Two problems related to engine have been reported for the 2009 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2009 RAV4.
New Toyota electronics problems my Rav4 sometimes does have intermittent accelerator sticking problems, even though the accelerator pedal has fully returned to idle conditions. During the winter I often where sorels. I thought that because of my boots I was hitting both the brake and accelerator. One time I even had to push the transmission into neutral to make a stop, cursing the Toyota designer who put the brake pedal so close to the accelerator (another pedal design flaw?). From then on I was very careful to keep my foot on just one pedal. However, I still noticed problems sometimes, and now this "pseudo recall" has solved a dilemma I had. The problem is not with unintended acceleration, it is with impaired deceleration. The engine is fighting against the braking system because the engine does not return to idle soon enough. With the old manual accelerator linkage systems, you could feel when you let off the gas. Now instead the computer is deciding how to slow the engine. This is where the problem lies. What "bone headed" Toyota engineer allowed both the accelerator and brake to work at the same time on a "drive by wire" system? there is no mechanical linkage to undo, so hitting the brake should defeat the accelerator (I. E. Quickly return the engine to idle mode). That is all that was needed to prevent this problem. This is at least one problem with the Toyota electronic throttle system. It is a Toyota myth to insist there is(are) no electronic problem(s). What other more complex problems are there in the electronics, if this basic problem was not accounted for?.
We noticed that we started our 2009 Rav4 in the morning after sitting all night, there was a rattling type noise coming from the engine. This noise only occurs after the car has been sitting. We took it to the dealership we bought it from (Toyota) and after they checked it, determined it was a bad cam shaft. I asked if this was normal on a 2009 Rav4 and if it was a recall. The lady stated "it is a type of recall, but not all cars are affected, so they did not send out notice to all owners. " really? isn't that a "back door recall"? they are ordering the parts and will repair it under warranty.