2017 Toyota RAV4 Driver assistance Problems

PCS brake has enormously engaged twice. 1. small branch fell off tree on a dirt road. brakes engaged and should not have and almost caused vehicle to slide off a 1000 foot cliff. 2. auto braked with my dog was in car and broke dogs' leg and cost a 2,000 dollar vet bill. brakes where not needed i could have easily just did a slight steering adjustment to avoid collusion. the braking prevented that and almost was also almost rearended overall, the autobrake can be disabled with a lot of work on various menus. but comes on when the car is restarted. I do this every time i restart the car. I suspect a glitch or a low voltage caused it to come back on. Also trying to always remember to do it is difficult to do. I consider this auto brake to be a huge safety risk and could cause loss of life. I am so scared by this and afraid to dive the car now. may have to take a total loss on the car I just bought. Toyota dealers said they cannot reprogram the car to prevent this serious safety risk

NHTSA ID

11717895

Incident

Feb 12, 2026

I am the driver's husband and the driver was the only one in the car. I assist her to file this report The accident happened around 6 pm on 12.28.2025 My wife was involved in a single car accident in a parking lot. She made a left turn at the intersection of 192nd ave and 3rd st, and then entered into the parking lot from the north entrance. The car hit the curb as she entered the parking lot. Then the car (RAV4) started accelerating by itself, and was out of control. She cannot stop the car. To avoid going straight and hit the shops at the other end of the parking lot, she turned the wheel to one side. She hit a light post and then hit something else. The vehicle flipped over and landed on its roof. The vehicle was totaled. She was trapped inside the car unable to free herself until the ambulance, tow truck and the police arrived. By God's grace, she did not hit any other car or person and she only suffered minor injury. She was taken to the emergency room at Peace Health, examined and released after 3 hours. If you look at the RAV4, you cannot believe that she only suffered minor injury. Praise the Lord. She is still mentally shaken up by this traumatic event. Looking at the pictures of the damage to the vehicle, the car must have been traveling at a very high speed and there is no way that the driver stepped on the gas pedal intentionally. The insurance Company is Liberty Mutual Claim# [XXX] -XX The vehicle is considered total loss by the insurance company. EDR was inspected but data in the EDR was not collected. I suspect this incident was not caused by the driver, The data in the EDR will tell the true story. I asked Liberty Mutual to retrieve the data from the EDR to prove that the gas pedal was not depressed by the driver. If the car accelerated without the driver stepping on the gas pedal, then the vehicle has safety issues. I am waiting for Liberty Mutual to retrieve the data. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11710173

Incident

Dec 28, 2025

While driving the vehicle on an uphill stretch of highway with cruise control set at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly slowed down without warning. A distinct clunk was heard at the same moment. The cruise control system attempted to restore speed, and the engine became noticeably louder, but the vehicle struggled to return to the set speed. The driver tapped the brake to disengage cruise control and manually pressed the accelerator to resume normal speed. The trip was completed without additional events. After parking, the check engine light illuminated and the cruise control system became disabled on all subsequent drives. No warning indicators were present at the time of the initial failure, and there were no vehicles ahead that would have triggered the collision-avoidance system. Two days later, the vehicle became an intermittent no-start and eventually failed to start entirely. The vehicle was towed to a dealership for inspection. Technicians confirmed an electrical malfunction and reported that the multiplex ECU was likely experiencing an internal short. A parasitic draw test showed an abnormally high current draw of approximately 113 mA, which disappeared when the dome-light fuse and later the multiplex ECU were disconnected. The failure is intermittent and appears to involve an internal electrical short within the multiplex ECU. The sudden loss of cruise control function, abrupt deceleration, and subsequent intermittent electrical behavior created a safety risk, as the electrical malfunction occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. The issue was confirmed by a dealership service department.

NHTSA ID

11702258

Incident

Nov 27, 2025

My 2017 Toyota RAV4 XLE is experiencing unsafe behavior with the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). When driving around modest or slight turns, the ACC frequently loses tracking of the vehicle ahead and suddenly accelerates, then harshly brakes once it reacquires the vehicle. This creates a jerking motion and significantly reduces my confidence in the system. On one occasion while traveling approximately 45 miles per hour on a slight curve, the ACC began rapidly accelerating toward the vehicle in front of me as if no vehicle was there, forcing me to perform an emergency manual takeover and disengage the ACC to avoid a potential rear end collision. This issue is repeatable and appears to be related to how the ACC detects vehicles ahead while cornering. I am requesting that this behavior be investigated as a potential safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11698030

Incident

Nov 4, 2025

Gas pedal won’t work

NHTSA ID

11635302

Incident

Jan 10, 2025

i have a 2017 rav4 with less than 60k miles and the factory back up camera stopped working

NHTSA ID

11620746

Incident

Oct 3, 2024

I have a 2017 RAV4 Hybrid XLE that I bought brand New. I have done all schedule maintenance on it. I was driving to an appointment on 15 November 2023 and the vehicle all the sudden jerked violently side to side throwing me off the road. I brought the car to the shop thinking an alignment or something. My whole rear subframe was cracked, and by the driver side rear wheel bolt it was broke straight through where the tow bar connects to the subframe. The mechanic said it was from rust from living in the Northeast, and the salt from the road during winter months. The Mechanic said Even though I took care of the vehicle this was going to happen anyways due to the subframe suspension parts that Toyota puts in the RAV4. Being flung into a ditch coming off a highway is a dangerous situation, and could of cost me my life because Toyota wants to save money and put in parts knowing that the rust problem will and could occur. I did my research, and found out this has been going on since 2007 and there have been recalls on models all the way up to 2012. If this is a known thing then why is Toyota being allowed to still make a weak subframe. Does someone have to die for this to be stoped. I’m am asking for a recall on all models of 2017 Rav4 hybrids and on to fix this problem. I am lucky to escape with minor injures, but maybe the next person isn’t. Something has to be done.

NHTSA ID

11559969

Incident

Nov 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that upon shifting to drive (D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lurched, accelerated unintendedly, and crashed into the base of a lamp pole; however, the engine continued to rev loudly. The air bags did not deploy. The contact depressed the brake pedal and while attempting to reverse away from the lamp pole, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and impacted a curb. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The contact then pulled into a parking space. The contact did not sustain any injury. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an autobody repair shop, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was significantly damaged. The contact was referred to an auto collision center. The vehicle was towed to the auto collision center where repairs were made. The vehicle was the taken to the dealer, where the EDR crash data report was read. The manufacturer sent a letter to the contact, informing her that the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 24, 971.

NHTSA ID

11554196

Incident

Jun 15, 2023

Mileage

24,971 mi

I was slowing at a stop sign and the car suddenly accelerated. My foot was not on the gas pedal but it continued to accelerate causing and accident at an intersection.

NHTSA ID

11531426

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

As I drive about 70 MPH, the ABS and the brake lights come on and the car is momentarily out of control. As I grabbed the tearing and reduce the speed dramatically, the system correct itself and I am able to continue driving at a very low speed.

NHTSA ID

11520601

Incident

May 4, 2023

I have attached a letter that I wrote Toyota but did not mail. Vechicle is a 2017 Rav Hybrid. We bought it in CA April 2021 and it had 28230 miles. Car went to Renton WA in August, 2021. Vechicle was serviced a couple of times, but in October 2022, dealer gave us a bill for $9700 due to a faulty wire halter. The Toyota people said the car is out of warranty. Please read the letter with lots more details. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11496822

Incident

Oct 5, 2022

WITH RAIN AND SNOW THE SENSOR START BEEPING AND WARNING OF OBJECTS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE ARE NOTHING. DRIVING IN SNOW GETS THE SENSORS BLOCKED AND YOU CANT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11374067

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SWITCHED LANES AND THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE FEATURE IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DETECTION SYSTEM ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE PRECEDING VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 150 FEET AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11166201

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

38,000 mi

I WAS BACKING MY CAR UP TO UNLOAD A SHELF AT WORK. I WAS BACKING A SHORT DISTANCE( 15 FT) ON A FLAT SURFACE.THE TAILGATE OF THE CAR WAS UP. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT TO BACK IT TOWARDS A HANDICAP RAMP. MY CAR WAS ROLLING SO I WAS USING THE BRAKE AND MOVING SLOWLY WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. I WAS PRESSING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, ALMOST STANDING ON IT , AND MY CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH THE RAILING ONTO THE RAMP WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THIS RAILING WAS ABOUT 35 FT LONG AND HAD 7 POST THAT WERE CEMENTED INTO THE RAMP. THE WHOLE RAILING WAS KNOCKED DOWN. TWO OF MY COWORKERS WERE STANDING ON THE RAMP WAITING TO HELP UNLOAD THE SHELF WERE INJURED. BOTH COWORKERS HAD BROKEN LEGS THAT REQUIRED METAL RODS. ONE COWORKER HAD A MORE SERIOUS LEG INJURY AND WILL REQUIRE MULTIPLE SURGERIES AND SKIN GRAFTING.

NHTSA ID

11128346

Incident

Aug 16, 2018

Mileage

29,000 mi

I HAD THE DEALER CHECK ON A PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. THE STATED "IF CUSTOMER IS A TWO FOOTED RIVER OR THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOUCHED ALONG WITH THE GAS PEDAL THE ACCELERATOR IS OVER RIDDEN IN THE COMPUTER CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE". THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIME WITH MY VEHICLE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. . USUALLY WHEN FROM A STOP INTO TRAFFIC. POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF NO POWER WHEN CROSS TRAFFIC IS COMING OR WHEN ENTERING FREEWAY. WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA ID

11063741

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

Mileage

8,000 mi

2017 RAV4 HYBRID XLE - 4300 MILES HELLO, EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM LAST WEEK DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL TO COAST, THE "EV" LIGHT CAME ON FOR ABOUT "1/2 - 1" SECOND AND THEN WENT OFF. IF I HAPPENED TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AT THE TIME THE LIGHT WAS ON AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH, I EXPERIENCED A SHAKING, VIBRATION, AND A FEELING THAT I RAN OVER SOMETHING FOR ABOUT A 1/2 SECOND TIMEFRAME. IT WAS VERY NOTICEABLE AND TROUBLING. IF I WAITED THE SECOND FOR THE LIGHT TO GO OFF WHILE COASTING, THEN NO PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE, NO COMPUTER CODES, AND INDICATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL SINCE THE ELECTRIC AND GAS IS "OUT OF SYNC" AT THE HIGH SPEED. THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT NORMAL TO ME. MY THOUGHT IS THAT THE EV LIGHT SHOULD NEVER HAD COME ON (EVEN FOR A 1/2 SECOND) AT THE HIGH SPEEDS AND THERE IS A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE.

NHTSA ID

11055580

Incident

Nov 26, 2017

Mileage

4,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRIME TOYOTA RT 2, 700 OLD UNION TURNPIKE, LANCASTER, MA 01523), BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT KNOBS JAMMED.*JS UPDATED 9/18/18*JB *JS *TR *JS *TR *JS

NHTSA ID

11052764

Incident

Oct 5, 2017

Mileage

9,000 mi

AS I WAS APPROACHING THE MAIL BOX AREA IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TURN INTO THE PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF THE FOUR METAL MAILBOXES AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN "PARK" WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED THE SIX-INCH, BRICK-PAVER CURB. I CRASHED INTO THE MAILBOX STRUCTURE, COMPLETELY UPLIFTING THE BASE THAT WAS BOLTED INTO THE CONCRETE AND HIT A WOOD TRASH CONTAINER HOLDER. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL HARDER BUT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND I ALSO COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. I CONTINUED UP A HILL (AT 45-50 MPH) CONSISTING OF TALL GRASS, WILDFLOWERS, ROCKS, ETC., ACROSS A WALKING PATH OF WOODCHIPS AND MULCH, THEN DOWN THE HILL (STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) GRAZING THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES OF A SMALL TREE BEFORE COMING OFF THE SIX-INCH CURB AND BACK ONTO THE STREET, WHERE I HIT A LIGHT POST. I MANAGED TO LIFT THE PARKING BRAKE, SLAM ON THE BRAKE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11013006

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

4,712 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH, MY RAV 4 CAME TO AN ABRUPT DEAD STOP WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, BUT A CAR WAS STOPPED IN A MEDIAN TO MY LEFT FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF MY CAR. I COULD ONLY ASSUME THAT MY RAV 4 APPARENTLY SENSED THAT CAR WHEN IT CAME TO A SUDDEN DEAD STOP. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT OFF. A PASSENGER WITH ME, WHO IS A WITNESS TO THIS EVENT, IS AN OWNER OF A RAV 4 SE WITHOUT THE SAFETY SENSE/PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. WE WERE SHOOK UP BY THIS BECAUSE HAD THERE BEEN A CAR OR SEMI TRUCK TRAILER BEHIND US, WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA OF WARREN, WHERE WE PURCHASED THE NEW CAR, AND AFTER A DAY IN SERVICE, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE WITH THE SENSORS ALIGNED CORRECTLY. I WAS TO LET THEM KNOW IF THIS SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN, AND IT DID. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, AGAIN WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WITH NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, A CAR IN THE PASSING LANE WENT BY ME AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH TO MY 65 MPH. MY CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP. THANK GOD THERE WAS NOT A CAR BEHIND ME AT THE TIME, OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WE EXPERIENCED, WE FOUND A NUMBER OF REPORTS CONCERNING THIS VERY SITUATION HAPPENING WITH THEIR RAV 4'S COMING TO SUDDEN STOPS FOR NO REASON. THESE REPORTS OF THIS VERY PROBLEM WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WITH NO RESOLUTION. THESE OWNERS ALSO SOLD THEIR CARS AT A LOSS BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. ACCORDING TO THESE REPORTS, TOYOTA DOES KNOW THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937816

Incident

Nov 10, 2016

Mileage

2,000 mi