10 of the 397 complaints about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,500 miles.
10
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Four incidents of unintended acceleration , in all instances foot was on break petal NOT on gas petal, 3 instances vehicle was stopped at traffic light, last incident was pulling into a parking space foot on brake, in all instances braked hard and shifted vehicle into neutral and turned vehicle off to avoid collisions, personal injury and property damage
NHTSA complaint #11538937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE CANISTER WAS FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED NEW COUNTRY TOYOTA OF SARATOGA SPRING DEALER, (3002 NY-50 BUILDING #1, SAGATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866, (518) 584-7272) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #11299214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE WHEN LARGE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER DROPPED THEIR DRIVE SHAFT. SHE TRIED TO STRADDLE THE OBJECT DUE TO NO SHOULDER AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN NEXT LANE. REPORT STATED IT RUPTURE GAS TANK AND LOSS ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE SENDING GET INTO AND THROUGH GUARDRAIL. TOTALLED EVERYONE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH.
NHTSA complaint #11265257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON THE 2009 RAV 4. WITHOUT ISSUE. NOT ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS WEEKEND IT TRIED 3 TIMES TO ACCELERATE US INTO THE VEHICLES OR PEOPLE IN FRONT OF IS. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I VERIFIED THAT OUR FLOORMATS ARE BOTH SECURED AND DO NOT EXTEND TO THE AREA OF THE PEDAL. INCIDENT 1. WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP AT RED LIGHT, HEARD AND FELT ENGINE START TO REV. CAR LURCHED FORWARD, AND I APPLIED LEFT FOOT IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT WHICH WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE IN ATTEMPT TO STOP IT. HAD TO HIT SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL TO REGAIN CONTROL ONLY A FOOT OR 2 FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. MISTAKENLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. INCIDENT 2 TODAY-- WHILE SLOWING TO A RED LIGHT BY APPLICATION OF BRAKES WITH RIGHT FOOT, ENGINE REVVED UP TO APPROX. 3000 RPM AND TRIED ACCELERATING US INTO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF US. AGAIN- ONLY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL BROUGHT VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL.. INCIDENT 3 - APPROX 20 MIN AFTER INCIDENT 2 ON WAY HOME ( SUNDAY AFTERNOON)WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT. NO VEHICLES IN FRONT BY PEOPLE ENTERING THE CROSSWALK. HEARD AND FELT ENGINE START TO ACCELERATE. IMMEDIATE ADDITION OF RIGHT FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED WITHOUT SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL THIS TIME. VEHICLE IS PARKED AWAITING REPLY FROM TOYOTA. CHECKED TOYOTA WEBSITE AND IT SAYS THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS FOR THIS VIN.
NHTSA complaint #11072206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE TURNING, RIGHT, INTO A PARKING SPOT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR THEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10943710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE MORE FIRMLY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UNCONTROLLABLY IN A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. I SWITCHED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE MOTOR AND IT THEN RAN NORMALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10631628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON JUNE 8, 2014, WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA RAV4, I BEGAN TO SLOW FOR A STOP LIGHT. SEVERAL CARS WERE ALREADY STOPPED. SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY, MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND FORCING IT INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT; MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV-UP, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HARD ON THE BRAKES. FINALLY, I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. ALL THREE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED, TWO SIGNIFICANTLY. A PASSENGER IN THE SECOND VEHICLE EXPRESSED PERSONAL ANXIETY DUE TO A 'HEART CONDITION' AND POSSIBLE NECK INJURY. BOTH DRIVERS FILED CLAIMS ON MY INSURANCE, BUT NO DAMAGE ESTIMATES OR INJURY CLAIMS ARE AVAILABLE AS YET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DURING 2013, I HAD TWO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS AND SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING THIS RAV4, CAUSED BY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. DAMAGE OF ABOUT $3,000 WAS INCURRED; HOWEVER, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ONE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, THE RAV4 SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, ACCELERATED. IN EACH INSTANCE, I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE OCCURRED. PRIOR TO OWNING THE RAV4, I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 4-DOOR TOYOTA CAMRY. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, DURING THE EIGHT MONTHS I OWNED THE VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY AT CRUISING SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. BECOMING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ' I TRADED THE CAMRY ON THE THEN NEW 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. AS A 68 YEAR OLD SINGLE WORKING WIDOW, I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING THE RAV4 TO WORK OR ON WEEKENDS. IN JANUARY, 9013, A LEGAL CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR FOR TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, ADVISED BY LETTER THAT BASED ON THEIR INSPECTION OF THE 2009 RAV4; THE 2013 ACCIDENTS WERE 'NOT THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT.'
NHTSA complaint #10598075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 ON MONDAY APRIL 5, 2010 AND WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I FELT GAS SEEMED TO REV UP. I FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD HAVE LURCHED FORWARD HAD NOT MY FOOT BEEN ON THE BRAKE. ALSO TODAY AFTER MOVING FORWARD MY CAR MAINTAIN A 20 MILES AN HOUR SPEED WITHOUT MY PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, APRIL 13TH, 2010.
NHTSA complaint #10325505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) AND FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS: I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT V6 4X2 ON MAY 09, 2009 IN HOUSTON TEXAS. IT WAS ON DEC. 13, 2009 THAT I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-10 FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK CITY. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF I-10 BETWEEN EXIT 775A AND 776A. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A "CLICK" FROM THE DASH BOARD AND THE EPS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN I LOST THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, I FELT MY STEERING WHEEL SO HARD AND COULD NOT TURN IT. I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN THE VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I TRIED TO CALM DOWN AND PUT MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN MY CAR. IT TOOK ME ALMOST TEN MINUTES TO MOVE MY CAR TO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I CALLED MR. ZHU - A MANAGER OF SALES DEPARTMENT AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON TEXAS IMMEDIATELY AND REPORTED THIS INCIDENT. HE FOUND ME A PHONE NUMBER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FRED HAAS TOYOTA NEARBY AND ASKED ME TO CALL THEM AND GET MY CAR TOWED AND CHECKED. I CALLED THE NUMBER A COUPLE OF TIMES HOWEVER, NOBODY WAS THERE THEN. I TRIED TO RESTART CAR ENGINE FOR FIVE TIMES OR MORE, I FINALLY SOLVED THE EPS PROBLEMS. I CALLED MR. ZHOU AGAIN, AND TOLD HIM THAT NOBODY WAS THERE ANSWERING MY PHONE CALL. I ASKED HIM FOR THE ADDRESS OF THE FRED HAAS TOYOTA. I DROVE MY SICK CAR FOR 30 MINUTES VERY CAREFULLY TO FRED HAAS TOYOTA; UNFORTUNATELY, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY. I CALLED MR. ZHU AGAIN AND TOLD HIM ABOUT IT. THEN I DROVE MY CAR BACK TO HOUSTON ON INTERSTATE I-45, AFTER 15 MINUTES DRIVING, THE SAME PROBLEMS HAPPENED AGAIN... ...AFTER THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT READ CORRECTLY, IT SHOWED ONLY 1/2 FUEL OF MY FUEL TANK AFTER I FILLED IT UP. MOVING STRAIGHT FORWARD AND MAKING TURNS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE EPS PROBLEMS ARE MORE SERIOUS THAN THE GAS PEDAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE THIS EFFECTS IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY. I HAVE BEEN WORRYING ABOUT MY SAFETY DRIVING MY CAR SINCE I EXPERIENCED THE DANGERS!
NHTSA complaint #10319317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AT ABOUT NOON ON 2/3/10- OUR 2009 TOYOTA RAV 4 SUDDEN ACCELERATION (OR STUCK GAS PEDAL) CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY ABOUT 5-10MPH, JUST GLIDING BECAUSE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD BEEN STOPPED BY THE LIGHT AND IT WAS JUST STARTING TO SLOWLY MOVE AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE RAV 4 SEEMED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING ME TO PRESS AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKES, BUT I COULD NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT SEEMED AS IF THE RAV4 JUST ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. THE RAV 4 HAS BEEN TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. 4 HOURS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, WE HAD THE RAV 4 AT OUR TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT IT HAD ONE OF THE SUSPECT ASSEMBLIES. BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, AS THEY HAD NO INSTRUCTIONS OR PARTS YET FROM TOYOTA AND SAID WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE TIME CAME.
NHTSA complaint #10305089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.