NHTSA Complaint #11625221 — 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY

I am writing to express a serious safety concern regarding my Toyota Camry. Recently, my daugther experienced a potentially dangerous situation while driving to a doctor’s appointment that I believe requires immediate attention. She was traveling on the highway in the leftmost lane, the fastest lane, when the car unexpectedly began to slow down. Despite pressing the gas pedal to accelerate, the engine revved louder, but the car did not respond or gain any speed. It became clear that the vehicle was losing power, and she was unable to maintain speed, causing a significant slowdown in traffic. As the situation became more alarming, she turned on the emergency lights to alert surrounding drivers, realizing that the car was decelerating despite her efforts. At this point, she was stuck in a very precarious position, with traffic merging from another highway to her right, and she remained in the middle of the road in one of the busiest and fastest lanes. Fortunately, after 15 minutes or so of this uncertainty, a kind passenger helped to push the car to the shoulder, allowing her to get out of the flow of traffic and avoid a potential accident or worse. What is most concerning about this incident is that there were no warning signs or indicators on the dashboard. No engine lights, warning signals, or unusual noises alerted her to any potential issue before or during the power loss. The car simply stopped responding while the engine continued to rev, leaving her stranded in a highly dangerous situation without any forewarning. I rely on my Toyota Camry for daily transportation, and this sudden and unexpected malfunction has shaken both our confidences and others around me about the vehicle’s safety. I request a thorough investigation into this incident to determine the cause of the malfunction, as well as any necessary repairs or inspections to ensure that this does not happen again. Toyota dealer has advised me there is no recall and there is nothing they can do.