THE LAG AND/OR SUDDEN SURGING OF THE CAR UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MODERATELY ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE PAUSED, THEN DOWNSHIFT ACCELERATING MUCH FASTER THAN CONDITIONS PERMITTED. I NEARLY STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS UNPREPARED FOR THE CAR TO NOT FUNCTION IN A CONTROLLED MANNER. *NM
2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED MY 09 RAV4 IN JUNE 2009. I NOTICED AN ODD ODOR A FEW TIMES WHILE RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER & ASSUMED IT WAS FROM THE EXHAUST FORM THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I BEGAN USING THE HEAT IN THE FALL, I STARTED SMELLING A BAD, BURNING, ALMOST CHEMICAL SMELL COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. ON DEC 29, 2009, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP & TOYOTA TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR, CABIN AIR FILTER & DISINFECT/DEODORIZE THE VENTS & THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY SAID WAS MOLD IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS NOW FEB. 23, 2010 & THE SMELL IS BACK & MY CAR IS SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT MAKES ME SICK TO DRIVE IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM TOYOTA WHAT TO DO NEXT & SAYS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF TOYOTAS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN AN INVESTIGATION &/OR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? IT IS A HEALTH ISSUE FOR ANYONE INHALING THAT DISGUSTING AIR FROM THOSE VENTS. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO SINCE I HAVE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. IS THE HEALTH/SAFETY OF TOYOTA OWNERS NOT IMPORTANT TO TOYOTA? OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE, I LOVE MY RAV & I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BE DRIVING IT INSTEAD OF THE YARIS THEY LOANED ME UNTIL MINE IS FIXED. *TR
