NHTSA Complaint #10779897 — 2014 TOYOTA RAV4

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOW MOVING IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER CAR HAD COLLIDED WITH OTHER (PARKED) CARS, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. IT COLLIDED IN QUICK SUCCESSION WITH FOUR CARS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED (CAR WAS TURNED OFF). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, THERE WERE DOZENS OF PEDESTRIANS RETURNING TO THEIR VEHICLES AFTER A CLASSIC CONCERT. I ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CAR MAKER. INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON 6 JULY (CDR/EDR RECORD RECOVERED FROM SRS MODULE). IN SEPTEMBER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA SAYING NO MECHANICAL DEFECT WAS FOUND. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL DEFECT BUT A SOFTWARE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR OVER 15 YEARS - WHICH I HAD ALWAYS CONSIDERED A VERY RELIABLE COMPANY - HAVE BEEN A DRIVER FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A SINGLE ACCIDENT. THE EXPERIENCE WAS SO TERRIFYING IN SPITE OF TOYOTA REASSURANCE I FELT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND TRANSFERRED THE LEASE TO A DEALER (BEARING SOME MONETARY LOSS, UNFORTUNATELY). I FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT FUTURE OWNERS CAN BE MADE AWARE, AND IN ORDER TO ASSIST ACCURACY OF STATISTICS AND STUDIES ON SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS.