2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV Power Train Problems
3 NHTSA complaints on file
Power Train Issues in the 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV
3 power train complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
3
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Power Train Complaints
MY 2012 RAV4 EV HAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE FROM R TO D, OR D TO R WHEN STATIONARY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION INDICATES SO. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD MOVES INADVERTENTLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT HAS BEEN A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION, BUT THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD BE INSTALLED AND MIGHT CORRECT THE MATTER. IT HAS NOT, AND MY WIFE AND I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM RANDOMLY. ON MARCH 5, 2016 HOWEVER, THE CONDITION CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING SPOT ON THE STREET. I INITIALLY HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE CAR TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT (REBOOTING THE SOFTWARE). THIS TIME REVERSE...
ON OCTOBER 17 SHORTLY BEFORE 2 PM PST IN CLEAR WEATHER, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ABOUT 2 TO 3 MPH. I TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO THE SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR SURGED OVER THE CURB, HIT A TREE, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED ONTO A PARKED CAR. (THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.) THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. FINALLY I DEPRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND IT TURNED OFF. JUST 5 DAYS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD UNDERGONE A SAFETY RECALL REPAIR TO THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY. TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO A SOFTWARE DEFECT WHICH AFFECTED "COMPONENTS IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRACTION MOTOR ASSEMBLY." WE INFORMED TOYOTA THIS APPEARED TO BE AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT. THEY PROMISED TO ASSIGN AN ENGINEER TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE...
I WAS DRIVING IN THE PARKING GARAGE AT WORK AND THE YELLOW EXCLAMATION LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAYS "CHECK EV SYSTEM. HAVE YOU VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY." I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND THE CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ECU. *TR