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.
I was backing up in a parking lot with my foot on the brake and my car just sped backwards and I rammed into a pole. My entire trunk was smashed in. I had to have it replaced and it still leaks water as of today. I paid approximately $2K to $3K to have it fixed. This all happened before I know about the acceleration problem.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The dealer stated that the floor mats were causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on three occasions, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. Updated 11/14/14 the consumer stated the floor mat became stuck on four occasions. Updated 11/04/15. Updated 11/08/16.
Even when the car was new I always noticed that there are times when I am slowing down to stop and put on the brakes, I feel the car surges before it stops. We complained about it that time when the Camry/Lexus floor mat incidents were in the news. I think there was a recall for that and our brakes were fixed by the dealership. But the problem persists to this day. I also feel an engine surge on my sister's new 2013 Corolla.
Foot removed from accelerator and car accelerates upon applying the brakes, happens frequently and causes concern when parking or approaching a vehicle stopped in front of you, lengthens time to stop---vehicle was purchased just prior to date of first incident.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and continued to drive forward approximately one fourth of a mile before it came to a complete stop. The contact indicated that the failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 47,931.
- Jackson, KY, USA
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1. while driving at approx. 25 mph, the car suddenly lost power; I was able to drive about 2 mph into a nearby gas station. The battery light was not on, but the orange engine light came on. After 5 minutes, the employee was able to start the car and I drove one mile to my home. My repair mechanic did a computer scan indicating possible problems with a switch and suggested that I drive around for about a week before returning. 2. a similar incident occurred 10 days later. I glided into a parking lot, waited 10 min., and the car resumed at regular speed. 3. on 8/7/14, I drove 2 mi. Back to the repair shop at a regular speed. A second scan could not be completed because the car suddenly stopped responding to the repair shop's computer. At this point the car is completely inoperable and must be towed to a Toyota dealer. I was advised that I may need a new computer. My 2009 Toyota Corolla has about 48,000 miles on it. I do not believe that a computer failure is normal within the age and mileage range of this car. Thank you for looking into this issue..
During slow speeds or stopped when I press on the gas pedal to move forward the car's check engine light comes on and I can't move forward until I turn the car off, then back on. This has happened at stop lights, in parking garages, and even on the interstate. Not safe. This is my third time taking my vehicle to the Toyota dealership to fix the same problem. I paid $900 to fix the ECU (which they told me was the issue), but the same problem keeps happening. The second time I took it in they fixed something with the brake lights, now the third time they fixed something with a short in the brakes... the taillights were blinking rapidly? I doubt the problem is fixed and I am very frustrated to pay that kind of money with no refund when the same issue keeps happening. A similar issue happened in a recall with the 2005-2008 Corolla/matrix models and they had the ECM fixed with no charge. Sounds like the same problem to me.
During slow speeds or stopped when I press on the gas pedal to move forward the car's check engine light comes on and I can't move forward until I turn the car off, then back on. This has happened at stop lights, in parking garages, and even on the interstate. Not safe! this is my third time taking my vehicle to the Toyota dealership to fix the same problem. I paid $900 to fix the ECU (which they told me was the issue), but the same problem keeps happening. The second time I took it in they fixed something with the brake lights, now the third time they fixed something with a short to the brakes... something about the taillights blinking rapidly? I doubt the problem is fixed and I am very frustrated to pay that kind of money with no refund when the same issue keeps happening. A very similar issue happened in a recall with the 2005-2008 Corolla/matrix models and they had the ECM fixed with no charge. Sounds like the same problem to me.
The other vehicle was slowing or stopping for the traffic light. I was slowly approaching the other vehicle. I don't know why, but for some reason my vehicle accelerated. I was unable to stop, and my car ran into the back of the other vehicle.
On 10/21/2013 at about 12 am I was dropping off my wife and daughter in front of our apartment complex. I was driving a Toyota 2009 Corolla (VIN-[xxx]). the vehicle had a sudden, abrupt and unintended acceleration I pressed the brake pedal it did not stop. It went over a curb in the parking lot and collided with another vehicle standing on the opposite side. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)....updated 11/03/14 updated 8/5/2015
My daughter was driving West bound on I20 between exit 189 and 190 on 11/1 when the car accelerated and hydroplane. My daughter was given permission to use my car on this date, the condition was rainy and low visibility. She took feet off gas and proceeded to brake when the car accelerated. As she put her feet on brakes she lost control and crash in guard rail. In the meantime I have checked the data base and there are two recalls on this vehicle. One involved acceleration. The dealer should have had these recalls done before the car was sold which could have helped to prevent the acceleration. Someone should be held liable other than the consumer for this mishap. I need to know what is the next step as a consumer. Also the air bag did not disengaged. I called the dealership and spoke with [xxx] on 11/6 who confirmed that there are still two recalls on this car and she asked when did I want to bring the vehicle in. Why was this not done before purchase. I also spent $2800 on an extended powertrain warranty through the dealership. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2009 Toyota Corolla. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle sudden acceleration. The consumer stated as she was trying to park on a curve, she backed up and went forward twice, when she felt the right rear tire go over the water grate in the parking lot. The vehicle made a shifting sound and started to loudly race forward out of control. Fortunately, she was going slowly. When the motor started forcefully racing, the speed of the engine increased rapidly, as if someone was pushing on the accelerator pedal. The consumer had both feet on the brake and pressed as hard as she could in an effort to control the increasing speed. She was able to shift the gear to neutral, and then shut the off the motor. The consumer stated it was the third time, the incident occurred. The dealer installed a new computer, but they could not guarantee, it would prevent the sudden acceleration. Updated 11/25/13 updated 12/23/13
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle decelerated without manual force. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis but they were unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 mph, the vehicle increased acceleration independently and traveled over two separate curb sides. The brake pedal was applied with force in order to stop the vehicle. After the failure occurred, the vehicle was driven with caution to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was awaiting diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000....updated 07-24-13
Driving on a straight interstate. Speed limit was 70 mph. Road surface was wet. Drove over water, engine abruptly surged, similar to pushing accelerator to floor. Front end veered abruptly left. I applied brakes. Car spun backwards. Rear right wheel made contact with the metal cable-type barrier on left side of highway.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the contact to crash into a pole, and then a parked vehicle. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was not available. The consumer stated her vehicle was recalled, the first time she took the vehicle to the dealer for a floor mat problem, and the second time was for an acceleration problem. Updated 01/14/13
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact was traveling 5 mph when the vehicle suddenly surged forward without warning, causing the contact to crash into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The contact suffered injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The current mileage was 28,000 and the failure mileage was 25,000. Updated 03/22/12 the consumer also stated the air bag failed to deploy. Updated 05/11/12 updated 5/12/2012
I have had this Corolla for about 3 years, average about 700 miles per week - drive it daily. I have had no significant issues with it until the past month or so in which I have experienced two "sudden acceleration" events. In both cases I was traveling at a very low speed, about 10 mph or so in parking lots. While coasting / braking with my foot on the brake pedal, suddenly it was as if the brake pedal turned into an accelerator pedal! I felt all of the back-pressure the brake pedal normally has leave and it went almost completely down to the floor. At the very same instant the engine revved and began to accelerate and the car "leaped" forward. In both cases this lasted only a few seconds then things went back to normal. There were no indicator lights on the panel warning of anything wrong. In both cases my foot was clearly on the brake pedal and nowhere near the accelerator pedal. I visually inspected the floor mat and there was absolutely no interference between it and the accelerator pedal. This car has already had all of Toyota's "recall" remedies applied to it and could be easily ascertained by examining the maintenance records at butler Toyota of macon, Georgia. I would like it if someone could examine the car's computer (not the Toyota people for obvious reasons)to see if these events were recorded or not. Until now I have liked this car very much in every way. However, considering all of the recent reports and now my personal experiences twice I am very much concerned about the car's safety.
The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Corolla. The contact was driving 55 mph when the brakes were applied but the brakes did not respond and the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The front tires released smoked and the vehicle was turned around several times before coming to a stop in a dirt area. The front tires, rotors and cables were damaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic and located the failure at the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer modified the accelerator, replaced the rotors and the cables. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 124,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Blue Point, NY, USA