NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
112 reportsClear category filter75,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR WILL IDLE ALONG WHILE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE CHECK ENGINE ERROR CODE POINTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE THR…
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DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE. THE CAR WILL IDLE ALONG WHILE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE CHECK ENGINE ERROR CODE POINTS TO THE THROTTLE BODY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS STUCK IN THE "CLOSED" POSITION WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. I'VE READ ABOUT THE NUMEROUS TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY ON THEIR VEHICLES AT -- HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TM6GC5T4DHVFS52CS -- IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING AND CONTINUE TO CHARGE UPWARDS OF $1200 TO REPLACE AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY THAT STILL HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ESSENTIALLY, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO SWAP OUT ONE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY. SIMILARLY, TOYOTA CORPORATE IN TORRANCE, CA DENIES THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A PRODUCT DEFECT. MOST LIKELY THIS IS DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE PART AND EXPENSE TO INSTITUTE A RECALL OF THE THROTTLE BODY. A CURSORY REVIEW OF THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS CONCERNING THE THROTTLE BODY FAILURES FOR TOYOTA CAMRY OWNERS SHOWS THAT THIS COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR IS FAILING TOO OFTEN TO BE CHALKED UP TO BAD LUCK OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. A CONSUMER CLASS ACTION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SORT OF DEFECT. I WOULD ASSUME THAT AN EXPERT WITNESS COULD TESTIFY AS TO THE DEFECT AND OPINE AS TO THE STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THROTTLE BODY FAILING MORE THAN ANY OTHER COMPONENT IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436156
134,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE EMITS WHITE SMOKE DURING COLD START UP. WAS TOLD THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS ARE STRIPPED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DESIGN WHICH MAY LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING AND FAILURE. ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434961
162,000 miles · Jul 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
2003 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ENGINE DRIVING FROM SNELL VILLE GA TO SOUTH CAROLINA TOYOTA CAMRY OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR CUTOFF FIRST TIME EVER. FAILURE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE IN ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE; NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE REBUILT OR NEW ONE ETC. AVAILABLE BUT CANNOT AFFORD ONE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413621
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE BRAND NEW. RECENTLY I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO LEARN THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE #2 CYLINDER. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE ARE…
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I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE BRAND NEW. RECENTLY I HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO LEARN THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE #2 CYLINDER. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPED. RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CAMRYS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE IS PROHIBITIVE AND THE CAR IS WORTHLESS AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS OF USE. THIS IS AN APPARENT MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO REMEDY. DRIVING THE CAR AS IS WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A CAR OF NO VALUE TO US.
NHTSA ODI #10409494
52,150 miles · Jun 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL CAR WITH 52,000 MILES, THAT HAS A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ON FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AREA, DUE TO STRIPPED OUT BLOCK/HEADBOLT, AS A CLEAR SIGN OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT INDICATED AND SU…
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I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL CAR WITH 52,000 MILES, THAT HAS A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE NEXT TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ON FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE HEAD GASKET AREA, DUE TO STRIPPED OUT BLOCK/HEADBOLT, AS A CLEAR SIGN OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT INDICATED AND SUBSTANTIATED BY THE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR CASES FOUND ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/CAMRY/148454-CAMRY-WITH-STRIPPED-HEAD-BOLTS-2/. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, SEEKING HELP WITH THIS $6,000 ISSUE AND WAS TOLD "NOTHING WE WILL DO". IT SEEMS CAR MAKERS WILL NOT DO THE RIGHT THING UNLESS THEY ARE FORCED TO AND THIS IS WHY I AM TRYING TO DO MY PART TO JOLT A VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS DESIGN FAILURE, BY A COMPANY CLAIMING TO PUT COSTUMERS FIRST, BUT INSTEAD SNUBS SO MANY OF US THE FIRST CHANCE THEY GET. CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA; PLEASE HELP US. THE BEST FIX SO FAR REPORTED IS PURCHASING ANOTHER TOYOTA 4CYL MOTOR WITH THE SAME FLAWED ENGINEERING AND TOYOTA WANTS NO PART OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SHORT COMING. I'VE OWN A FEW TOYOTA'S, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH THEM AND TO KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND YET THIS COMPANY REFUSES TO DO THE RESPONSIBLE ACTION AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAILURE. ANY AND ALL THE ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS NEEDED. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405470
92,422 miles · May 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE PULLED OUT, THE HEAD GASKET EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK AND AFTER PRESSURE TESTING THE COOLING SYSTEM, TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS WERE PULLED OUT, THE HEAD GASKET EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK AND AFTER PRESSURE TESTING THE COOLING SYSTEM, THE CYLINDERS FILLED UP WITH COOLANT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,422. UPDATED 06/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING, ALONG WITH THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. UPDATED 11/23/11
NHTSA ODI #10402123
40,000 miles · May 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #10398819
107,914 miles · Apr 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GURGLING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS FAILED. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EVE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GURGLING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BOLTS FAILED. THE FAILURE DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND MANIFOLD AND THE CONTACT HAD TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,914 UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 06/06/11. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10397357
175,345 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE DO TO HEAD BOLTS STRIPPED OUT. HUNDREDS OF OTHER CARS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10396017
130,938 miles · Mar 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH VERY FEW SHOULDERS THE CAR STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SHORT SHOULDER AREA AND CALLED THE AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED WITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL. SHE HAD TO WAIT IN A VERY…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION AREA WITH VERY FEW SHOULDERS THE CAR STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SHORT SHOULDER AREA AND CALLED THE AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED WITH THE HIGHWAY PATROL. SHE HAD TO WAIT IN A VERY DANGEROUS LOCATION WITH MANY HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRUCKS PASSING A FEW INCHES AWAY. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE BELT TO FAIL THEN THE POWER STEERING AND ENGINE COOLING TO FAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10393782
NHTSA investigations
3DP06003 · Engine Surging
Opened Sep 14, 2006 · Closed Apr 3, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2006. THE PETITIONER ALSO PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MY 2005 CAMRY. HE ALLEGES THAT BOTH VEHICLES EXHIBITED VEHICLE ENGINE SURGING, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A SHORT DURATION (1 TO 2 SECOND) INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED OCCURRING WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. IN AN INITIAL INTERVIEW, THE PETITIONER ESTIMATED THAT 6 TO 8 SURGE INCIDENTS, OF VARYING SEVERITY, OCCURRED IN THE MY 2006 VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF 10,000 MILES AND 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE PETITIONER REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE AT OVERCOMING THE SURGE. HOWEVER, HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS FILED WITH NHTSA ALLEGING UNCONTROLLEDSURGING IN MY 2002 TO 2006 CAMRY VEHICLES BRINGING THOSE VEHICLES TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (IN SOME CASES, PURPORTEDLY, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED).AFTER REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A VEHICLE-BASED DEFECT THAT WOULD HAVE PRODUCED THE ALLEGED ENGINE SURGE IN THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE, NOR WAS IT ABLE TO WITNESS SUCH AN EVENT WHEN ROAD TESTING THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE.EVALUATION OF A SUSPECT THROTTLE ACTUATOR REMOVED FROM THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE DID NOT REVEAL A COMPONENT PROBLEM. WARRANTY AND PARTS SALES OF THE ACTUATOR ARE UNREMARKABLE.THESE DATA DO NOT SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A WIDE-SPREAD DEFECT OR ONGOING CONCERN. THE FAULT DETECTION AND REACTION STRATEGY DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA?S TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS INDICATES THAT A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL DUE TO A COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD BE DETECTED WITHIN A ONE SECOND PERIODAFTER WHICH ENGINE POWER WOULD BE LIMITED. THE PETITIONER?S MY 2006 VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERCOMES FULL ENGINE POWER AT EASILY ACHIEVABLE BRAKE PEDAL FORCES. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.PLEASE SEE THE MARCH 9, 2007 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2006. THE PETITIONER ALSO PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MY 2005 CAMRY. HE ALLEGES THAT BOTH VEHICLES EXHIBITED VEHICLE ENGINE SURGING, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A SHORT DURATION (1 TO 2 SECOND) INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED OCCURRING WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. IN AN INITIAL INTERVIEW, THE PETITIONER ESTIMATED THAT 6 TO 8 SURGE INCIDENTS, OF VARYING SEVERITY, OCCURRED IN THE MY 2006 VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF 10,000 MILES AND 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE PETITIONER REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE AT OVERCOMING THE SURGE. HOWEVER, HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS FILED WITH NHTSA ALLEGING UNCONTROLLEDSURGING IN MY 2002 TO 2006 CAMRY VEHICLES BRINGING THOSE VEHICLES TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (IN SOME CASES, PURPORTEDLY, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED).AFTER REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A VEHICLE-BASED DEFECT THAT WOULD HAVE PRODUCED THE ALLEGED ENGINE SURGE IN THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE, NOR WAS IT ABLE TO WITNESS SUCH AN EVENT WHEN ROAD TESTING THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE.EVALUATION OF A SUSPECT THROTTLE ACTUATOR REMOVED FROM THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE DID NOT REVEAL A COMPONENT PROBLEM. WARRANTY AND PARTS SALES OF THE ACTUATOR ARE UNREMARKABLE.THESE DATA DO NOT SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A WIDE-SPREAD DEFECT OR ONGOING CONCERN. THE FAULT DETECTION AND REACTION STRATEGY DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA?S TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS INDICATES THAT A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL DUE TO A COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD BE DETECTED WITHIN A ONE SECOND PERIODAFTER WHICH ENGINE POWER WOULD BE LIMITED. THE PETITIONER?S MY 2006 VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERCOMES FULL ENGINE POWER AT EASILY ACHIEVABLE BRAKE PEDAL FORCES. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.PLEASE SEE THE MARCH 9, 2007 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
Vehicle Speed Control
THE PETITIONER OWNS A MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2006. THE PETITIONER ALSO PREVIOUSLY OWNED A MY 2005 CAMRY. HE ALLEGES THAT BOTH VEHICLES EXHIBITED VEHICLE ENGINE SURGING, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A SHORT DURATION (1 TO 2 SECOND) INCREASE IN ENGINE SPEED OCCURRING WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. IN AN INITIAL INTERVIEW, THE PETITIONER ESTIMATED THAT 6 TO 8 SURGE INCIDENTS, OF VARYING SEVERITY, OCCURRED IN THE MY 2006 VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF 10,000 MILES AND 7 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THE PETITIONER REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE AT OVERCOMING THE SURGE. HOWEVER, HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS FILED WITH NHTSA ALLEGING UNCONTROLLEDSURGING IN MY 2002 TO 2006 CAMRY VEHICLES BRINGING THOSE VEHICLES TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED (IN SOME CASES, PURPORTEDLY, WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED).AFTER REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A VEHICLE-BASED DEFECT THAT WOULD HAVE PRODUCED THE ALLEGED ENGINE SURGE IN THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE, NOR WAS IT ABLE TO WITNESS SUCH AN EVENT WHEN ROAD TESTING THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE.EVALUATION OF A SUSPECT THROTTLE ACTUATOR REMOVED FROM THE PETITIONER?S VEHICLE DID NOT REVEAL A COMPONENT PROBLEM. WARRANTY AND PARTS SALES OF THE ACTUATOR ARE UNREMARKABLE.THESE DATA DO NOT SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A WIDE-SPREAD DEFECT OR ONGOING CONCERN. THE FAULT DETECTION AND REACTION STRATEGY DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA?S TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS INDICATES THAT A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL DUE TO A COMPONENT OR SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD BE DETECTED WITHIN A ONE SECOND PERIODAFTER WHICH ENGINE POWER WOULD BE LIMITED. THE PETITIONER?S MY 2006 VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM OVERCOMES FULL ENGINE POWER AT EASILY ACHIEVABLE BRAKE PEDAL FORCES. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.PLEASE SEE THE MARCH 9, 2007 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
DP05002 · Vehicle Speed Control
Opened Aug 5, 2005 · Closed Jan 5, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO COMMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES T
PE04021 · Throttle Control System
Opened Mar 3, 2004 · Closed Jul 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
THE LEXUS MODELS WERE THE SUBJECT OF DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-003.TWELVE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE TO TOYOTA REPORTS, INCLUDING THE TWO MINOR CRASHES.THE V6 EQUIPPED SOLARA MODELS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.TOYOTA INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BEGINNING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THE SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED, OR FAILED TO DECREASE, (FOR A SHORT DURATION) WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED (THE ALLEGED DEFECT).DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ANALYZED AGENCY DATA AND REVIEWED VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS, CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS INVOLVING 113 VOQ AND 36 TOYOTA REPORTS, INSPECTED TWO COMPLAINANT VEHICLES, REVIEWED RELEVANT TOYOTA SERVICE AND NEW CAR FEATURE DOCUMENTATION, REVIEWED AND ANALYZED TOYOTA?S RESPONSES TO ODI?S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, CONDUCTED A LIMITED CONTROL PEDAL ASSESSMENT, AND ATTENDED A TOYOTA TECHNICAL PRESENTATION THAT INCLUDED THE ASSESSMENT OF TWO DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES.THROUGH INTERVIEWS, ODI IDENTIFIED 14 VOQ AND 6 TOYOTA REPORTS (20 UNIQUE VEHICLES) WHERE COMPLAINANTS REPORT MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.IN SOME CASES THE CONDITION WAS EXPERIENCED BY DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPERATORS OR WAS WITNESSED BY OTHER OCCUPANTS.ODI WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF 9 TOYOTA AND AN ADDITIONAL 37 VOQ REPORTS (WHICH DESCRIBE 28 UNIQUE INCIDENTS) DUE TO INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION.THE REMAINING COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED (62 VOQ, 21 TOYOTA) DESCRIBED CONDITIONS NOT CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND WERE THUS CONSIDERED UNRELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS INTERVIEWED REPORTED A COMPONENT FAILURE (OR OTHER INDICATOR OF A SYSTEM FAILURE) AS THE POTENTIAL CAUSE OF INCIDENTS RELEVANT TO THIS INVESTIGATION.IN MANY CASES, THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVES WHO ALSO FAILED TO IDENTIFY A FAULT WITHIN THE VEHICLE.TOYOTA IDENTIFIED 43 RELATED WARRANTY CLAIMS, 24 OF WHICH WERE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES ONLY (NO REPAIRS PERFORMED).ODI FOUND NOTHING ABNORMAL IN THE CONTROL PEDAL CONFIGURATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE THE ATTACHED SUMMARY FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
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