NHTSA Complaint #11373197 — 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA

I WAS EXCITING A FREEWAY. AS I USUALLY DO, I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH EXPECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ALSO DISENGAGE AND COAST TO THE STOP SIGN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY BRAKE. INSTEAD, AS SOON AS I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUT THEIR FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE HAD NO IMPACT TO SLOW THE ACCELERATION. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, HOPING THAT WOULD HELP - BUT THE MOMENTUM CARRIED ME FORWARD AT A GREAT SPEED. I MANAGED TO DODGE SOME CARS AND HEADED (AND LANDED) IN A DITCH ACROSS FROM THE STOP AT THE END OF THE EXIT.. THE ONLY POSSIBLE WARNING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN IS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED SOME TROUBLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL GOING OFF COMPLETELY - AND HAVING TO RE-SET WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS.