NHTSA Complaint #10668623 — 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY

THIS IS A DELAYED RESPONSE, AS I WAS NOT AWARE THAT TOYOTA FINALLY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATIONS. I WAS IN SLOW, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I RECALL LOOKING DOWN AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING OR DECELERATING. I THOUGHT THAT MY FOOT MUST HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT IT WAS FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE WORKED AS THERE WERE DEFINITE SKID MARKS. I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF A TAHOE, TOTALING MY CAR AND CAUSING A PULLED SHOULDER, WHIP LASH, AND A DEVIATED SEPTUM IN MY NOSE FROM THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I WAS AFRAID THAT THE POLICEMAN WOULD NOT EVEN BELIEVE MY ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT SO I DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT AS CLEARLY AS IT OCCURRED (THOUGH I DEFINITELY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY). I JUST RECEIVED A CHECK FOR APPROXIMATELY $23.00 A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT. I AM FURIOUS THAT I LOST AN OTHERWISE (PAID FOR) GREAT CAR, SUSTAINED INJURIES AND MORE IMPORTANT, ENDANGERED PEOPLE AROUND ME. I ALSO NOW HAVE AN "ACCIDENT" ON MY INSURANCE RECORD. THE FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL THIS HAS TAKEN CAN CERTAINLY NOT BE "BOUGHT OUT" WITH $23.00. I WISH THAT I HAD TOLD MY EXPERIENCE TO THE OFFICER AS I CLEARLY PERCEIVED IT, REGARDLESS OF HOW IMPLAUSIBLE IT SEEMED. NOW, I HAVE FOOLISHLY ALREADY PURCHASED ANOTHER CAMRY, AND, ONCE AGAIN THEY HAVE A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL. AT LEAST THEY HAVE OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ONE. HOWEVER, I CANNOT GET THEM TO RETURN MY CALLS WITH AN APPOINTMENT FOR A REPAIR. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE MEANTIME? WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER "ACCIDENT" HAPPENS? HOW CAN I GET IN TO GET A REPAIR? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT A CAR INDEFINITELY. I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE FOUND THIS SITE. THANK YOU. *TR