NHTSA Complaint #10088910 — 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

(1) I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 WITH 30500 MILES. THE MORNING OF JULY 26, 2004, WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO LESS THAN 5 MPH TO DRIVE HEAD-FIRST INTO A PARKING SPOT AT WORK, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND IMPACTED SQUARELY THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT. AFTER THE CAR HAD COME TO A REST AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT WITH THE WALL, I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO 'PARK', I NOTICED THAT IT WAS ALREADY IN THE 'NEUTRAL' POSITION. I WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY STEP ONTO THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE SURGE, SINCE TO DO SO WOULD REQUIRE ME TO REPOSITION MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE CONCRETE WALL COMING UP TO ME. (2) THE IMPACT CAUSED DAMAGE ACROSS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. NO BROKEN LIGHTS; THE HOOD WAS VERY SLIGHTLY RAISED. I ESTIMATE THE CAR SURGED 3 TO 4 FEET BEFORE IMPACTING THE WALL AT MAYBE 10 MPH. (3) I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN AND SHOP FOREMAN KEPT IT FOR A DAY, TEST DROVE IT BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO FOUND NO CODES WITH THE SCAN TOOL INSPECTION. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I REPORT THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER.*AK