This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I was Driving down the road, and the engine quit. At that time smoke started pouring out of the hood and into the car, through the vents. I pulled over, the power breaks no longer worked but I was able to stop. I got out of the car quickly to avoidmore smoke inhalation. Flames were already starting to come out. Within a few minutes the entire car was engulfed in fire. Possibly the fuel line had a problem. Car was a total loss. Police were present. there were no warning lights or symptoms before hand. It was the best car I ever had and was working perfectly.
The driver's side visor no longer stays up securely. It will sometimes remain propped up until it falls down just going over a slightly uneven road service. It startles the driver and sometimes blocks the driver's vision depending upon the grade of the roadway. Toyota charges a ridiculous amount to repair
The vehicle has a chronic issue with the O2 sensor which will prompt a engine light. The engine light will cause the vehicle to automatically shut off the 4WD and stability control and will happen at any triggering of the engine light. This is concerning especially in winter environments.
The complaint specified does not seem to happen frequently or consistently, has happened randomly 2 times in a 6 week period. Specifically, car was engaged in the drive gear on auto transmission and was stopped at the moment, once at the parking spot at local walmart, brought to complete halt with foot on the brake, and ready to shift lever to park, before I could do that, brake went soft and car moved/surged forward, hitting the safety pole in the parking spot. The safety pole saved from head on hitting the car already parked in the opposite parking spot. The picture of the front of the car against the safety post is attached. Another time, was stopped with foot on the brake, waiting to merge into traffic, at the local hyvee store, suddenly braking was gone, engine surged withpower and the car jumped into the middle of intersection. Fortunately I was able to avoid the collision with other cars on the road. Both times the car was at standstill, in drive gear, foot on the brake. In forty or more years of driving I have never have this happened before I did file a claim with stae farm, because there was damage to the front bumper. A picture is attached. I have not yet driven this car, after it was repaired by the body shop, due to profound fear that this incidence can happen again. Toyota company says they have found nothing wrong, just like they have denied for similar issues with their other cars in the past. Please help
- Kirksville, MO, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I was stopped at a red light with the brake fully engaged when runaway acceleration tried to take over the vehicle and make it inch forward into oncoming traffic on hwy 90. Due to my quick actions of continuing to press brake, I put vehicle in neutral then park, then I shut off the engine and turned on flashers. A policeman immediately drove onto highway and stopped traffic in order to escort me to my church parking lot about a block away. We then took it to a relatives home nearby. It could be the electronic throttle, throttle position on pedal, throttle body motor, computer programming issue etc.
The tire press monitoring system (TPMS ) has failed due to exhausted battery life in the tire sensors.. the pressure failure light comes on but all 5 tires have the correct tire pressure. The failure light now can't be turned off without spending $900 + for a set of new monitors. Needless to say the dealers cost is so prohibitive that that they will not be replaced so what good is this system ? I believe as this is a safety item that the auto manufactures should fix / replace !!
Up until last Sunday, my mother had driven a 2011 rav 4. on Sunday, as she was driving, the car rapidly accelerated on its own. She was unable to stop the car using the brake, or by trying to put the car in neutral. She was on a 2 lane road, with traffic in both directions. In order not to injure anyone else, she drove off the road and subsequently struck a tree. She suffered severe injuries ry, and the car was totaled.
This rav 4 has had two separate instances of sudden acceleration. One time while approaching a stop light, and the brake was applied, the engine started to rev, and the vehicle had "extended stopping distance". luckily, there was no car in front of us, otherwise there would have been an accident. It occurred a second time while pulling into a parking spot at work. Again, luckily, there was a snow bank in front of the space (and not another car!). the car is a 4cyl., and cert. Pre-owned. It's scary to think there is this unpredictable problem with the car. Dealer claims they know nothing about it. I will be showing them the 56 or so complaints from this NHTSA site for merely the 2011 Rav4. I haven't even looked at the other years yet! more than 50% of the complaints in here are for this very same problem! isn't it about time for a recall on this dangerous "feature"" how many more lives need to be at risk? or is the govt. Trying to preserve "Toyota quality"" it could be as simple as replacing the brake pedal -- space it further away from the accel. Pedal and make it "taller" so that there can be no iteration between the two. Or, simply allow the brake light signal to interact with the ECM to inhibit any "throttle increase" command to the engine.
First incident I was sitting at a dead stop at a fast food restaurant with my foot on the brake and the car accelerated to a high speed, resulting in momentary of "burning rubber". second incident happened about a week later when my husband was leaving an establishment and the car accelerated to high speed and he had to slam on the brakes.
The car accelerated by itself for about 20 seconds, I put the car in park. It sounded/roared like gas pedal was pushed to the floor. Sudden acceleration incidents have happened 6 different times: 11/03/2011 with 1000 miles, 11/05/2011 with 1110 miles, 01/04/2012 with 2650 miles, 02/26/2011 with 4606 miles, 03/06/2012 with 4692 miles, and 03/19.2012 with 4932 miles.
Vehicle has exhaust smell in the cabin when being driven. The car was taken to the dealership and the complaint was dismissed. Technicians say they test drove and didn't smell anything. The smell persists.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Laredo, TX, USA