general problems of the 2006 Toyota RAV4

When trying accelerate my Toyota 2006 rav 4, at any speed car will hesitate for second and suddenly accelerate to much faster speed that is intended. I have checked, ignition system, found nothing, my personal experience. In heavy rain fall have water inside the car at front passenger side coming from air blower area. Dealer says they don't know anything about both issues. These issues are not a onetime issue and happens all time.

We have a 2006 Toyota rav 4. On Dec. 18, my wife, pulled out of a parking lot and the vehicle started accelerating faster than she wanted to go. She pushed on the foot brake but could not slow or stop the vehicle. When she let up on the brake, it sped up more, and even applying the brake as hard as she could, it did not stop. She bumped into the back of another SUV and then a little further on jumped the curb and smashed into a concrete filled steel pole which did major damage to the right front. She then managed to turn into a parking lot and got it stopped using the hand brake. My insurance company opted to repair the vehicle. At my request, the body shop took it to the Toyota dealer who checked it out mechanically and electrically and, of course, declared all systems within "factory specifications" in thinking back, my wife can recall other times when the rav 4 seemed to accelerate more than she expected, but she was able to control it. She has been driving over 50 years and is a cautious driver. During this wild ride she conscientiously checked to see that she was pressing on the brake pedal and not the accelerator. The floor mat is secured by little hooks so it cannot slide up under the accelerator or brake pedals. (in the idle position, the accelerator pedal is almost 2 inches above the floor).

My car was displaying error warnings and required me to go to Toyota to get a better understanding of the problem. After the diagnostic of the car, they stated I need a new charcoal cannister. This occurred just outside my 3 year/36000 miles warranty. The tech explained to me that this is a common issue and I wasn't the first he seen of this. He stated that this would have been covered if it occurred in the warranty period. The original piece should have been protected by a shield which 2007 and later are. It was only a matter time before other 2006 models would have this problem. Cost of repair was $2,000. I find this outrages that Toyota knows of this problem, but will not be proactive on this issue.

This is the third complaint I have had on my 2006 Rav4 v6 2wd emission system causing my vehicle stability, traction control, and speed control systems to fail. The first event is odi number 10268422. The second event was submitted also, but I did not get an email- hopefully is submitted. This third event was due to a mile of driving slowly in light snow causing a fuel evaporation filter to break a tube fitting off (second event). Water entered the broken tube and failed the fuel evap charcoal canister which in turn failed the other systems listed in this third event. After some wrangling, the dealer agreed to submit it to my extended warranty and it was covered in full.

This is the second complaint I have had on my 2006 Rav4 v6 2wd emission system causing my vehicle stability, traction control, and speed control systems to fail. The first event is odi number 10268422. The second event was due to a mile of driving slowly in light snow causing a fuel evaporation filter to break a tube fitting off. Water entered the broken tube and failed the fuel evap charcoal canister which in turn failed the vehicle stability, traction control, and speed control systems (odi number 10268424). I see no reason to tie emissions into safety systems such as these unless it is to "encourage" owners to bring their vehicles in for emissions service. After some wrangling, the dealer agreed to submit it to my extended warranty and it was covered in full. I was told the charcoal cannister would have cost me $700.

On freeway, other motorist notified me my car was "on fire!" I saw excessive smoke in rearview mirror. I took the next exit which was dixon, CA off interstate 80 west in California. The side of the freeway there is grassy, did not think it was safe to stop. . . I stopped the car and smoke was everywhere, coming up through the hood & under the car. This was tues, 2/3/09. I has the car serviced the fri before, 1/30/09 at Toyota vallejo in vallejo, CA. I called the dealership after calling aaa for a tow. The service advisor, ryan said "it couldn't have been from anything they had done. But there is an 'oil hose' that had been coming off alot of the Rav4's. " I was already upset & that made me livid!! if it were a known problem the dealership should have checked during the scheduled maint. My car was towed to lithia Toyota of vacaville #47 at 500 orange drive, vacaville, CA. Work order 394212. As of yesterday, 2/12/09, the assistant service manager, megan, told me there was no TSB she was aware of, yet the part that came off (vvti oil pipe) was not found at any other dealership or supplier in the united states, and was on order from Toyota in japan. I am furious that it appears Toyota was well aware of this problem and has failed to initiate any steps to prevent risk to its consumers. I am asking for a full investigation which hopefully will lead to a recall of the 2006 Rav4's and any other year this affects. Megan, the assistant service manager at lithia Toyota confirmed with my insurance adjuster, jose lara (geico 707-688-3318) the cost is covered under the powertrain warranty. . . . What about the cost of my life, and the lives of the other motorist surrounding me??? the risk of fire is never to be taken lightly. Please investigate this matter to avoid any cost of life.

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. ).

Engine hesitates upon acceleration from standing start, creating an unsafe situation.

2006 rav 4 caught on fire while passengers were still inside. The vehicle was involved in a crash then caught on fire. The two occupant were killed.