NHTSA Complaint #10317892 — 2007 TOYOTA RAV4

IN MARCH OF 2008 I HAD TWO OCCURRENCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITH MY 2007 SIX CYLINDER TOYOTA RAV4. THE FIRST WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND PULLED ME THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME OR ONE COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT INCIDENT A MILDER LESS POWERFUL ACCELERATION EVENT HAPPENED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 26 08 AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR GIVE A REASON FOR IT. THE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IF THE PROBLEM RECURRED. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 2/19/2010. AS IN THE FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, THE EVENT HAPPENED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IN THIS CASE I QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, OR I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AS IN THE OTHER CASES AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR THE PROBLEM WAS OVER. OUR OTHER CAR IS A CAMRY AND I HAVE NEVER HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR OR ANY OTHER CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN NO REASON FOR THE EVENT WAS FOUND AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY OFFERED EXCEPT POSSIBLY A GAS PEDAL OVER RIDE IF ONE BECOMES AVAILABLE. AFTER THE LONG GAP IN TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO EVENTS I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY WERE A FLUKE. NOW I WORRY THAT I MAY BE IN AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I AM NO MECHANIC BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IT IS SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL EACH TIME THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED. *TR