NHTSA Complaint #10588908 — 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY

WHEN PULLING INTO A GRAVEL PARKING SPACE AT LESS THAN 5MPH. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE, JUMPED A CONCRETE PARKING STOP, BECAME PARTIALLY AIRBORNE ON THE RIGHT SIDE , COMING DOWN IN A DEPRESSION AFTER 25 FT. BRAKE WAS FULLY DEPRESSED THROUGH EVENT. VISUAL INSPECTION AND MANUAL CHECK AFTER INCIDENT SHOWED NOTHING IMPEDING EITHER GAS PEDAL OR BRAKE. MATS FIRMLY ATTACHED. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCELERATION TRACKS AND THE DITCH WHERE IT LANDED. DAMAGE TO FASCIA, BUMPER, AIR DAM. ALIGNMENT, POSSIBLE TIRE DAMAGE. EST. $800 - $1200. OUR COMPLAINT IS CAR SAT AT DEALER FOR 2 MONTHS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE OUTCOME WAS THAT NOTHING WAS RECORDED ON THE BLACK BOX AND VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTIONS ON A LIFT. THEREFORE EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING. RECOMMENDATION FROM BOTH CONSUMER REPORTS AND EDMUNDS IS A BRAKE OVERRIDE SHOULD BE INSTALLED. WHEN THIS WAS MENTIONED THEY SAID NO THE CAR DOESN'T NEED IT. ONE OF OUR COMPLAINTS IS TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A. TOOK 2 MONTHS TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY DIDN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS OR NOTIFY THE DEALER OF ANY RESULTS. DEALER STATED TOYOTA WOULDN'T LET THEM WORK ON THE CAR AND IT WAS LISTED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DURING THIS 2 MONTHS WE HAD TO RENT A CAR OUT OF POCKET (INSURANCE PAID 2 WEEKS). OVER $1000. BOTH MY WIFE AND I FEEL VERY LUCKY THIS INCIDENT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR NEXT TO A SOLID WALL. IF IT HAD THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE WE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED AND THE DAMAGE MUCH WORSE. DEALING WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND TOYOTA U.S.A. WAS FRUSTRATING AND POINTLESS. WE HAVE PICKED UP THE CAR AND ARE CONSIDERING TRADING IT IN BUT ARE SHOCKED TO FIND IN 2 YEARS IT HAS DEPRECATED BY $8000! THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND A MONETARY LOSS AS WELL. TO AT LEAST GET THE BRAKE OVERRIDE WOULD BE SOME SATISFACTION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR