2008 Toyota RAV4 complaints

LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR FROM RE BRAKE PEDAL ON HIS 2008 RG4 TOYOTA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALSO THE BRAKING DID NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE, UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED DOWN TO ABOUT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL WIRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW OR NO SPEEDS FOR MUCH OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. IT WAS REPORTED AND CHECKED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER MADE AN ADJUSTMENT BUT DID NOT RECORD IT IN THEIR SERVICE RECORDS. NOW, AT 42,159 MILES, THE NOISES HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND I CAN FEEL IT WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL. TODAY, THE DEALER FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE AND ARE RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE SHAFT. CHECKING THE WEB I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WITH 2006 - 2008 RAV4'S INCLUDING NUMEROUS REPORTS TO THE NHTSA. IT IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TODAY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR IT AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE COST FOR THE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT AND TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIRS AT NO COST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUR TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE PREVIOUSLY DUE TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FOUR TIRES BE REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V373000 (SUSPENSION: REAR). THE VIN WAS ELIGIBLE; HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A DEFECT WAS NOT PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

REAR WHEEL SUPPORT FAILED. WHEEL BENT TO THE SIDE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT RIGHT REAR END LINK BENT. RIGHT REAR WHEEL TIE ROD HAVE COME OFF CENTER NUT AND NO THREAD REMAINING AND RIGHT REAR SHOCK LEAKING. THEY REPLACED RIGHT REAR-END LINK TIE ROD AND SHOCK. PERFORMED WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER PERFORMED PRIOR ALIGNMENT NOVEMBER 20, 2009. WHEN I HAD THE NEW ALIGNMENT CHECKED (BUYING NEW TIRES) JUST FEW DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS STILL OFF. THE TOYOTA DEALER REFUSE (BY RESCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS) TO RECHECK THE ALIGNMENT AND REPAIR IT. I WAS BILLED $729 AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO CONSIDER THAT THIS WAS SECONDARY TO DEFECT BUT CLAIMED IT WAS MY FAULT THAT I MUST HAVE HIT THE SUSPENSION EVEN THOUGH THAT NEVER HAPPENED. *TR

CAR IS HAVING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 57,00 MILES WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHENEVER I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER(KEYES TOYOTA) WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE OIL PAN. DEALER CHANGED THE OIL BUT "NEGLECTED" TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT BY TOYOTA FOR THIS PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW MORE TIMES AND EACH TIME I EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE OIL LOSS. DEALER DID NOT TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY TILL AFTER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS UP. THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT COULD DOCUMENT THE OIL LOSS, WHICH THEY ALSO "FORGOT" TO MENTION WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. MY CAR IS LOSING ABOUT 1.5 QUARTS PER 1000 MILES. TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THE DEALER DELIBERATELY MISLEAD ME INTO THINKING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR TILL AFTER IT WAS PAST MY WARRANTY PERIOD. POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WAS GOOD FOR UP TO 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. DEALER TRIED TO BLAME POOR MAINTENANCE BUT WHEN I OFFERED TO SHOW PROOF THAT I DID ALL THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, THEY STOPPED BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON THAT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND HEARD A SMALL THUD, AND, WITH NO OTHER SOUND OR WARNING, THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO STOP, AS I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED, THE REAR WHEEL WAS HANGING OFF. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TR

I WAS MAKING A SLOW SPEED TURN WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, AS IF THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. AS I ACCELERATED THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION. I ENDED UP TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOING BAD. AN ALTERNATOR ON A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 60K MILES SHOULD LAST LONGER. I'VE SINCE LEARNED, FROM SAFETY SITES, THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE RAV AS THE STEERING IS ELECTRICALLY POWERED. THERE IS ALSO SOME INDICATION THE ALTERNATORS ARE FAILING TOO SOON. *TR

LOUD NOISE FROM BACK OF CAR AND THEN RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING ME TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NO OTHER CARS AROUND, ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND LEVEL WITH JUST GRASS TO THE SIDE. BRAKES STILL WORK SO CAR WAS BROUGHT TO STOP AS IT WENT BY ITSELF TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS A ONE OWNER CAR THAT WAS NEVER ABUSED OR OFF-ROADED. CAR WAS TAKEN BY FLATBED TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR INNER/OUTER TIE RODS AT NO COST AND GAVE ME A FREE CAR WASH. *TR *JS

SLIPPING BRAKES, REQUIRING FREQUENT CHECKUPS AND REPLACEMENT POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL ( WHICH AFTER TWO YEARS OF COMPLAINING, I WAS INFORMED IS A DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT ) SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCREASING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE JUMPING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACE IN REVERSE. *TR

CAR WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE. SUDDENELY, ENGINE REVVED UP, ACCELERATED, AND JUMPED THE CURVE. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES. *TR

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A LOT IN FRONT OF A BUILDING. IN A SPLIT SECOND THE CAR HAD JUMPED THE CURB UP ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED THROUGH THE BRICK WALL AND WINDOW IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND TRIED AND SUCCEEDED INTO SHIFTING IT INTO PARK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I WAS NOT INJURED AND DID NOT HURT ANYONE ELSE - THANK GOODNESS. THE ONLY EXPLANATION OTHER THAN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS THAT I HIT THE ACCELERATOR VERY HARD AND I DO NOT BELIEVE I DID THAT. I HAD NOT BEEN DISTRACTED BY ANYTHING AND HAD NO SENSE OF MY FOOT SLIPPING FROM THE BRAKE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. WE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A GENERAL RAV4 / HIGHLANDER RECALL FOR SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR ISSUES.AFTER RECEIVING FREE DEALERSHIP SERVICE FOR THE RECALL, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL ON. WE CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS JUST A GLITCH AND THEY WOULD RESET IT AT OUR NEXT SCHEDULED SERVICE (OIL CHANGE). 4 MONTHS LATER, AT THE OIL CHANGE, WE WERE TOLD THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT RELATED TO A SPIRAL CABLE AIRBAG SENSOR (B1801 OPEN IN SQUIB D) WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; ALSO TOLD THIS FAILURE WAS COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL FOR SIDE AIRBAG ISSUES. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE PART (APPROX. $275.00) AND WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR CHARGE ($109.00) THE SERVICE AND DEALERSHIP MANAGERS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE ALTHOUGH MANY CAR FORUMS ARE RIFE WITH COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED WITH LITTLE COST TO ME, I AM COMPLAINING TO ADD TO THE DATABASE SO THAT OTHERS WILL KNOW THEY ARE AT RISK AND IN THE HOPE THAT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WILL CAUSE TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN PUBLIC. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER I STARTED UP MY CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING TODAY I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRANGE AND STRONG ODOR. I HAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN (POWER WINDOWS) AND INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED THE ODOR TO A LARGE TRUCK THAT WAS SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME. I NOTICED THAT THE ODOR PERSISTED EVEN ONCE THE TRUCK WAS NO LONGER VISIBLE TO ME OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. AT THAT POINT I THEN ENTERED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY VIA THE ENTRANCE RAMP, AND GOT MY SPEED UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING UP FROM MY POWER WINDOW SWITCHES ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IN ADDITION TO THE SMOKE I COULD SEE AN ACTUAL FLAME BURNING UNDERNEATH THE SWITCHES. MY INITIAL RESPONSE WAS FEAR AND PANIC, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SAFE SPOT TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO DIAL 911, BUT I WAS AFRAID BY THE TIME SOMEONE ARRIVED THE CAR MIGHT BURST INTO FLAMES AND BLOW UP!! I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED TO TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE SOMEHOW AS MY CAR WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE AND THE ODOR WAS OVERWHELMING. I QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF I HAD ANY BOTTLED WATER IN THE CAR-BUT I DID NOT. THE ONLY LIQUID I HAD ACCESSIBLE TO DOWSE THE FLAMES WAS MY ICED COFFEE-SO I POURED A SMALL AMOUNT OVER THE SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE SWITCHES TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT IT CONTINUED TO BURN. I THEN PROCEEDED TO POUR HALF OF MY ICED COFFEE OVER THE SWITCHES WHICH DID FINALLY EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. AS A R

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 AND IT HAS HAD A WHINING SOUND WHEN IDLING OR ACCELERATING FOR A WEEK. TODAY I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. I COULD BARELY STEER IT, IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SHE COULD NOT HAVE TURNED THE VEHICLE. MANY OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON- BRAKE LIGHT (CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE), ABS, SRS, BATTERY, VSC, MAINTENANCE, AND SLIP INDICATOR LIGHTS. ALSO THE RADIO QUIT WORKING, ALL AT ONCE. NEW BATTERY INSTALLED LAST MONTH. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP, HAD 2 RECALLS FIXED FOR AIR BAG SENSOR AND FLOOR MATS, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS. *TR

AT AROUND 9:30 AM ON JULY 8, I WAS ON I-15 IN S. UTAH WHEN MY RIGHT REAR TIE ROD FAILED. VERY SCARY AND I WAS LUCKY I DID NOT END UP ROLLED OVER IN THE DITCH, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR GET HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD NO IDEA WHY MY CAR WAS SO SUDDENLY OUT OF CONTROL. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A FRONT WHEEL. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING, SUCH AS A SHIMMY OR VIBRATION OR ANY STEERING ISSUES AT ALL. I ASKED THE TOW TRUCK TO TAKE ME TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHICH WAS ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY. HOWEVER, HE CONVINCED ME THAT IT WAS SIMPLE TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD AND SINCE MY RAV4 WAS A 2008, AFTERMARKET PARTS WOULD BE EASY TO GET FROM NAPA. IT WAS A SUNDAY, SO I ENDED UP GETTING THE CAR DROPPED OFF AT GOODYEAR IN CEDAR CITY, SINCE I WOULD NEED AN ALIGNMENT AFTER THE NEW TIE ROD WAS PUT IN. ON MONDAY MORNING I FOUND OUT YOU CAN ONLY GET THE TIE ROD PART FROM THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IN STOCK, SO HAD TO WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY TO GET IT FIXED. AFTER IT WAS FIXED, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO AN EXACT ALIGNMENT AND SAID IT WAS OFF BY A MM. FYI - THERE WAS NO RUST ON THE BROKEN TIE ROD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME STIFF AND HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO FILED A REPORT AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,201. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 08/16/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED DOWN A HILL AND CROSSED INTO A PATCH OF LARGE ROCKS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES WHEN HER HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE FAILURE WOULD BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000. UPDATED 06/12/12*LJ UPDATED 06/13/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BATTERY AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 40,000.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 LTD V6 WITH OUR 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER YESTERDAY. SHE WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 50 MPH THEN SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SHE ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BY OTHER CARS. THE CAR DID NOT START AGAIN AFTER BEING TRIED AFTER EVERY 5 MINUTES. THE CAR WAS SERVICED A MONTH BACK FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND BREAKS. A COP CAME OVER AND GOT THE CAR TOWED. STILL HAVE NO IDEA. *TR

ON 04/09/2012, I TOOK MY TOYOTA RAV4 2008 FOR OIL CHANGE AT GIRARD TOYOTA, NEW LONDON. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE YOKOHAMA GEOLANDAR G91A RADIAL TUBELESS M+S MADE IN JAPAN D7475L-11, 225/65R17-101H INSTALLED FROM FACTORY WHEN I BOUGHT THE RAV4 (AS NEW VEHICLE). I CALLED TOYOTA, WHICH ISSUED CASE #:[XXX], SAYING THAT TOYOTA'S WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE TIRES. TOYOTA REFERRED ME TO YOKOHAMA, FULLERTON, CA, TEL: (800) 722-9888. I CALLED YOKOHAMA WHICH ISSUED CASE #: [XXX]. YOKOHAMA REFERRED ME TO TIREPLUS, EAST LYME, CT. I TOOK THE RAV4 IMMEDIATELY TO[XXX] AT TIREPLUS. HE DETERMINED THAT THE THREADS OF THE 4 TIRES WERE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION (#19); HOWEVER, EACH OF THE TIRES (ALL 4 TIRES) ARE CRACKING BETWEEN THE THREADS. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURING AS MY RAV4 HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR 16,600 MILES. YOKOHAMA INDICATED THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES COVERING 100% OF THE COST THAT THEY WILL ONLY COVER 70%. TOYOTA AND YOKOHAMA SHOULD HAVE SOLD ME THIS RAV4 WITH TIRES THAT ADHERED TO QUALITY STANDARDS - THAT DO NOT RISK THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY, RELATIVES, FRIENDS, THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. DUE TO SAFETY, I WILL GO AHEAD PAYING TO REPLACE THE 4 TIRES. I WILL APPRECIATE THAT REGULATORS LOOK FURTHER INTO THIS ISSUE AS I KNOW THAT OTHER FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC ARE AT RISK WITH THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES AS DOCUMENTED IN PUBLIC COMPLAINTS IN THE INTERNET ? I HAVE INCLUDED THE INTERNET LINK ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS FOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO USE EXTREME FORCE ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW COULD NOT BE OPENED AND EXHIBITED A BURNING ODOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL FOR CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG SENSOR *TGW WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THEY DO NOT PERFORM RECALLS ON SATURDAYS.

I WAS CROSSING A PARKING LOT AND PULLING OUT INTO A STREET. I STOPPED THEN PULLED FORWARD, SO I COULD SEE IF ANY CARS WERE APPROACHING. A CAR WAS APPROACHING SO I PRESSED THE BRAKES, THEN THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. IT FELT LIKE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES. BECAUSE A CRASH WAS IMMINENT, I DECIDED MY BEST CHANCE WAS TO MOVE MY FOOT TO THE GAS PETAL AND SPEED UP. I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT. THE OTHER DRIVER LAID ON HIS HORN, SLOWED DOWN AND DROVE ON. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2011 FROM FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA. IT APPEARS TO NEVER HAVE BEEN WRECKED. IT HAD AROUND 23,300 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THAT NIGHT OF 02/21, I CHECKED CONSUMER REPORTS ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE NEXT MORNING, I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. IT DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MOVED BEFORE. THERE ARE 2 HOLES AT THE BACK OF THE MAT AND ONE OF THE HOLES HAD A BLACK RUBBER HOOK DEVICE HOLDING IT TO THE FLOOR. THE OTHER HOLE (BACK RIGHT SIDE) DID NOT HAVE A HOOK. WHEN I ENTERED THE VIN ON THE TOYOTA WEBSITE, IT SHOWED A REPAIR ORDER FOR A CAR WITH 30,599 MILES ON 11/08/2012. MY CAR STILL DOES NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES. I DON'T THINK A REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE ON MY CAR. MY NOTES SHOW THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 11/05/2011. *TR

OIL CONSUMPTION IS TOO MUCH. IT USES ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL IN EVERY 500 MILES. FROM WHAT I AM HEARING, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 52 MPH WHEN A ROARING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE INCREASED IN SPEED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT FROM THE REAR. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

MY 2008 RAV 4 ALL WHEEL DRIVE BURNS ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE SUV TO TOYOTA ON 01/19/2012 FOR OIL CONSUMPTION. TECH CHECKED OIL. OIL LEVEL WAS 1/2 QUART LOW. THE TECH TOPPED OFF OIL. I PICK UP RAV AT 1:30 P FROM DEALER AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL. THE TECH OVER FILLED THE OIL ABOUT 8 OZ. I VERIFIED THIS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHY TECH WOULD OVER FILL IT. THE DEALER WOULD LIKE TO RECHECK OIL LEVEL IN 1000 MILES. HOWEVER, TECH OVER FILLED IT SO WHEN I BRING IT BACK THEY CAN SAY SEE IT DOESN'T BURN THAT MUCH OIL. I WONDER IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. MILEAGE 71393. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED, AND CAUSED THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,143 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CPSC#I1210211A. 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 93 ONE OF THE REAR TIE RODS FELL APART, CAUSING HIM TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS FOUR LANES. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD WAS $500. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIE ROD FAILED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. BOTH REAR TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ASSISTED WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS REIMBURSED 1/4 OF THE PRICE AND WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WOULD NOT BE LOOK IN TO ANY FURTHER. UPDATED 04/27/12

THE VEHICLE, A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4, WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT WITH OPERATOR'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. INEXPLICABLY AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGH RPM AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE COLLISION WAS LOW SPEED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. WE IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. *KB

WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A SIGNAL. HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ENGINE SURGED TO APPROX 6500 RPM PLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I CLIMBED ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. CAR WOULD NOT STOP MOVING UNTIL I TURNED AND PULLED OUT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. REPORTED INCIDENT TO TARPON CITY OFFICER, WHILE THE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS WRITTEN UP. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE PRETTY BANGED UP. DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER VEHICLE REPORTED INJURIES. THE RAV WAS NOT DRIVABLE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SUNTOYOTA FOR REPAIRS. REPORTED INCIDENT TO SUN TOYOTA SERVICE AND BODY SHOP DEC 22, THEY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CALLED TOYOTA 800 331-4331 CASE #[XXX], 12/22/11 PROMISED TO CALL BACK IN 24 HRS CASE WORKER [XXX]. TALKED TO [XXX] AT TOYOTA HEADQUARTER IN CALIFORNIA. STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE NOW. I CAN'T SELL IT IN GOOD FAITH, BECAUSE OF THE PRODUCT LIABILITY. I AM THANKFUL THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE TARPON SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE WAS IN PROGRESS AND THERE WERE A LEAST A DOZEN KIDS IN THE CROSSWALK IN FRONT OF US. WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT MY RAV WOULD HAVE GIVEN SOME PARENTS IF MY CAR HAD HIT THESE KIDS. JUST AN FYI. I HAD A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD FOR 35 YEARS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. THANK YOU TOYOTA! TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAN UP BEFORE INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE KILLED. I FORGOT THIS IS BIG CORPORATION, THEY DON'T CARE, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T EFFECT THEIR BOTTOM LINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA

DATE IS APPROXIMATE, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, NOT ALWAYS UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. IT HAS HAPPENED AFTER BEING DRIVEN IN LIGHT RAIN & HEAVY RAIN & AFTER VEHICLE BEING PARKED & RESTARTED ALL OF THE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. INITIALLY WHILE DRIVING IN MODERATE RAIN, MULTIPLE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED ON FREEWAY @ SET SPEED OF APPROX 60 MPH DUE TO RAINFALL. WHILE CONTINUING TO FUNCTION, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS ROLLING ON MARBLES & THE FEEL WAS A LITTLE UNNERVING, BUT YOU ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED MULTIPLE CODES, BUT ONCE RESET ALL LIGHTS WERE OUT & THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY AGAIN, UNTIL DRIVEN IN RAINY CONDITIONS. INDEPENDENT GARAGE SAID TO TAKE IT TO TOYOTA WHEN THE RAIN INDUCED THE WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN & I'M HEADED TO A TOYOTA DEALER THIS MORNING AFTER A LIGHT RAIN ON SATURDAY MORNING ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN & THE CRUISE WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY ANY OTHER RAV 4 OWNERS, BUT INDEPENDENT GARAGE SO FAR HAS SAID "WE CAN'T FIND A FAILURE JUST A LOT OF CODES & ONCE WE CLEAR THE CODES IT IS OKAY." IF I UNDERSTAND THE PREMISE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS THEY ARE THERE TO INDICATE SOMETHING REQUIRES ATTENTION - SO MY FAITH IN "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG OR WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING" IS A LITTLE SHAKEN. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA & THEY DENY THAT THIS HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED BY ANY RAV 4 OWNERS & I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT TO THEM WHEN THE FAILURE & WARNING LIGHTS

THE STEERING STARTED FEELING LOOSE AND THERE IS A PRONOUNCED CLUNK ANY TIME YOU TURN THE WHEEL EITHER WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING. DEALER SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN IS WORN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CLAIMS IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I CAN NOT SEE HOW A STEERING ISSUE CAN NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ABNORMALLY BURNING TWO QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ UPDATYED 04/23/12

AS I WAS BRAKING MY FOOT PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME I WAS BRAKING. I NOTICED THE ENGINE SPEEDING UP. I MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO MOVE MY FOOT TO ONLY THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND NOTICED A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AROUND THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, MY CAR WOULD BE GOING AROUND 40-50 MPH AND IT WILL SUDDENLY STALL OR POWER DOWN AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING. ITS A GOOD THING I GO TO WORK EARLY AROUND 4-5 AM AND TRAFFIC IS LOW OR I WOULD BE IN MAJOR ACCIDENT AND AT FAULT TOO? THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. SOMETIMES HAPPENS WHEN I FLASH ON HIGH BEAM AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN LOW SPEED AROUND 15-25MPH OR TURNING AROUND A CORNER. THERE IS NEVER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN MY CAR GOES INTO STALL, ALL POWER DIES AND MY RADIO/CD/MP3 PLAYER STOP PLAYING MY DASHBOARD BECOMES ALL PITCH BLACK AND HEADLIGHTS ALL DIE AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS ITS FRUSTRATING AND SCARY, I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND THE SNOW IS COMING AND TOYOTA REQUIRE ME TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THEM FOR OVER A WEEK OR SO, NOT A PROBLEM CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL ITS FIX. ITS NOW AFTER THANKSGIVING AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY BUT THEY WONT EVEN LOOK AT IT UNTIL I LEAVE IT WITH THEM FOR A WEEK. I CANT LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I NEED A CAR FOR WORK SO I HAD TO ARRANGE CAR RENTALS FIRST WITH MY OWN EXPENSE AND WILL BE DROPPING THE CAR OFF SATURDAY. THE ANSWERS THEY ALREADY GAVE ME WAS NO CLUE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT WITH NO CHECK ENGINE CODE. I DON'T WANT TO BE ANOTHER KOUA FONG LEE. I JUST WANT TO POST THIS UP NOW SEE IF ANYONE FOUND A SO

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL ABOUT MY WARNING LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG. THE WARNING LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAG IS ALWAYS ON, AND IT CAN'T TURN OFF. I WENT TWICE TO MY DEALER (INTERSTATE TOYOTA) ON OCTOBER 8TH 2011 AND OCTOBER 12TH 2011 TO GET THE LIGHT FIXED, BUT THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V245000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS MADE AWARE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

ON 9/7/11 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER RAV 4 HOME FROM PINOLE TO HERCULES (LESS THAN 5 MIN) AND SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE CAR STOPPED. ON 3/26/11, DURING A 66,138 MAINTENANCE SERVICE TOYOTA REPAIRED THE REAR CRANK SEAL. WE NORMALLY MAINTAIN THE SERVICE CLOSE TO 5,000, EXCEPT THIS TIME DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS WE WERE LATE. MY DAUGHTER HAD MADE AN APPT FOR 78,000 SERVICE FOR 9/8/11, DURING OUT OF TOWN TRIP FOR MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING. SO NOW TOYOTA WILL ONLY REPAIR IT FOR $7,000.00 BECAUSE WE WERE LATE ONE TIME ON THE SERVICE, THE CRANK FROZE AND IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THEY FEEL IT HAD NOTHING TO DO W/THE CRANK SEAL. HOW CAN A BRAND NEW CAR, WHICH I'M STILL PAYING FOR, ENGINE BREAK DOWN JUST FROM BEING LATE ONE TIME. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED W/WARRANTY (EXP. 75,000), *KB

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS I PASSED THROUGH A PUDDLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND DURING THIS EVENT, MY CHARCOAL FILTER ASSEMBLY WAS TORN OFF MY RAV4. IT WAS LEFT DANGLING BELOW THE CAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT TOYOTA HAS DESIGNED A SHIELD FOR THIS FILTER ASSEMBLY ON NEWER MODELS, SO I FIGURED I WOULD LODGE A COMPLAINT, AS THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL TO HAVE A PIECE OF YOUR CAR TEAR OFF DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS: SIDE/WINDOW). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,288. UPDATED 09/21/11 *BF UPDATED 09/30/11

MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS RECENTLY. ONE INSTANCE TOOK PLACE ON OR ABOUT JUNE 30, 2011, THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED ON OR ABOUT MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2011. THE FIRST TIME, TOYOTA CLAIMED THAT THE NON-BRAKING/UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY FLOOR MATS I PUT IN THE CAR. I BOUGHT THESE FOR THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT THE ONES TOYOTA ORIGINALLY PROVIDED WERE NOT SAFE (HEELS ON MY SHOES, THOUGH FLAT, KEPT GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DEEP RIDGES OF THEIR MATS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER). AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE TOYOTA 'S MECHANICS, I THREW OUT MY MATS AND REPLACED THEM WITH NEW TOYOTA MATS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE, INSTEAD OF THIS ACTION STOPPING THE CAR, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND MOVED FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, MY CAR WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL LEADING TO MY COMPLEX'S EXIT. AS I NEARED THE STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF A VERY BUSY ROADWAY, I STARTED APPLYING MY BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. ALTHOUGH I PUSHED DOWN HARDER & HARDER ON THE BRAKE IN A DESPERATE EFFORT TO STOP THE CAR, IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. MY RAV4 WENT ONTO THE ROADWAY, NARROWLY MISSING A TRUCK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE SAFE. THE MECHANIC AT TOYOTA, BEFORE EVEN EXAMINING THE CAR, CLAIMED IT WAS "HUMAN ERR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED MICE ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE CLEAN AIR INTAKE AND STATED THAT SHE HAD CAUGHT FIFTY-SEVEN MICE TO DATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO PREVENT THE MICE FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC IN 2008, WHERE THEY PLACED SEALANT ONTO THE VEHICLE TO KEEP THE MICE FROM ENTERING BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

YESTERDAY, JUNE 16, 2011, AS I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2008 RAV4 (35,500 MILES), THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CAR WAS STILL COLD -- IT WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER START-UP. OUTDOOR TEMP WAS ABOUT 65. NO RAIN OR INCLEMENT WEATHER. I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT VERY SLOWLY, AT LESS THAN 10 MPH. AS I WAS BRAKING, I BECAME AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I BRAKED HARDER AND COULD FEEL THE BREAKS ENGAGING, BUT UNDERNEATH THAT FEELING WAS THE FEELING OF THE CAR CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AND FIGHT THE BRAKES. I GOT THE CAR STOPPED, BUT ONLY AFTER EXTREMELY HARD BRAKING. IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE IN THE CROSS WALK IN FRONT OF ME, I'D HAVE HIT THEM. THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO TAKE OFF. I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. BY NOW THE ENGINE WAS SCREAMING. I SAT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, FOOT NEITHER ON THE BRAKE NOR THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR SOUNDING AS IF IT WOULD SOON EXPLODE, AND FINALLY JUST TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE WRITER WAS COLD AND DISTANT, NON-VERBALLY MAKING SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE THOUGHT I WAS EITHER LYING OR BLOWING THE INCIDENT OUT OF PROPORTION, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SAYING NOTHING THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE QUOTED AS RUDE. A SPECIAL TECHNICIAN IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT FROM TOYOTA TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. BASED UPON WHAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, I EXPECT THE DEALERSHIP TO DO NOTHING. THE CAR IS CLEARLY UNSAFE, AND KNOWING THAT, I CANNOT EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN. *TR

2008 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER SENDS CORRESPONDENCE IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.

MY 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO HOLD SPEED DURING UP HILL CLIMB AND CAUSES ENGINE SURGES. *TR