2008 Toyota Avalon VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NHTSA, I WOULD LIKE REPORT AN INCIDENT OF 'SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION' WHEN DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE, [XXX], ON SUNDAY, 10/23/16 TRAVELING WEST ON WALKER ROAD IN BEAVERTON, OREGON AT 11:05AM (ADDRESS: [XXX]) . I WAS STOPPED BEHIND (2) CARS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. SUDDENLY THE CAR ENGINE QUICKLY REVVED UP. MY CAR SURGED FORWARD AS I DEPRESSED MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE FURTHER. THANKFULLY MY CAR ONLY SURGED FORWARD A FOOT OR TWO AND THEN THE ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE. NO CONTACT WAS MADE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY SCARY FOR ME AND MY WIFE AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS 'SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION' IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL CAUSE HARM TO ME, MY FAMILY AND OTHERS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TAKATA RECALL MARCH 9TH 2016 9:30PM I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY FROM THE ONRAMP TO ABOUT 70MPH WHEN THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE SO I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE BUT THERE WAS NO RELEASE OF ACCELERATION SO PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND I FOUND ROOM TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I GAVE IT 15 SECONDS AND RE-STARTED BUT IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING, I REPEATED THIS AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I LEFT ITHE ENGINE OFF FOR A FULL MINUTE AND RE-STARTED TO FIND IT HAD RESET. I THEN CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AND FOUND IT INTACKED AND PINNED TO THE FLOOR PINS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I WAS COASTING, BARELY MOVING WHEN I HEARD THE ENGINE REV UP AND ACCELERATE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS. BEFORE I COULD APPLY BRAKES MY CAR HIT THE HOUSE. I WAS ABOUT 2 FEET FROM THE HOUSE SO THERE WAS NOT MUCH TIME TO REACT. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN 1-2 SECONDS. I HAD TURNED INTO A DRIVEWAY TO PARK. *TR

I WAS COASTING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE HARDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE BEGAN TO UNCONTROLLABLY RACE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD, FLIPPED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, MISSING THE CAR IN FRONT BY INCHES. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 10-15 SECONDS, RESTARTED THE CAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO UNCONTROLLABLY RACE AGAIN. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES RE-STARTED THE CAR AND IT STARTED SOMEWHAT ROUGHLY BUT THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR I CHECKED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS FIRMLY ANCHORED AND NOWHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT WAS. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT I WAS BRAKING AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING APPROPRIATELY SO IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ITSELF BECAME STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY TO THE DEALER AND NOTIFIED TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOOT AND INJURIES TO THE FACE, KNEES, BACK, AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER A CURB AND ONTO SOMEONE'S PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND SOME SMALL TREES. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE ALTHOUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,767. UPDATED 10/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/19/10*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BEGAN SHIFTING INTO A DIFFERENT GEAR ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND MOST RECENTLY, SEEMED TO OCCUR ON A DAILY BASIS. WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR, SHE HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN OPEN RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 10V017000: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,200.

ON 01-20-10, THIS CUSTOMER STATES AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROX 70 MPH AND COMING UP ON SOME OTHER VEHICLES, APPLYING THE BRAKE TO BEGIN SLOWING DOWN. ONCE THE ROAD WAS CLEAR, I REUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PRESSING THE RESUME SWITCH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE PAST 70 MPH AND CONTINUED TO ABOUT 85 MPH BEFORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND CANCELED THE RESUME FUNCTION. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED IF THE BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED. ON 02-05-10 FITZGERALD TOYOTA CK THE VEHICLE, NO PROBLEM FOUND. MY VEH IS A 08 TOYOTA AVALON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE THAT HE PURCHASED WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WAS THE LASER CRUISE CONTROL. THE LASER IN THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND IT DID NOT WARN HIM THAT HE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE THE LASER CRUISE CONTROL IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE LASER BEAM IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD, ACCELERATED OVER A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A SIGN. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THEN ANOTHER CURB. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,606.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING IN A GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH CAUSED IT TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP SO THAT A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE COULD INSPECT IT. THE REP HAD NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,500 UPDATED 11/29/10 *CN UPDATED 11/20/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPAIRED. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND FORCED HIM TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AGAIN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47000.

LASER CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT APPARENT REASON, MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS IT HAS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN DECELERATION, WHICH HAS NEARLY CAUSED MY RAMMING INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND A CAR BEHIND ME CRASHING INTO ME. THESE, ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM, OCCUR EVERY TIME IT IS ENGAGED. WHEN FIRST PRESENTED TO THE DEALER IN PHONE CONVERSATION WAS TOLD IT WAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTION TO NEWS REPORTS AND GIVEN AN 800 NUMBER TO A RECORDED MESSAGE TELLING ME IF I HAVE A PROBLEM STOP MY CAR AND REPORT IT TO MY DEALER. I THEN WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS THEN TREATED WITH DISBELIEF. THEIR INITIAL SOLUTION WAS DENIAL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. AFTER DEMANDING A MECHANIC TEST DRIVE THE CAR, THE TECHNICIAN CONCEDED THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS I DESCRIBED. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEIR IN SHOP DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE LASER CRUISE. AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THIS WAS INCREDIBLY ASKED IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEIR OWN MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT IN REALITY THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING DURING THE ROAD TEST.THEN THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER TACTIC. THERE IS A 1/2 INCH DING IN THE FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR THAT IS THE RESULT OF MY CAR ROLLING 5 FEET WHILE IN NEUTRAL AND TAPPING A POLE. THEY DECIDED TO BLAME THE MALFUNCTION ON THIS MINUTE DING EVEN THOUGH I INFORMED THEM THAT THE MALFUNCTION DID NOT CORRELATE WITH THE TIME OF THE BLEMISH TO THE CAR. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT, OVER $3000, TO FIX THIS DING, HOPING IT WILL DETER ME FROM PURSUING THE ISSUE OF THE INNATE FLAWS IN TOYOTA'S LASER MECHANISM. I KNOW THIS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT AM INSTRUCTING THEM TO REPAIR THE BUMPER AS A MEANS OF GUARANTEEING THIS IS THE SOLUTION TO MY LASER CRUISE PROBLEM. I WILL PAY TO FIX MY DLCC, NOT CORRECT A BLEMISH IN MY BUMPER. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW BECAUSE OTHERS ARE PROBABLY BEING MET WITH THE SAME RESISTANCE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. MY CAR IS 2008 AVALON LIMITED. DEALER: TOYO OF WATERTOWN. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA AVALON'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING HARD TO DEPRESS AND SEEMED STUCK IN SOME PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION. UNTIL THE NATIONAL PRESS ON THIS ISSUE, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT HAD LEAD TO THE DEATH OF PEOPLE AND THAT TOYOTA KNEW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED. WHEN IT WAS MENTIONED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY MY FLOOR MAT CAUSING THE PROBLEM SO I REMOVED THE MAT; HOWEVER, I STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM A FEW TIMES LATER. I WAS BEGINNING TO THINK IT WAS SOME MALFUNCTION IN MY PARTICULAR CAR AND DID NOT KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I AM AWAITING A RETURN PHONE CALL FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT STATE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE HOOD AND FENDER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,444. UPDATED 05/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 5/28/10 *CN UPDATED 09/23/10

MY 2008 AVALON EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION TWICE,,,ONCE IN 2008 AND ONCE IN 2009...BOTH TIMES I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, WHICH HAS A SAFETY FEATURE, A LASER, WHICH KEEPS YOU FROM GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU....MY CAR ACCELERATED AND IGNORED THE SAFETY LASER. IT SLOWED DOWN IMMEDIATELY WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE KEY IS, THE PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK, I DID NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THE FLOOR MATS, I DID NOT HAVE TO KEEP APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WORKED AS DESIGNED. THEREFORE IT, IN MY OPINION, WAS ALL ELECTRONIC, AS FAR AS THE ACCELERATION MALFUNCTION.

2008 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND BRAKE FAILURE AFTER KIT WAS INSTALLED. *TGW AFTER TAKING AN EXIT, THE CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TRAFFIC, WHEN HE HAD TO BRAKE BEHIND BACKED UP TRAFFIC. AS HE EASED INTO THE LINEUP, HE DISCOVERED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING. THE BRAKES STARTED TO FADE AND AT THAT POINT HE THREW THE SHIFT SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE ROARED, REVVING OVER 4,000 RPM'S AND THEN SETTLED DOWN TO NORMAL SPEED. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RECALL. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALER INSTALLED A SHIM KIT. UP TO THE FEB 21, 2010 INCIDENT NO PROBLEM WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO REPORT THE INCIDENT HE WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERNAL BLACK BOX COMPUTER DID NOT REGISTER AN EVENT. *JB

MY TOYOTA AVALON 2008 DOES ACCELERATE AFTER FIXES MAD BY TOYOTA. SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPEN AGAIN YESTERDAY AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE AT SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, IT PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 750 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SPED OFF AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 2000 FEET. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED ACCELERATION SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 22,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 40MPH.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE NHTSA RECALL #09V388000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND 10V017000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH INTO HIS GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TEST DROVE IT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49476. UPDATED 4/13/10 *CN UPDATED 05/20/10.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. SHE HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES WHERE THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5500. UPDATED 04/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10

TOYOTA AVALON CRUISE CONTROL SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER SEVERAL EXPERIENCES WITH UNEXPECTED RAPID ACCELERATION I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN O'FALLON, ILLINOIS. WHAT I DISCOVERED IS THAT THE LASER CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM ADJUSTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL IN 5 MPH INCREMENTS UP OR DOWN. HOWEVER, IF YOU TAP THE LEVER UP MORE THAN ONCE IT WILL INCREASE THE SPEED BY 5, 10, 15, 20 MPH. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU HOLD THE CRUISE LEVEL FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, THE CRUISE SETTING CONTINUES TO INCREMENT AND IN JUST A FEW SECONDS YOU MAY HAVE UNKNOWINGLY INCREASED THE SETTING FOR THE CRUISE BY 20 OR 25 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE OLDER MODELS OF MOST CARS, INCLUDING TOYOTAS, JUST INCREMENT YOUR SPEED BY A FEW M.P.H. AS YOU HOLD THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL UP TO GET TO THE DESIRED CRUISING SPEED. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE OWNERS MANUAL IS INACCURATE AND DOES NOT DESCRIBE HOW THE RESETTING OF THE CRUISE SPEED ACTUALLY WORKS. IN MY OPINION THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVEL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO INCREASE YOUR SET CRUISING SPEED BY 20 OR 30 MPH BY LIFTING UP THE CRUISE LEVEL OR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES IN HIGHWAY DRIVING AND HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MY GUESS IS THAT A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS IN THE PRESS RECENTLY RESULT FROM THE SAME CONDITION WITH THE OWNERS NOT INFORMED AS TO HOW THE CRUISE ADJUSTMENTS WORK AND THE MANUALS ARE PROBABLY INACCURATE OR INCOMPLETE. *TR