2009 Toyota Venza Cruise Control Problems

NOTICED THE CAR ACCELERATING A LITTLE BIT,NOTHING LIKE A THROTTLE STUCK OR ANYTHING BUT JUST ACCELERATING A BIT MORE THAN I THINK,CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS ISSUE AT ALL

TOYOTA 2009 VENZA SYSTEMIC SPEED SENSOR FAILURES: RIGHT REAR SPEED SENSOR 1/17/2015: LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR MAY 2013: LEFT FRONT SPEED SENSOR APRIL 2012 IN EACH CASE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) SYSTEMS WERE DISABLED, CREATING HAZARDOUS VEHICLE OPERATION, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW/ICE. RESEARCHING, I DETERMINED THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, BUT THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEFECTIVE SPEED SENSORS AND THAT THEIR FAILURE DISABLED THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS WERE COMMON KNOWLEDGE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER OF MY CONCERN, ON JANUARY 22, 2015 (TOYOTA CASE # [XXX]), AND MADE FORMAL REQUEST FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE CHARGES FOR THE THIRD REPAIR ON THE BASIS THAT VENZA SPEED SENSOR FAILURES ARE A SYSTEMIC, RECOGNIZED ISSUE CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL LONG PAST. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA THAT THE CRITERIA FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE ISSUE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) WERE CLEARLY MET. PER UNITED STATES CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301), MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY IS DEFINED AS 'THE PERFORMANCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENTS OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT, AND INCLUDES NONOPERATIONAL SAFETY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.' TOYOTA REJECTED MY REQUEST 3/10/15 ON THE BASIS THAT IT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA OF THEIR NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY, COMPLETELY DISREGARDING THE STATED CONCERN. GIVEN THAT TOYOTA HAS WILLFULLY CHOSEN TO NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL AND HAZARD ISSUES RAISED, THIS COMPLAINT IS SUBMITTED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON JANUARY 8TH,2015 I HAD THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACED ON OUR VEHICLE. AN INTERNET CHECK REVEALED THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REF: TSB 0031-12 WAS ISSUED. NHTSA REF: 10052153 FOR THE 2009 VENZA WAS ALSO ISSUED DUE TO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSORS.THE FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CAUSED 3 WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON. THE ABS, VSC AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS COULD YOU PLEASE INCLUDE THIS VIN IF A RECALL IS ANNOUNCED. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVE THRU LINE OF A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WHEN THE CAR TOOK A SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD. I STEERED HARD TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND MANAGE TO HIT THE BUMPER ON RIGHT SIDE DOING OVER 1500 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND SWERVED INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR DOING DAMAGE TO IT ALSO. THE VENZA HAD DAMAGE OF MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SO IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE CARPORT SINCE THE DAY THE REPAIRS WERE FINISH. BY THE WAY THAT WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THAT KIND IN THAT CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *JS

VCS, BRAKES, ABS LIGHTS ALL ON AT THE SAME TIME AFTER HEAVY RAIN. WENT AWAY, CAME BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND NOW IS ON CONSTANTLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A HANDICAP SIGN. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT TEST THE VEHICLE TO CONFIRM THAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FLOOR MATS CURLED UP AND STUCK BENEATH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FLOOR MATS HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE WAS DRIVING AT 1 MPH WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,103. UPDATED 10/27/10*LJ

I WAS GENTLY ACCELERATING ONTO NJ RT. 22 EAST AT 7:40 AM ON MAY 19, 2010. VERY SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE, EVEN AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I APPLIED FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT KEPT ACCELERATING. I THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND WHILE WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC AT VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED, ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVE. I DROVE ON TO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID TRAFFIC. AFTER SOME COMBINATION OF BRAKING, APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, IT CAME TO A STOP. I AM NOT SURE WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN PARK, BUT I PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND REALIZED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER WAS PROTRUDING THE RIGHT LANE. SO AS NOT TO BE A FURTHER HAZARD TO TRAFFIC, I STARTED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT. A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD TELLING ME TO "CHECK THE BRAKES WITH THE DEALER," OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. THE SMELL FROM THE OVER HEATED BRAKES WAS VERY STRONG--STRONG ENOUGH TO PROMPT ME TO OPEN THE WINDOWS. ODDLY ENOUGH, THE CAR RAN FINE AFTER RESTARTING. IT WAS AS IF I REBOOTED THE COMPUTER. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SO WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT BLINKING, I DROVE SLOWLY TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THEY SAID THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY ALSO BROUGHT IN A TOYOTA ENGINEER WHO SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 2 WEEKS OLD WHEN THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. I DO NOT FEEL SAVE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT WANT IT BACK. THEY STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF IT. ON A SIDE NOTE, I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SELL IT TO ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ([XXX]) AT [XXX] WITH QUESTIONS. PLEASE HELP US. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED HIS FOOT WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE AN INVESTIGATOR WAS BROUGHT IN TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATOR ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO AN EXTRA ALL WEATHER FLOOR MAT. ONE WEEK AFTER THE CRASH, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V023000) RELATING TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRAG FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN BOLT FORWARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC IMPULSE IN THE NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED A SLIGHT DELAY WHEN ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,100.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY "TOYOTAOWNERSONLINE" THAT MY 2009 VENZA IS INCLUDED IN "(SAFETY RECALL 90L)." THEY WILL 'NOTIFY ME BY FIRST CLASS MAIL AS SOON AS MY DEALER IS READY TO PERFORM THE REMEDY ON MY VEHICLE." SINCE THIS RECALL BEGAN IN JANUARY AND IT NOW APRIL 25, I AM WONDERING HOW LONG THIS WILL TAKE TO FIX??? I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET. THANK YOU. *TR

2009 TOYOTA VENZA. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNEXPECTED MOMENTAY SURGE USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO COAST OR SLOW DOWN WITHOUT BRAKING. WHEN SHE PUT HER FOOT BACK ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. SOMETIMES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARSHLY AFTER THE ACCELERATION SURGE. THE SURGE ONLAY LASTED 1-2 SECONDS.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR A YEAR, AND IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN, THEN WHEN I RELEASED MY FOOT, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH "LOOSENED" THE PEDAL, AND THE CAR RAN NORMALLY FROM THAT POINT FORWARD. *TR

2009 TOYOTA VENZA -VSC/TRAC . THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED TWICE. ONCE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE OTHER AT A STOP LIGHT. IN THE PARKING LOT, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WAS STUCK - IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. BRAKE WAS LIGHTLY APPLIED, NOT HEAVILY APPLIED. TO FIX PROBLEM, PUT CAR IN PARK AND STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. PROBLEM RESOLVED. 5 DAYS LATER, I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LIGHT AND STARTED TO LIGHTLY APPLY THE BRAKES FOR AN UPCOMING RED LIGHT. AFTER I WAS STOPPED FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS STUCK (WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD). I TRIED TAPPING BREAKS TO RELEASE, BUT ULTIMATELY HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR AND START OVER AGAIN. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT HEAVILY ON THE BRAKE. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ON A LESS THAN 1% DECLINE AND THE 2ND INSTANCE WAS ON A FLAT ROAD - AND THE ROADS WERE DRY. I TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AT HOME, BUT FOUND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE VSC LIGHT TO COME ON WAS BY HEAVILY APPLYING THE BRAKE. IN BOTH INSTANCES DESCRIBED, I HAD NOT APPLIED THE BRAKE HEAVILY AT ALL.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH VSC. 1. VSC WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP, DRIVER SEATBELT IS FASTENED AND DRIVER REACHES TO BACKSEAT. THIS CAN BE CONSISTENTLY REPRODUCED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THOMPSON TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE ON 3/19/10 AND EXPLANATION RECEIVED WAS THIS IS A "DESIGNED FEATURE" AND IS A RESULT OF PRESSING THE BRAKE PETAL "TOO HARD" CAUSING VSC TO ENGAGE. 2. VSC WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND DRIVER MOVES SHIFTER FROM PARK TO REVERSE. EVEN THOUGH SHIFTER IS IN REVERSE, REVERSE GEAR WILL NOT ENGAGE AND WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, ENGINE REVS AS THOUGH THE SHIFTER IS STILL IN PARK. TO CORRECT, DRIVER MUST PLACE SHIFTER BACK IN PARK, TEMPORARILY REMOVE FOOT FROM BRAKE AND THEN REAPPLY BRAKE AND SHIFT BACK TO REVERSE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THOMPSON TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE ON 3/19/10 AND COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. EXPLANATION RECEIVED THAT THIS TOO WAS A "DESIGNED FEATURE" AND IS A RESULT OF PRESSING THE BRAKE PETAL "TOO HARD" CAUSING VSC TO ENGAGE AND PREVENTING TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT IN REVERSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE INCIDENT WILL BE INVESTIGATED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,850. UPDATED 4/22/10 *CN UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB

MERGING ONTO FREEWAY AND GETTING UP TO SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND CONTINUED TO TAKE OVER THE CAR AND REV UP TO 7500RPMS. I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE THROTTLE AS IT TOOK ME AT FULL SPEED INTO TRAFFIC. I SHIFTED THE CAR TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT 7500 RPM'S. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER IN THE PEAK TRAFFIC COMMUTE BY TURNING THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND MOVE OVER 2 LANES . I THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAITED TO CALM DOWN FOR 3 MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY REVVED TO 7500 RPM'S SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AGAIN. I TUGGED AND PULLED ON THE THROTTLE UNTIL IT RETURNED TO THE UP POSITION. BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT I CALLED TOYOTA TO COME GET ME AND THEY TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE SAFELY HOME AND BRING THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY KEPT IT ALL DAY. THE TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND TRY TO GET IT INTO THEM AT THAT TIME. THE CAR IS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 18 2009. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. INVOICE 36193 FOR REPAIRS. CENTENNIAL TOYOTA LAS VEGAS NEVADA. DO WE HAVE TO CRASH FIRST TO GET A FIX?? *TR

DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA VENZA, I ACCELERATED TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, THEN LET OFF ON THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN SOMEWHAT. BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE BRAKES TO FORCE THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND -- AFTER MAYBE 10 SECONDS OF CONSTANTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE CAR TRIED TO ACCELERATE -- IT DID FINALLY SLOW DOWN AND CAME BACK UNDER MY CONTROL. THIS ONE INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SURGE PROBLEM WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. IN MY CASE, IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, I WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR OR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED, CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE MUCH FASTER THAN I HAD INTENDED. IN THE FIRST CASE OF PASSING, THE SURGE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE TORQUE PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL BEYOND WHERE I INTENDED TO TURN. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THE CUSTOMER HANDLER TOLD ME THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO DO THIS, AND EVENTUALLY HE WORKED HIS WAY AROUND TO, "ONCE THE CAR'S COMPUTER GETS USED TO THE WAY YOU DRIVE, IT WON'T HAPPEN ANY MORE." MORE RECENTLY, THE DEALER HAS SAID THE VENZA IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, SO I CAN'T EVEN GET THE SHIM'WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY TO SOLVE AN ENGINE SURGE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD AT LEAST HELP TO DISPROVE THE STICKING PEDAL STORY. *TR

I WAS COASTING THE ENGINE REVVED UP , I APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND HIT STOP VEHICLE IT SOUND LIKE A PERSON APPLYING PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL BUT BOTH MY FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL... I HAVE 2009 TOYOTA VENZA THAT WAS TOTALED LUCKILY THE PERSON IN FRONT WAS NOT INJURED AND ONLY HAD FENDER BENDER AS THE TRUCK HE HIT . *TR

2009 TOYOTA VENZA -- I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A FENCE DAMAGING THE FENCE AND THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY HAVE OPENED A CASE FILE, BUT NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS POINT. *TR

I OWN A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA AND ON SEPT 24 , 2009 MY CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH A CHINESE RESTAURANT IN MY TOWN 2 PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED AND I WAS NOT INJURED AND THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. *TR

2009 TOYOTA VENZA, APPROXIMATELY 2K MILES ON CAR. STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL : DRIVING ON ROUTE 3 IN DUXBURY, MA AT HIGHWAY SPEED I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK AT OPEN THROTTLE. I POPPED THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PEDAL RETURNED TO ITS PROPER RELEASED POSITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED THE PEDAL AND RELATED COMPONENTS. NOTHING FOUND. TOYOTA FLOOR MATS ONLY WERE INSTALLED AND THEY WERE PROPERLY ANCHORED. THIS WAS NOT FLOOR MAT RELATED THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE GOING TO OPEN A "CASE" ON THE CAR. I SHOULD CALL TOYOTA 800 NUMBER AND REPORT THE PROBLEM I HAVE TRIED THE 800 TOYOTA NUMBER FOR WEEKS AND HAVE NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH. THE VENZA IS NOT PART OF THE TOYOTA RECALL, BUT MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEM ALL OTHER RECALLED TOYOTA CARS HAVE. *TW *TR

ON I-77 BETWEEN COLUMBIA,SC AND CHARLOTTE, WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON, RUNNING ABOUT 67, IN THE PASSING LANE. AS I APPROACHED A TRUCK IN THE PASSING LANE, I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT DIDN'T WORK! I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, THAT DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE AGAIN AND EACH TIME I DID, WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE THE CAR "SHOT" OUT LIKE A ROCKET. FINALLY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND CUT-OFF THE IGNITION. I COULD HAVE EASILY RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE 18 WHEELER, OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I RECRANKED THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE HAD DISENGAGED. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER (CHEROKEE TOYOTA), CANTON, GEORGIA. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FLOORMAT GOT STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. BELIEVE ME, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED. THE FLOOR MAT HAS NEVER MOVED WHILE DRIVING. THEY NEVER EXPLAINED TO ME WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE...I AM AFRAID TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL, AND AFRAID TO ALLOW MY WIFE TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE.... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA VENZA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE CONTACT STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A TRAGEDY IN A SCHOOL ZONE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 300.

FIRST HIGHWAY TRIP WITH A BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA VENZA AUTOMATIC 4 CYLINDER AWD. MAINTAINED SPEED LIMIT 100 KILOS/HR. WENT TO PASS A SEMI AND GAS PEDAL STUCK AT 120 KILOMETERS ON NARROW TWO WAY HIGHWAY WITH SOFT SHOULDERS POST MAJOR SNOW FALL LAST FRIDAY(NORMALLY NOT SPEED). WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND APPLY FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKES.THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUT TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, STILL WITH FULL BRAKES BARELY WORKING WITH RACING ENGINE . ENGINE SMELLS BEGAN, ABLE TO WRESTLE CAR TO GRAVEL SHOULDER,THROW INTO PARK AND IMMEDIATELY KILLED ENGINE. ONCE SEMI CALMED DOWN, TRIED TO INSPECT GAS PEDAL. YANKED OUT TOYOTA MANUFACTURED INSTALLED RUBBER MAT WHICH HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON TOP OF EXISTING FACTORY CARPET MATT WHICH WAS CLIPPED IN PLACE. READ ABOUT THIS BEING IMPROPER - IN CAR MANUAL WHILE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP FOR SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN SYSTEM WARNING THAT MAJOR BRAKE FAILURE MAY HAVE ALSO OCCURRED. CAREFULLY DID SOME CHECKS OF BRAKES. HARD PRESSURE ON PEDAL RESULTED IN TRACTION SIGNAL REAPPEARING. SOFT PRESSURE THERE WAS NO TRACTION SIGN. VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND SLOWLY 90 - 95 KILOMETERS/HR. CONTINUED HOME ON LAST LEG OF TRIP WITH NO PASSING. ONCE HOME, RE-INSPECTED GAS PEDAL AREA AND NOTED A CORRESPONDING LINE INDENT TO WHERE RUBBER MATT MAY HAVE DUG INTO CARPET ON RIGHT SIDE OF GAS PEDAL. THOUGH NOT A MECHANIC, DEDUCTIVELY, RUBBER MAT IMPROPER INSTALL MAY LIKELY HAVE CAUSED GAS PEDAL STICK. RUBBER MAT CLEARLY WARNED NOT TO INSTALL ON TOP OF CARPET MAT ! WHY DEALER DID. NO IDEA! WHY BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORK WHILE ENGINE RACED IN DRIVE... I HAVE NO IDEA.! FEEL VERY VERY VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED IN DEATH BUT FOR MY MANY YEARS OF SPORT CAR DRIVING WITH STANDARDS TRANSMISSION, AND HIGHWAY DRIVING SKILLS! MARKED ON THE MAT "DO NOT INSTALL." *TR