NHTSA Complaint #10490058 — 2011 TOYOTA RAV4

THERE WERE THREE INDIVIDUALS IN VEHICLE, DRIVER AND THREE PASSENGERS - ALL ADULTS. DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL SECTION OF WESTERN CINCINNATI AREA (DELHI AREA) WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH. APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE. TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS RED SO BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKE. AS I CONTINUED TO APPROACH INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND I NOTICED ENGINE RPM'S WERE WELL IN EXCESS OF NORMAL (NOTED BY SOUND AND HAD NOT VERIFIED BY TACHOMETER). I HAD TO FIGHT THE VEHICLE TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP AS I HEARD THE TIRES SCREECH AND FELT THE VEHICLE LURCHING AS I PUSHED HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RPM'S WENT OUT OF CONTROL. SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND RPM'S AGAIN WENT OUT OF CONTROL. SHUT OFF VEHICLE A SECOND TIME, NUDGED THE BACK SIDE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SEE IF STUCK IN POSITION. I COULD NOT NOTICE THAT IT WAS STUCK DOWN. RESTARTED VEHICLE WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND RPM'S AND SUBSEQUENT OPERATION NORMAL FOR REMAINDER OF DAY (INCLUDED AT LEAST FOUR RESTARTS OF VEHICLE AND ~100 MILES OF DRIVING). HAVE NOT DRIVEN VEHICLE AGAIN SINCE THE DAY OF INCIDENT. *TR