Problems · by component
2003 Toyota Camry vehicle speed control problems
266 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Camry cite vehicle speed control, 33% of all 818 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
266
33% of all complaints
Crashes
171
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
59
Reported by owners
What owners say about the vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle would suddenly accelerate or lunge forward and had done so several times, both while idle, pressing the brakes, and while driving at various speeds. Suddenly accelerated downhill, and when approaching the inner section, the contact immediately turned the vehicle to avoid hitting another vehicle and ended up crashing into a nearby residence's garage, causing the vehicle to stop. The air bags did not deploy. The garage door was damaged, and the contact's vehicle's front-end was damaged. A police report was filed. The contact had stated they had experienced sleep issues and a fear of driving the vehicle since the incident. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle had not been driven since. The contact spoke with a certified mechanic who informed them it was a known issue and of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control), which related to their experienced failure. The mechanic did not repair the vehicle. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The…”
“I was going 45 to 50 mph and my car shut off in middle of highway and we barely got out of highway before getting hit there is recall on same kind of car for throttle body and that's what's wrong with mine so it has too be that they missed my car”
“AS I TURNED SLIGHTLY RIGHT INTO MY PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT LIFTING FROM THE GAS PEDAL TOWARD THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN AND SPED UP THEN CRASHED RIGHT THRU THE GATE THAT DIVIDED THE PARKING SPACE FROM THE SIDEWALK. I WAS IN SHOCK AND THOUGHT THERE WAS A GHOST OF SOME KIND THAT JUST TOOK OVER THE GAS PEDAL AS IT SPED UP. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS DESTROYED AND FRONT GRILL ALONG WITH THE LOWER HEAD LIGHTS OF VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE HOOD OF THE CAR.”
“I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WHEN MY CAR STALED AND WAS SHAKING IN REVERSE. I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS BECAUSE I THOUGHT I BACKED UP INTO SOMETHING. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED OUT OF NO WHERE AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO TWO CARS.”
“COMING TO RED LIGHT CAR WOULD NOT STOP I PRESSED HARDER ON BRAKES ASB CAME IN THEN THE CAR WENT INTO HIGH RPMS,AND STOPPED SOUNDED LIKE IT WOULD BLOW UP?.. I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, FROM MY EXPERIENCE TO SLOW RPMS YOU PRESS GAS PETAL HARD UNTIL THE RPMS SLOW, I DO NOT HAVE FLOOR MAPS, NEVER HAD THEM...”
“COMING TO A STOP AND ABOUT READY TO STOP AND ALL OF SUDDEN STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLED TO LEFT AND ACCELERATED. THEN I HIT A PARKED CAR AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP.”
Showing 6 of 266 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.