NHTSA Complaint #10239249 — 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY WITH 48,000 MILES FROM THE LAKE CHARLES, LA TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I CURRENTLY HAVE 58,000 MILES AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO WAL-MART ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN OUR CAR APPEARED TO JUMP A FEW TIMES WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATION. AFTER COMMENTING ON THE JUMPS I NOTICED NO RESPONSE FROM THE PEDAL AND REALIZED THAT THE CAR HAD DIED. LUCKILY I MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE A MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CARS COMPUTER. THE DIAGNOSTIC SAID IT WAS OUR THROTTLE BODY, AND THAT WE COULD MAKE IT HOME IF WE TOOK IT EASY. DURING THE 5 MILE TRIP THE CAR WOULD SURGE BETWEEN 1,500 AND 3,000 RPMS AND WOULD DIE AT STOP LIGHTS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I LEARNED TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT RACE UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNED AND THEN PLACE IN DRIVE. THE REST OF THE WAY HOME I KEPT THE CAR IN HIGH RPMS >3,500 TO KEEP FROM FEELING THE SURGE. AT HOME I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST, AND LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. OTHER SITES MENTIONED TO GET THROTTLE BODY CLEANER AND A SOFT RAG TO WIPE GRIME FROM THROTTLE BODY. AFTER DOING SO THE CAR WOULD IDLE AT 200 RPM. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I TEST DROVE AND FOUND THAT ANY MILD ACCELERATION WOULD BOG IT DOWN AND KILL IT. THEN LATER IT WOULD IDLE AT 2,500 RPMS IN DRIVE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS VERY HARD ON THE BREAK TO KEEP FROM MOVING FORWARD. THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE EASILY HURT SOMEONE. *TR