NHTSA Complaint #10562066 — 2010 TOYOTA RAV4

AFTER COMPLETING A 5 BLOCK DOWNHILL DRIVE IN SECOND GEAR WITH LITTLE USE OF EITHER THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE, I THEN BRAKED AS I TURNED INTO MY GARAGE IN ORDER TO PARK MY VEHICLE. AS I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND WHILE STILL BRAKING AND AT SLOWING SPEED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE AND UP SHIFTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. MY BRAKING MAY HAVE SLOWED, BUT DID NOT STOP, THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE WHEELS LOCKED, FORWARD PROGRESS STOPPED (JUST IN FRONT OF THE BACK WALL OF MY GARAGE), AND I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF USING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DID NOT THINK OF TRYING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH FIRST AND I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS; I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL OR IT WOULD HAVE HIT THE BACK WALL OF MY GARAGE. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED, I WAITED A FEW SECONDS, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE (WHICH STARTED NORMALLY), AND THEN BACKED INTO MY PARKING SPACE. I HAVE NOT USED THE VEHICLE SINCE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE IN 4 YEARS. UPDATED 04/08/14