2005 Toyota RAV4 Driver assistance Problems

On 10/1/2022 in Berwick, PA while pulling into the Dollar Tree parking lot, smoke appeared in the passenger cabin and the vehicle accelerated on it's own. The brakes were applied and the vehicle continue to accelerate. The vehicle went down through a yard, across a road through another parking lot and crashed into a high curb before stalling out. The airbags deployed. My mother was transported to the hospital and is still in ICU with broken ribs, cuts and bruises. She was able to steer the vehicle away from a parked car, a person on a bicycle and missed a rose bush, no one else was injured in the incident. A police report has been completed, the vehicle is still in the custody of the towing company and has not been released to the insurance company.

NHTSA ID

11487875

Incident

Oct 1, 2022

WHILE DRIVING THE VSC LIGHT AND ALARM FLASH AND SOUND AND THE VEHICLE APPLIES THE BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER INTO OTHER LANE

NHTSA ID

11277452

Incident

Oct 15, 2019

Mileage

194,558 mi

WHEN DRIVING 25-30 MPH AND GOING AROUND CURVES AT LOW SPEED THE CAR BREAKS HARD AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING OUT OF CONTROL. IT IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DOING 25-30 MPH. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES THIS WEEK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FREEWAY AND ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES AND NOT GOING FAST AT ALL..

NHTSA ID

10992597

Incident

May 31, 2017

Mileage

203,000 mi

2005 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FIRST UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DEALERSHIP EXAMINATION REPORTED NO DEFECTS, SECOND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *SMD THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED, WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING. AFTER SHE SHIFTED TO DRIVE, AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH INCREDIBLE SPEED AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, WENT INTO CIRCLES AND COLLIDED WITH A NEARBY UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED, WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITH THE ENGINE RACING. HE TRIED TO STOP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE BOUNCED OFF AND TO THE LEFT, AND THEN HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 01/25/17/17.*JB

NHTSA ID

10874081

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

I'VE TAKEN TO 6 MECHANICS AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NO CONSTANTLY ON. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY WANTED $400 TO DIAGNOSE AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS ISSUE BECAUSE I LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHEN THE ROAD IS CLEAR AND DRY. IT BEEPS AND I GUESS TRIES TO STABILIZE ITSELF. ALWAYS ON THE HIGHWAY. ON THE STREETS THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHES FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ID

10840173

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH MY 2005 RAV 4. WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY ON A SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND AN AUDIBLE BEEP CAN BE HEARD IN THE CABIN. THIS USUALLY INDICATES THE CAR IS IN A SKID BUT I ASSURE YOU I AM IN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IN ITS LANE. AFTER 2 TO 3 SECONDS OF CONSTANT BEEPING THE ENGINE CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHEEL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE. JUST AS QUICKLY AS THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION AND THE ISSUE CEASES TO EXIST. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS VERY ISSUE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. MOST HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 35MPH) AND ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT ARE WITHIN OPERATING SPECIFICATION. I HAVE NOTICED HOWEVER, THAT THE STEERING RACK BUSHINGS ARE WORN. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE RACK TO MOVE ABOUT SLIGHTLY WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF ITS MOUNT. TO MY DISMAY, TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS FOR THE STEERING RACK ON 2004-2005 MODEL RAV-4'S, FORCING OWNERS TO PAY FOR A COMPLETELY NEW STEERING RACK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A BRAND THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON RELIABILITY AND REASONABLY PRICED MAINTENANCE. THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED BY AN SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERED COMPONENTS. IE: STEERING BUSHINGS; CAUSING TOO MUCH PLAY AND ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS UNSETTLING OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10808302

Incident

Dec 3, 2015

Mileage

185,232 mi

RAV4 WAS TOTAL STOPPED ON A STOP SIGN. ON TAKING THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PADDLE TO MOVE AHEAD ON GREEN SIGNAL, EVEN BEFORE THE FOOT TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PADDLE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DRIVER HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS RAV4 FOR FEW YEARS AND HAS A VERY CLEAN DRIVING RECORD AND WAS AT REGULAR UNIVERSITY STOP. THE DAMAGE WAS SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE. THE DAMAGE LOOKS LIKE A HIGH SPEED IMPACT. A OLD 2005 RAV4 WITH 122000 MILES ON IT CANNOT MOVE THAT FAST EVEN IF TRIED. THE DAMAGE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THE POLICE OFFICER WAS INFORMED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CONFUSING AND LATER THINKING BACK, IT LOOKED IMPOSSIBLE TO BE BECAUSE OF HUMAN ERROR EVEN IF TRIED. THE HOUSEHOLD HAS CLEAN RECORD (NO TICKETS, NO ACCIDENTS FROM US) ON 3 VEHICLES FOR PAST 15 YEARS. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A REGULAR DAILY UNIVERSITY STOP WHERE THE VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN SLOWLY ANYWAYS. THE DAMAGE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF THAT THE VEHICLE HAD UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION. INCIDENT HAPPENED MOVING FROM A DEAD TOTAL STOPPED VEHICLE (0 MPH). BUT THE DAMAGE LOOKS LIKE THE VEHICLE CRASHED IN WITH A HIGH SPEED. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE OTHER DRIVER WERE CONFUSED, AS NOTED TO THE ATTENDING POLICE OFFICER.

NHTSA ID

10788787

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPIRAL CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 244,000.

NHTSA ID

10730887

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

244,000 mi

I WAS PARKING, 10 MINUTES EARLY, ENTERING THE SPOT AT ABOUT 1 MPH, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR LURCHED OVER A LARGE CURB AND LAUNCHED ITSELF INTO A BUILDING. AS IT WAS LURCHING INTO THE BUILDING, I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND PULLED ON THE PARKING BRAKE WITH MY RIGHT HAND AND ARM. THESE ACTIONS STOPPED THE CAR AS IT CRASHED INTO THE GLASS AND METAL FRONT WINDOWS. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS, NOT EVEN A TICKET, FOR 38 YEARS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I HAD TOYOTA INSPECT THE CAR. THEIR FINDING WAS THAT THE "ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATED SMOOTHLY AND RETURNED TO ITS IDLE POSITION WITHOUT ANY STICKING OR HESITATION," AND THAT THE INSPECTOR "WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE YOUR CONCERN." I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS DETERMINES ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO THIS ACCIDENT. I DO KNOW THAT MY EXPERIENCE AS A DRIVER AND MY ABILITY TO STOP THE CAR KEPT THIS ACCIDENT FROM BEING FAR WORSE. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS TO STOP THE CAR, MY RIGHT ARM SUFFERED SEVERE NERVE DAMAGE. I STILL BELIEVE TO THIS DAY THAT THIS WAS AN INCIDENT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643035

Incident

Feb 21, 2014

Mileage

55,266 mi

AS I EXIT THE HIGHWAY ON SHARP OFF RAMPS OR TAKE OTHER SIMILAR TIGHT TURNS, VSC TRAC SENSOR LIGHTS TURNS ON AND OFF AND I CAN HEAR GRINDING NOISE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL AUTO-ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES. THE ROADWAYS HAVE NEVER BEEN SLICK OR WET AND THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (30-50 MPH). *TR

NHTSA ID

10596549

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10552807

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A METAL POST AND BUILDING. A PASSENGER WAS SLIGHTLY BRUISED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72.330 UPDATED 01/26/11*LJ UPDATED 03/28/11

NHTSA ID

10367077

Incident

Aug 31, 2010

Mileage

72,330 mi

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ACCELERATION FROM A STOP WHILE DRIVING MY RAV4 IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT WITH NO CHANGE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS (ONE HAD THE CAR FOR EVALUATION FOR A DAY AND CHARGED ME A DIAGNOSIS FEE AND FOR A RENTAL CAR) THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. I HOLD A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE HAD MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING A WIDE VARIETY OF VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE CAR HITS SOMETHING. TOYOTA MUST ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS REMEDIED THERE IS THE REAL RISK OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE BEING DAMAGED OR HURT (OR WORSE). UPDATE: ON MARCH 3, 2010 I DELIVERED THE CAR TO DICK DYER IN COLUMBIA, SC AT TOYOTA'S REQUEST. THE REGIONAL TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE CAR THAT DAY. I HAVE SINCE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER AND INFORMED THAT TOYOTA IS FLYING A TEAM OF ENGINEERS FROM CALIFORNIA TO EVALUATE THE CAR NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 05/28/10.*JB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ELECTRONIC SOFTWARE, INTERFACE DESIGN WAS FLAWED. THE THROTTLE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE DID NOT ACCURATELY TRACK EACH OTHER. THERE WAS A DELAY, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ABRUPT AND EXCESSIVE ENGINE RESPONSE. UPDATED 09/26/12

NHTSA ID

10319117

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT APPROX 1-2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. SHE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION BEFORE THAT FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 99,200. UPDATED 5/6/10 *CN UPDATED 06/24/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10317103

Incident

Mar 3, 2010

Mileage

99,200 mi

TOYOTA 2005 RAV4 CAR ACCELERATED WHEN GETTING READY TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316972

Incident

Mar 3, 2010

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 1-10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO TURN MAKE A LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN OPPOSING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10303018

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

38,000 mi

WE WERE APPROACHING OUR GARAGE WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUR 2005 TOYOTA RAV4 ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PETAL. WE DROVE THROUGH THE FRONT OF OUR GARAGE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE AND THE SUV. BOTH GARAGE DOORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE FRONT OF OUR GARAGE HAD TO BE REFRAMED AND DRY-WALLED INSIDE. MY HUSBANDS 1977 JEEP-CJ7 THAT HAS BEEN TOTALLY RESTORED WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPAINTED. THE SUV SUFFERED DAMAGE REQUIRING A NEW PASSENGER DOOR, NEW PASSENGER SIDE TRIM, NEW SIDE MIRRORS, NEW HEADLIGHTS, AND REPAINTING OF THE FRONT HALF OF THE SUV. WE CONTACTED THE POLICE AND THEY SAID SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO OUR PROPERTY NO REPORT NEEDED TO BE FILED. WE DID TAKE PICTURES FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH WE STILL HAVE, AND WE CAN OBTAIN A COPY OF THE REPORT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND OR THE BODY SHOPS. WE ALSO CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS WITH ANY OTHER RAV4S AND THEY SAID NO. WE HAVE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME TIMES WHEN THE THROTTLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE WHILE WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BUT NOTHING AS SEVERE AS THE ACCIDENT. WITH THE RECENT RECALLS OF TOYOTAS WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRING AND FOR THE SAFETY OF LIVES. *CN

NHTSA ID

10302890

Incident

Dec 3, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi