Two problems related to cruise control have been reported for the 2006 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2006 RAV4.
My wife and I have both experienced unintended acceleration while our 2006 Toyota Rav4 was operating with cruise control engaged or while re-engaging cruise control after slowing for traffic. In each case, the vehicle accelerated well beyond the cruise control set point (typically 55 mph). This acceleration occurred on flat roads, no ice or water on the road. The engine was fully warmed up,and the vehicle has been serviced on a regular basis at prescribed intervals by our local Toyota dealer. This unintended acceleration has occurred 5 or 6 times over the life of the vehicle. The most recent occurrence was February 22, 2010 when I re-engaged the cruise control from a speed of 50 mph to the previous set point of 55 mph. The vehicle accelerated to 65 mph and was still gaining speed when I disengaged the cruise control. Fortunately, the vehicle responded to turning off the cruise control, the brakes functioned normally, and I was able to avoid hitting the vehicle ahead of me on the highway. This vehicle is not involved in any of the current Toyota recalls, and our local Toyota dealer does not take our reports of unintended acceleration seriously. Therefore, no action has been taken to correct the failure(s) and no parts have been replaced.
2/25/08 instance #1: I have had three instances of emissions components on my 2006 2wd Rav4 v6 being damaged in the 65000 miles I have driven it. The first instance manifested itself when the vehicle stability control, traction control and cruise control systems shut-off and lights in the instrument cluster came on. A damaged "charcoal canister" was replaced at the dealer under my extended warranty on 2/25/08. (this occurred a second time on 3/19/09 after an evaporation filter was damaged on 3/3/09 after driving a mile in less than an inch of wet snow. Each event shut off the vehicle stability control, traction control and cruise control systems and the associated system lights in the instrument cluster came on. The dealer felt the damage was due to my operation of the vehicle and at first denied submitting it to my extended warranty. I insisted the part was defective to fail in these circumstances and they eventually covered all repairs. ).