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.
While going shopping to get our weekend newspapers, our car experienced a sudden unexpected acceleration and would not stop.the only we had to stop it was to put the transmission in park while moving forward.the car went over a curb.
I started my car, sat in the parking lot for about 2 minutes before I put it in gear & began moving. Drove approximately 100-200 yards to the exit of the parking lot when I noticed electrical problems and smoke coming out of the vents and out from under hood. I turned off the engine, turned on the emergency flashers & got out of the car. The emergency flashers died not long after I turned them on. Once I determined there wasn't a fire, I carefully opened the hood to see smoke still pouring out of the starter. I had it towed to the shop where they determined that somehow the starter had been engaged while the engine was running and didn't stop until it had drained the battery completely. I was told that I was very lucky that the heat from the starter had not melted any hoses and ignited something. The starter was replaced (it was the original starter from when the car was new), battery recharged and electrical systems checked for damage. Luckily, the only damage appears to have been to the starter itself. I subsequently went online and found references to starters in the same make, model & year overheating in the same way & some even catching the engine compartment on fire. I have to wonder how many such incidents have gone unreported, or how many engine fires were caused by starters, but the cause was never found, because the starter & everything else was destroyed.
Was inching into a parking space, tapping the brakes, going at an incline (uphill) to park. Suddenly with about 8-10 inches to go the car literally lunged forward on its own. Slamming with a huge boom into a concrete poll. The brakes were pumping as all of this happened until finally the acceleration ceased. Had the poll not been there I would have went through the front window of the restaurant or flatten any person walking by. The manager of the restaurant witnessed the entire event. He said there was absolutely no doubt in his mind from the creeping into the space, with only about 8-10 inches to go, to a sonic like boom and the huge lunge forward of the vehicle, the throttle had to be wide open, then stuck there. It was a powerful enough crash that it broke the frame around the headlight on the driver's side.
Check engine light goes on and sometimes goes off by itself. Computer analysis indicates an oxygen sensor is bad but item is under warranty for 96 months or 80,000 miles. Problem started about 40,000 miles. Toyota says the warranty is good only in those states that adopted ca standards, I.e., NY and MA. Other states warranty is for 36,000 miles. Problem did not surface until 40,000 miles. Original and send purchase of cars was in Virginia but Toyota chose to put a ca sensor. I have no voice in va or SC emission standards. Problem now is when check engine light is on, is it the sensor or something more serious" the Toyota warranty policy is arbitrary and capricious since most Toyota's are sold outside of ca. Can you help me?"
- North Myrtl Beach, SC, USA
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Consumer stated that engine check light keeps coming on sporadically while driving. Vehicle been to dealer on fourteen occasions, and is still at the dealer.
Brought Camry new 1999 replaced rear brakes at 9776 miles as well as rear drum told this was normal, 17472 complete front brake job, at 17472 miles replaced complete disc brakes, mounted two tires and had 4 wheel alignment, brought two more tires at 13724 miles, then 2 more tires at 29054 miles, once again wear and tear normal must be driver, another front brake job at 29981 miles and cleaned and adjusted rear brakes, then at 37738 miles rear tire worn and front tires chopped, at 38685 miles warrented brake pad front brakes and machined rotors at 40230 4 tires brought and installed, adjusted strut mounts, at 44016 miles adjusted and tightened front calipers and warranty for bearing set, conn. This car is a lemon and feel that you should not have to replace tires times 2 and brakes times 4 with only 44016 miles on car to date clb.
The remote entry system fails to work. It does not permit access to the car or it leaves the car unlocked. Since this is a random failure the car becames extreamly unsafe for my wife to park at work.
Pushed the accelerator, no response from the engine. Engine would spontaneously rev- without accelerator being touched. After a 2 hour rest period the car was again driven the same problem occurred. The RPM would rev without the accelerator being pushed, after about 50 feet the engine check light came on. The gas pedal would sometimes engage the engine so we were able to travel a short distance. It was unpredictable as to when the accelerator would work. It would sometimes kick in while the RPM's were reving and the car would jerk forward. I felt it was unsafe to drive. As we were shutting the car off to load it on the tow truck when thecar was shut off, and the keys were still in the ignition, the automatic door locks repeatedly went off- in a rapid motion about 20 times until the keys were removed. The car has been towed to a local dealer.
Oil light came on, took to station added oil, had oil changed w/I 2 days told PCV valve bad, had changed, car smoked, took to dealer told oil in valves could have been antifreeze in oil or when told oil was changed it was not, maunfacture says improper maintance will only cover $1000 of approx. $4000 repair. Oil changed at least every 7500 as recom. In manual. Should be fully covered by warranty.
While driving at 25 mph took foot off of the brake pedal and vehicle accelerat consumer applied the brakes again, and vehicle kept accelerating. Engine check light came on and won't go off. Also, driver's side shoulder belt wasn't working.
Series of six or more violent swerves into adjacent lanes initiated by swerve to avoid pothole. Control loss was inappropriate to maneuver, posing significant danger.
At times when wearing boots, the plastic covering which is located between the gas pedal and the brake pedal, could interfere with pedal application which may cause an accident.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, FL, USA