NHTSA Complaint #10537605 — 2006 TOYOTA RAV4

THIS IS MY STORY: MY WIFE, YORKIE, AND I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON AT PRESCHOOL EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IN WESTON, FL WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEAR A BRIEF WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ON THE PANEL; THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I CRANKED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 100 YARDS. THE SAME WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SAME LIGHTS AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN ON AND IT IMMEDIATELY WOULD SHUT OFF; NOT A CHANCE TO ENGAGE TO DRIVE AND MOVE AN INCH. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL; THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE (THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD A LEAK AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED), NO FUNNY SMELLS, ETC. BY THIS TIME WE WERE SWEATING AND GETTING CONCERNED. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THAT THE A/C COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ADDS LOAD TO THE ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT; I TURNED OFF THE A/C BY DEPRESSING THE A/C BUTTON ON CAR'S DASH AND THE ENGINE STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PICK UP MY SON THANKFULLY. I WAS READY TO SEND MY WIFE ON A CAB TO GET HIM. MY QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS ARE THE FOLLOWING: WHY WOULD TOYOTA DESIGN THE ENGINE TO SHUT ITSELF OFF IN A SITUATION WHEN SOMETHING IN THE A/C FAILS? IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON AND HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT AND GOD FORBID IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THAT TOYOTA IMPLEMENTED A MECHANISM TO KILL THE ENGINE IF THE LOAD IN THE SERPENTINE BELT IS EXCESSIVE. YES, GOOD TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE, BUT I VALUE MY FAMILY'S AND MY LIFE MORE. THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT SHUT OFF... THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE WARNING LIGHTS AND OTHER SAFETY MECHANISMS. *TR