The 2011 Toyota RAV4 was a great improvement over its predecessors and scored big with critics. But, it has been plagued with consumer complaints over unintended acceleration, unresponsive braking, and seats that can catch fire.
Key Points
- The 2011 Toyota RAV4’s 11 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls cover issues that include faulty airbag sensors, loss of vehicle control, malfunctioning windshield wipers, and a problem in which the seat heater’s wiring can cause the seat to catch fire.
- Additional 2011 model year recalls involve issues with malfunctioning windshield wipers, and the potential failure of the rear tie rod, which could cause a loss of vehicle control.
- Some drivers mentioned the gas and brake pedals being too close together, making it easy to confuse the two or to depress both at the same time.
- Out of the 250-plus consumer complaints registered with the NHTSA, over 60 relay drivers’ experiences with unresponsive braking at the same time the 2011 Toyota RAV4 is unexpectedly accelerating. Many noted the only solution was to shift into neutral or turn the car off.
2011 RAV4 Faced 11 Recalls & One Investigation Over Faulty Seat Belts, Loss of Vehicle Control, and Malfunctioning Windshield Wipers
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 was a step up from its predecessor, and was named the second-best compact SUV of 2011 by J.D. Power. It’s spacious, reliable, and boasts an optional V6 that can keep up with sports cars. However, the 2011 model year does have some drawbacks, including 11 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls over issues including faulty seat belts, loss of vehicle control, malfunctioning windshield wipers, and a problem over a potential short in the seat heater’s wiring that can cause the seat to catch fire.
Perhaps the most serious recall is one addressing the potential failure of the rear tie rod, which could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Out of the 11 recalls, the other more serious problems addressed a power window switch that may melt due to a short circuit, a faulty airbag sensor that may fail to deploy airbags in an accident, and a potential seat heater wiring problem that may increase the risk of the seat catching fire.
The NHTSA also launched one official investigation into the 2011 Toyota RAV4 over a safety-related defect with the airbags. Side curtain airbag inflators may have an incorrect propellant specification that could cause one or both curtain shield airbags to not deploy in an accident.
Unexpected Acceleration, Unresponsive Brakes, and Gas Fumes in the Cabin are Among 2011 Model Year’s Over 250 Complaints
From the over 250 NHTSA consumer complaints, over 60 are from drivers having trouble controlling the 2011 RAV4’s speed. In the lion’s share of complaints, drivers reported sudden and uncontrollable acceleration, which often happened when the brake pedal was depressed. Many complaints noted that the only solution was to shift into neutral or turn the car off. Some drivers reported crashes as a result, and injuries occurred in four incidents.
There were also complaints about unresponsive brakes. These complaints often overlapped with the vehicle speed issues. Drivers described the brakes as unresponsive, sometimes entirely so.
Other drivers claimed that the gas and brake pedals were too close together, which made it easy to confuse the two or to depress both at the same time.
The 2011 RAV4’s evaporation system has also caused trouble for some buyers, with complaints of smelling gasoline fumes in the cabin. To fix the problem, the owner would need to replace the filtration system, which reportedly may cost up to $1,500.
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 is a Popular Best Seller, but Serious Acceleration Problem Could Be a Deal-breaker
The complaints may be wrong, and perhaps Toyota dealerships are right to refer to these sudden acceleration incidents as “pedal misapplication” and call it a day. However, there are complaints that mention sudden acceleration when releasing the brake, or while the car was stopped, which suggests that there may well be a serious, lingering problem. And Toyota has not yet felt pressured to fix it.
A RAV4 facing problems with a windshield wiper, seat frame, or suspension can be fixed. And a used model might already have a new filtration system. However, the possibility of a dangerous crash resulting from spontaneous acceleration may be a deal-breaker.
Photos: Toyota
