NHTSA Complaint #10301973 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

WE HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. ON DEC.18, MY WIFE, PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING FASTER THAN SHE WANTED TO GO. SHE PUSHED ON THE FOOT BRAKE BUT COULD NOT SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE LET UP ON THE BRAKE, IT SPED UP MORE, AND EVEN APPLYING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS SHE COULD, IT DID NOT STOP. SHE BUMPED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER SUV AND THEN A LITTLE FURTHER ON JUMPED THE CURB AND SMASHED INTO A CONCRETE FILLED STEEL POLE WHICH DID MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. SHE THEN MANAGED TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND GOT IT STOPPED USING THE HAND BRAKE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY OPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AT MY REQUEST, THE BODY SHOP TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT MECHANICALLY AND ELECTRICALLY AND, OF COURSE, DECLARED ALL SYSTEMS WITHIN "FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS" IN THINKING BACK, MY WIFE CAN RECALL OTHER TIMES WHEN THE RAV 4 SEEMED TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN SHE EXPECTED, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING OVER 50 YEARS AND IS A CAUTIOUS DRIVER. DURING THIS WILD RIDE SHE CONSCIENTIOUSLY CHECKED TO SEE THAT SHE WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. THE FLOOR MAT IS SECURED BY LITTLE HOOKS SO IT CANNOT SLIDE UP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDALS. (IN THE IDLE POSITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ALMOST 2 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR). *TR