2007 Toyota CAMRY NHTSA Investigations
Defect Investigations
The following investigations on the Toyota CAMRY have been announced by the ODI. Interested in how this information is collected? Read more about investigations by the NHTSA.
Recent 2007 CAMRY Investigations
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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION Defect Investigation for the 2007 CAMRY
Vehicle Component: Electrical System*
Summary: On September 26, 2007, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that some of its model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Lexus E350 and Toyota Camry vehicles could experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the optional all weather floor mat offered on those vehicles and the vehicles' accelerator pedal. This decision was influenced by an Office Of Defects Investigation (ODI) engineering analysis. This recall was designated 07E082. Two years later, on October 5, 2009, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that a number of its MY 2004-2009 Lexus and Toyota vehicles may also experience unintended and uncontrolled acceleration due to interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver's floor mat. This recall was designated 09V388. Several months later, on January 27, 2010, Toyota filed an amended, or supplemental, defect information report and expanded the population of vehicles to include additional MY 2008-2010 Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Since this expansiontook place in a different calendar year, this recall was designated 10V023. Separately on January 21, 2010, Toyota filed a defect information report and notified NHTSA that certain Toyota vehicles and certain Pontiac vibe vehicles contained a safety defect in the accelerator pedal assembly that may cause the accelerator pedal to become harder to depress, slower to return, or in the worse case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position. NHTSA designated this recall 10V017. In total, the four recalls cover over 7.6 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles as well as the Pontiac vibe product made by new united motor manufacturing, Inc., a Venture of Toyota and General Motors corporation. NHTSA requires additional information from Toyota to more fully understand and evaluate, among other things, whether the scope of the recalls identified above (makes, models and model years) is sufficiently broad. The Agency is seeking to determine whether Toyota viewed the underlying defects too narrowly as interference between the accelerator pedal and the driver¿S side floor mat, or as a lever design (including materials) or performance problem giving rise to a sticking accelerator pedal, without fully considering the broader issue of unintended acceleration and any associated safety-related defects that warrant recalls. For purposes of this investigation, "unintended acceleration" refers to unintended, unrequested, uncontrollable, and/or unexplained acceleration of a subject vehicle, and to the failure of a vehicle's engine to return to idle when the driver takes his or her foot off of the accelerator pedal or raises his or her foot to a position where the engine ordinarily would return to idle, regardless of the alleged or determined cause of the acceleration or failure to decelerate or return to idle and regardless of the speed at which the event allegedly took place. Unintended acceleration thus is broader than interference between the accelerator pedal and driver¿S side floor mat and sticking accelerator pedals with levers made of a particular plastic(s). NHTSA is seeking information about how Toyota viewed complaints and other reports to Toyota and how Toyota assessed potential electromagnetic interference. The Agency also requires information from Toyota on why some models of vehicles with electronic throttle control were not included in the recalls. This investigation does not duplicate TQ10-001 or TQ10-002.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ10003 »
Status of Investigation: and there is a possible recall.
* This defect investigation is filed under 4 related vehicle components.
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UNWANTED ACCELERATION, FLOOR MAT Defect Investigation for the 2007 CAMRY
Vehicle Component: Vehicle Speed Control*
Summary: The driver side floor mat will not interfere with the throttle pedal if properly secured using the retaining hooks provided by Toyota. However, if the all weather mat is unsecured and moves forward from its intended position it can entrap the throttle pedal at the fully open position after it has been depressed. This can happen regardless of whether or not another mat (carpet) is underneath. When this occurs, some operators react by applying the brake pedal multiple times, depleting the braking system's (vacuum based) power assist. Stopping the vehicle with unassisted braking while the throttle is fully open requires significant pedal force, which some operators did not, or were unable to, apply for the required duration. Continued driving in this condition results in overheated brakes, which further diminishes the braking effectiveness. Some operators attempted to turn the vehicle off by depressing the engine control button, however they were unaware the button had to be depressed for three seconds to stop the engine when the vehicle is in motion; this functionality was not explained adequately in the owner's manual. In ODI interviews, owner's reported they were unaware the all weather mat had the potential to interfere with the throttle pedal, advising that this was never properly explained given the significant hazard it represented. Owners reported several explanations for why the mat was unsecured, including that the vehicle was delivered in this condition (most common reason), or that they had (unwittingly) installed the mat themselves, or that another party, such as a car wash attendant, had disturbed the mat without the owner's knowledge. One consumer reported that their vehicle was delivered without the retaining devices installed. In a September 26, 2007 letter to NHTSA, Toyota indicated that they would conduct a safety recall to replace the all weather mat with a redesigned mat. According to Toyota, the new mat design will reduce the potential for mat interference with the throttle pedal. The population noted above represents the number of subject matsthat have been sold in the United States. Since Toyota cannot identify which vehicles may have the subject mats, they will send a letter to all registered owners of the subject vehicles (estimated 750K) advising them of the concern and remedy. A copy of that letter will be posted to NHTSA's web site under recall 07E-082; it contains a description of the condition and the actions an operator should take in the event throttle entrapment occurs while driving. The fatality incident noted above occurred in July 2007 and was investigated by NHTSA's special crash investigations office. It has not been reported on a vehicle owner questionnaire. The operator reportedly travelled at speeds in excess of 100 mph for an estimated eight miles on an interstate in California before it struck two other vehicles. One of the struck vehicles and the subject vehicle caught fire. The occupant of the struck vehicle did not evaculate and died at the scene. The subject vehicle driver suffered a broken bone. The California highway patrol is investigating the incident also. ODI did not issue an information request letter during this investigation. The Toyota reports noted above were reported during preliminary evaluation PE07-016 and are current through April 2007 for MY 2007 Lexus ES350 only. ODI does not have field experience data from Toyota for Camry vehicles. Throttle entrapment due to improperly installed floor mats could be a concern in all vehicles. Therefore, drivers should always ensure their floor mats are properly and safely installed. This includes original equipment mats (carpet and accessory) and especially aftermarket mats. Operators of vehicles with engine control buttons should also ensure they fully understand the button's functionality.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA07010 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on October 11 2007 and there was a recall ordered: #07E082000
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.