2012 Toyota Rav4 Brakes Problems

When you press the brake pedal, your engine revs up and the car moves forward instead of stopping. This is a serious safety issue that needs immediate attention. The problem likely involves the brake system or engine control components working together incorrectly.

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a delay for the vehicle to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact had to put a lot of pressure while depressing the brake pedal for the vehicle to stop. An independent mechanic was made aware of the failure. The mechanic had repaired the brake master cylinder, front and rear brake-disc rotors, and caliper in 2019. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 139,435.

IN A PAVED PARKING LOT I ATTEMPTED TO PARK BY APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. IT ONLY STOPPED BY GOING OVER A CURB AND HITTING A TREE AT THE PERIMETER OF THE PARKING SPACE.

PULL INTO PARKING PLACE STEP ON THE BRAKES .THE CAR SEAM S IF THE GAS WAS ENGAGE

I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS 04/06/2015 WITH MY BRAKES GRINDING AND VIBRATING THE FRONT OF MY 2012 RAV 4. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT NEW BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. 42,968 MILES ON THE CAR.. I WAS TOLD THESE NEW BRAKE PADS HAD A LIFE TIME WARRANTY ON THEM.. AGAIN DEC. 2016 I STARTED HAVING THE SAME ISSUES SO I HAD TO TAKE THE RAV 4 BACK IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE BRAKES UNTIL THE BRAKE PADS ARE WORN DOWN MORE. I CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR WITH MY BRAKES GRINDING AND VIBRATING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WHEN I USE THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING DOWN INTO THE ROTORS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WHERE BLUE.. WHICH MEANS THEY ARE HOT. I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT THESE PADS I'M BEING TOLD ARE TO HARD AND THEY ARE GRINDING INTO THE ROTORS. I WAS TO HEAR BACK FROM THE TOYOTA GARAGE BECAUSE THEY WHERE TO ORDER THESE NEW TYPE PADS FOR MY RAV4. I WAITED A WEEK AND NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THE GARAGE. SO I TOOK THE SUV TO ANOTHER REPAIR SERVICE TO HAVE THESE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED.. THE GRINDING AND VIBRATING HAS STOPPED. AND I FEEL SAFE TO NOW DRIVE MY RAV 4.. WHEN YOUR HAVING GRINDING // VIBRATING OF THE BRAKES ON YOUR CAR I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S A SAFE WAY TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE.. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DRIVE OVER 35 MILES AN HOUR FOR THIS GRINDING// VIBRATING TO START. IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN 50-60% OF THE TIME I WOULD USE MY BRAKES.. BUT THAT'S 50-60% OF THE TIME TO MUCH. THE BRAKES ON A VEHICLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I MADE THIS REPAIR GARAGE GIVE ME THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS. SO I DID KEEP THEM.. I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ACCIDENT THAT TAKES MY LIFE "THEN THERE"S A RECALL" ON THESE FAULTY BRAKE PADS.. BEING TO HARD AND GRINDING INTO THE ROTORS. THIS IS MY 5TH TOYOTA AND MY 3RD RAV4. SO I KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DRIVING LIKE. AND I NEVER HAD ANY OF MY BRAKES EVER REPLACED PRIOR TO THESE.. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES: 3 TIMES GOING DOWN A BRIDGE, TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE, AND THE REST IS WHEN I'M GOING DOWN A HILL AND PUT MY BRAKES ON TO STOP. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN WITH ME ON THREE OCCURANCE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SO FAR I'VE BEEN LUCKY AND NOT HIT THE REAR OF ANOTHER CAR, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V054000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/17/15. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 01/15/15*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,580. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,613.

SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES PEDAL BECAME VERY SOFT AND THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD WHILE I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE JANUARY AND IT'S VERY SCARY. I'VE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA FOR TOMORROW 6/3. *TR

I CAN NOT GIVE THE INFO. THAT YOU ARE ASKING ME ABOUT THE DAMAGE OF MY VEHICLE IN THE ABOVE QUESTION ,BECAUSE IT KEEPS DELETING MY ANSWERS. ON THIS PAST 12/16/2013 AT 3:15PM I WAS PULLED OVER BEHIND A CHEVY,TRAILBLAIZER WAITING FOR A EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO PASS BY,SUDDENLY MY NEW RAV-4 DECIDED THAT IT WANTED TO GO FOR A FAST RIDE,WETHER I LIKED IT,OR NOT.I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FEET TO SEE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. BY THE TIME I LOOKED BACK-UP,IT WAS TO LATE FOR ME TO PULL-UP ONTO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE,OR PUT INTO (N).THIS WAS MY THIRD INCEDENT WITH THIS HAPPENING,EVERY BODY KEEPS SAYING THAT THIS HAPPENED ON 12/19/2013,NOT SO ! ON 01/11/2013 I ALMOST KILLED A GIRL PUSHING A BABY CARRIAGE AND HOLDING HANDS WITH HER LITTLE BOY IN A CROSSWALK AT 12/30 PM.I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND THEY INVESTIGATED IT AND SAID,"ALL 14 ACCIDENTS WHERE MY FAULT ,BECAUSE OF THE MATTS ON MY FLOOR."I JUST HAD MY INSURANCE CO. INVESTIGATE IT THE OTHER DAY.I DON'T HAVE ALL THE RESULTS BACK YET! ROCKINGHAM TOYOTA AND SCION,NH. SOLD ME THIS CAR ,I GAVE THEM TWO TRADE-INS,A 2010 CAMARO SS,RS,AND MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA WHICH I BROUGHT TO THEM THAT NIGHT FOR A RECALL ON MY TRUCK,TO REPLACE THE ROTTED-OUT FRAME,AND ROTTED-OUT REAR BRAKES.THEY SAID NO TO FIXING MY BRAKES,AND I HAD THE RECALL LETTER TO SHOW THEM.DID NOT HELP! SO THEY SOLD ME THIS LEMMON,AND SENT ME A CHECK IN THE MAIL FOR $23,000.I GOT RIPPED-OFF,THEY CLOSED THE DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS,AND THEY WOULD NOT LET ME NEAR MY TRUCK AND CAMARO.HE SAID "COME BACK TOMORROW TO GET YOUR BELONGINGS OUT OF THEM".I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY ,AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS TO LATE,THE AUTOS ARE ON A TRAIN WRITE NOW,HEADING TO WISSCONSIN.HELP ME PLEASE ! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,350. UPDATED 02/11/2014*LJ

2012 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON SIX OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABOUT 2 1/2 INCHES AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT SPONGY BRAKES BEHAVIOR IN A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING WERE THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELING TO THE FLOOR AND REDUCED STOPPING POWER DURING APPLICATION. THE SPONGY BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO PRESENT WITH ENGINE OFF. I REPORT THIS EVENT TO TWO SEPARATE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WHICH TECHNICIANS CLAIMED THIS IS A NORMAL FUNCTION AND THIS IS A SOFT PEDAL DESIGN (ACCORDING TO THE FIRST DEALERSHIP). THE SECOND DEALERSHIP SHOWED ME ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE (2011 TOYOTA RAV4) AND IT ALMOST DID THE SAME THING (ENGINE OFF - PEDAL WAS STILL SPONGY BUT WAS LESS THAN MY VEHICLE). SINCE BEING A ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN BEFORE BECOMING AN MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I BLEED THE BRAKES WHICH ONLY HELPED A LITTLE AND THERE WERE NO FLUID LEAKS. FINALLY, I RESEARCHED THAT THE ABS PUMP MIGHT NEED TO BE ACTIVATED USING A SCANNER TO CYCLE THE ACTUATORS THAT MIGHT HOLD AIR TRAPPED INSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY PREVIOUS PLACE ON EMPLOYMENT WHERE I CONSULTED THIS ISSUE WITH THE SHOP MANAGER IN WHICH HE AGREED THAT THIS IS A POSSIBILITY. THE SHOP MANAGER PERFORMED THE ABS PUMP CYCLING PROCESS WITH THE SCANNER AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND FIRM LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO BE (PROCEDURE TIME: 5 MINUTES!). I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA TRAINED TECHNICIANS AND ANY GOOD TECHNICIAN KNOWS THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SOFT PEDAL DESIGN ESPECIALLY WITH A VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER WITH ENGINE OFF (HYDRAULIC FLUID IS ONLY SLIGHTLY COMPRESSIBLE!). ONLY VEHICLES WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER CAN EXPERIENCE A BRAKE PEDAL FEELING SPONGY SINCE THE BOOSTER WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF (APPROX:10 ' 20 BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATIONS ' DIESEL & VERY FEW GAS VEHICLES). IT SEEMS TO ME TOYOTA IS SKIPPING A STEP IN THERE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW VEHICLE TO MAKE NOISES BUT PROCEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES PAD AND SHIM KIT. ADDITIONALLY, ALL OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE LUBRICATED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BURNS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS ALSO INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. WOULD NOT STOP. *TR

MADE A RIGHT TURN AFTER STOPPED AT RED LITE. COMING UP TO LINE OF TRAFFIC STOPPED AT ANOTHER LITE I STEPPED ON BRAKE AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN THREE TIMES WHILE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. POLICE REPORT FILED. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. TOOK CAR TO DEALER NEXT DAY THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD TO CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO WOULD ARRANGE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. THIS WAS DONE AND I'M WAITING FOR A CALL FROM THEM TO SET DATE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

I JUST READ ABOUT SOMEONE IN CANTON,ILLINOIS WHO SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE; WE HAVE A 2012 ( MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2012, PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2012, ) RAV4 LIMITED WITH A V-6, THE FIRST TIME I HAD A STOPPING PROBLEM WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO ABOUT 3,000 AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE , SO PUSHED THE START BUTTON TO SHUT IT DOWN, ATTEMPTED TO REPEAT THIS PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED, WITH THE SELECTOR IN PARK I NOTED IF MY FOOT WAS SLIGHTLY AT AN ANGLE WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL , IT WOULD CATCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, WOULD RUN THE RPM UP TO 3,000 OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, I AM SURE THERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WEAR SIZE 12 SHOES, MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME; THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH A CAMERA, I OVERSHOT THE LIMIT LINE , MAY GET A CITATION IN THE MAIL? HAVE PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED THIS WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, JUST TO GET THE STANDARD RESPONSE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE CONFIDANT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ; MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THERE IS SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL EITHER BEING TOO CLOSE OR AT THE SAME HEIGHT , SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED AT SOME POINT , THE 269 HP ENGINE OVER RIDES THE BRAKE SYSTEM , MINE HAS SMOKED THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED .; I ALSO NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA, COLORADO , THE SERVICE MANAGER IS LOOKING INTO THIS , MY THOUGHTS IN LIGHT OF ALL THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH STUCK GAS PEDALS , THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED QUICKLY . *TR

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND BRAKING FOR CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. READJUSTED MYSELF AND PRESSED HARDER ON BRAKES BUT STILL ROLLING. BRAKES TO FLOOR BUT STILL MOVING. HAD BRAKE PRESSED TO FLOOR AND ENDED UP ROLLING INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MINOR SCRATCHES ON MY FRONT BUT NONE ON CAR AHEAD OF ME. GOT OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND BECAUSE COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY I COULDN'T STOP. NO DAMAGE TO REAR. GOT BACK IN CAR AND DROVE HOME. BRAKES WORKED FINE SINCE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. UNSURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT I DID NOT SLAM ON BRAKES AND WAS ALERT AND PAYING ATTENTION WHEN BRAKES FAILED MOMENTARILY. DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME CAR WAS FINE. HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BUT SOMEONE FROM A RAV4 SITE SAID I SHOULD POST HERE. *TR

THIS IS A LEASED CAR. THIS DATE WAS THE FIRST EPISODE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM. EACH TIME IT TOOK PLACE ON A LOCAL STREET. EACH TIME AS THE DRIVER ( MY WIFE OR MYSELF ) WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THIS FIRST INCIDENT WAS NOTEWORTHY BUT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE. THE THREE INCIDENTS THAT FOLLOWED WERE CONSIDERABLY WORSE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHOM THE CAR IS LEASED AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN . WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON AUGUST 23 AND PICKED IT UP ON AUGUST 30. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN TESTED AND NOTHING WA WRONG WITH IT. IN OTHER WORDS, TOYOTA HAS NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THESE FOUR INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED SO THAT WE COULD SAFELY TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN.THE LACK OF RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM LEAVES US WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT WE WOULD NEVER USE FOR THE ORIGINAL INTENDED PURPOSE.THE AUGUST 29, 2012, WALL STREET JOURNAL COLUMN 'ME AND MY CAR' HAS A LETTER DESCRIBING A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM ON A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER TWICE. EACH TIME THE LETTER WRITER WAS TOLD WHAT SEEMS TO BE TOYOTA'S STOCK ANSWER, "NOTHING IS WRONG'. THE WSJ COLUMNIST RESPONDS THAT ' COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDCONTROL SYSTEMS ON TOYOTA (AND OTHER BRANDS )ARE FREQUENT'. HE GOES ON TO SUGGEST THAT FIGURING THE CAUSE WILL TAKE SEVERAL VISITS TO TOYOTA. NO ADDITIONAL VISITS WERE SCHEDULED OR EVEN SUGGESTED BY TOYOTA. *TR