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 1999 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Toyota Camry. While driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal remained stuck after being depressed. In addition, all the warning lights on the instrument panel illuminated and only the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact also stated that the steering wheel seized. As a result, the contact was involved in a crash. The details of the crash were not available. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was informed that the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. The failure mileage was 109,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when depressing the brakes and shifting gears, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a wall. The driver sustained minor injuries to the chest and both knees after the airbags deployed. The police were called and a report was available. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and pending an investigation. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. Updated 10/12/11 the consumer stated his wife experienced sudden acceleration during daylight hours. On August 31, 2011 his wife drove forward and moved to the right to get near a curb, before backing into a parking space, she then shifted from drive to reverse and backed into the parking space, but then realized she wasn't close enough to the curb. She shifted from reverse to drive, drove forward about 15 feet and shifted from drive to reverse. …
I reported this to complaints.com on 11/12/2005 but wanted to also submit it to you due to all of the news lately. In November 2005, my parents were driving their 1999 Camry and pulling slowing into a parking spot. Just as they were about to complete parking and only going less than a mile per hour, their car accelerated very fast, left the curb and crashed into a building. We asked about if sudden acceleration could be investigated at this time but were told it couldn't. The car was totaled. My mom was injured (blunt force trauma to her chest) but recovered fairly soon after. She did go to the er. My dad, who was driving, was OK but following the accident was stressed due to worry about my mom's injury and having their car totaled since he was sure he hadn't done anything wrong.. The airbag did not deploy. …
Tl contact previously owned a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when backing into his driveway at approximately 2-3 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated across the street at an uncontrollable rate. The vehicle caused extensive damage to his neighbor's property. There were no injuries but a police report was taken. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that he noticed no prior problems with sudden acceleration beforehand. He called the manufacturer and received no assistance. The vehicle was inspected by a Toyota representative and the contact was informed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The vehicle identification number was not available at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 25,000. Updated 05/13/2010.
My daughter was traveling north at 40 MPH, and she turned around briefly to check if her little brother was buckled in his seat belt. When she turn back around the car was on the curve and she slammed on the brakes as hard as she could to stop the car, but the car wouldn't stop and preceded to accelerate. She went through partially two brick walls, knocked down a stop and street sign, and the car flipped a couple of times. The car ended up landing on the passenger side, leaving the car left side up. My daughter suffered injuries to the neck, back, and her knees were cut from the glass of the window in a result of the car crashing. Luckily, my son suffered no injuries. I am very concerned, why did the brakes fail in my daughter's attempt to stop the vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, after the vehicle was taken off cruise control, the vehicle was accelerating independently. In addition, the vehicle was idling causing the contact to restart the vehicle and noticed the RPM was extremely high. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000. ...updated 09/12/16 the consumer stated the problem turned out to piece of paper managed to get past the air filter and throttle body and jammed the throttle plate. There was no system failure. The consumer wished to withdraw his complaint. Updated 10/18/16.
Complaint via e-mail. Had learned that NHTSA investigated sudden acceleration in the 2002 and 2003 Toyota Camry. I experienced this effect recently with my 1999 Camry. The incident took place inside the garage of my apartment building. Although no injuries occurred, my car and another car suffered some body damage. I took the car to a Toyota service center , but the technicians were unable to find anything that would explain the sudden acceleration. The consumer was backing into his parking space when the vehicle suddenly lurched forward. The brakes did not slow the vehicle. The consumer hit a post, bounced of it and hit a parked vehicle. The air bag did not deploy.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. While attempting to park the vehicle, the engine started to rev. The vehicle then accelerated backwards and crashed into a tree. She had to be hospitalized for internal injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they did not provide her with any assistance. The technician made cosmetic repairs to the vehicle. After the repair when entering the vehicle, it accelerated without intention. She was able to decelerate by driving onto a curb. The manufacturer was notified, but she did not receive any assistance. The failure mileage was 24,000. The current mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when she parked her vehicle she applied the brake and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a wall. The vehicle was taken to her personal mechanic and she was informed the idle needed to be repaired. After the repair the failure recurred 1 year later. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage is 67,000. Updated 07/06/12 the consumer stated as he applied the brake, the vehicle accelerated and she hit a parked vehicle. Updated 08/06/12
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the driver was attempting to park the vehicle when it suddenly accelerated. The vehicle accelerated rapidly and crashed into three poles before finally crashing into an embankment. The driver was not injured and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was deemed as destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. Updated 2/26/14 updated 03/07/14
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with cruise control and v6 engines, and built at one of two lines at the kentucky plant. The accelerator cable housing could be deformed at the cruise control actuator-to-throttle body connection. The accelerator inner-cable could wear away and eventually break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator cable. Owner notification began February 23, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Acceleration complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1999 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1999 Toyota Camry, 13% of the model year's 501 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Toyota Camry acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-012 (vehicle speed control, Jan 16, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Toyota Camry acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 0 fires and 16 injuries and 1 death 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.