2003 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 816 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 239 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 112 people were injured and 5 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, side/windowJul 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 04V346000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control
266 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Jan 22, 2010, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND AS SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,700. SEE ODI 10306036 *DSY
Vehicle speed control, Dec 21, 2009, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OVER AN EMBANKMENT, AND THEN INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LOWER PART OF THE BODY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO INVESTIGATED THE ACCELERATOR, AND CONCLUDED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS PRIOR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN VEHICLE CONTROL, THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 13, 2009, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE TO OUR CAR. AGAIN, THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE FLOOR MAT (1) WAS ALL THE WAY BACK AGAINST BASE OF THE SEATS AND NOT IN THE AREA OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND (2) THE MAT IS BY DESIGN, CUT BACK 3 TO 4 INCHES SHORT OF THE CARPETED AREA UNDER, NEAR AND AROUND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND (3) THE BASE AND REAR OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE SUSPENDED 2 1/2 TO 3 INCHES AWAY FROM THE CARPETED FLOOR AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO A POSITION CLOSE TO THE FLOOR--AND IT DEFINITELY BEYOND THE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE THAT DRIVERS WOULD/COULD PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATE WHO SAID "NO PROBLEM FOUND." PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR PERIODICALLY, BUT WE NOW KNOW TO PRESS DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. (WE ALSO NOTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH OUR 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE--BUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS IN REVERSE. WHEN STARTING UP IN THE MORNING AND BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH FOOT COVERING THE BRAKE (AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL), THE ENGINE RPMS SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND IF YOU AREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DON'T HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR CAN SPEED UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND GO OUT OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE ASSOCIATE WHO ALSO SAID: "NO PROBLEM FOUND.") *TR SEE ALSO 10174244, SAME COMPLAINANT, DIFFERENT VEHICLE. *DSY
Vehicle speed control, Dec 10, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK DUE TO THE ENTRAPMENT OF THE FLOOR MAT. SHE USUALLY HAS TO MANUALLY REMOVE THE FLOOR-MAT TO PREVENT A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY-TIME SHE OPERATED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL), SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT COULD NOT REACH A REPRESENTATIVE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE FLOOR- MAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000.
Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2009
ON 2 OCCASIONS THE GAS PEDAL HAS STUCK ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING FORWARD WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE 2ND OCCASION WAS ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL BY FORCEFULLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A VERY NEAR ACCIDENT - CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 30, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT INTENTION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE SAME METHOD. HE WAS IN PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 2/26/10 *CN THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS/ UPDATED 05/17/10.*JB
Vehicle speed control, Nov 26, 2009
FIRST, LET ME SAY THAT I AM AND REMAIN A SATISFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER. HOWEVER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "STUCK ACCELERATOR" TYPE OF INCIDENT IN MY 2003 CAMRY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AT FIRST, I CONSIDERED IT TO BE SOME SORT OF RARE EVENT. IT DID SEEM TO ME THAT THE FLOOR MAT AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE SOMEHOW "JAMMED" WHEN THAT HAPPENED. CURRENTLY, WITH THE NEWS ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE, WITH NEWER MODELS OF CAMRY, I WANT TO ALERT NHTSA THAT THE PROBLEM MAY EXIST IN MODEL YEARS AS FAR BACK AS 2003. *TR NORMAN F CARNAHAN, PE, PHD
Vehicle speed control, Nov 20, 2009, crash
THIS MORNING I FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE DUE TO THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME I GAVE INCORRECT FAILURE MILEAGE AS 50,000 MILES. WHEN I CHECKED MY RECORDS OF MILEAGE AT GAS FILL UPS I FOUND THE FOLLOWING: 24 JULY 2008: MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 58026 AND 58444. 28 AUG 2008: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 59090 AND 59463. 17 OCT 2008: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 60257 AND 60540. MILEAGE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 60399. 14 OCT 2009: MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 64205 AND 64532. THAT IS AS CLOSE AS I CAN PIN DOWN THE FAILURE MILEAGE . I USED THE 10/17/2008 DATE FOR APPROX. INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONE TIME THAT OUR CAR HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE OTHER THREE TIMES WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I TRUST YOU CAN PUT THIS INFORMATION WITH THE REPORT I FILED THIS MORNING. NOTE: MY E-MAIL ADDRESS MAY CHANGE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS I AM PLANNING ON HOOKING UP TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR CHARLES & ALGENE ASHWORTH
Vehicle speed control, Nov 20, 2009, crash
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING: 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE: FOUR INCIDENTS TO DATE: WHILE DRIVING CAR IT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND PUTTING ONTO BRAKE DID NOT GET THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. HAD TO CUT OFF IGNITION AT THE KEY SWITCH. THE ONLY THING IN COMMON WAS THAT EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED IT HAD BEEN EITHER DAMP, MISTY, RAINING OR RAINING HARD. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL/FLOOR MAT PROBLEM. IT IS A THROTTLE PROBLEM! OUR FLOOR MAT WAS LOCKED DOWN AND DID NOT GET NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT WE REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT ANYWAY. INCIDENTS AS FOLLOWS: 24 JULY 2008 - TRAVELING TO ROANOKE VA SOUTH ON I-81. FEMALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL ON. DAYTIME. RAINING GENTLY. CAR MADE A ROARING SOUND (LIKE REVVING THE MOTOR WHILE IN NEUTRAL) AND SUDDENLY INCREASED SPEED RAPIDLY. WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. 28 AUG 2008- TRAVELING TO ROANOKE VA SOUTH ON I-81. FEMALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL ON. NIGHT. RAINING VERY HARD. CAR SUDDENLY MADE THE ROARING SOUND AND THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. WE GOT THE CAR STOPPED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. 17 OCT 2008 - ON A CITY STREET IN LYNCHBURG VA. MALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL OFF. DAYTIME. HAD BEEN RAINING HARD ALL DAY. DRIVING SLOWLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR MADE ROARING SOUND AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. CAR HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. 14 OCT 2009- TRAVELING ON CITY STREET IN HENRICO VA. MALE OWNER DRIVING. CRUISE CONTROL OFF. SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. MORNING AND JUST STARTING A MISTY RAIN. CAR MADE ROARING SOUND AND CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. NO ACCIDENT. MCGEORGE TOYOTA, BROAD ST., HENRICO(RICHMOND)VA HAS MADE EVERY EFFORT THEY KNOW TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THESE INCIDENTS, WITHOUT RESULTS. THEY KEPT THE CAR AND DROVE IT IN GOOD AND RAINY WEATHER AND DID NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE ENGINEERS IN CALIFORNIA WHO DON'T HAVE ANSWERS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2009, crash
I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT THE MALL AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND I CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DRIVING 100MPH. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE CAR MATS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE MY MATS WERE IN PLACE AFTER THE CRASH. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THE TREE.*TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 5, 2009, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY INVOLVED IN AN 8 CAR ACCIDENT ON 6/20/09. CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR.*TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 4, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT APPLICATION TO THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE ENGINE RPM'S BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 30, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN WHEN THE FLOOR MAT WAS ATTACHED, IT ALWAYS BECAME DETACHED MANEUVERING ITSELF UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT HAS NEVER STAYED IN PLACE SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/05/09. *JB
Vehicle speed control, Sep 9, 2009
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY IN THE FALL OF 2002. ONE WEEK AFTER THE PURCHASE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH THE TACHOMETER READING NEARLY 9,000 RPM'S. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED MY DEALER (FITZGERALD TOYOTA, CHAMBERSBURG, PA.) AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND IT WAS SUGGESTED I HAD STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR VS. THE BRAKE. I DIDN'T ARGUE THE POINT AND THE CAR PERFORMED FINE UP UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THREE DAYS. I SPOKE WITH FITZGERALD TOYOTA YESTERDAY (JAY NEWCOMER) TO ASCERTAIN IF ANYONE ELSE HAD REPORTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD "FITZGERALD HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS MORNING I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS FAIRLY COMMON WITH TOYOTA'S OF THAT YEAR PLUS OTHER YEAR'S MODELS. IS THE NHTSA AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA'S AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION? *TR
Vehicle speed control, Aug 30, 2009, crash
I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, PREPARING TO SHIFT TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CAR BACKED AT HIGH SPEED INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, AND WOULD ONLY STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY REPAIR COMPANY, AND WAS REPAIRED AT GREAT COST. TOYOTA INSPECTED IT AND FOUND NO DEFECT. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS STARTED ACCELERATING SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Mar 23, 2009, crash
FOLLOWUP TO ODI #10256120. INFORMED BY TOYOTA REP THAT YOUR AGENCY PERFORMED TWO INVESTIGATIONS F THE 2003 CAMRY RESPECTING ACCELERATION SURGES BUT RETURNED NO FINDINGS OF VEHICLE FAILURE.YOUR WEBSITE RECOUNTS ABOUT 130 REPORTS OF SUCH 2003 CAMRY FAILURES MOSTLY (102) UNDER VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL , SOME UNDER POWER TRAIN AUTO TRANS & VSC ACCELERATOR PEDAL. FOR FORD TAURUS I COUNTED 12; HONDA ACCORD AND CHEVROLET MALIBU 20+ - ALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2003. AS % OF CARS SOLD QUITE SMALL EVEN FOR CAMRY BUT AS AN OCCURRENCE RATIO OF 6-1 OR 10-1 VS. THE OTHER MODELS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.. THE FACT YOU CONDUCTED TWO INVESTIGATIONS OF CAMRY IS TELLING IN AND OF ITSELF. HOW MANY ACCELERATOR INVESTIGATIONS DID YOU CONDUCT FOR THE 2003 TAURUS, ACCORD & MALIBU? ABSENT AN AIRPLANE LIKE RECORDER HOW CAN YOU BE ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NO VEHICULAR FAILURE? THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO IMPLY THAT CAMRY OPERATORS ARE LESS COMPETENT THAN DRIVERS OF OTHER MAKES... *TR HARVEY MILLER
Vehicle speed control, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Aug 20, 2008, crash
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO OUR DAUGHTERS DAYCARE TO DROP HER OFF AS SHE DOES EVERY MORNING AND WHILE PULLING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A HIGH THROTTLE SPEED JUMPED THE CURB AND WENT CRASHING INTO THE BUILDING. EVEN PUMPING THE BRAKES DIDN'T STOP THE CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP GOING FORWARD WAS TO JAM THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO REVERSE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (BRAKES STILL DIDN'T WORK) AND THEN HAD TO JAM THE GEAR SELECTOR TO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATE AS OF TODAY. OUR VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, AND WE ARE SCARED OF THE THROUGH OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. IT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRONIC ISSUE AND CONNECTED TO THE SPEED CONTROL. I HAVE FOUND A MESSAGE BOARD ON THE INTERNET WHERE 97 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. AND TOYOTA DOES A RECALL ON THE FLOOR MATS? HMM I SMELL A COVER-UP AND A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 26, 2008, crash
WIFE TURNED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHICH SLOPES DOWN (10 - 20 DEGREES) AS SHE HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 20+ YEARS WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOPPED THE CAR. SHE VEERED LEFT TO AVOID GOING OVER A 20 FOOT EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. BASED ON THE ANGLE OF IMPACT THE CAR ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS ROOF. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. MY WIFE REMAINED SUSPENDED BY THE SEAT BELT UPSIDE DOWN UNTIL EMERGENCY FORCES ARRIVED. SHE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES AND CHEST PAINS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SEAT BELT. IF SHE HAD GONE OVER THE EMBANKMENT ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT THE EXTENT OF HER INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN. NEW TIRES HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CAR (FRONT WHEELS) DURING JUNE 2008 AT WHICH TIME THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ALSO CHECKED FOR WEAR BY AN AUTO MECHANIC. THE CAR WAS "TOTALED" AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IN THE CAR (AFTER THE ACCIDENT); THE BRAKE CYLINDER WAS FULL. FURTHER, THE TOYOTA CAMRY IS EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE WEAR INDICATORS. NO INDICATION (SOUND) OF EXCESS WEAR WAS GIVEN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. MY WIFE IS ADAMANT SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I SURMISE TWO THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED: 1. THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AND GRAVITY ACCELERATION DOWN THE DRIVEWAY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAR'S SPEED AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT; OR 2. THE CAR SURGED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) IN WHICH APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WAS INADEQUATE TO STOPPED THE CAR. BASED ON PRIOR NHTSA COMPLAINTS/ACTIONS (REF NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS PE04021; DP05002; AND DP06003) AND THE SIMILARITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE THE ETC FAILED. I RECOMMEND THE NHTSA AND TOYOTA TAKE ACTION TO REMEDY THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jun 9, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND IS ONLY BEING REPAIRED FOR BODY DAMAGE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 07/16/08.*LJ
Vehicle speed control, Jan 31, 2008
MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN OUT OF CONTROL. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO GET STOPPED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING BUT SHE IS SO SHOOK UP SHE WON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM SPEED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE DROVE INTO SOME BUSHES AND TREES THAT WERE IN FRONT OF A TWO FOOT WALL. THE UNDERCARRIAGE, TRANSMISSION HOUSING, TIE ROD, AND BUMPER WERE ALL DAMAGED. THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $5,800. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALONG WITH AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CONTACT REFUSED TO GO TO A HOSPITAL, EVEN THOUGH HER BLOOD PRESSURE WAS 200. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,960. SEE ODI 10206896 ALSO. *DSY
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Oct 25, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS AND THEN CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V346000 (AIR BAGS: SIDE/WINDOW) WAS REFERENCED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR FELT THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 25, 2007, THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000. SEE 10209036 ALSO. *DSY. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Aug 28, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE BETWEEN 3-5 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. HER KNEES WERE BADLY BRUISED. THE HOOD AND FRONT BUMPER WERE DAMAGED, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SIDE PANELS WERE MOVED AND MISALIGNED, WHICH IMPACTS THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DOORS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,500.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 10, 2007, crash
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY FAULTY ACCELERATION CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSED HER TO HIT ANOTHER CAR AND A HOUSE**SB *JB SEE ALSO 10183782 *SY
Vehicle speed control, Jul 9, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY TO 45 MPH AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CEMENT BLOCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED AWAY. THE BODY DAMAGE MUST BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE DEALER CAN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,000.