I am filing a complaint about spongy brakes behavior in a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The problem I was experiencing were the brake pedal traveling to the floor and reduced stopping power during application. The spongy behavior of the brake pedal was also present with engine off. I report this event to two separate Toyota dealerships which technicians claimed this is a normal function and this is a soft pedal design (according to the first dealership). The second dealership showed me another similar vehicle (2011 Toyota Rav4) and it almost did the same thing (engine off - pedal was still spongy but was less than my vehicle). Since being a ase master technician before becoming an mechanical engineer, I bleed the brakes which only helped a little and there were no fluid leaks. Finally, I researched that the ABS pump might need to be activated using a scanner to cycle the actuators that might hold air trapped inside. I took the car to my previous place on employment where I consulted this issue with the shop manager in which he agreed that this is a possibility. The shop manager performed the ABS pump cycling process with the scanner and the brake pedal became hard and firm like it suppose to be (procedure time: 5 minutes!). I am very disappointed with Toyota trained technicians and any good technician knows there is no such thing as soft pedal design especially with a vacuum brake booster with engine off (hydraulic fluid is only slightly compressible!). only vehicles with hydraulic brake booster can experience a brake pedal feeling spongy since the booster will continue to function after engine had been turned off (approx:10 ' 20 brake pedal applications ' diesel & very few gas vehicles). It seems to me Toyota is skipping a step in there manufacturing process.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

I was slowly maneuvering into a parking space when the car revved up, jumped over the concrete barrier, over the curb and sidewalk. I was headed directly toward a building and a large plate glass window. The brakes did not stop the car, and felt squishy when I pushed them all the way to the floor. I swerved to the right, turned off the key and hit a parked car in order to stop. I also want to mention that the tire pressure gauge light would come on any time I was driving on the highway at speeds over 50 mph.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota rav-4. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the vehicle would make a clicking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The technician stated that it was normal for a new vehicle to make noises but proceeded to replace the brakes pad and shim kit. Additionally, all of the brake components were lubricated however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, she attempted to apply the brakes and they failed to respond. As a result, she crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact sustained whiplash and minor burns caused by the seat belt and deployment of the air bag. A police report was filed. The driver of the second vehicle was also injured and transported to hospital. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was not repaired or inspected. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 500 and the current mileage was 17,000.

- Biddeford, ME, USA

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.

- Rexford, NY, USA

2012 Rav4, second incident, 1st was dismissed. Was driving approx 20 mph in a 35mph business district on 4 lane street. Pressed brake with right foot to decelerate for stop light & car in front of me, car suddenly surged forward with engine revving. I depressed brake further with more strength and took left foot and place on top of right foot. Had the feeling the accelerator pedal was moving as well but wasn't touching it. Car continued to jerk forward, engine revving, with brakes partially engaged for approx. 20 feet. Then engine shut off completely and brakes fully engaged stopping the car. Was inches from car in front. Restarted car and finished drive home. Checked car mats but still in place on brackets. Had car towed to Toyota dealership. They found no unintended acceleration but did find that both brake and accelerator pedals had been depressed. Suggested I must have stepped on both accidentally. Not a chance. Was well aware of foot/feet placement. Service mgr showed me what to do "should this happen again." Excuse me?! told to shift into neutral for brakes to engage or another gear to stall the engine and stop the car. 1 wk later, regional inspector spent day w/car and reported nothing wrong. Did show both pedals depressed at same time long enough to trip sensor but nothing was wrong. Dealer suggested I report to Toyota. Reported incident to Toyota customer experience center. Not happy. 2 incidents, other reports online, and it's a 2012 that wasn't supposed to do this. Feel lucky I didn't rear end someone, especially as the car didn't slow very much until it died. Scared silly for next time. Do not want my rav. Am being told car is perfectly safe but no one at dealership would sign statement saying I was safe and this wouldn't happen again. Hmmm. Want them to take car back! purchased new in Oct. 2012 w/less than 10 miles on it.

- Penn Hills, PA, USA

Made a right turn after stopped at red lite. Coming up to line of traffic stopped at another lite I stepped on brake and it felt like it was going down three times while car continued to accelerate. I hit the car in front of me. Police report filed. My front bumper was damaged. Took car to dealer next day they would not look at it and was told to call their customer service who would arrange an independent inspection. This was done and I'm waiting for a call from them to set date for inspection.

- Nicholson, PA, USA

I just read about someone in canton, Illinois who seems to have the same issue as mine; we have a 2012 ( manufactured in July 2012, purchased in August 2012, ) Rav4 limited with a V-6, the first time I had a stopping problem was about 2 months ago, when pressing on the brake pedal the engine RPM went to about 3,000 and I could not stop the vehicle, so pushed the start button to shut it down, attempted to repeat this problem when stopped, with the selector in park I noted if my foot was slightly at an angle when pressing on the brake pedal, it would catch the accelerator pedal at the same time, would run the RPM up to 3,000 or more depending on how much pressure was applied to the brake pedal, I am sure there a number of people who wear size 12 shoes, my wife drives this vehicle most of the time; this happened again on the 23rd of February at a traffic light with a camera, I overshot the limit line, may get a citation in the mail? have previously documented this with Toyota customer service, just to get the standard response that there have been no complaints about this problem and they are confidant there is no problems with this design ; my experience indicates there is serious problem with the brake and accelerator pedal either being too close or at the same height, someone will be injured or killed at some point, the 269 hp engine over rides the brake system, mine has smoked the first time it happened.; I also notified our local Toyota dealership in Aurora, Colorado, the service manager is looking into this, my thoughts in light of all the previous problems with stuck gas pedals, this should be resolved quickly.

- Aurora, CO, USA

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. By this time I had gone through a chain link fence, through a ditch over a curb and continued to pick up speed to pass through a concrete block wall and into the back of a parked R.,the vehicle impaling itself on the steel pipes of a motorcycle carrier attached to the back of the R.V. the vehicle could not move any further but the engine was still revving. Needless to say the Rav4 was totaled and amazingly I suffered only minor bumps and bruises. At no time did any of the air bags deploy.

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

I was driving westbound on I-70 around mp 129. This is just before glenwood canyon. There was a flashing icy road sign at which time, I signaled my intention to move to the right lane which I did. I slowed down and put my car in 3rd. This was just before a curve to the right where the road and visibility narrow. The right lane was completely iced over as I realized when I got around the curve. In front of me, I saw a pileup, both lanes of traffic were blocked. I tapped my brakes to slow down but because of the ice, I did not stop or slow down. I went around one car stopped in my lane to avoid hitting it from behind. I went around on the shoulder. I continued to pump the brake. Immediately in front of me was a Sierra 4X 4 that was perpendicular to the lane of traffic and it was also blocking the shoulder. I plowed into it about the middle of the truck at a rate of anywhere of 25 - 30 mph. My airbags did not deploy. My dog and I were both restrained and we suffered no injuries. My car is in all likelihood totaled.

- Solana Beach, CA, USA

Driving in rush hour traffic and braking for car in front of me but nothing happened. Readjusted myself and pressed harder on brakes but still rolling. Brakes to floor but still moving. Had brake pressed to floor and ended up rolling into car in front of me. Minor scratches on my front but none on car ahead of me. Got out because I thought someone hit me from behind because couldn't explain why I couldn't stop. No damage to rear. Got back in car and drove home. Brakes worked fine since. Took car to dealership on Saturday but they could not find anything wrong with them. Unsure what happened but I did not slam on brakes and was alert and paying attention when brakes failed momentarily. Dealership assured me car was fine. Hasn't happened since. Not sure what to do but someone from a Rav4 site said I should post here.

- Chicago, IL, USA

This is a leased car. This date was the first episode of a recurring problem. Each time it took place on a local street. Each time as the driver ( my wife or myself ) was stepping on the brake to bring the car to a full stop the car suddenly started to accelerate. This first incident was noteworthy but was attributed to the newness of the vehicle. The three incidents that followed were considerably worse. We contacted the dealer from whom the car is leased and were told to bring the car in. We brought the car in on August 23 and picked it up on August 30. At that time we were told that the car had been tested and nothing wa wrong with it. In other words, Toyota has no explanation of why these four incidents took place. This vehicle was purchased so that we could safely Transport our grandchildren.the lack of resolution of the problem leaves us with an unsafe vehicle that we would never use for the original intended purpose.the August 29, 2012, wall street journal column 'me and my car' has a letter describing a very similar problem on a Toyota highlander that was brought to the dealer twice. Each time the letter writer was told what seems to be Toyota's stock answer, "nothing is wrong'. the wsj columnist responds that ' complaints about the electronic speedcontrol systems on Toyota (and other brands )are frequent'. he goes on to suggest that figuring the cause will take several visits to Toyota. No additional visits were scheduled or even suggested by Toyota.

- Hartsdale, NY, USA