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 2011 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and accelerated forward crashing into a parked van. During the incident, the airbags did not deploy. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. the vehicle was later towed to a collision center and repaired. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the same failure had occurred after the husband stopped at a red light. During the incident, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward and crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle in front of her abruptly stopped for an animal that jumped onto the road, as a result, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into the rear of a Toyota Prius. The brake pedal was continuously depressed. The "low tire" message was displayed. The driver sustained injuries to her knee, neck, and chest, and medical attention was provided. There was not a report of any fire, air bag deployment, or police report being filed. The vehicle was taken to her residence. The vehicle was towed to the collision center. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Sudden acceleration when braking caused crash of 2011 Toyota RAV4 and driver injury. Making a right turn into a parking space that faces a concrete wall, I had my foot on the brake to slow the car down to park, going about five miles an hour. Still riding the brake, never having moved my foot off it, when I was about two feet from the wall I pressed on the brake to ease into a stop. Instead, the car suddenly accelerated with a loud rev and crashed into the wall. The car was going so fast the airbag deployed and thrust me against my seatbelt. Airbag caused fracture of 5th metacarpal in my right hand. Was unable to drive for 12 weeks. When I got the car back from the Toyota Body Shop ($9000+ in repairs), I took it over to the dealer and began filing a case with the Toyota Customer Experience Center to have Toyota inspect the car. I am especially concerned about the brake sensor system. …
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal and shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle responded as intended. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop and while reversing from the driveway onto the roadway. The failure only occurred while the cruise control was activated but not set. The contact previously owned another 2011 Toyota Rav4 vehicle, which also experienced the failure. An independent mechanic informed the contact that the manufacturer had previously provided a remedy for the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while stopped at a red light with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated and rolled forward. The contact quickly put the vehicle in park and was able to pull over down the road. The contact stated that while pulling over and then shifting from park to drive with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated, and the contact quickly shifted back into park. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was left in front of an independent mechanic shop. The independent mechanic diagnosed that the canister purge valve needed to be replaced and the throttle body needed servicing. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,751.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while reversing to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle and entering the residence, the vehicle independently restarted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
When applying the brakes to stop at a stoplight, I noticed the brake pedal was very hard and was not stopping the vehicle as it normally did. The stop at the light was not a sudden stop. At the time this incident occurred, the brakes were being gradually applied as the vehicle was coasting to a slow stop. As the vehicle came to rest, the engine started to race with tachometer showing 4500 rpm. I placed the transmission into neutral fearing the car would accelerate through the stoplight. As I placed the car into neutral, the engine raced up to 6500 rpm. When the light turned green, I made a right turn into a parking lot, and the engine stopped racing and the brakes and engine began performing properly. Today was the first time this happened. The stop was being made on level ground at time of incident. …
Waiting at stop sign - car began accelerating, engine revving, racing (again, while at a complete stop). I braked and vehicle took full control seemingly pulling sideways first and then lurching out onto the roadway casing a devastating crash totaling my car and causing the other person's vehicle extensive damage. I could have been seriously injured or killed. It's the second time this happened. 1st time pulling into parking space - accelerated lurching forward no matter how much I braked striking curb and post - stalled out, thank goodness. A case has been opened with Toyota but I am told they'll deny anything wrong even though I have 10 pages of complaints in hand of people who have experienced this same nightmare I did. It's time for Toyota to take full responsibility and do something immediately. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. While driving 2-3 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact accelerated independently again. The contact stated that the engine revved excessively. The contact also noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle, excessive leaking underneath the vehicle, and an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The contact was able to place the vehicle in drive and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was towed to Toyota of nicholasville (2100 lexington rd, nicholasville, ky 40356, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota RAV4. While in a parking area applying the brakes, the vehicle independently surged at a high rate of speed. The rpms raced and the contact's vehicle crashed into two other vehicles. A police report was filed. The driver sustained whiplash due to the failure, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a repair center to repair the damages and further inspect the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was waiting for a response to determine if they May be able to investigate the unintended acceleration failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
Acceleration complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2011 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2011 Toyota RAV4, 24% of the model year's 287 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2011 Toyota RAV4, though it has 11 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 2011 Toyota RAV4 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 26,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 2 fires and 6 injuries 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.