2003 Toyota Camry VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

COMING TO A STOP AND ABOUT READY TO STOP AND ALL OF SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED TO LEFT AND ACCELERATED. THEN I HIT A PARKED CAR AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP.

DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. GAS PEDAL WAS TAPPED SEVERAL TIMES WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE SHUT OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCELERATION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AFTER THE CRASH, BUT WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I FELT A CLICK UNDER HOOD AROUND AREA OF DRIVER SIDE AS I BACKED OUT OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT THE BANK. I DROVE FORWARD ACROSS THE STREET INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, TURNED MY WHEEL RIGHT TO PULL INTO PARKING PLACE AND THE ACCELERATOR INCREASED SENDING ME UP A CURB INTO A BRICK WALL. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, I HAD TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK TO TURN OFF BEFORE ACCELERATION STOPPED. MY ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED(HAVE PHOTOS OF CAR AND TIRE MARKS ON CEMENT). I STARTED CAR BACK UP AND IT REVERSED FINE. NO MATS UNDER PEDAL AND NO SLIPPING FOOT TO GAS PEDAL. CAR HAS 60,000 MILES AND WAS IMPECCABLE.

I WAS NEARLY FINISHED PARKING MY CAR WHEN THE CAR SPED UP, WENT OVER A CONCRETE CURB STOP, HIT AND KNOCKED OVER A SIGN POST. I RECALL THE ENGINE REVVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THAT STOPPED THE CAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE 12 YEARS I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE BUT IT WAS SCARY.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SPECIFIED IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017*CN

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL DRY CLEANERS. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED RAPIDLY FORWARD GOING OVER A CONCRETE BARRIER AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ABNORMAL AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM COLLEGE AND LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE ON I-85 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED INTO TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS AND DIED AT THE SCENE. SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED SHE WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 90 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT A SPEED MY DAUGHTER WOULD TRAVEL AT. WITNESSES ALSO SAID SHE WAS PASSING PEOPLE ON THE EMERGENCY LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED, WHICH IS SOMETHING SHE WOULD NOT DO EITHER. I BELIEVE THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING AND SHE COULD NOT STOP IT AND WAS DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING ANYONE WITH HER OUT OF CONTROL CAR. THE EMERGENCY LANE ENDED AND SHE HAD TO RE-ENTER THE TRAVEL LANE BUT LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR TWO YEARS AND HAS THOUSANDS OF MILES OF EXPERIENCE AND WOULD NOT DRIVE IN THIS MANNER, UNLESS SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE COMPLETED DRIVERS EDUCATION AND HAS HAD NO MOVING VIOLATIONS OF ANY KIND SINCE SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY AT 6:30 AM, WHEN I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE ON THE GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I THEN PULLED OVER AND LIFTED THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS OUT OF PLACE. I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, SO I VEERED BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR ACCELERATED A LITTLE BUT NOT MUCH. AFTER A MILE I WAS DESCENDING ON THE GAS AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I KEPT PRESSING ON THE GAS AND THE CAR GOT SLOWER AND SLOWER AND FINALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE LANE. I THEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WITH THICK ON GOING TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND WAITED, ONCE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED HE ASK ME IF THE CAR WOULD CRANK? I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN, IT MADE THIS CLUCKING NOISE AND I KNEW THAT MY ENGINE WENT TO ENGINE HEAVEN. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION WITH ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES ON A CONSISTENT BASES. *TR

I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. UNDER MY FOOT, THE GAS PEDAL MOVED ON ITS OWN, SPEEDING UP TO FRIGHTENING INTENSITY. MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO BRAKE DID NOT DISENGAGE THE ACCELERATION. I CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE. FINALLY, THE ABS KICKED IN (I FELT THE PULSATING OF THE BRAKING) AND CAR STOPPED, AFTER GOING OVER A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER, A CURB, UP AN INCLINE AND STRIKING A 6 FOOT TALL COMMERCIAL FENCE. THE IMPACT PUSHED OVER THE FENCE TO ABOUT A 75 DEGREE ANGLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHICH EXAMINED THE CAR (THEY SAID), CHECKED FOR "CODES" REGARDING MY MODEL AND TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

IN PARKING LOT. REVERSING TO BACK OUT OF SPOT AND FRONT WHEEL TOUCHED CURB, SO PUT CAR IN DRIVE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR WHEELS BEFORE CONTINUING TO BACK OUT. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH ACCELERATION, JUMPING A GRASSY MEDIAN, ALL THE WHILE WAS TRYING TO BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL. HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT AT OTHER PARKING SPACE. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT IF ANYONE HAD WALKED IN FRONT OF THE CAR, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER AS THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE CAR. EVEN AFTER THE CAR HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO SUCCEED TO PUSH THE OTHER VEHICLE A GOOD 6 OR 7 FEET BACKWARDS BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED... HAVE OWNED THE CAR TEN YEARS AND BOUGHT IT NEW, AND NOW AT 175,938 MILES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TOYOTA CAMRY 2003. *TR

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE CVS PARKING LOT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE TO GET OUT THE PARKING. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE QUICKLY ACCELERATED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE HIT OTHER TWO VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT AND FINALLY STOPPED. WITNESSES WERE AT THE SCENE AND POLICES WERE ARRIVED TO MAKE A REPORT. *TR

LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR FROM SENATOR GRASSLEY TRANSMITTING QUESTIONS RE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE SENATORS OFFICE, WITH SUPPORTED DOCUMENTATION, WHICH RAISED CONCERNS THAT THE SCOPE OF THE NHTSA AND NASA INVESTIGATIONS MAY HAVE BEEN TOO NARROW. A PHENOMENON KNOWN AS "TIN WHISKERS" WITHIN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND POSSIBLY OTHER VEHICLE ELECTRONICS MAY BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE NASA REPORT DEFINED "TIN WHISKERS" AS ELECTRONICALLY CONDUCTIVE, CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURES OF TIN THAT SOMETIMES GREW FROM SURFACES WHERE TIN; ESPECIALLY ELECTROPLATED WAS USED AS A FINAL FINISH. IN A SEPARATE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION VEHICLE STUDY OF A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY CONDUCTED LAST FALL, A NASA EXPERT EXAMINED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND FOUND TWO "TIN WHISKERS" INSIDE. HE CONCLUDED THAT, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE OPERATED, IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE DRIVABLE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE STOPPED A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FENCE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE AND WAS TREATED FOR A CONCUSSION, BRUISES AND LACERATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND RULED AS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND PARKING HER VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GLASS WINDOW OF A BUSINESS. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

MY MOTHER HAD COMPLAINED OF HER 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY HAVING MINOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. SHE ASKED MY UNCLE (A "BACKYARD" MECHANIC). MY UNCLE SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO CHECK THAT; SO SHE HAD MY SISTER CHECK ONLINE WHO FOUND THAT HER CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE BELIEVE MOTHER HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. SINCE DEALERSHIPS ARE TYPICALLY MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS, WE BELIEVE SHE HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE LATTER. THIS WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ON MAY 2, 2011, SHE WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. WHEN WE RECEIVED THE POLICE REPORT, IT SAID THE WITNESSES SAID THE CAR SEEMED TO ACCELERATE WHEN IT LEFT THE CITY STREET. SINCE SHE WAS COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN, SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH, BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED, AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE REPORTS THAT SHE ACCELERATED. THE WAY I INTERPRET THE POLICE REPORT DRAWING IS THAT MOTHER TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION TWICE: IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SHE MAY HAVE SWERVED TO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER AND, SEEING THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE COMING TOWARD HER, SHE MAY HAVE SWERVED AGAIN, WHICH TOOK HER OFF THE STREET AND DIRECTLY, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, IN THE PATH TO THE TREE WHICH SHE HIT WITH GREAT FORCE. ACCORDING TO PARAMEDICS, SHE PROBABLY NEVER HAD CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER IMPACT, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED FOR SURE. THE HOSPITAL ER PHYSICIAN REPORTED IN ERROR TO THE POLICE THAT MOTHER HAD BRAIN CANCER AND MAY HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF EVENT (BLOOD CLOT BURSTING IN HER BRAIN). SHE DID NOT HAVE BRAIN CANCER, AND FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM SPEAKING WITH MY PHYSICIAN, IT IS VERY RARE THAT AN EVENT CAUSING A PERSON'S LEG TO STIFFEN FORCING ACCELERATION. ADD ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT SHE HAD COMPLAINED OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEADS US TO WONDER ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OF AN UNOCCUPIED PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA AND SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND LEFT WRIST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I WAS DRIVING 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN, IT ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, EVEN WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAK, IT FAILED TO STOP AND WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT SLAMMED ON A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. I SUFFERED INJURIES ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR

WAS AT A FULL STOP, READY TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. IMMEDIATELY UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR, CAR SHOT FORWARD, JUMPED A CURB AND PROGRESSIVELY ACCELERATED. I ATTEMPTED FULL BRAKING WITH NO EFFECT, IMMEDIATELY PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND CONCENTRATED ON STEERING TO AVOID CARS IN ROAD. VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A STOP FOR 1.5 BLOCKS. CAR MAT HAD NOT MIGRATED, ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE POSITIONS DID NOT APPEAR OR FEEL ABNORMAL. VEHICLE HAD PERFORMED WITHOUT MAJOR PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS/ FROM 50,000 MI (WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR) UNTIL DATE OF INCIDENT. ANALYSIS BY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FAILED TO ASCERTAIN CAUSE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY TRAVELED OVER A CURB AND CONTINUED ONTO THE LAWN, THEN CRASHED INTO A WOODEN FENCE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING UPON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER PERTAINING TO THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,420.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

10/06/09 ACCIDENT--UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR AND REAR GARAGE WALL. BECAUSE CAR HAS NOT APPEARED ON RECALL LISTS MY INSURANCE CO. ADVISES I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT AND WILL FACE INCREASED PREMIUM. I FEEL THIS UNFAIR AND UNJUST. THIS WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I WAS ADVISED TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU BY TV CONSUMER ADVOCATE "7 ON YOUR SIDE". THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN I STARTED IT TO PUT IN GARAGE--THEREFORE, I CANNOT PUT PROPER SPEED IN AREA SUBSEQUENT TO THIS SECTION. *TR

IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT ON DECEMBER 8, 2009, MY 2003 CAMRY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, RAN UP AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO TEST DROVE IT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. PLEASE EXTEND THE RECALL TO 2003 CAMRY. *TR