Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop light, with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard the vehicle failed to stop as intended. As a result, the contact rear-ended the vehicle ahead. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was filed and injuries were not reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota rav-4. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH and approaching an exit ramp off the highway, the contact stated they were depressing on the brake pedal but the vehicle did not slow down and continued to accelerate which caused the vehicle to hit a fence. The vehicle came to a stop and the contact shifted to park, the contact was able to restart, and continued to drive the vehicle to their residence. The air bags did not deploy and no warning light illuminated. There were no injured reported. No police report was filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to local dealer automax car sales (9541 nw 27th ave, miami, fl 33147 phone: [phone]) who stated they repaired and replaced the brakes and control arms on the vehicle however the failure persisted with screeching noise coming from the brakes. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
I was driving on the freeway. The traffic was stop and go. I was going 10mph when the truck in front of me stopped. I applied my brakes and nothing happened. I pushed the brakes to the floor with both feet and still nothing. I hit the back of the truck in front of me. No damage to the truck just my front end. I got over to the shoulder and the brakes worked fine. I noticed that when I was braking my ABS light was flashing. I took it to the dealership. They said that they had never heard of that happening. But was I aware of a service recall on the Smart stop technology. I said no I haven't. I was told that the "recall came out in 2013" funny because my car had been to the dealership in 2014. Why was it not taken care of then. I have read that others have had this similar problem and where told that there is nothing wrong. …
I was backing up, turning around in a driveway. When I attempted to stop, something interfered with my ability to depress the brake pedal, resulting in a low-speed (less than 2 MPH) collision with a shed, minor damage to the shed and damage to the rear bumper cover of the vehicle. This is the third or fourth time I have had this problem (once at high speed approaching a red traffic signal, I could not stop prior to the intersection even with the emergency brake), but the first involving a collision. I investigated this (not the first time I have tried) and found a bracket which appears to be part of the brake pedal mounting that contacts my toes when my foot is toward the left side of the brake pedal and my heel is greater than about 0.5 in. Off the floor (I wear a size 12 shoe). When this happens, I am unable to apply pressure to the brake pedal. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. While driving 10 MPH, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the vehicle would not stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The front two tires continued to spin even after the vehicle was placed in the park position. As a result, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. The manufacturer was not made aware of the crash. The failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 05/10/17
I started complaining about the scrubbing noise that the brakes had started making ,so they replaced the brakes and only charged forty dollars.so on July of the same year, the car started making the scrubbing noise again, so again they replaced them again,it lasted for about a year, and the scrubbing noise came back.the car was once again looked at and the mechanic said that there was a piece by the brake that had rusted together so for this car to be new, why were there parts rusting ,maybe it was sitting in water I asked, so the general manager was bought out because I just could not see paying what they said the cost was but being a woman I think that they pulled a fast one on me and the repair was something like seven hundred dollars. …
While driving in heavy traffic on city side street, vehicle in front stopped, I attempted to do the same, but unsuccessfully. My vehicle was a rental and rental company replaced it with an identical vehicle. Subsequent experimentation with said replacement showed what I believe is a weakness in the electronically controlled brake system. With one application of the brake pedal a certain percentage of brake power is available, with a closely followed second application, the percentage of available braking power is increased, after a third, even more. The braking power available after the first application is low, even with full pedal application. This constitutes a hazard in the event of a need for full braking power. It is most likely that a person encountering a situation as I found myself in would do what I did, I.e. …
I had been driving app. 10 minutes in snow covered road conditions when I was approaching an intersection with traffic stopped for a red light. As I applied the brake to ease into a stop, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. I was in the center lane with stopped vehicles in front of me. I had to exert hard force on the brake pedal to finally bring my vehicle to a stop. The engine was at least over 4000rpms on the tachometer. When traffic started moving again, I eased off the brake pedal and slowly applied gas and eased over in to the right(curb) lane. I stayed slow at about 15-20 MPH and felt an acceleration again, but was able to brake successfully. I then turned right into the first available parking lot to gain composure before continuing on. I continued home at a safe rate of speed ( under 35mph). …
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. There was no personal injury. A police report was not filed of the incident. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The black box data detected that the brakes were not faulty. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000. The consumer stated it was not the first time, she and her husband experienced brake failure, with the vehicle continuing to accelerate. The dealer informed the consumer, that an update on the brakes had not been made. The consumer stated she never received any type of notification, to have service done.
I was going about 4 MPH around a grocery store parking lot and the vehicle made a loud roaring noise and accelerated. I was unable to stop accept for a concrete post in the parking lot. I had no control and no brakes. This incident has left me without a vehicle for use. This is detrimental to my daily routine including the care of my 93 year old father who has doctors appointments and other needs that require a vehicle. I have only had the car for 6 months and cannot afford to make car payments or pay $40.00 for car rental. It will be over 3 weeks before the dealership will check electronic box/the car and was told that it would be an additional 3 weeks before I would be contacted. I will not be given a rental until proof is determined.
Brake complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2010 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the brakes of the 2010 Toyota RAV4, 9% of the model year's 400 complaints. The component named most often is pedals and linkages (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Toyota RAV4 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2010 Toyota RAV4, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2010 Toyota RAV4 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 28,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes 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.