2018 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 331 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 31 involved a crash and 32 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryNov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Campaign 23V734000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Campaign 19V503000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
Campaign 17V831000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
331 reports, newest first.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Jul 14, 2021, crash
The Toyota RAV4 2018 car acceleration went out of control and crashed into a retaining wall. The airbags exploded and the steering wheel airbag burst. The car was totaled and is with State Farm. I was blessed to still be alive the car speed out of control on its own. I tried to push on the brakes but the car kept going. The accident could have been worse. No one else was injured only another car was hit. I did reach out to Toyota and they said it could take 4-6 weeks for someone to look at the car. I reach out to the dealer and waiting to hear back from the dealer. The police department issued me a ticket, I have court on July 23, 2021. State Farm insurance declared the car a total loss. No warning lamps or messages. The first same incident happened on April 3, 2021, and on June 12, 2021, was the day of the accident. The incident and accident happened at the same location. I would like to speak with someone at your organization. The car is at State Farm's collision place. I would like for your organization to look at the car. I will call to make sure that the car is still at the collision place.
Electrical system, Jul 11, 2021
2018 hybrid battery does not hold charge. Sometimes the battery dies even where it should be fully charged and driving. Drove 5 hours straight on 7/10. Does on the highway. The car battery has been dying almost from day 1 . This car is only 2 1/2 and only 20, 000 miles .
Electrical system, Jun 24, 2021
When I tried to start my vehicle this morning after a store run. the car clicked multiple times and made a weird noise, then went dead. I popped my hood immediately and saw a hole the size of a quarter next to the battery terminal and smoke was coming out the hole. I had driven it 40 miles before I had put it in park, and it drove fine before that. I have showed multiple people pictures of the battery (including mechanics) and no one had ever seen anything like that. I decided to google to see if it's a known problem/recall on the Rav4 and found that the NHTSA was investigating the batteries due to similar instances. Thankfully my car did not catch fire, and I was smart and decided not to start it again. Otherwise something bad could have happened.
Air bags, Jun 7, 2021, crash
06/04/21...I Had a Hit & Run Head On Collision(Side Swipe), As I Was Swerving To Avoid Oncoming Traffic & Get A Handle Of the Vehicle, No Warning Lights Came On. I Hit a Wall. My Front Nor Side Airbags Deployed. It What was A Very Forceful Hit From The Other Vehicle & Hitting The Wall. The Vehicle Is Being Inspected By My Insurance Adjuster Tomorrow.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, May 19, 2021, fire
We were driving when I made a right turn and suddenly the steering wheel locked on me and at the same time various warning lights lit up on my dashboard. The car slowed and I was able to regain control of the steering wheel to pull over. After driving a few miles further we once again came to a right turn and everything happened as before except with greater intensity. We tried to straighten the steering wheel for control and were able to pull over into an empty parking lot. By the time we came to a stop, which took all of just one or two minutes, smoke was coming out from under our hood. We quickly got out of our car and opened the hood to see the battery in flames. I called 911 while my husband poured his cup of water over the flames. It stalled the fire but it continued to spark until help arrived. I am certain if we had not had water the whole car would have caught on fire. The car was towed to a Toyota dealership where we were told that their was an issue with battery installation. At present it is being worked on but I have lost confidence in this vehicle especially since we got no warning that there was a problem and we could have been badly injured or killed if the circumstances had been different and we had not been able to pull over and get out or have water with us. We have since learned that this is an issue for many people who own this 2018 RAV4 vehicle. I also learned there is no recall on this issue. I hope that Toyota isn't waiting for someone to be seriously injured or die before they fix this problem.
Electrical system, May 12, 2021
I WAS WAITING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN ONCE IT DID I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GO AND THE VEHICLE STALL AND LOST POWER COMPLETELY AND GAVE A MESSAGE SAYING POWER FAILURE AND A PICTURE OF A BATTERY AFTER THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP
Vehicle speed control, Lane departure, May 5, 2021
CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL, DUE TO A CAR IN FRONT, IT WAS DRIVING 10 MILE BELOW THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. A NEW CAR CAME IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE PREVIOUS CAR IN FRONT, MY CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP SUDDENLY. I HIT THE BREAK AND CANCELED CRUISE CONTROL IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES DO FAR. ONLY SEEM TO HAPPEN RARELY WHEN SOME NEW OBJECT COMES IN BETWEEN.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 11, 2021
CAR STARTED STALLING WHOLE IN MOTION YESTERDAY. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. TODAY IN MY 3RD DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER I STOP AT A RESTAURANT, I START THE CAR TO THE SURPRISE IT JUST STALLED AND GIVE ME CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION I TRY TO START IT AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I'M FAR FROM HOME I CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND IS CLOSED. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TOMORROW MORNING TO TOW THE CAR TO THEM. I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN IN A TOYOTA VEHICLE ONLY 3 YEAR OLDER. LAST YEAR THEY CHANGE THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT LET ME STRANDED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR SURE.
Electrical system, Apr 3, 2021
THE VEHICLE USE PURCHASED IN DEC '18. IN DEC '19 THE BATTERY WENT DEAD AND WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA SAID THE BATTERY HAD A BAD CELL.. IN APR '20 THE BATTERY WENT BAD AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA SAID THE WRONG SIZE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED THE LAST TIME. IN AUG '20 THE BATTERY WENT BAD AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED, TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF A GPS DEVISE THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP AND WAS NEVER MADE AWARE TO THE BUYER. IN DEC '20 THE BATTERY WENT BAD AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. THIS TIME TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH. THE DRIVING PATTERN HAS BEEN THE SAME WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM THEN WHY WAS IT NOT A PROBLEM IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. ALSO IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE PREVIOUS VEHICLE THAT WAS USED AS A TRADE-IN ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE.
Visibility/wiper, Mar 29, 2021
THE EVENING OF SUNDAY, MARCH 28TH, 2021 I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 IN IDAHO NEAR WENDELL, AT APPROXIMATELY 83 MPH WHEN THE SUNROOF OF MY 2018 RAV4 EXPLODED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. LUCKILY THE SHADE PANEL WAS DRAWN, SO NO GLASS DEBRIS WENT INTO THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND OUR 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING BEHIND HIM. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE EXPLOSION, I THOUGHT WE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT, BUT I DIDN'T FEEL A PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY NEXT THOUGHT WAS THAT THE RV NEXT TO ME HAD A BLOWOUT, BUT THEY KEPT ON DRIVING. WE COULD HEAR A LOT OF WIND COMING FROM THE SUNROOF, SO I PULLED OVER AT THE NEXT EXIT, WHICH WAS CLOSE, AND ASSESSED THE SITUATION. THE SUNROOF WAS GONE! THE REMAINING GLASS AROUND THE EDGES WAS ALL CRACKED AND CURVED UPWARDS, SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF GLASS DEBRIS INSIDE THE SHADE PANEL. NOBODY PULLED OVER AND APPROACHED US, SO WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY EYE WITNESSES. WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME TO BOISE AFTER SPENDING SPRING BREAK IN UTAH. WE CONTINUED DRIVING THE REMAINING 2 HRS. HOME, WITH MY HUSBAND HOLDING THE SHADE PANEL CLOSED, SINCE WE WERE AFRAID IT MY GET SUCKED OUT. THE WIND WAS PRETTY DEAFENING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CLEAR AND SUNNY, 75* WITH STRONG WINDS. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY FLYING DEBRIS, NOR DID WE HEAR ANYTHING HIT THE CAR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION.
Air bags, Mar 29, 2021, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 TOYOTA RAV-4. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD WHILE TURNING INTO THE LEFT LANE COLLIDING INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE CURTIN AIR BAG AND DRIVER FRONT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD A FRACTURED A FINGER ON HER RIGHT HAND, CHEST CONTUSIONS AND RIGHT KNEE BRUISE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTAL LOSS HOWEVER THE EVALUATION WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 18, 2021
STARTING LATE AUG2020 THE DASHBOARD STARTING TO SHOW WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY AND INCONSISTENTLY. ALL WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT COME AT THE SAME TIME BUT WHEN TURNING THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS ON OTHER WARNING LIGHTS TURN ON AND SO FAR THE CAR HAVE STALLED MORE THAN 4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING UNDER 40 MPH. THE LAST 3 TIMES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT AFTER BEING PARKED AND BUT THIS LAST TIME IT DID NOT AND WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A TOW ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND ME AS THE CAR THAT WAS COMING BEHIND ME STOPPED AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BEHIND HIM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH IT AND ALL THEY DID WAS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO THE WARRANTING LIGHTS TURN OFF AND SEND ME BACK OUT AND WITH IN 15 MIN ON THE ROAD THE LIGHTS STARTED TO COMEBACK ON AGAIN BUT THE CAR DID NOT DIE ON THE ROAD. THE CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAVE 14,500 MILES ON IT AND IT IS BECOMING VERY UNRELIABLE TO DRIVE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2021, fire
THIS CAR STARTED A FIRE ON THE ROAD WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION, AND AFTER I DROVE IT OVER A MILE ON A CITY STREET ON APRIL 22ND, 2019. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD IN FRONT OF DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. I LEFT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO CALL FOR HELP. LESS THAN A MINUTE, AFTER I LEFT THE CAR, THE FIRE STARTED, THE FLAMES WENT UP TO 10 FEET HIGH IN A SHORT 2 MINUTES, IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES, BEFORE THE FIREMEN PUT FIRE OFF, THE CAR WAS BURNED TO THE FRAME WITH NOTHING LEFT INSIDE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN A LITTLE OVER 6000 MILES AT THE TIME. TOYOTA HAS NOT COVERED ANY OF MY LOSS AND TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY.
Service brakes, Engine, Mar 10, 2021, fire
WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS A LITTLE SHAKES ON THE CAR AND A MESSAGE APPEARED THAT THE ANTI LOCKING BRAKE FAILED. I STOP THE VEHICLE AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TOOK THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. A FIRE START COMING OUT OF THE HOOD AND I TOLD MY WIFE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND I GET OUT ALSO, THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE BEHIND US CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IN A FEW MINUTES THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED AND START EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE FIRE ENGULF THE WHOLE VEHICLE.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 8, 2021
VEHICLE IN MOTION. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ON OTHER VEHICLE AND ACCELERATION STALLED OUT. THIS HASS OCCURED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. BUT IT IS NOT CONSISTANT ON ALL OCCASIONS.
Electrical system, Mar 5, 2021, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE SAW SMOKE EXIT THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER EASTERN SHORE TOYOTA (29732 FREDERICK BLVD, DAPHNE, AL 36526: (251) 250-0161) AND WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Electrical system, Mar 4, 2021
CONSTANT BATTERY FAILURE ON 2018 RAV 4. REPLACED JAN 2020 AND AGAIN MARCH 2021. ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP, BELLS & WHISTLES THEN DEAD. HAVE CALLED TRIPLE A SO MANY TIMES WE ARE OUT OF SERVICE UNLESS UPGRADE PLAN. DEALER STATES CAR NOT DRIVEN ENOUGH (DESPITE DRIVEN SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK) BUT DEALER WOULD NOT STATE HOW MUCH CAR SHOULD BE DRIVEN TO AVOID BATTERY FAILURE ISSUE. ALSO NOTED SQUIRREL HAD BUILT NEST UNDER THE HOOD WITH INSULATION. NOTIFIED DEALER OF ALL & THEY REPLACED BATTERY WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN WARRANTY THAT IS ACTIVE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CONCERNED AS OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUE AND SOME WITH BATTERY EXPLOSION/FIRE. MY MOM IS ELDERLY AND CONCERNED ABOUT HER BEING STRANDED OUT AND ABOUT OR WORSE FIRE HAZARD.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 1, 2021
1/30/2021 TRAVELING APPROX 74 MPH ON INTERSTATE IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AND LIGHT RAIN (HEAVY DRIZZLE) AND OUTSIDE TEMP AROUND 47 DEGREES. I WAS LISTENING TO AN AUDIOBOOK WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A POPPING SOUND AND THEN A ROAR AS WIND STARTED COMING IN THE CAR AND WHAT I NOW KNOW WAS THE SHATTERED GLASS FROM MY SUNROOF FALLING IN ON ME. SHATTERED GLASS FELL ON ME AND WHEN I MOVED IT WEDGED ITSELF BETWEEN ME AND MY SEAT MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO MOVE FOR FEAR OF BEING CUT BY THE GLASS. IT WAS NOT A ROCK THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 30, 2021, crash
TRAFFIC STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR DIDN'T. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED BUT IT DIDN'T STOP. ALMOST EVERY AIRBAG DEPLOYED EXCEPT THE PASSENGER, IT WAS OFF. MY DASH READ THAT ABS FAILED CONTACT DEALER.
Steering, Jan 16, 2021
STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WITH WARNING SOUND, THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM TO REPAIR IT
Power train, Jan 11, 2021
THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS 2X AT 40 MPH INTO A GEAR WHICH MAKES THE CAR LURCH AND THE RPMS GO FROM 2000 TO 4000. HAPPENS DURING MILD ACCELERATOR DEPRESSION. IF YOU ROMP ON THE GAS THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. WHEN IT DOES UPSHIFT THE ECO LIGHT COMES ON BUT THEN IT UPSHIFTS AGAIN. THE SENSOR DOES NOT SELECT THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE LOAD.
Lane departure, Dec 18, 2020
THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING BUZZER'S WARNING CANNOT BE HEARD ON THE ROAD WITH THE RADIO ON LOW VOLUME OR WITH A RADIO OFF BUT DRIVING ABOVE 75MPH DUE TO THE ROAD NOISE. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO DIFFERENT DEALERS RESULTED IN COMMENTS THAT THE BUZZER WORKS AS DESIGNED. CALLS TO TOYOTA'S "BRAND ENGAGEMENT ADVOCATE" RESULTED IN ADVICE TO GO TO A DEALER. THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO INSTRUCT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE BUZZER. I UNDERSTAND THAT LDW IS MANDATORY FOR 5 STARS SAFETY RATING, BUT I CANNOT FIND THE SPECIFICATION FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2020
I HAVE AN AUTO SHIFT OFF FOR HIGH BEAM LIGHTS, I TURN MY HIGH BEAMS ON AND THEY DON'T WORK, AND WHEN I PULL THE SWITCH BACK LIKE I AM TRYING TO FLASH MY HIGH BEAMS AT SOMEONE THEY WORK BUT WHEN I TURN THEM ON TO KEEP THEM ON THEY DO NOT WORK AND MY AUTO HIGH BEAM LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON EITHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
I STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON A SMALL INCLINE WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE. I HIT THE POWER BUTTON (WHILE THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED) WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE, AND NOT PROPERLY TURNED OFF, WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS SIX FEET. LATER THAT DAY I TRIED TO RECREATE THE SAME SCENARIO AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IF YOU PRESS THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF YOUR VEHICLE WHILE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL ACT AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL DOWNHILL. I HAVE NOT TRIED WITH THE CAR FACING DOWNHILL/ROLLING FORWARDS.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Nov 6, 2020, crash
WHILE IN REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE (STOPPED) THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. WHILE FOOT STILL ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE HAD UNCOMMANDED FORWARD ACCELERATION (ENGINE REVVED UP LIKE FOOT FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL). VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ~25 FT AND HIT THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE (FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL ENTIRE TIME). UPON IMPACT, THE VEHICLE HAD UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION IN REVERSE (FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL STILL). WAS ABLE TO TURN OF IGNITION AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER MOVING ~25FT IN REVERSE. AT FINAL STOP, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LEVER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. NOTE: TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED VEHICLE TO GO IN REVERSE A FEW FEET FOR POSITIONING. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND GAS PEDAL PRESSED GENTLY. VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE (< 2MPH) AS IT SHOULD. FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE PUT IN PARK IN ONE MOTION. VEHICLE IN PARK AND FOOT ON BRAKE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AGAIN. KEY WAS TURN OFF. VEHICLE TOWED.