Turned t4r off while in reverse, rolls as if in neutral?

[jminz]

I put my 4runner in "park" today and turned it off. I got out of the car (I was parked in my driveway, which is sloped), and the vehicle started rolling as if it was in neutral. Luckily I was able to hop back in quickly and apply the brake.

Turns out that I accidentally put it in reverse instead of park when I turned it off. Not a huge deal, but what surprises me is that there is not a safety feature that would prevent the vehicle from rolling should the ignition be turned off while its still in reverse.

It was obviously my fault, but if I wasn't able to get back in when it started rolling it would have really done a number on my detached garage once it got to the bottom of my driveway.

 

[LobstaMobsta]

Smooth move x-lax

 

[jwyshrek]

...parking brake...

 

[sigepbiker]

I've turned off my 4Runner in Reverse, Neutral, and Drive, but I couldn't take the keys out. That's my queue that I need to put it in Park.

Were you planning on leaving the keys in the car when you stepped out?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Every car made today works this way, no need for a change. Slow down a little, put in in park and engage parking brake if on a incline.

 

[TRDCal]

It was obviously my fault, but if I wasn't able to get back in when it started rolling it would have really done a number on my detached garage once it got to the bottom of my driveway.

Who cares about your garage, it would have really done a number on your poor 4runner.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

This isn't directed at the OP, but rather a statement to clarify the possible reason why this "issue" was never addressed;

You can only idiot proof so much...

That's as simple as I can explain it... The owner/operator of the vehicle is assumed to be compotent enough to safely operate their vehicle as they would any tool. You can only put so many safety guards on a tool before it becomes impractical to use said tool, the same applies with cars. To achieve what you are talking about would mean the car puts itself into Park when the key is turned off, or applies the P-Brake automatically (some cars do apply the P-brak automatically.) Its just not practical and there's no reason for them to do this and thus it hasn't been done since the invention of the transmission.

 

[NeutronJon]

When my wife switched from a Prius with SmartKey to a Rav4 with SmartKey, we both kept forgetting to put the vehicle in park because the in the Prius it didn't matter. On the Rav, the ignition stays on and switches to ACC unless you put it in park.

 

[jminz]

As I said, it was def my fault, not making excuses. I was in a hurry, left key in the ignition, hopped out of car, and the rest is history. With reverse being next to park thought there might have been a safe guard. I'll def be more cautious in the future. Just saying.

 

[JB.]

....what surprises me is that there is not a safety feature that would prevent the vehicle from rolling should the ignition be turned off while its still in reverse.

In that case, you should be happy to know that rear window won't roll up with the key fob. Imagine the trouble some people could get into with that.

Unfortunately, I and the vast majority of other owners feel differently about that little safety tradeoff.