NHTSA Complaint #10374591 — 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY

2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING VEHICLE STALLING IN THE ACCELERATION PROCESS *TGW THE DEALER STATED THE STALL IN THE ACCELERATION, WAS CAUSED BY THE SEQUENCING OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE STALL WOULD OCCUR AS THE CONSUMER MADE A RAPID CHANGE FROM DECELERATION TO ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE STALL WAS A BUILT IN DESIGN FEATURE. THE CONSUMER STATED TO MINIMIZE THE STALL, SHE MUST MANUALLY DOWN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS IN THE DECELERATION PHASE. RECENTLY, A SLOW MOVING 18 WHEELER UNEXPECTEDLY PULLED INTO THE CONSUMERS LANE OF TRAFFIC, WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONSUMER STATED HER NATURAL REACTION WAS TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR, PUTTING THE ENGINE /TRANSMISSION INTO DECELERATION MODE. AS THE SITUATION UNFOLDED, SHE CONCLUDED THAT THE RAPID ACCELERATION AND LANE CHANGE WAS THE SAFEST METHOD. WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AROUND THE TRUCK, THERE WAS NO REACTION FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION DELAYED RESPONDING AND WHEN IT DID RESPOND, IT CHOSE A GEAR WHICH PRODUCED NO MEANINGFUL FORWARD MOTION, BUT LOTS OF NOISE. CONSEQUENTLY, SHE WAS FORCED TO BRAKE VERY HARD, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER EXPLAINED THERE WAS A FACTORY ALERT ISSUE ON THE BRAKE PADS. THE PADS WERE REPLACED, AND THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. *JB