Accelerator Pedal problems of the 2003 Toyota Camry

Letter to the administrator from senator grassley transmitting questions re unintended acceleration 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.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The driver was at a complete stop when the vehicle suddenly accelerated. He tried to apply the brakes but the vehicle did not slow down or stop until it crashed into a pole. The police report stated that the brakes were applied numerous times and that the failure was caused by a stuck accelerator pedal. There were no injuries. The dealer stated that there were no related recalls. The vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 32,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota solara. The all weather floor mats interfered with the accelerator pedal. As a consequence, her risk for a vehicle crash was increased. The dealer and the manufacturer have not been notified. The failure and current mileages were 74,000. Updated 11/3/09 the consumer stated even when the floor mat was attached, it always became detached maneuvering itself under the accelerator pedal. The floor mat has never stayed in place since the consumer owned the vehicle. Updated 11/05/09.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry solara. On June 21, 2007, the vehicle surged while pulling into a parking space at 5 mph. The vehicle accelerated so quickly that it whipped the contact's head back and left skid marks on the ground. She had to remove her foot from the brake and depress the brake pedal again before the vehicle finally stopped. The contact stated that there was an investigation (# dto6003 - vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal) that was closed in April. The contact stated that she would take her vehicle to the dealer the following morning. The current and failure mileages were 67,000.

While driving at 35 mph vehicle hesitated when trying to accelerate and then stalled. Owner contacted the dealer , and had the transmission replaced. However, the problem recurred.

While driving at 35 mph vehicle accelerated without warning. When applying the brakes vehicle accelerated even more. As a result, the vehicle collided into two parked cars and a brick wall. Driver sustained head injuries. The consumer recieved a check 18,636. 18 in full payment for auto loss. When the consumer pressed the gas pedal the rpms where high. One airbag deployed.

Went to drive 2003 Toyota Camry xle out of the garage. Started the car tried to put in reverse and gear shift would not move out of park, the motor started racing during this time. Turned off car got out of car to wait till later to run errand and decided to try one more time. Start car again tried to put in reverse. It seceeded this time but the car accellerated out of the garage rapidly w/ out my assistance. Damaging several items on its way out of the garage.

When driving 30 mph rpms accelerated to 80 mph. This caused the consumer to go off the side of the road, causing damage to the vehicle. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

While parking vehicle accelerated and crashed into a wall. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. No injuries reported.

While applying the accelerator pedal vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Consumer was not able to maintain control of the vehicle and collided with the vehicle in front. Upon impact,both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained minor injuries, and was transported to the hospital by an ambulance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection.

While attempting to park suddenly vehicle surged forward. Consumer was depressing the brakes, but, vehicle jumped a curb, struck a bench, and several other items. Consumer was not injured in the incident. Dealer examined the vehicle, and claimed that the air conditioner was causing the problem. The consumer states that the malfunction may have been cause because of the a/c cycled through on/off. Rpm increased. A witness stated that he heard the engine racing. The consumer stated that the a/c was on. The incident was reported to the building security.

While applying the brakes vehicle suddenly accelerated. Driver was not able to control the vehicle, causing the vehicle to collide with a wall. Driver sustained minor injuries. Vehicle was towed to the dealer.

Engine revs up uncontrollably while in park position and in reverse also. Brakes have worked suffuciently to keep vehicle from crashing into anything. This has happened 3 times since I've had the car ( a 10 month period).

Consumer complained about unexpected acceleration problem. Consumer was driving and pulled into a parking space, and vehicle unexpectedly accelerated, knocking down a parking sign. B.

Surge problem. I have a 2003 Toyota Camry se. At times, when I slow down almost to a stop and then re-accelerate my car surges forward rather than accelerating smoothly.

Consumer complained about an intermittent acceleration problem. When this occurred consumer applied the brakes, but, vehicle did not stop. Consumer had to shut off the engine in order to get the vehicle to stop. Dealer can't locate the problem on vehicle.

The consumer experienced sudden acceleration immediately after the purchase of a certified used vehicle. The consumer applied the brake but the vehicle didn't respond. The ignition had to be turned off in order to stop the vehicle. (model xle) mr scc the consumer stated another vehicle pulled in front of him, he braked and swerved to avoid a collision. As he braked an swerved to the right, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated. The vehicle continued to accelerate as he steered to the left and attempted to brake to correct the initial swerve to the right. He then steered back to the right, then left, then right, in an attempt to control the vehicle. All of that time, he was applying the brake. In trying to gain control of the vehicle, the consumer crossed three lanes of traffic before the vehicle finally slammed sideways into a concrete median. Updated 04/09/10.

Followup to odi #10256120. Informed by Toyota rep that your agency performed two investigations f the 2003 Camry respecting acceleration surges but returned no findings of vehicle failure. Your website recounts about 130 reports of such 2003 Camry failures mostly (102) under vehicle speed control , some under power train auto trans & vsc accelerator pedal. For Ford taurus I counted 12; Honda accord and Chevrolet malibu 20+ - all for model year 2003. As % of cars sold quite small even for Camry but as an occurrence ratio of 6-1 or 10-1 vs. The other models quite impressive. . The fact you conducted two investigations of Camry is telling in and of itself. How many accelerator investigations did you conduct for the 2003 taurus, accord & malibu? absent an airplane like recorder how can you be assured that there was no vehicular failure? the alternative is to imply that Camry operators are less competent than drivers of other makes. . . Harvey miller.

2003 Toyota Camry with unintended acceleration. Consumer believes that his/her vehicle year should also be included in the recall since it has the same problem.

2003 Toyota Camry acceleration problem. The consumer stated in 2006, while pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle accelerated from 5 mph to at least 60 mph without her foot on the gas pedal. The accident caused major damage to her vehicle and the apartment complex in which she lived. In addition, the consumer has a lingering injury from the accident.

Vehicle hesitated to accelerate when gas pedal was pressed. Also, unexpected acceleration occurred intermittently.

On two separate occasions while at a complete stop and attempting to put vehicle into park, it suddenly accelerated. On both occasions, driver's foot was pressing on brake pedal. After the failure occurred the second time, and vehicle failed to stop, another vehicle was rearended due to sudden acceleration.