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2011 Toyota Rav4 Fuel System Problems

5 owner-reported fuel system complaints from NHTSA data

5
Complaints
Jan 2013Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (5)

mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2014

1. AFTER HAVING DRIVEN MY TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED EDITION FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN AIRPORT. I HAD MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 25% INTO THE SPACE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE SPONTANEOUSLY. I INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THIS CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN THE ENGINE SPEED. MY WIFE WAS WITH ME AND I TOLD HER TO LOOK TO VERIFY THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, NOT THE ACCELERATOR. I WENT DIRECTLY TO THE TOYOTA DEALER. AFTER 3.5 HOURS TOYOTA CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS "PEDAL MISAPPLICATION" AND NO FURTHER ACTION WAS REQUIRED (CASE#-[XXX]). 2. AT ABOUT 8:12 PM THIS EVENING, WE WERE DRIVING AROUND LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. I WAS DOING ABOUT 5 MPH IN FRONT OF 937 RIVERVIEW DRIVE, MORGANTOWN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT TO SLOW DOWN FOR A BETTER VIEW. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE SPONTANEOUSLY. I SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I HAD MY WIFE VERIFY THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE ONLY. 3. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM I FIRST REPORTED IN ODI NUMBER 10667543 (TOYOTA CASE#-[XXX]). THIS VEHICLE HAS A DANGEROUS DEFECT WHICH TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT. THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE CONTROL SYSTEM. IT IS NOT A "PEDAL MISAPPLICATION". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10668407
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Mar 2014

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK . HIT SOME TYPE OF DEBRIS IN ROAD HEARD A LOUD NOISE IMMEDIATELY SMELLED GASOLINE GAS TANK HAD A LARGE HOLE IN IT. CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO PROTECTION WHATEVER FOR GAS TANK .IT IS JUST THERE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT . SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A SKID PLATE OR SOME SORT OF PROTECTION FROM RUPTURE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10574864
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD INTENDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I THEN HEARD A BANG AND A POP SOUND. I COULD SMELL GASOLINE. WHEN I ARRIVED HOME I COULD SMELL GASOLINE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE I COULD SEE THE GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD A VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO INFORMED ME A DAY LATER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INCURRED A RUPTURED GASOLINE TANK. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON A HOT DAY, OR SOMEONE THROWS A CIGARETTE STUB ON THE ROAD. I HAD FULL GAS TANK OF GAS, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTAIN THE LEAK AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10492856
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Aug 2011

WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WE GET AN OVERPOWERING SULFUR SMELL IN THE CABIN. *KB

NHTSA #: 10419836
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Jan 2011

I PURCHASED MY 2011 RAV4 ON 10/19/10, WITH 3 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS OF 1/31/11 THE ODOMETER NOW READS 2605 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE GAS CONSUMPTION WAS VERY HIGH. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HARRISBURG, PA WHICH IS ONLY 120 MILES FROM MY HOME IN PHILADELPHIA, PA AND BURNED A FULL TANK OF GAS UPON MY RETURN HOME. THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSE TO GET 28 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH EQUALS TO 420 MILES ON A 15 GALLON TANK. ALSO, I HAVE A 24 MILE ROUNDTRIP COMMUTE EACH DAY AND BY THE END OF THE WEEK MY TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE THE COMPLAINT BUT WAS TOLD, AS I SUSPECTED, THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AM FILLING THE TANK UP ON AVERAGE EVERY 4 DAYS. I ALSO NOTICE THAT AS I AM DRIVING, THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE IS MOVING DOWNWARD. NO ONE SEEMS TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND I AM ALWAYS FED THE STORY OF HOW WELL MADE AND SOPHISTICATED THAT THE ENGINE AND COMPONENTS ARE. I HAVE BEEN PURCHASING TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. THIS IS MY FIRST BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND I AM REGRETTING PURCHASING IT. I WANT THIS MATTER THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED BUT I AM ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING. I AM NOT A MATHEMATICIAN BUT I CAN COUNT AND MY 2011 RAV4 GAS MILEAGE IS HORRENDOUS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10379768

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