Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota RAV4. While the vehicle was at a traffic light, it accelerated on its own and crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (prestige Toyota located at 1096 nj 17 ramsey, nj 07446 [phone]) where it was diagnosed, but the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The contact called the manufacturer and provided case number: 1707072335. No further assistance was offered. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 76,000.
We have a 2006 Toyota rav 4. On dec.18, my wife, pulled out of a parking lot and the vehicle started accelerating faster than she wanted to go. She pushed on the foot brake but could not slow or stop the vehicle. When she let up on the brake, it sped up more, and even applying the brake as hard as she could, it did not stop. She bumped into the back of another SUV and then a little further on jumped the curb and smashed into a concrete filled steel pole which did major damage to the right front. She then managed to turn into a parking lot and got it stopped using the hand brake. My insurance company opted to repair the vehicle. …
I have a 2006 RAV4 Toyota SUV. My gas pedal has been sticking since 2007. I have had a accident because of it, where I had over $7000.00 worth of damage done to repair it. At a Toyota dealership. I mention about the pedal, but no one believed me, so I just dropped it. It is still happening sometimes, where I have to turn the car off for a while, then turn it back on and then drive it. I telephoned Toyota about it and they gave me a case# for it. Then after 3 days after they gave me a case number, they told me that I have to have another accident in the RAV4, take it to a dealership and see if they can make it happen again. I could be died then!!. When I had the accident, not only did I have damage to my car, but I did damage to a building because my car when out of control and back in to the side of a building. A police report was done, but it was not mention in the police report. …
Had my 2006 Toyota rav 4 in the dealership for recall services. I also had recommended maintenance tuneup and brake fluid drain and refill. When I left the parking lot of the dealership, I crossed 2 lanes of traffic, braked, waited for alternate traffic to pass before turning onto the city street with my foot still on brake, the car accelerated, lurched then accelerated again without me pressing on the gas and continuing to brake when it accelerated. I called the dealership back the next morning and they towed it back in. After they performed several tests and test drive it they could not get it to duplicate the same thing. There were two previous occurrences that I did not report to this entity shortly after I purchased the car used. They happened close together and not again until the most recent event. …
Vehicle: 2006 Toyota rav 4 problem: stuck accelerator date of incident: December 24, 2009 my wife was leaving work on the 24th of December. Our car was parked facing uphill. As she was leaving her parking space, she depressed the accelerator slightly and the car "took off" on its own. She ended up hitting a car on the other side of the road, then going over to the other side, over a sidewalk, snow bank and then hitting a building. I have reported this incident to Toyota who went to my local dealer to check it out. They claim that they could not find anything and sent a letter to my house stating that fact. The weather conditions that day were sloppy snow. As mentioned, the car was facing uphill so the slippery conditions actually acted in her favor. I wrote up a full report with photos that I sent to both Toyota and state farm. I would be happy to e-mail this report to you as well. …
Tl* - the contact stated that his 2006 Toyota RAV4 accelerated while his foot was on the brake. The contact took the vehicle to dealer and the computer was replaced. On 12/27/06 the contact stated he was involved in an accident. While his foot was on the brake and he was stopped at a light, the vehicle lurched forward and struck the vehicle in front of him. The contact heard a loud noise before the incident. The failure mileage on the vehicle was 94000. The contact was able to drive the vehicle. There was damage to the front of the vehicle. The dealer told the contact that the front end damage will need to be repaired before they can diagnose errors in the computer. The contact has a police report and a repair invoice from the first incident. When making turns left or right the consumer indicated that the steering wheel felt hard. The dealer ordered a power steering computer. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Toyota RAV4. On March 17, 2008, while coasting into a parking space with her foot on the brake, the engine revved and the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and crashed into another vehicle. There were no warning signs prior to the failure. The vehicle had undergone regularly scheduled maintenance before the crash occurred. The weather was dry on the day of the crash. The vehicle was released back to the contact; however, it had to be taken back to the shop due to riding roughly when placed into overdrive. The dealer stated that the torque converter was locking everytime the transmission was placed into overdrive. A police report was filed. There were no injuries and the contact was not cited. The current mileage is 17,690 and failure mileage was 17,687. Updated 5/13/08 the dealer determined there was a problem with the overdirve. Updated
2006 Toyota RAV4 suddenly accelerated uncontrollably in a residential district; driver applied standard brake which did nothing to slow acceleration, so the driver tried to break the vehicle's momentum by scaling a large chain-linked fence on the driver's side. The car was airborn a few seconds, driver pulled emergency brake, hit a stop sign, landed, the vehicle stopped, and smoke was coming from the left side of the front hood. The impact of landing broke the driver's back, caused several bulging lumbar discs, and broke the left foot. To correct the failure the owner of the vehicle has contacted Toyota who is sending out their "Smart team" to download information from the car's black box or event data recorder which contains a history of the driver's actions and the history of the car's actions. They should be doing this the week of April 26.
Driving down road at 20-25 MPH. Suddenly the right front wheel locked up (brake pedal was* being pressed) and began the ABS shudder as if vehicle was braking on ice. Vehicle pulled hard to the right; this occurred several times over the next few minutes. After car warmed up it didn't happen again, but recurred the next morning after starting out. Searched internet and found other Toyota drivers had experienced the same problem and 'resolved' it by removing fuses for ABS braking system, rendering it inoperative. Car brakes normally now with no issues, but ABS, brakes, vsc and other dash lights are on because ABS system is disabled.
When brakes are applied engine attempts to maintain speed, making it difficult to stop. After car has stopped, stepping on the gas pedal again May only allow car to move forward very slowly. This started happening within the last month and has occurred four times so far. It happens with the car in motion and either turning or going straight. So far all incidents were while driving on city streets. All safety recalls are up to date. Dealer says applying brake pressure disengages the accelerator, but this is not happening. The gas pedal moves freely and there is no interference from the floor mat. The car is at the dealer now.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 Lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 Toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Remedy: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early April 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any Toyota all-weather floor mat.
Acceleration complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 74 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Toyota RAV4, 10% of the model year's 705 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-113 (accelerator pedal, Feb 24, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 51% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.