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CarComplaints.com Notes: How can we give the 2006 Camry our "Seal of Awesome" when the NHTSA data shows engine problems in the triple digits & multiple deaths/injuries/crashes etc?

The problem with NHTSA data for the 2006 Camry is that for months on end, the news media repeatedly told the public that several Toyota models had an unintended acceleration defect, & to go to safercar.gov (the NHTSA's website) to file a complaint.

So, the NHTSA received a disproportionate number of complaints about Toyota unintended acceleration issues because of the national news media attention, to the point where their data is unreliable taken in context with any other vehicle that did not receive national news attention.

In other words, it's our opinion that the 2 deaths & other injuries/fires/crashes reported to the NHTSA are significant, but (unfortunately) not out of the ordinary for any vehicle, once you factor in the effects of the extended national media coverage of Camry unintended acceleration issues.

CarComplaints.com typically receives more complaints per day about vehicles than the NHTSA does, but the news media did not repeatedly say "go to CarComplaints.com to report your Camry acceleration problems" like they did about the NHTSA -- so although we have less complaint data than the NHTSA for the 2006 Camry, our data for the Camry is a far more statistically accurate representation of the Camry's reliability than what the NHTSA data shows.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
61 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
36 / 2
Average Mileage:
38,516 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2006 Toyota Camry engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Toyota Camry Owner Comments (Page 3 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #61

May 082010

Camry

  • 34,419 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my car under my carport. When touched the accelerator to slowly enter the carport, the car accelerated on its own. It jump and took off. I tried to put the car in park and it kept going. I feared it would keep going across my yard, so I prepared to jump out by opening the door and sticking my leg out. The open door hit a support pole on my carport and my leg was injured. Luckily my final attempt to brake stopped the vehicle.

- Weldon, NC, USA

problem #60

Jan 062010

Camry

  • 55,000 miles
TL * the contact owns a 2002 Toyota Camry. The contact stated as she attempted to apply the brakes, there was an unusual increase in engine rpms. The vehicle then abnormally accelerated to the right and crashed into a parked vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the body damage was repaired. On a separate occasion while attempting to pull into a parking space, the vehicle again abnormally accelerated and crashed into a steel bracket of a dumpster. The vehicle was towed to the dealer yet the dealer refused to inspect the vehicle and advised her to go through her insurance company, in which she did. The body damage was repaired. On the third instance of unintended acceleration, there was an unusual increase in engine rpms while braking. The vehicle proceeded to independently accelerate and crashed into a cement wall. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the failure would be investigated. The vehicle was never diagnosed at the dealer for the acceleration failure. The failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 59,000.

- Glenolden, PA, USA

problem #59

Mar 252010

Camry

  • miles
Driver took her 90 year-old mother for an eye injection at moore eye institute in springfield, Delaware county, pa. After the appointment, driver was backing slowly out of a parking space when her 2006 Toyota Camry suddenly accelerated hitting one vehicle, then going into a terrible reverse spin clockwise. Two vehicles were hit directly, and two indirectly before coming to a stop between two SUV's. there were five cars in total that sustained damage. The driver and her passenger were the only persons injured. The Camry was a total loss.

- Sharon Hill, PA, USA

problem #58

Apr 172007

Camry

  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Toyota acceleration complaint March 24, 2010 ODI number 10321792. Safety issue - 2006 Toyota Camry le on going problem - the vehicle's engine will rev up and lurch forward while at a dead stop. Engine will accelerate and lurch forward on its own. Sensation appears as if there is another vehicle directly behind ours pushing it. Engine is specifications up to standards. It manifests at all speeds, but more noticeable at low speeds and at stops. My wife was stopped and idling at a traffic stop sign on East vestal facing eastbound at and the intersection of pleasanton road here in san antonio, Texas. She was waiting to make a right hand turn onto northbound pleasanton road. While she was stopped a northbound bicyclist traveling on the sidewalk to her left began crossing the street. He was riding upon his bike and when his bike was right in front of the vehicle the automobile lurched forward and knocked him down. My wife had her foot on the brake however; this incident occurred very quickly that she could not react fast enough to prevent the automobile from hitting the bicyclist. The bicyclist assured my wife that he was not injured. He had checked his bicycle and it was not damaged and that the police did not need to be called. The accident so upset my wife that she ended going back home and not going to work that day. The contacted the Toyota service technician assured us that this activity was normal for Toyota. This is why I am reporting this problem. This problem needs to be surfaced and addressed. I am sure that there are other Toyota Camry owners that are suffering from the same problem as we are. I have today contacted Toyota corporation here in the United States and the company has not addressed my concern or even acknowledges receiving my complaint. The bottom line is that I want this problems fixed. Thank you for your attention. [xxx]

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #57

Apr 022010

Camry

  • 28,273 miles
I was pulling slowly into a parking space in front of an office building. When I gently applied the brake, the car suddenly zoomed forward and struck the front of the building, shattering a large glass window and its frame and area around it. This stopped the car. I put it into reverse and backed into the parking space. The air bag did not inflate. Fortunately, the occupant of that office had just left. Otherwise she would have been hit by flying glass. I had never before had trouble of this kind with this Toyota. The damage was repaired, but I sold the car to the auto body shop.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #56

Apr 172010

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal; however, the vehicle would not respond and proceeded to crash into a tractor trailer. He sustained minor injuries to his head and right foot. A police report was filed. The contact confirmed that he would not take the vehicle in to be repaired until an investigator inspected it to determine the cause of failure. He stated that the electronic throttle of the trailer he crashed into could potentially have interfered with the current of the electronic throttle in his vehicle. The approximate failure and current mileages were 17,000. Updated 11/03/10 the vehicle was totaled. Updated 11/04/10

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

problem #55

Apr 092010

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2006 Toyota Camry--accelerated out of control /serious injury. Oregonlic 992 cvq--Oregon state police investigated.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #54

Nov 102009

Camry 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Camry. She stated when depressing the brake pedal, the brakes would hesitate to engage and would feel spongy causing her to use extreme force when braking. This would occur frequently and the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the brakes were not engaging as designed. The master cylinder was replaced under the factory warranty but did not correct the failure. The manufacturer sent a representative to investigate the vehicle and stated that there were no failures within the brake system. On a separate occasion, while driving at speeds of approximately 70 mph, the vehicle began to abnormally accelerate. She depressed the brakes and the vehicle immediately decreased in speed. The dealer was contacted and stated that her year, make and model were not associated with the recall. The failure persisted and no repairs were made to the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown and the current was 95,000. Updated 6/21/10 when the consumer went to the dealer, they found air in the brake system. The second time she went for the same problem, they found the master cylinder was bad and replaced it. Updated 06/24/10.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #53

Jan 022010

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumers 2006 Toyota Camry accelerated driving over an island and hit a tree before brakes became responsive. The consumer was pulling out of a parking space and as he was about turn onto the road, the vehicle lunged forward over an island, knocking down a 6 inch diameter oak tree and leaving about 25 feet of skid marks on the roadway before the brakes kicked in. The consumer stated he had his foot on the brake the entire time.

- Port Orange, FL, USA

problem #52

Feb 012009

Camry 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
2006 Toyota Camry. Consumer states unintended acceleration. The consumers wife was driving on the interstate with the cruise control engaged, when all of a sudden the vehicle in front of her slowed down. When she put her foot on the brake, the vehicle started going faster. There were cars on both sides of her, but she was able to swerve to the right just missing the vehicle in front of her. When she removed her foot from the brake, the vehicle began to slow down. One year later, while pulling into a parking lot, the consumers wife was going about 5 mph about to pull into a parking space, she put her foot on the brake and the vehicle lunged forward. She shifted the gear into neutral and shut off the engine and stopped within a foot of the pole. A month after that incident, she was traveling down the freeway and when she applied the brake to prepare to exit, the vehicle accelerated. She took her foot off the brake and the vehicle slowed down. The consumer contacted the dealer and was told his vehicle was not included in the recall.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #51

Aug 082006

Camry

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am writing about my current car, a Toyota 2006 Camry, because it relates to an accident I had with my 2005 Camry. I am aware that Toyota has not recalled the 2006 model. When I start up my 2006 Camry after it has been in park, with the engine off, for as little as a 5 minute stop or overnight in the garage, when I shift into drive and release my foot from the brake, the car moves by itself, fairly rapidly, without my foot touching the accelerator. After about 3/4 of a mile along the road during which I alternately apply the brake and lift my foot from it, still not touching the accelerator, the car finally begins to operate normally requiring for the first moment some pressure on the accelerator. When I return home, regardless of how far or long I have driven, after pausing to open the garage door (by remote) I ease my foot from the brake pedal and the car glides into the garage on is own. While I am able to control the car safely so far I am uncomfortable with the situation because I had a major accident with my 2005 Camry in August, 2006. It happened as I emerged from a car wash. When I shifted into drive from neutral, the car accelerated itself and stuck in high speed, at least 80 miles per hour. I am sure that I tried to stop it by applying the brakes immediately and certainly in the end before I purposely crashed into a tree after a terrifying drive dodging people, cars, and buildings. I survived although sustaining a back injury which necessitated an operation, but the car did not. I did not communicate with Toyota about it and do not know if my insurance company did. Last week I took my 2006 Camry to my Toyota dealer and described what is happening with the car and they assured me that this "independent" acceleration is normal and intended by the manufacturer.

- Truro, MA, USA

problem #50

Nov 132008

Camry

  • 149,189 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) vehicle surging. Did on 11/13/08 from 65 to 78 mph. Also low speeds in town from 20 to 35 mph. 2 times wife told me and above happen to me and once in town. Took to dealership. Test drove 11 miles nothing. I made dealership correct wording on repair order. Has done 4 more times but not on recall list. On March 6th read in press enterprise a car driven by [xxx] suddenly sped up to 100 mph on euclid - same day chp officer died. Problem; mine and [xxx] vehicle is a '2006 Camry not on recall list".. taken once since then have been trying two days to get Toyota corporation. If 2006 Camry not on list why above death and my surging... called your number and told could file on line.... very concerned since done about 3 times since and especially reading about the woman whose same model as mine died.....

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #49

Dec 012005

Camry

  • 100 miles
No crash. We have a 2006 Toyota Camry that we have complained to the dealership since we bought the car in late 2005 about its sudden surge of acceleration. The dealership repair shop has never been able to find the source of the problem.

- San Pedro, CA, USA

problem #48

Feb 092008

Camry 6-cyl

  • 10,629 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Camry. While driving in a parking space at approximately 1-2 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a vehicle. A police report was taken but there were no injuries. Before the failure occurred, another driver of the vehicle stated that the engine revved slightly a few times. He called the dealership and was told that they would charge him a fee to perform a diagnostic test. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 19,500. The failure mileage was 10,629. Updated 04/13/10. Updated 10/08/10

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #47

Jul 022008

Camry

  • 25,000 miles
2006 Toyota Camry accelerated on its own while the brakes were being pressed. It jumped the concrete parking marker and went into a huddle house restaurant.

- Andalusia, AL, USA

problem #46

Feb 042010

Camry

  • 35,236 miles
I was driving on a familiar rural road at approximately 45 mph. Anticipating slowing down before approaching the village where the speed limit is 30 mph, I took my foot off the accelerator. At the moment I lifted my foot from the pedal, the car suddenly accelerated on its own for about two seconds, and then, again on its own, went back to normal. This is the first and only failure I have experienced while driving this vehicle. I took no remedial action (other than reporting the incident to my husband.)

- Schodack Landing, NY, USA

problem #45

Jan 122009

Camry

  • 16,000 miles
My car 2006 Toyota Camry had sudden accelerate from stopped position at a yield and hit the car in front though damage to the front car was not significant. I still could not figured it out why this would have happened since I drive carefully. No other accident on the record since I started driving from 2003. It happened around 9am on my daily route to workplace. Recently I heard about Toyota recalls for Camry 2007 to 2010. But I am not sure if my car also have similar problem. Once I visited to service center after the incident for regular service then they mentioned that my car's brake & gas pedals need clean-up or I have to get it replaced. Since they told little higher amount I told no for repair. I am not sure if my Toyota Camry 2006 too have the problems described in recall. I have incident reported with my insurer and can provide claim number, documents, insurer info etc as required. There were no charges paid to any vehicle in this minor incident till now but insurer has kept this incident open till now if other party makes new claims. I still think why my vehicle had sudden acceleration so thought to report this incident with dot.

- Mclean, VA, USA

problem #44

Apr 032006

Camry 4-cyl

  • 3,606 miles
The contact owns 2006 Toyota Camry. The contact pulled in to parking space and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into another vehicle. Both vehicles endured body damage. The contact has spoke to the manufacturer and was told that her vehicle was not on the recall list. The vehicle continued to surges at times whenever the contact applied the brake pedal. The failure mileage was 3,606 and the current mileage was 29,000. Updated 03/30/10. Updated 06/17/10

- Wildwood, MO, USA

problem #43

Jun 182006

Camry

  • miles
I bought my 2006 Camry in October 2005 and have been complaining to claremont Toyota, the dealership where I bought the car, of the sudden acceleration and braking problem since about 2006. It's an intermittent problem that I have had to deal with since I bought this car. My complaints have been that the brake pedal drops to the floor and then the car accelerates forward and that the car accelerates on its own. The service writers have dismissed my complaints and given many excuses such as: When I left the car there to have them check out the problem they said that the problem could not be repeated so the car was fine, another time I was told that the new cars have ABS brakes that drop down to the floor, and at a different time they said that with these new cars the rear brakes had to be adjusted at every oil change and etc. There was an incident in 2006 when I was at a stop and some pedestrians were walking across the street. The car did stop but all of the sudden the brake pedal hit the floor and the car started to move forward. I had to pump the brake pedal a few times in order for it work again. Thankfully the pedestrians had not passed infront of my car yet. I don't remember the specific date but I do know it was in 2006. On 2/20/2010 I had my husband take the car to get an oil change at claremont Toyota. I had my husband take the car because I do not want to lied to or given another excuse because I don't know much about cars. My husband mentioned the problem about the brake pedal going down to the floor and sometimes having to downshift or use the parking brake to slow down the car and was told that this condition exists due to the ABS system sensing the rotation of the tires and that the car would eventually stop. My husband then mentioned what we had been told about the rear brakes and the service writer grinned and said that the brakes do not need adjustment. I do not feel safe driving this car because it feels as if it has a mind of its own.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #42

Feb 162010

Camry

  • 19,600 miles
My wife slowly pulled into a parking spot in a supermarket parking lot. As she hit the brakes to come to a stop, the vehicle begin rapidly accelerating and before she could react the car jumped a curb and across a grassy strip and hit a parked car. She has a cracked spine and other injuries. The front end car damage was considerable (estimate $5800) and there was considerable front end damage to the other vehicle. Our vehicle had been in for 20,000 mile service just the week before.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

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