Problems · by component

2001 Toyota Camry vehicle speed control problems

55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Camry cite vehicle speed control, 17% of all 330 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
55
17% of all complaints
Crashes
32
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I do not feel engine braking effect when I apply brake instead I have to press brake hard to hold until engine idles. It is a serious issue in older cars. My car has 153000 miles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2025Vehicle speed controlODI 11673220
“Problem: Unintended Acceleration, air conditioner operating. Incident Scenario: Approaching driveway, stopped to allow pedestrian to pass. Resumed low speed turn into driveway, Abrupt acceleration of vehicle, launching vehicle over granite curb and into nearby tree. Damage: Passenger R.Front Fender, Passenger Headlamp Assy;Lower Control Arm Assy, Front Bumper cover, Passenger wheel rim bent, tire deflated. Unintended vehicle acceleration is a serious safety defect and can occur when the Idle Air Control Valve is defective or is provided incorrect engine rpm signal from Engine Control Computer causing sudden vehicle acceleration.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2024Vehicle speed control, EngineCrash reportedODI 11611210
“I WAS EXCITING A FREEWAY. AS I USUALLY DO, I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH EXPECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ALSO DISENGAGE AND COAST TO THE STOP SIGN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY BRAKE. INSTEAD, AS SOON AS I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUT THEIR FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE HAD NO IMPACT TO SLOW THE ACCELERATION. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, HOPING THAT WOULD HELP - BUT THE MOMENTUM CARRIED ME FORWARD AT A GREAT SPEED. I MANAGED TO DODGE SOME CARS AND HEADED (AND LANDED) IN A DITCH ACROSS FROM THE STOP AT THE END OF THE EXIT.. THE ONLY POSSIBLE WARNING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN IS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED SOME TROUBLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL GOING OFF COMPLETELY - AND HAVING TO RE-SET WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2020Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11373197
“ON 5/10/2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY SOLARA ON A RURAL ROAD I COULDN'T SLOW THE CAR DOWN, BRAKING DIDN'T HELP. I KEPT BEARING TO THE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE CAR, CAR WANTED TO GO TOWARDS THE CARS TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, CAR SPUN OUT IN GRAVEL THAT WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR DID AT LEAST TWO FULL CIRCLES THAN POPPED SOME 10 FEET WHERE CAR HIT TELEPHONE POLE ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THIS WAS A GREAT IMPACT ON MY SHOULDERS. AT THE TIME ALL I KNEW WAS THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOWDOWN EVEN WHEN BRAKING. I KNOW NOW AND HAVE FOR SOME YEARS THAT THE EXCELERATOR STUCK ON THIS VEHICLE. SURE ENOUGH NOT UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS AFTER MY ACCIDENT TOYOTA CAME OUT WITH THERE EXCELERATOR PROBLEMS. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT TOYOTA HAD THESE PROBLEMS ON THERE 2001 CAMRY'S ALSO BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME. I SAVED SOME DOCUMENTION FROM THIS ACCIDENT BUT I REALIZE IT'S BEEN SOME YEARS AGO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2019Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11287565
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LEAVING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND SPED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SANK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2015Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10680878
“WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VERY SLOWLY, LOOKING BOTH DIRECTIONS, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND FLEW ACROSS A BUSY STREET INTO A STORE FRONT. THREE PERSONS WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED AND THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED AS WELL AS THE MAIN FRONT WINDOW OF THE STORE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2014Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10574077

Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

Vehicle speed controlReported Jan 16, 2001NHTSA 01V012000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.