1999 Toyota Rav4 Cruise Control Problems

Your car unexpectedly accelerated on its own while you were stopped with the brakes applied. You took it to the dealer, but they couldn't find the cause and didn't repair anything. The problem happened several times after that. The fix may involve inspecting the throttle control system, fuel injectors, or engine control computer to find what's causing the unwanted acceleration.

Your car's engine suddenly revved and the vehicle lurched forward while you were stopped at a red light with your foot on the brake. Even with full pressure on the brake pedal, the car only stopped after you turned off the engine. A second incident occurred a month later when the vehicle accelerated on its own while you were braking at another traffic light; shifting into neutral stopped the acceleration. The dealer was unable to identify the cause. This could involve inspection of the throttle control system, brake system components, or engine control electronics.

Your engine suddenly revs up unexpectedly, especially when you're slowing down or coming to a stop at low speeds (under 10 mph), making it hard to brake and stop the vehicle. This happens irregularly—roughly once every 50 times you brake—which is why Toyota couldn't reproduce the problem during test drives. The issue isn't related to floor mats or pedal confusion. A mechanic will need to diagnose the idle control system, fuel delivery, and throttle response to find what's causing the engine to surge.

Your car's engine suddenly races and surges while you're braking, especially when slowing down on hills, making it difficult to come to a complete stop. This happens intermittently—roughly once every hundred times you brake—making it hard for mechanics to reproduce during test drives. The problem appears to be electronic in nature and may require diagnostic work on the engine control system or throttle components.

TOYOTA 1999 RAV4 WHEN RELEASING GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, PEDAL STICKS AND CANNOT BE PUSHED DOWN TO FEED GAS WITHOUT STOMPING ON PEDAL 3 OR 4 TIMES. IT DOES NOT STICK ALL TIMES. USUALLY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS 30 DEGREES OR LOWER. HAVE BEEN STUCK IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

I SUBMIT THAT THE MOST RECENT RECALL (JAN. 2010) FOR STICKING GAS PEDALS EXTENDS TO OLDER YEAR MAKE/MODELS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES. MY 1999 TOYOTA RAV 4'S GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN STICKING NOW FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS, MOSTLY IN THE WINTER. I PRESS IT AND IT GETS STUCK AND I HAVE TO PUSH MY FOOT DOWN HARDER ON IT TO ACCELERATE. HOWEVER, THE PEDAL DOES SPRING BACK OKAY, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT. I'VE HAD IT LUBED RECENTLY AND THAT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION INTO SOME BUSHES. AFTER THE MINOR CRASH SHE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 1999 RAV4. YESTERDAY I'M DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT A ROCK HIT MY CAR. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND I GO TO GET MY KEYS OUT OF IGNITION AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS BROKE. THE BACK OF THE SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING. THAT WAS THE LAUD NOISE I HEARD. THE BACK POPPED OFF. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS? THANK YOU

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY REV WHILE COMING TO A STOP, FORCING DRIVER TO APPLY FULL PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS TO SHIFT TO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING, THE TACHOMETER SHOOTS UP AND ENGINE ROARS. *SLC

ENGINE ON FOUR OCCASIONS REVS UP WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AT 5 MPH. HAVE TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK BECAUSE OF THE SURGE OF THE ENGINE. MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE WITH ALL MY STRENGTH, AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN I REPORTED THIS IN LATE MAY, TOYOTA DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY AND I TOOK CAR IN AGAIN TODAY FOR DEALER TO CHECK. WAITING NOW TO HEAR FROM DEALER.

THE POORLY DESIGNED CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE DRIVER BRAKES GENTLY TO SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY. INSTEAD OF SLOWING GRADUALLY THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUMES AND THE VEHICLE SURGES FROWARD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS. NLM

NTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING. WHENEVER CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED IT CAUSES RPM TO GO DOWN RAPIDLY FOR A SECOND AND THE OVERDRIVE TO KICK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL ARM FELL OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN T BRAKES WERE APPLIED. VEHICLE PROCEEDED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER ISNPECTED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKES LIGHTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. *AK