10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 11 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 8 / 4
- Average Mileage:
- 82,370 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 1996 Toyota Camry. While driving down a hill at 15 mph, the vehicle starting accelerating without warning. The vehicle reached speeds of 60-80 mph while running two stop signs. He had to crash into a tree and another vehicle to stop the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. He suffered injuries to the right arm. He contacted the manufacturer in reference to recall # 96E001000 (rostra precision controls). He was advised that the recall only applied to six cylinder vehicles. The current and failure mileages were 200,500. Updated 01/12/10. The consumer stated 2 nights before the accident, the cruise control came on and then went off. Updated 01/13/10.
- Hayward, CA, USA
Vehicle-Toyota-Camry-1996 and 1993 problem: Cruise control we own 1996, my mom owns 1993, both have the following problem. Neither of us have been able to afford to have repairs done, so we do not know the cause/remedy. We have instead stopped using. Intermittently, repeatedly, without any warning, cruise control suddenly stops working. A sudden extreme decrease in speed occurs due to failure. Switches and lights indicate it is still on and working properly. This is extremely dangerous on freeways at high rates of speed particularly because that is also when normal use of cruise control is most likely/most often being used. This poses an enormously high risk of being hit from the rear or the car following to swerve and it either hitting, or being hit by, another vehicle. Huge possibility of multiple vehicle pile up. Because cruise control is almost always being used when it the most dangerous times for it to fail, the urgency of this problem can not be over emphasized. More likely to fail on inclines makes it even more dangerous as the rate of speed drops even faster. Starts very intermittently and far between, as time goes on occurs more and more often. Eventually found that it occurs more often on incline, but not always, with a less and less incline as time goes on. Happened on crowded freeway at high rate of speed with big rig following close behind. Almost hit by it! happened at high speed on a crowded freeway, other vehicles close all around, barely avoided nightmare pile up! I can not over emphasize how dangerous this problem is! with both ours and mom's Camry having the exact problem, there may very well indicate pattern/problem.
- Penn Valley, CA, USA
The contact owns a 1996 Toyota Camry. While driving 10 mph, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle, which caused her to rear end another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. NHTSA recall # 96E001000 (vehicle speed control) was found. The mechanic has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of failure. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 100,000. Updated 02-01-08.
- Valhalla, NY, USA
While stopping at a traffic light vehicle surged forward. This caused consumer's vehicle to rear end another vehicle. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection.
- Bridgeport, CT, USA
I experienced 3 or 4 sudden acceleration incidents with my 1996 Toyota Camry during the first 5 years of ownership. No accidents resulted. I can't give the exact dates (ignore the incident date I entered below; I just put a date in at random since it's a required entry). It's been over a year since the last one. All occurred as I started to brake in a very slow-moving situation - two definitely happening while parking, coming to a stop before the incident. However, when touching the brake pedal to reverse direction or stop, there was a confusing surge as my instinct was to question whether I had touched the accelerator rather than brake and thus take off my foot - the worst action. In all cases, I had enough time to realize that I did have my foot on the brake and pushed down forcefully which stopped the acceleration. I asked my mechanic to check this out, but unless he could replicate the situation, no diagnosis was possible. Given the randomness of these occurences, the probablility of a replication is pretty close to zero. The one common thread in these incidents: They occurred following a long road trip during which I was using cruise control for extended periods, though in none of the incidents, was the cruise control on. I am sending this now as I learned you are looking into such incidents and thought you would want to build a record. I believe there are far more incidents like this that never get reported because they end safely; a solicitation of such incidents from those like myself who simply remain puzzled over them would yield a much larger data base. Thank you.
- Rochester, NY, USA
Idele air control valve keeps sticking. The dealer has clean it once and replaced it once. It keeps coming back after 2 months. I cleaned it multiple times. Cleaning won't help anymore. Vehicle keeps stalling when starting the enginee cold. Have to step on gas pedal until engine heats up or engine dies.
- Walnut, CA, USA
#1 - discovered wind noise from an incomplete seal in right rear quarter glass of vehicle, one month after purchase. Took vehicle into del Toyota(dealer), who said they resealed the window. Noise from said window continued, at higher speeds above 30mph. I took vehicle back into dealer one month later. This time, they said they replaced the weatherstrip around the window, that the "wind noise" had been caused by deformed weatherstrip. This was done while vehicle was under warranty, never to my satisfaction. Condition exists today, 05/29/2002!! #2 - disc brakes were serviced by jerry's Toyota in baltimore, after making a sticking noise right before the vehicle completely stopped. The dealer replaced the front pads, machined the rotors, and serviced the left front caliper after he found it sticking. This did not alleviate the problem with the brake noise, which continues today (05/29/2002) even after a second servicing! #3 - engine light came on, so I took the Toyota Camry into jerry's Toyota for servicing. They cleaned carbon deposits from injectors, throttle plate valves and piston rings; said the problem was in the #3 cylinder. This happened a second time; I took the vehicle in for servicing. I am now waiting for either a third incident at $200. To fix, or if they replace any fuel injectors, these cost $200. Ea per part!!
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Vehicle accelerated without warning. When applying brakes vehicle would not stop. Consumer had to shift into neutral 3 itmes, and once had to shift into neutral and turn off engine. Toyota dealer could not determine cause. Private mechanic replaced throttle.
- Huntingtown, MD, USA
Cruise control would not cancel when brake was applied. Dealer advised it was the brake switch which controled brake lights & cruise control was bad, paid dealer to replace but concerned about the possibility that others have experienced or could experience an accident due to this defect.
- Washougal, WA, USA
Engine accelerated while pulling into the garage. Attempted to brake... car did not stop. Ran into the house. Had to turn off ignition to stop engine acceleration.
- Berne, IN, USA
On several occasions the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed.
- Churchville, MD, USA
Vehicle accumulated carbon deposits. The engine is taking a longer time to warm up. Dealer replaced the iac valve.
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Driving various speeds & going down hill w/foot on brakes, vehicle would suddenly surge. Computer sensors can not tell if accelerator is on/off. Took to dealer & could not find problem 1st time; mechanic took for test drive & said there was a problem. Owner has arbitration papers.
- Parker, CO, USA
Idler misadjusted.
- Cypress, CA, USA
Engine surges.
- Redding, CA, USA
- San Antonio, TX, USA