Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact was sitting at a stop with the brakes depressed. The contact shifted into reverse and the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into a building. The front passenger side of the vehicle was damaged. The contact stated that her neck was bruised from the seat belt when the vehicle jerked forward. The front air bags did not deploy. A police report was available. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 10,500. Updated 12/14/2011 the consumer stated the vehicle accelerated forward with great speed, while the vehicle was in reverse. Updated 04/28/11
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated as he was making a right turn about 30 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of control cross the median strip and flipped over. The driver and the passenger sustained extensive injuries to their bodies. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was available if needed. The manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. The manufacturer denied the claim and stated the crash was the contact's fault. The insurance company was contacted who towed the vehicle. The failure mileage was 5,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated forward causing the vehicle to crash into the wall in his garage. The vehicle did not stall. The failure occurred twice within one week. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised to take vehicle to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Warning buzzer, brake, check engine, no cruise control, hard brake pedal to stop. I paid to the dealer to diagnostic, and the ABS actuator assembly with labor is almost us$1,700. Only something the sound of the buzzer and the lights turn off, and brake perfect. But must of the time, permanent noise and lights are on. To use the car is dangerous and noise no good for passengers. The problem start with vehicle in motion, in the city.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle revved abnormally and accelerated independently even when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. Updated 04/21/2016
Drove in to a park parking lot, pulled in to a parking space when accelerator pedal stuck, brakes went out, ran in to a tree about five or six feet away. If there would not have been the tree there I could have run in to the soccer group a few hundred feet away and injured or killed them and me.
I was driving on a straight-line highway at 55mph in dry conditions when suddenly "check vsc system" warning indicator displayed. Brake light, brake icon and ABS icons also illuminated. About 10 minutes later, system returned to normal while still driving straight down the road.
Was driving near 10 miles per hour, city streets (all three times) . I went to brake, the check vsc lights and others went on and the brakes failed. Steering was difficult, car seemed to shut down. Happened three times in the last two weeks.
I was on the highway and all of the warning lights came on "check vsc system" was displayed on the dashboard. I had to push very hard on the breaks to make the car stop and luckily I did not crash into anyone. It's happened in the middle of driving in the neighborhood, on the freeway, even when I was parked in the garage! I turned the engine on and before I put it in drive or reverse, all the warning lights would display and the breaks would fail. Now the new problem is every time I step on the breaks, my car 'barks' or 'chirps' repeatedly at me. I can push lightly and get less of a bark but for the most part, it takes a great deal of effort to stop the vehicle. My father is a mechanic and he's hooked up the computer to the car but since the 'check vsc system" is not displayed when it's hooked up, he can't tell what the problem is. …
I purchased a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid with 85,000 miles in July 2nd of 2014. Since I got this car from dealer in a auction first I went closes Toyota service center to change the oil and do the 85000 mile service so I can keep the car protected. And they tall me perform the maintain on it but they is waning light for ABS and another waning check vsc system they assume May be fault in computer system witch repair cost around $3000 and the advice me to return the cart dealer. I spend all my money in the buying the car so can't spend any more money. Then I contact the dealer but to return the car but they don't accept the car back. Since I didn't have any choice I start driving the car back to home. …
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Remedy: Toyota filed an amended defect report on November 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal.
Acceleration complaints in other Camry Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid, 24% of the model year's 162 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-388 (accelerator pedal, Oct 5, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.