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 2018 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have had issues with the breaks since I purchased the vehicle. The first recall I got the vacuum pump replaced. I still have the same issue. I have been having the break issue but recently had an issue slamming on my breaks after someone was coming around the corner too fast in my garage and feeling pushback from the break petal and not breaking fully. I actually did hit her care but she only had scratches and decided not to file a claim (I have the date and pictures as well). I bought this Camry feeling confident and I actually worry about my breaks I even got them replaced thinking they were worn out but I still have the same issue.
The transmission quit moving the car forward in traffic which could have caused a collision. When the transmission started shifting weird and not accelerating normally, the ABS Sensor malfunction light came on. I towed the car to a toyota dealership in [redacted] and they said I needed the transmission replaced for $10000(new), which I could not afford. I was expecting it to be a sensor since that was the light that came on. I had the transmission rebuilt by an independent mechanic and during the first test drive, the car applied brakes and came to a complete stop. We took the car to the toyota dealership for a program update that the information we had said was needed. The dealership stated there was no update available. They also told me I could drive the car home. …
When driving, the car would go into limp mode and wouldn't get out of 2nd gear. it was super jerky as well. when taken to a mechanic, it was diagnosed with malfunctioning transmission among some other things such as brakes and tires. we take fairly great care of our vehicles and get them seen for regular maintenance. once the car started acting up, the check engine light came on. it is now unsafe to drive and two mechanics have confirmed an issue with the transmission, which is now also in a class action lawsuit for transmission failures. it's had hiccups before over the past two years (started around 85000 miles) but never to that extreme and every time we took it into a mechanic they never saw the issue before until now. the hiccups we just delayed shifting and simultaneous RPM increase but stoped after a few seconds and letting off the gas, and then would correct itself. …
Since I brought this car at dealer shop June 1 2021 and I'm about a month went to repair vacuum pump which paid to the mechanic after that check engine light came out little by little start to have more problem until October 1st 2021 stop working doesn't run no more couldn't do nothing at all it does start but doesn't run when the car is Lyft up the wheel kinda runs little bit but putting on D and wheel goes reverse and putting on R the wheel doesn't run nothing at all. Spoke with dealer shop manger all he say don't call me here no more hung up. …
On March 19, 2026, I was driving to work when traffic began to slow, and I reduced my speed accordingly. As traffic started to return to normal speed, I pressed the accelerator; however, although the engine revved, the vehicle did not accelerate beyond approximately 15 mph. I safely moved to the side of the road and turned the car off. After restarting the vehicle, shifting into drive, and pressing the accelerator, the same issue occurred. I subsequently took the car to two separate mechanics, both of whom reported that the transmission needs to be replaced. This is unexpected, as the vehicle has fewer than 100,000 miles and has received regular maintenance.
I was leaving a doctor's office and getting on the highway. When I pressed down on the accelerator, I experienced a sudden loss of power, the check engine light came on, as well as warnings about the front collision system being deactivated. It remained dangerous for me to stay on the highway but it was also difficult to exit the highway safely given the loss of power. When I brought it to a Toyota dealership, they did a diagnostic and it said my transmission had an "internal failure" despite the fact that it only has 85k miles on it.
Car does not accelerate from stop at a traffic light intermittently. THis poses a risk/hazard as the car behind it closes on it and expects the car to move forward . The vehicle was recalled a year ago for a fuel pump that was supposed to cause the same issue. Its been replaced and the issue has shown up again and now cannot be reproduced by the manufacturer.
Some times car will not accelerate no matter how much stepping on the gas pedal, car will slow down like its going to stop or no power to the car while car is moving/driving. All lights on the dash board lights up, one of them that is known is the "brake malfunction" light.
After owning this vehicle for almost 4 years, the "Jerky" feeling that other individuals have faced is still there, although not as severe now after I figured workarounds. However I do not like having anyone else in my vehicle as they tend to get visibly uncomfortable once they feel that jerk while the vehicle is in motion. It is nearly impossible to have a smooth transition when the vehicle has to slow down and accelerate immediately. There is almost always a significant 2-3 second delay when you have to accelerate quickly into moving traffic. If I let my foot off the gas while in motion I can feel the gears thud while in motion to accommodate for the loss in speed. Dealerships I've went to have reset the 'software' multiple times and say that the jolts are something I have to get used to and that the car 'learns' from your driving habits. …
The vacuum brake pump assembly malfunctioned and I had the vehicle taken to the dealer that did the original recall for the vacuum brake pump assembly and they inspected the vehicle and told me that was the issue along with the nipple inside the pump had broken off and fell down into the engine and had damaged the cam shaft. Exactly what the recall states. Yes the vehicle can and has been inspected its at the dealer still and has been since 06/12/2024 when this occurred. The safety of my wife and daughter and any other people in any vehicle in front of mine due to the brakes got extremely hard to push and the vehicle would not stop properly. Almost plowed into a jeep wrangler that was in front of her when trying to pull into the grocery store. …
Acceleration complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2018 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 74 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2018 Toyota Camry, 10% of the model year's 750 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Toyota Camry acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2018 Toyota Camry, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Toyota Camry acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 80% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.