2012 Toyota Camry Speed Control & Cruise Problems

I am filing this complaint regarding a known and documented issue affecting my 2012 Toyota Camry (VIN: [XXX] ), which has developed a transmission shudder and vibration between 20–50 mph. This problem is directly aligned with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4, both of which describe issues with the torque converter and ECM software. My vehicle has 116,670 miles, which falls within the mileage eligibility of the support program (ZF4: 150,000 miles), though it is just outside the time limitation (8 years). I reached out to Toyota (Case #: [XXX]) to request goodwill assistance due to the safety-related nature of the defect and the fact that it is a well-documented product flaw, but they declined support solely based on time — not on mileage or vehicle condition. The vibration affects the transmission and drivability, particularly during city and highway acceleration, creating potential hazards when merging or navigating traffic. I believe this qualifies as a design flaw with potential safety implications. I respectfully request that NHTSA review Toyota’s handling of this issue and determine whether further consumer protection or a recall is warranted, especially for owners who were not adequately notified or who fall just outside the support window despite clear symptoms. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact's fiancé owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. While the contact's fiancé was driving 55 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and decelerated from 55 MPH down to 20 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

Computer system failure ABS system not functioning causing driving functions not working. Problem continuously reproduced by independents and finally by Dealer. Dashboard lights on, engine, tracking, ABS, Brak and other lights. MPG reduced with speedometer down to zero while driving.

There was a recall on this Camry model 2012 to 2014 that the Charlotte, NC dealership refused to cover. I am having a transmission issue that causes my car to shudder and vibrate at regular speeds. “shudder comes from the transmission, especially during the acceleration of the Camry models. It can be alarming for the driver and be a safety concern when the gears do not properly change during operation. When this problem persists over a significant period of time, it has the poetry to cause long-term damage to your transmission. Damage to your transmission can be costly and affect the overall performance of your Toyota…” -Toyota of west county website

WHEN DRIVING THE HESITATING TO ACCELERATE AND SLOW DOWN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ADVANTAGE TOYOTA I'M VALLEY STREAM NY AND THE TOLD ME THE ENGINE MOUNT IS BROKEN. I PAID 890.00 TO FIXED AND THE PROBLEM NEVER FIX. I TOOK ON 03-12-21 AND GET ON 0313-21. CALL THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT SIX TIME TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MANGER AND NEVER RETURN OR ANSWER THE CALL. THEY TOLD ME HE IS BUY.

I HAVE A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A TURN THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION. IF THE TURN IS LONG, AS IN A CLOVERLEAF EXIT, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST STOP. PRESSING THE GAS HAS NO EFFECT. THE VEHICLE WILL LAG UNTIL IT ALMOST STOPS OR UNTIL YOU COME OUT OF THE TURN. FROM WHAT I FIND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2012 AND LATER TOYOTA CAMRYS BUT DEALERS STONEWALL ABOUT IT. I HOPE YOU GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS TO ISSUE A RECALL.

ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES MOVE ABOUT 10 FEET AND THEN HESITATE FOR ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE INTERMITTENT HESITATION COULD BE DANGEROUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. A POLICE REORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY STOP ACCELERATING WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. YOU CAN THEN LIFT UP AND PRESS BACK DOWN AND IT NORMALLY WILL RESPOND AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC.

ON 5/24/18 AT 1435 IN CHICAGO IL, MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY FULLY ACCELERATED THROUGH ONGOING TRAFFIC AFTER LIGHTLY DEPRESSING THE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND I HAD TO MANEUVER THROUGH ONCOMING TRAFFIC INTO A GRASS AREA ACROSS THE STREET TO SLOW DOWN BUT COMING DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. CHICAGO POLICE DEPT REPORT #JB-282363

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING ON A CITY STREET DUE TO THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING, I SLOWED DOWN THEN PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. THE CAR TOOK OFF I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT STILL HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE ABOUT THE VEHICLE STALLING AND ACCELERATING. I HAD FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER AND HOOD. THE VEHICLE I CRASHED INTO BACK BUMPER WAS ALSO DENTED.

ACCELERATING UP A PARKING STRUCTURE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE FULLY RELEASED THEN DEPRESSED AGAIN TO REGAIN FUNCTION.

TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING 3 TIMES IN SUCCESSION. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FULLY RELEASED THEN DEPRESSED AGAIN TO REGAIN FUNCTION EACH TIME.

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN), THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE ABOUT 20 FEET OR 20 MPH AND THEN HESITATE FOR ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN ACCELERATE NORMALLY. . THIS HAPPENED AT THOSE INTERVAL. THE INTERMITTENT HESITATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THE CROSS TRAFFIC IS UNCONTROLLED.

WHEN ACCELERATING CAR HESITATE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN TAKE OFF WHILE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND ALSO DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH MY KIDS IN CAR. *TR

I WAS IN MY GYM'S PARKING LOT AND HAD JUST TURNED LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP AS IT MOVED FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND. INSTEAD, THE CAR CONTINUED DRIVING FORWARD ON ITS OWN, AND THEN I HEARD A SOUND OF ACCELERATION, AS IF THE CAR WAS REVVING ITSELF UP TO A HIGHER SPEED. THINKING THAT THE BRAKE HAD NOT ENGAGED, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND PLACED IT BACK ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEPPING HARDER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. AT THIS POINT, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR JUMPED UP ONTO THE CURB WHILE STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, RAN OVER THE SIDEWALK. ROLLED UP AND OVER A TWO-FOOT HEDGE THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE SIDEWALK, THEN CRASHED INTO THE BRICK ENFORCED CONCRETE COLUMN AT THE CORNER OF THE GYM BUILDING. THE BRICK COLUMN STOPPED THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE CAR, BUT LEFT A LARGE DENT IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR'S BUMPER THAT WAS EMBEDDED WITH CHUNKS OF CONCRETE. IT ALSO DENTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR, PUSHING IT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE REPORTED MY ACCIDENT TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. I AUTHORIZED THEIR REVIEW OF MY CAR'S EVENT DATA RECORDER AND AM AWAITING THEIR INVESTIGATION REPORT. THIS FRIGHTENING ACCIDENT LEFT ME VERY SHAKEN. IT FELT AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL. IT SEEMED AS IF SOMETHING HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR AND MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE CAR'S FORWARD MOMENTUM BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE HAD ZERO IMPACT. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK OR I WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY MALFUNCTION. THEY ARE LETHAL WEAPONS ON OUR CITY STREETS!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A TRAFFIC POLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

WHEN LEFT FOOT IS MOMENTARILY LEFT ON BRAKE WHILE DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR WITH RIGHT FOOT ACCELERATION BEGINS THEN STOPS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS CAUSING A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA ADMITTED THEY HAVE A PROGRAM BUILT INTO THE CAMRY TO OFFSET "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" ISSUE. SO, THEY ADMITTED THEY ELIMINATED A MAJOR ISSUE WHILE CREATING ANOTHER ISSUE. TOYOTA'S LOGIC IS RIDICULOUS. THEY ARE IDIOTS!!!

I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW WITH MY 2012 CAMRY NOT ACCELERATING WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I TURN A CORNER & MOST RECENTLY HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DOWN A CITY STREET. I COULD BE GOING ABOUT 25-35 MPH, PRESS THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN BUT THEN WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL TO PICK UP SPEED AGAIN, THE CAR WILL STALL MEANING IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE AT ALL & JUST COASTS. I'VE HAD OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE MY CAR & THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD CARS ALMOST RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS & I HAVE CHILDREN WITH ONE OF THEM BEING ONLY 2 YEARS OLD & THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR WITH ME AT TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES BUT THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THAT IT'S NORMAL & THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE IS EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF DELAY OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT & THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED MY CAMRY BRAND NEW IN 2012 & I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THE SERVICE CURRENT ON MY CAR. OF COURSE TOYOTA HAS PROOF OF THAT IN THEIR SYSTEM. I NEED FOR THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE & CORRECT IT BEFORE MYSELF, MY CHILDREN OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS SEVERELY HURT OR LOSE OUR LIVES OR CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE. THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN ESPECIALLY WHILE IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TOYOTA AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS FROM THE FORCE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYING. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK PAINS FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.