NHTSA Complaint #11002395 — 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 38 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT ON THE GROUND FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS IN THE VACUUM LINE OF THE ENGINE. THE VACUUM CANISTER WAS ALSO FILLED WITH FUEL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED HANLEES DAVIS TOYOTA DEALER (LOCATED ON 4202 CHILES RD, DAVIS, CA 95616), ELK GROVE TOYOTA DEALER (LOCATED ON 9640 W STOCKTON BLVD, ELK GROVE, CA 95757), AND MAITA TOYOTA OF SACRAMENTO (2500 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95821) ALL THREE DEALERS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE REPAIRS DUE TO ITS AGE AND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY FOR FREE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.