NHTSA Complaint #10824605 — 2012 TOYOTA RAV4

I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND FORGOT TO PUT IT IN PARK. BECAUSE THE CAR HAS KEYLESS START, I WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE CAR WITHOUT TAKING A KEY OUT. THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK AND BECAUSE I LIVE AT THE TOP OF A HILL, IT BEGAN TO PICK UP SPEED. MY NEIGHBOR LIVES AT THE BOTTOM OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR WAS HEADING STRAIGHT TO THEIR HOUSE. LUKILY, THE CAR HIT A TREE WHICH STOPPED IT FROM HITTING THEIR HOUSE AND POTENTIALLY KILLING SOMEONE. THE ADJUSTER JUST TOLD ME MY CAR IS TOTALED DUE TO THE SPEED AT WHICH IT HIT THE TREE. HOWEVER, HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SPEED AT WHICH THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING WHEN IT HIT THE TREE, IT MAY HAVE HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND CONTINUED THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FLAW OF WHICH NO ONE I SPEAK TO ABOUT IT IS AWARE. THEY ACTUALLY TEST IT WHICH THEIR OWN CAR AND NOTICE THE SAME ISSUE. IN MY OPINION, THERE SHOULD BE A MODIFICATION TO THIS FEATURE TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE. ESPECIALLY IS THERE ARE KIDS NEAR THE CAR.