This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
(1) I have a 2002 Toyota Camry SE V6 with 30500 miles. The morning of July 26, 2004, while slowing down to less than 5 mph to drive head-first into a parking spot at work, the car surged forward and impacted squarely the concrete wall in front. After the car had come to a rest as a result of the impact with the wall, I looked down and saw that my right foot was still pressing on the brake pedal. When I attempted to put the transmission into 'park', I noticed that it was already in the 'neutral' position. I was fairly certain that I did not accidentally step onto the gas pedal causing the surge, since to do so would require me to reposition my foot from the brake pedal with the concrete wall coming up to me. (2) the impact caused damage across the front end of the vehicle. No broken lights; the hood was very slightly raised. I estimate the car surged 3 to 4 feet before impacting the wall at maybe 10 mph. (3) I had taken the car to the Toyota dealership for inspection. The technician and shop foreman kept it for a day, test drove it but could not duplicate the problem. They also found no codes with the scan tool inspection. They suggested that I report the problem to the Toyota customer assistance center.
When traveling at a speed of about 50 mph when you let off on the accelerator, the car downshifts or hesitates with a noticible clunk. This happens intermittently. The dealer couldn't duplicate the problem so nothing has been done.
My Toyota Camry 2002 SE V6 everyday is making a loud squealing sound when I turn the wheel and a clunking sound when I shift into drive from park. Now the main problem is when I'm driving my car it accelerates and then it just goes into "neutral" at whatever speed I'm going at and then kicks back with a punch (that jerks my head back) into gear. It does it evry day since I had the car. I talked to Toyota and of course, they blame me. I baby my car. Change the oil every 2000 miles and nothing but mobil gas. I'm scared to take my car in because I don't want the dealer saying I owe a billion dollars to get it fix and use some excuse to avoid the warranty. I have talked to a couple of the repair guys at Toyota and they know about this problem and even have told me almost every 1st generation Toyota(like mine) have this problem. And that Toyota refuses to do a recall. Please help. I;M taking my car in because I'm about to approach the warranty limit. I din't get the extended warranty. I mean jezz it's a Camry, who needs a warranty. I didn't have one for my old Camry 1993.
I am attorney for a victim in a coma and in intensive care. Her vehicle was struck by a Toyota Camry 2002 driven by a 68 year old lady. Camry vehicle was parked, and then crashed into a storefront after going forward. Backed into traffic 40 feet away, struck vehicles, and went forward again killing pedestrian as well. Case under investigation. Recent accident. Previous reports of sudden acceleration. All Camry should be recalled before more loss of life. Possible power train/automatic transmission problems. Updated 03/05/10 update 9/21/2011
While pulling into a parking space and while in slow traffic the car has surged forward. Also when you are sitting at a light you can feel it surge forward.
- Casselberry, FL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
While switching from park to drive consumer touched the gas pedal and vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, consumer pressed brakes pedal to stop, but vehicle did not stop until hitting a wall. Mechanic tested vehicle and found that gear selector on transmission moved by itself from drive to neutral.
On four occasions when the gear shift was in drive vehicle surged forward. On one occasion vehicle was put in drive and it surged forward and collided with another vehicle. Dealer examined vehicle, but could not find the cause of the problem.
2002 Toyota Camry 2.4L, automatic sudden engine racing, once at 17,000 mls. And again at 18,030. The first time, my foot was on the brake, I shifted out of park into D, when I let off the brake, the engine raced past 5000 rpms. The car jumped forward, but because my foot was still over the brake pedal I only had to pushed hard as possible on the brake. The engine raced on, the car was straining to collide with the car parked in front of me. I slammed the shifter into park.the car stopped moving but the engine went to redline, I turned the car off.I checked which pedal my foot was on and it was still pressed firmly on the brakes. I turned the car back on, the car behaved normally. I think when shifting out of park the drive-by-wire computer is malfuntioning. Recall them before someone dies and or gets hurt. I think Toyota knows about the problem and how to fix it. I pity the person who rents a Camry an is unaware of the defect and doesn't have there foot ready on the brake and prepared to shut of the ignition safely.
(in reference to your open investigation PE04021) I have a 2002 Toyota Camry, recently I took the car to the dealership (15,000 miles), my complaint was that the car has sudden and short surges of exceleration while at a full stop. I have been able to avoid accident or injury to others by keeping my foot completely and firmly depressed on the brake petal. This situation has happened in both drive and reverse. The dealer was unable to address this problem because they could not re-create the condition. Dealer stated that they had no procedure to diagnose this problem and that if it continued they would have to contract Toyota headquarters for advise. I requested that this be documented on the cars history. After hearing of the NHTSA investigation, I contacted Toyota customer relations to open a case to get this problem resolve. The dealership customer ralations manager (colleen) is to contact me by the end of the week.
I saw an article today on www.cnnfn.com about Toyota Camry safety investigation regarding sudden acceleration. My 2002 Toyota Camry le has that problem. It happened to me 3 or 4 times already during low speed driving. I did not write down the dates when it happened, so I placed 12/01/03 below. Updated 10/22/10 I am also going to report this problem to my service as soon as I can. The consumer would like the complaint to remain activated. Updated IVOQ 10/26/10
1. loud creaking and rattles: After many attempts at repairs, the problem finally turned out to be a manufacturing defect. They left plastic assembly guides in place, which they had to remove by removing the window again (this was a super secret service bulletin that was divulged only when the customer engineer for new england showed up). But he dealership managed to chip the paint in the process, requiring the roof to be repainted. Once the creak was gone, the interior rattles were unbearable from all the quality work completed. 2. transmission issue: I've been assured by the service manager at me dealership that it is normal the transmission take at least a mile shift out of second gear when below 30F and to a lesser degree during warm weather. The car won't shift into third or overdriven until after least 1-2 minute of driving, no matter what speed. 3. transmission issue: When lifting off the throttle from 60 to 55mph on a downhill, there's a "hitch" or bucking where the transmission abruptly catches, then releases. Almost like it down shifting, but it stops half way. This has been an annoying problem since day one. The bucking problem is annoying and problematic. It was solved by reset the computer and showed up again at 42,000 miles. They are blaming it on the adaptive micro-processor and my driving style. (warranty) 4. door rattles: Driver's side and passenger side doors rattle/tick when going over bumps. I asked the service manager that was let go about the rattle, and he explained it's normal for new Camry's to have the doors make that make noise. Constant use of silicone was advised by the dealership. 5. airbag recall 6. passenger seat replacement due to poor construction and squeaking 7. check engine light for defective charcoal canister 8. warped front brake rotors 9. pealing chrome on passenger door handle. (warranty) 10. Flaking paint on exterior door handles. *
Consumer complained about a steering column problem. Also, vehicle had a tough time engaging into gear. Dealership said that they could not duplicate customer's concern.
Unreliable throttle response from stopped or slightly rolling.. sometimes responds smartly, most of the time hesitates and/or responds then hesitates. Sometimes letting you linger for a second or two partially across two lanes(infrequent) but you never know when this thing is going to do it to you!. events are continuous. Dealer says nothing wrong. Of course they also said my driver power seat does not move or slip. Found the sb on that, will provide them a copy next time in for sservice.
We have a brand new 2002 Camry xle. When the vehicle is cold it "jumps" into drive when shifting from reverse. When the vehicle has warmed up there is usually no problem.
The transmission was not working properly. The vehicle would shift harshly into drive when the engine was cold but when warmed up the vehicle drove smoothly. The steering wheel hummed when turned while driving 45 mph. It was later determined that a bushing for the steering shaft needed to be lubricated. The upper and lower belt molding around the driver's door came off. A faulty charcoal canister caused the check engine light to illuminate.
When the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light on an incline the vehicle would roll backwards after the brake pedal was released and before the gas pedal was pressed. The consumer reported this problem to the dealer who stated that others reported similar concerns. The dealer also indicated that this problem was caused by a lack of lock on the transmission.
When driving my Camry at a maintained speed the transmission appears to abruptly downshift and then upshift causing the car to bounce forward and then backwards. This problem usually occurs while driving down hills but will sometimes happen on level roads. The car will somtimes do this up to 6 times before going back to driving like normal. This problem happens with the car in either over-drive or drive. Toyota corporate and the dealership where the car was purchased are unwilling to do anything further to alleviate this problem because they feel it is a "normal characteristic" of the vehicle.
Vehicle goes into overdrive when driving at a steady speed, causing vehicle to lag, going too slowly in the appropriate gear causes the vehicle to sustain a foward and backward rocking motion, consumer was informed that the vehicles early lock up into overdrive is a characteristic, the dealership advised consumer to remove the vehicle from overdrive at that speed and then put the vehicle back into overdrive when speed increases, therefore putting it into 3rd gear increases the engine noise, increases the rpms and reduces the vehicles fuel economy, however the owners manual states always drive the vehicle with overdrive on for better fuel economy.
There is a bad linkage between engine and transmission, and there is a loud noise while traveling on the highway. Dealership is aware of problem. Consumer states there is slack in the drivetrain.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cerritos, CA, USA