23 of the
332 complaints about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 are about the
braking system — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
22,000 miles.
In at least 5 or more instances the vehicle has had unintended acceleration and thrust the car forward while I was braking and trying to come to a stop. Once it happened at a 4-way intersection and propelled my car into the middle of the intersection and I had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with another car. I , or the other driver, could have been killed. In all cases the braking failed to stop the car and in fact sped it up even though the brakes were applied.
NHTSA complaint #11582671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moreno Valley, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
Brakes failed to stop while parking vehicle with a speed of less than 5 mph hitting landscaping with a young pine tree that made the vehicle stopped. Hit and went over some matured bushes on the landscaped parking lot. The SUV cannot be stopped even brakes were depressed all the way. I needed to have my vehicle towed out of the bushes and the broken young tree in order to get out of the rubble. I need to have my brakes inspected by the dealership this week as it happened this Christmas Eve and the service are closed.
NHTSA complaint #11445036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oviedo, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
The brake line on the on the driver's side leaked brake fluid on the rotors and pads leading to an increased risk of crash due to lubricated brakes
NHTSA complaint #11422084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,000 milesLagrangeville, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
I SAW ARTICLE IN USA TODAY. EXACT SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO MY RAV4 A MONTH AGO. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE BATTERY- BUT I PAID FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #11398466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, VA
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES NEVER APPEARED TO BE RIGHT ON THIS CAR FROM DAY 1. THEY SQUEEK WHEN BRAKING AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PADS, SHOES OR ROTORS, PER SEVERAL MECHANICS, INCLUDING TOYOTA CERTIFIED MECHANICS. GOT THEM CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. IF I HIT THE BRAKES TOO HARD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE UNTIL I LET UP ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME, ON ANY ROADWAY, WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11208915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesLOS Gatos, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
CAR WON'T START. PANEL TURNS ON BUT IT WON'T ENGAGE THE STARTER. CAN HEAR A BUZZ NOISE, LIKE A MAGNETIZED COIL GOING OFF. SHIFTER IS LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH DOWN. ONLY WAY I CAN START THE CAR IS WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PUSHING THE START BUTTON FOR 15 SECONDS. BUT STILL THE SHIFTER IS BLOCKED IN PARKING AND TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR I NEED TO USE THE LITTLE SWITCH UNDER THE BUTTON SIZE COVER NEXT TO THE SHIFTER. TOYOTA HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES
NHTSA complaint #11172318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 379 milesSpringfield Gardens, NYCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES CEASED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO THREE TRUCKS AND A TREE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 379.*TT CONSUMER STATED SHE STARTED REVERSING AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATION, SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE IT DID NOT STOP AS A RESULT THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT 3 PARKED TRUCKS. UPDATED 8/15/18
NHTSA complaint #11046612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesJericho, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY BRAKE, IT MAKES A SOUND EVERY TIME YOU APPLY BRAKE. MOREOVER THE BRAKES FEELS VERY SOFT, NEED TO PUSH VERY HARD ON BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND ON ORIGINAL TOYOTA BRAKES THAT CAME WITH THE NEW CAR. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10936362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesEscondido, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
MAKES LOT OF NOISE FRONT BRAKES WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10934019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yonkers, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN THE CITY OF YONKERS, NEW YORK. CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THRU TOYOTA DEALERSHIP
NHTSA complaint #10926032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesSevern, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION WITH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). CAR FAILS TO BRAKE PROPERLY AND SLIDES WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED THE BRAKE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP, SLID INTO THE BACK OF AN 18-WHEELER.
NHTSA complaint #10872683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,643 milesSAN Jose, CA, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE I WAS STOPPING IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT, AND MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE, I PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, CAR KEPT ON MOVING. I THEN USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, SO NO ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED ON LAST SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016, EARLY IN THE MORNING. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR'S BRAKE FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED. BUT I ALWAYS HAVE A FEAR THAT IT MIGHT DO THE SAME THING SOMETIME SOMEDAY, AND I MIGHT NOT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ACCIDENT FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10870470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesMassena, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR PADS, ROTORS, AND HARDWARE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10861661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesManchaca, TXCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLES HAD MINOR DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #10861879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesAPO, AE
SERVICE BRAKES
THE "POWER BRAKE ACTUATOR" WENT OUT ON MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4 THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD COME ON. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING WOULD ALL STOP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WOULD MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHAT SO EVER.
NHTSA complaint #10819456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackensack, NJCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
HI, WE (MYSELF, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER) HAD AN ACCIDENT DATED 08/02/2015 DUE TO BRAKES IN OUR TOYOTA 2013 RAV 4 DIDN'T FUNCTION. WE WERE TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED OF 65/HR AND THERE WERE 3 CARS AHEAD OF US THAT BRAKED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL CARS TO STOP INCLUDING OUR CAR BUT INSPITE OF FULL BRAKING IT FAILED TO AND HAPPENED TO CRASH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. OUR CAR JUST COULD NOT COME TO COMPLETE STOP. WE STRONGLY FEEL ITS NOT SAFE FOR OUR FAMILY TO DRIVE IN THAT CAR ANY MORE. WE HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AS WELL, BUT ITS BEEN 3 DAYS HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. ALL THEY DID WAS EMAIL US SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH US WHEN WE DID NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS AT OUR END. WE REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND IT MIGHT BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. THANKING YOU, [XXX] FAMILY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #10746259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,309 milesBaltimore, MDCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 36 AND BEFORE THE RED LIGHT I LEFT MY RIGHT LEG FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET READY TO STOP BY THE RED LIGHT . AT THAT MOMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND TO MY LEG PRESSING AND THE TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND HAVING CARS STOPPED INFRONT OF ME BY THE RED LIGHT I HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A BIG TREE. THE DAMAGE REACHED ALMOST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT HOOD; HOWEVER, NO ANY AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED OR ACTIVATED DUE TO THE CRASH AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BY THE AMBULANCE AND BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVEN DAYS AND FOR THE FIRST FOUR DAYS I LOST ANY SENSATION IN MY BOTH LEGS WITH A SEVER SPINE PAIN AND UNTIL NOW MY BOTH LEGS HURT ME AND SO DOES MY BACK ( SPINE ). PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE CAR STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND ALL THE SERVICES WERE CONNECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE. THE LAST WAS CONDUCTED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON SEP 15, 2014 AT 13:25 - 14:39. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE EXACTLY AS THE DEALER RECOMMENDED.....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF..........UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/15/2017
NHTSA complaint #10672339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200 milesANN Arbor, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
THE RAV4 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A DEALER. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FELT EXCESSIVE, AS IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR IN THE SYSTEM. WITH A MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE PEDAL WAS ALMOST TO THE END OF ITS STROKE. I MEASURED THE PEDAL TRAVEL STATICALLY IN MY GARAGE = WITH 25 POUNDS EFFORT, THE TRAVEL WAS 2.5 INCHES. BUT WITH 100 POUNDS EFFORT, THE PEDAL WAS ABOUT 1/2" FROM THE FLOOR, MEANING THAT IN THE ADVENT OF A FAILED BRAKE CIRCUIT, THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH PEDAL TRAVEL TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE PEDAL EFFORT V. TRAVEL FELT LINEAR, AND NOT ASYMPTOTIC AS ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM A BRAKE PEDAL. I TOOK THE RAV4 TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NO ISSUES AND NO SERVICE WAS DONE. AFTER THE VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEEL WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THE PEDAL TRAVEL AT 25 POUNDS EFFORT WAS NOW 1.5", WHICH FELT NORMAL. ALSO, THE PEDAL FEEL WAS NOW ASYMPTOTIC AND PLENTY OF TRAVEL WAS LEFT AVAILABLE TO ALLOW FOR A SAFE STOP WITH A FAILED CIRCUIT. SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CHANGED ON THE VEHICLE DURING ITS VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE RAV4 BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE BRAND NEW STATE IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, WHILE MEASURING THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IN MY GARAGE I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD DEPLETE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRAKE APPLICATION IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS MODULATED SLIGHTLY (FOR EXAMPLE, PULSED UP AND DOWN SLIGHTLY WITHOUT FULLY RETRACTING IT). I CONSIDER THIS UNSAFE AS WELL BECAUSE IF AN UNUSUAL EVENT OCCURRED, SUCH AS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, THEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD QUICKLY DEPLETE LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT BRAKE ASSIST AND UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, UNLESS HE/SHE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO FULLY RETRACT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT FIRMLY.
NHTSA complaint #10651568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesWyoming, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FADING AND OVERHEATING. DURING A LONG DESCENT ON HIGHWAY THAT REQUIRED FREQUENT APPLICATION OF BRAKES TO MAINTAIN SPEED, I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT BRAKE FADING AND OVERHEATING. AT THE END OF THE HILL BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED REQUIRING MORE PRESSURE AND PEDAL TRAVEL TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE BRAKING ACTION. BRAKING WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION THAT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS RESTORED AFTER THE BRAKES COOLED DOWN. AFTER THE INCIDENT I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT RAV4 LE IS EQUIPPED WITH SMALLER FRONT BRAKES THAN XLE AND LIMITED MODELS. LE FRONT ROTORS ARE ONLY 10.8", SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN 11.7" ROTORS ON THE XLE AND LIMITED, AS WELL AS MOST COMPETITIVE VEHICLE WHICH COME EQUIPPED WITH ~12" OR BIGGER BRAKE ROTORS. BASED ON THE FADING / OVERHEATING EXPERIENCED AND THE FACT THAT RAV4 LE BRAKES ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN MOST OTHER SMALL SUV, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE BRAKES ROTORS ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE SIZE / GVWR OF THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10597294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,025 milesUnknown, DC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I LEASED 2013 TOYOTA RAV4, AROUND 2900 MILES THE WARNING AND INDICATING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS "SOME ONE HIT ABS SENSOR AND CUT HARNESS ..." SINCE THE SENSORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, IT WILL COST ME $600 IN REPAIRS. THE FAILED SENSORS ARE USED FOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND TRACTION CONTROL . I THINK THAT THE CABLE HARNESS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM ROAD HAZARDS AND THE CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR TOYOTA DESIGN FLAWS. PLEAD FIND ATTACHED SOME SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU,
NHTSA complaint #10578701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,343 milesHilliard, OH
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES SCRAPE LOUDLY WHILE BACKING AND ON TURNS. TOOK INTO DEALER,REAR PADS GLAZED ,ROTORS UNEVEN DEALER SANDED AND DEGLAZED REAR PADS,APPLY FINISH CUT/MACHINE TO REAR ROTORS NOW AT0.455IN NEW ROTORS0.472 NOT A GOOD SIGN AT 5343 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10559706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KSCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL SHE HIT A CEMENT POST IN FRONT OF THE PARKING AREA.
NHTSA complaint #10549100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4 milesGreensboro, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY BRAKE, IT MAKES A SOUND EVERY TIME YOU SQUEEZE THE RELEASE THE BRAKE. MOREOVER THE BRAKES DOES NOT GRIP AS TIGHT AS EXPECTED FROM A BRAND NEW CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10545635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.