2012 Toyota RAV4 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 49about this part
- Share
- 19%of 260 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 10,600miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2012 Toyota RAV4, 19% of the 260 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 10,600 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was coming to a stoplight and press the brakes the car came to stop then the engine revved up very fast. My foot was on the brakes but the engine was revving very fast that I had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle from moving forward. I put the car in park then the engine stop revving.”
NHTSA complaint #11174879, filed 2019-02, 43,000 miles“I was pulling into a parking place at our church. When I turned into the parking place the car took off and it jumped an 8 inch curbing and ran into the parish center wall. It tried to climb the wall. I push the accelerator to turn into the parking space and the car took off! It was not driver error!”
NHTSA complaint #10650934, filed 2014-10, 49,000 miles“When pulling my 2012 Toyota RAV4 into a parking space at very low rate of speed, I tapped the brake pedal and the engine immediately started roaring and accelerating out of control. The car jumped the curb that was directly in front of the parking spot, crossed the road, jumped another curb, and landed in a muddy ravine. The car was towed to the Toyota dealership to be repaired and the tech couldn't find anything wrong with the brakes. I reported the incident to Toyota. They sent an investigator. …”
NHTSA complaint #11331764, filed 2020-06, 83,000 miles“While attempting to roll the vehicle forward to clear a doorway, the vehicle jumped forward about 6 feet. At that time I pulled my foot off the gas and pushed the brake pedal to the floor. The vehicle stopped momentarily, then began to accelerate picking up speed rapidly as evidenced by the revving of the engine. I continued to pump the brake since holding it to the floor was doing nothing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10494883, filed 2013-01, 5,012 miles“I was driving approximately 20 MPH. When tried to stop at the traffic signal and pressed the brake then instead of stopping the car was going forward. It almost hit the car at front of me. There was a sudden acceleration and RPM went upto 9000. I pressed the brake pedal multiple number of times then the car engine stopped. Once the vehicle was restarted, it resumed as normal. It was really scary.”
NHTSA complaint #10512913, filed 2013-05, 9,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 8% |
| 2024 | 12 | 7% |
| 2023 | 7 | 4% |
| 2022 | 7 | 5% |
| 2021 | 6 | 2% |
| 2020 | 15 | 2% |
| 2019 | 30 | 3% |
| 2018 | 20 | 6% |
| 2017 | 13 | 4% |
| 2016 | 12 | 5% |
| 2015 | 21 | 7% |
| 2014 | 7 | 4% |
| 2013 | 17 | 7% |
| 2012 | 49 | 19% |
| 2011 | 69 | 24% |
| 2010 | 83 | 21% |
| 2009 | 99 | 30% |
| 2008 | 92 | 16% |
| 2007 | 101 | 10% |
| 2006 | 74 | 11% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 20 | 13% |
| 2003 | 29 | 9% |
| 2002 | 36 | 7% |
| 2001 | 22 | 7% |
| 2000 | 7 | 23% |
| 1999 | 14 | 23% |
| 1998 | 12 | 16% |
| 1997 | 7 | 13% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2012 Toyota RAV4
59 complaintsBrakes
39 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsSeat belts
30 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsAir bags
22 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology