION THAT I COULD FIND. *TR

Mileage: 68

COMPUTER FAILURE ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I AM WRITING BECAUSE I JUST EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN REVERSE IN MY NEW 2010 TOYOTA RAV4, 6 CYLINDER. THIS IS A VEHICLE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. HERE ARE THE DETAILS: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MONTH AGO FROM IRWIN TOYOTA IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH VIN# [XXX] . I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER BEFORE THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO SEE WHAT THE RECALL MEANT FOR ME. THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MADE IN JAPAN AND WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. ON FEBRUARY 17TH I PUT THE RAV4 INTO REVERSE TO BACK DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS CUTTING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO MAKE A REVERSE K-TURN WHEN IT BEGAN ACCELERATING VIGOROUSLY IN REVERSE. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS BECAUSE IT WAS IDLING IN REVERSE DOWN A 7% GRADE. THE ENGINE RACED WAY UP AND IT TOOK ALL MY LEG POWER TO BRING IT TO A STOP. I DID STOP THE CAR JUST BEFORE HITTING A TREE ON THE SIDE OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD MY WIFE AND MY INFANT SON IN THE CAR AND THEY WERE BOTH TERRIFIED. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT, BUT THAT IT WAS PROBABLY 'HIGH IDLE'. I HAVE DEGREE IN PHYSICS AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND I OWN A COMPANY THAT BUILDS ACCELERATION SENSORS FOR VEHICLES. THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM WITH ONE OF ITS SENSORS OR WITH ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO MISINTERPRET THE SENSOR DATA. THERE IS NO WAY A DEALER IS GOING TO FIND THIS, LET ALONE FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO AT THIS POINT? *TR

Mileage: 300

I BOUGHT A 2010 RAV 4 2W DRIVE 4 CYL AUTOMATIC FROM NWA TOYOTA ON DEC18 2009. IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THAT WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP(BRAKE ON) AND GOING TO THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE IS IN A FREEWHEEL MOOD. EVEN ON JUST A MODEST INCLINE DIVE WAYS, EXITS ONTO STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, OR ANYWHERE EXCEPT DEAD LEVEL ,THIS VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD WITH NO DRAG WHATSOEVER, AT FIRST QUITE ALARMING AND AFTER A COUPLE MORE INCIDENTS I DEEM IT VERY DANGEROUS AND REALLY NOT NORMAL. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND FROM THE SALESMAN SERVICEMANAGER COSTUMER RELATIONS PERSON AND G.M. ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE "AN ENGINEERING DEFECT " BUT ALL THE NEW TOYOTAS ARE LIKE THAT" I WAS TOLD THAT HAD I PURCHASED A MORE EXPENSIVE MODEL THAT IT WOULD HAVE A "HILL HOLDING FEATURE" AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM .HOWEVER MY 25000 RAV4 DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE AVAILABLE . IT GETS BETTER. THERE SUGGESTING FOR ME WERE AND I QUOTE SERVICE MANAGER SAID USE YOUR HANDBRAKE WHEN PUTTING IT IN D FROM ANY STOP ON A INCLINE" DUE TO NO "STALL SPEED " DRIVE TWO FOOTED ON ANY INCLINE' OR THE SALESMAN SUGGESTION , "PUT IT IN PARK ON THE INCLINE AND THEN GO TO DRIVE. LIKE WHAT? I WAS A EQUIPT.OPERATOR FOR 50 YRS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE CONVOLUTED WAY OF SCREWING UP SOMETHING A SIMPLE AS A PUSH AND GO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (ALSO THE REASON I BOUGHT IT .WE TRADED IN A 5 SPEED CAR IN TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THE . THIS IS WORSE AS YOU DON'T EXPECT A AUTOMATIC TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN YOU ARE SIMPLY GOING FROM STOP TO GO. THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY RENT THIS MODEL AS IT WOULD TAKE 2 DAYS TO EXPLAIN ITS IDIOSYNCRASIES PLUS ALL THE WRECKS THAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN IT ROLLS BACK ON THE UNINFORMED. I'M SURE YOU WILL BE GETTING MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE SO I'LL GIVE IT A REST. *TR

Mileage: 26

2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. CALLED HIM ALSO, AND NO RESPONSE YET. *TR

Mileage: 51