1998 Toyota Camry VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

EXITING A PARKING PLACE WHEN CAR SURGED AND ACCELERATED. COLLIDED WITH FOUR VEHICLES.

I HAD USED THE COAST ON MY CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE MY SET SPEED FROM 78MPH TO 71MPH, AFTER ABOUT 50 YARDS, MY CRUISE CONTROL SPED UP ON ITS OWN TO ABOUT 76MPH BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, I CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BACK ON AND WENT TO USE THE SET BUTTON TO SET MY SPEED AT 71MPH. WHEN I PUSHED THE SET BUTTON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT 'LOCK IN' TO THE 71MPH BUT INSTEAD STARTED TO SPEED UP BEYOND 71MPH AND AT 75MPH I TAPPED THE BRAKE AND CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY, THE NEXT THREE TIME I WENT TO CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WENT TO PUSH THE SET BUTTON TO SET IT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING, THE CAR ALWAYS TOOK OFF BEYOND WHAT I WAS WANTING TO SET IT AT AND CAUSING ME TO TAP THE BRAKES AND I WAS FORCED TO CUT IT OFF BECAUSE AFTER I HAD TAPPED THE BRAKE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WOULD START TO INCREASE SPEED AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND DROPPED INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES, A CONTUSION, CHEST PAIN, A BROKEN RIB, AND SKIN DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STICKING AND BINDING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V012000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRENCE WAS INTERMITTENT. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V012000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO VERIFY IF THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,390.

I DRIVE A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY CE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE, LOW RPM, OR LOW MPH. THE STICKY ACCELERATOR CAN BE CURED BY COMING OFF THE PEDAL 100% AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING IT AGAIN. FOR SOME REASON, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOES NOT STICK THE 2ND TIME. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I SHOULD DEAL WITH THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE TACHOMETER WOULD RACE HIGHER AS THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT REGISTER. THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND I HAD TO RAPIDLY PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL FOR SPURTED ACCELERATION NOT UNDER MY CONTROL. IF I WAS USING THE SPEED CONTROL DEVICE, IT WOULD SHUT DOWN. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BETWEEN 2004-2007 AND ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR IN JANUARY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN EARLIER YEARS, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG AND IT DIDN'T REPEAT ITSELF WHEN THEY DROVE IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME HARD TO DEPRESS. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY MADE REPAIRS TO THE THROTTLE AND WOULD NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE AN INDUCTION SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

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

WHILE SLOWLY EXITING A DRIVE THROUGH AT 5MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, SHOT ACROSS A STREET, AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL HITTING A SNOW DRIFT AND FENCE. BRAKING HAD NO EFFECT. DAMAGE TO CAR AND PROPERTY. DRIVER HAD TO CRAWL OUT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE VIN BEGAN WITH A LETTER J. *TR

1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN NOVEMBER 2008 WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SHE APPLIED HER FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE "SPUN OUTWARD". NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALLS. THE OIL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE PEDAL SYSTEM WAS CLEANED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

WE HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY IN WHICH THE ACCELERATOR SOMETIMES STICKS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND COMES TO A STOP FOR A STOP SIGN, RED LIGHT, ETC. THE ACCELERATOR SEEMS TO BE ALLOWED TO BE DEPRESSED A VERY MINISCULE AMOUNT AND THEN IT STOPS OR GETS STUCK. IF YOU PUSH DOWN HARD AT THIS POINT IT CLICKS, RELEASES, AND THE ACCELERATOR IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO BE DEPRESSED AS FAR AS YOU WISH. WHEN IT CLICKS IT IS AS IF IT POPS OVER WHATEVER IT WAS STUCK ON. *TR

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN STICKING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS ALL THE TIMES AND PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORST. I HAVE TO STEP ONTO THE PEDAL HARD VERY OFTEN FROM A FULL STOP TO UN-STICK THE PEDAL ON A ROUTINE BASIS. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE CRUISE CONTROL RACE UP AND DOWN, THEN NOT RESPONSIVE FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. SINCE THE ACCELERATOR IS A CABLE SYSTEM, I HAVE TRY TO LUBRICATE THE CABLE LINK MANY TIMES USING DIFFERENT LUBRICANT, BUT NOTHING WORK. THEREFORE, I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A STICKING ACCELERATOR, AND CANNOT BE SURE IF IT RELATES TO THE POSSIBLE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. ONCE IN A WHILE THE ENGINE RACE UP AN DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. THE FAILURE IS CONTINUOUS. THE MILEAGE ON THIS CAR IS NOW ABOUT 157,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 127000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY.THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT IF HE NEEDS TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY HE CAN NOT BECAUSE OF THE DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE PICKS UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A COMPUTER DEFECT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE IS UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO THE ACCELERATION FAILURE AND THEY HAD NOT RESPONDED.. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

WAS DRIVING MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED YELLOW. I PUT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD. FORTUNATELY THE TRAFFIC CROSSING THE ROAD HAD NOT STARTED. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND IT DID NOT STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO BRAKE PROBLEMS. IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR

I OWN A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS, (THIS BEING YEAR #3), I HAVE HAD MY GAS PEDAL SERVICED BECAUSE IT STICKS, USUALLY AFTER STOPS AND WHILE IN TRAFFIC IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND RE-ENGAGE. TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE MY VEHICLE ON THE LIST AND IT SHOULD BE! AS OF THIS DATE, MY ACCELERATOR IS STICKING AGAIN AND I WILL HAVE TO ,AGAIN, PAY FOR IT. I THINK THIS PROBLEM GOES BEYOND THE CURRENT LIMITATIONS OF THE EXISTING RECALL LIST AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. FURTHERMORE, I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER REGARDING THIS RECALL NHTSA 01V012000- "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL" AND ACCORDING TO MY VIN#, I SHOULD HAVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT BECAME STUCK AND WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. SHE HAD TO STOMP ON IT SO THAT THE PEDAL WOULD COME LOOSE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOR 3 MONTHS. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOT CONTACTED BUT WILL BE CONTACTED TO REPORT THIS FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS AT THIS MOMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 172,311. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF UPDATED 12/29/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY DID NOT RESPOND UNTIL THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 102,378.

OUR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS WHAT WE HAVE CALLED A "STICKY" GAS PEDAL, BUT IT HASN'T GOTTEN "STUCK". THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN OUR MINDS WAS THE AGGRAVATION OF THE "STICKINESS" WHILE DRIVING. NOW I AM WONDERING IF WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD IT CHANGED YEARS AGO. I JUST ASSUMED WE COULD PULL OVER SAFELY IF IT WERE TO BECOME STUCK WHILE DRIVING. COULD THIS BE A PART OF THE SAME ISSUE THEY ARE HAVING WITH THE NEWER CARS? WHAT ACTION SHOULD WE TAKE, IF ANY? *TR

MY MOTHER'S 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY EXPERIENCED THE GAS PEDAL STICKING ON HER CAR ON A REGULAR BASIS, IN 2006, TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO AFTER ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF AFTER A STOP OR AFTER STARTING UP THE CAR. THIS WAS EXPERIENCED OVER A 3 MONTH PERIOD WHEREIN IT WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD WORK TO TAKE OFF FROM THE STOP POINT. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL 12/06 AT WHICH TIME THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. SHE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE STOP POINT FOR OVER 30 MINUTES UNTIL SOMEONE PHONED THE POLICE TO REPORT THAT SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT TAKE OFF. THE POLICE SHOWED UP AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. THE CAR WAS THEN PUSHED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHO REPAIRED THE GAS PEDAL. SHE WAS CHARGED $50 FOR THE REPAIR. THE TOYOTA RECALL COVERS ONLY THE CARS FROM 2007-2010, BUT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON CARS PRIOR TO 2007 AS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOTHER'S 1998 CAMRY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA ON MODELS PRE-2007 AS THERE IS UNCERTAINTY THAT THE REPAIR TO MY MOTHER'S GAS PEDAL IS A PERMANENT FIX. *TR

GAS PEDAL STICKS AT A FULL STOP AND TO ACCELERATE THE DRIVER MUST PRESS HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR THAT CAUSES JERKING MOTION IN VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, AN EXTRA HARD STOMPING OF ACCELERATOR IS REQUIRED TO GET THE GAS PEDAL TO WORK. *TR

OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE THE ACCELERATOR ON MY 98 CAMRY BECOMES HARD TO DEPRESS AFTER SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT/SIGN. TAPPING THE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES FINALLY ALLOWS THE PEDAL TO RELEASE. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS ONLY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION, BUT SUSPECT THAT MAY BE NEXT. *TR