TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Camry cruise control problems
critical 219 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
219
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
128crashes
56injuries
5fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 219 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Toyota Camry, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Cruise control accounts for 30% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 219 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Camrys describe sudden, uncontrollable acceleration happening without warning—both at low speeds in parking lots and at highway speeds. The car surges forward despite the driver's foot firmly on the brake; in many cases, braking proves ineffective or only slows the vehicle slightly. Events occur randomly, with no clear trigger by temperature, mileage, or time of day.
Low-speed incidents happen during parking maneuvers: drivers coast into spaces at 1–5 mph with foot on brake, then the engine revs and the car lurches forward into other vehicles, curbs, trees, or structures. Highway incidents involve sudden acceleration from 30–70 mph up to 80+ mph, sometimes preceded by a brief hesitation on initial throttle input. Some owners report the engine over-revving at startup or revving to full RPM without any pedal input, occasionally causing the car to jolt forward multiple times on successive restarts.
Dealerships and Toyota factory inspectors consistently find no mechanical fault, no stored diagnostic codes, and no design defects—then return the car unchanged. Some shops blamed floor mats; others suggested the electronic throttle design was normal. One mechanic identified a stuck throttle body; another found low transmission fluid. But no recall exists for the 2005 model, and Toyota denies responsibility. Owners report multiple incidents in the same vehicle, with one driver experiencing unintended acceleration three separate times over months before a $7,000+ collision. The financial and legal consequences fall on owners, not the manufacturer.
Same Toyota Camry cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration - low speed / parking
Engine surges or car accelerates without driver input while parking or moving at very low speeds (1-10 mph). Occurs when foot is on brake or not on accelerator. Brakes may fail to stop the car. Vehicle hits parked cars, curbs, trees, or structures.
When: Occurs at random; low-speed parking maneuvers, including entry, backing up, turning, and straightening into spaces. No clear pattern by mileage or time of day.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs at high RPM; Car surges forward without driver pressing gas; Foot on brake but car does not stop or slows inadequately; Loss of steering control reported in some cases; Loud engine noise during surge
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and Toyota inspectors often find no mechanical defect. Some shops blamed sticky floor mats, but owners dispute this. One owner reported low/burned transmission fluid as cause; flushed and refilled at owner expense. One mechanic identified stuck idle control. One case attributed to frozen/wide-open throttle body; replaced at ~$900. ECU replacement performed ($900) in one case but problem recurred. Repairs often do not address the root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota denies defect in most cases, citing no fault found on inspection. Refuses to recall 2005 model despite hundreds of complaints. Notes that 2007+ models received brake override programming and reflash availability. 2005 models stated by dealer as not eligible for reflash.
Sudden unintended acceleration - highway / stop sign / light
Engine surges or car accelerates without driver input while driving on roads at normal speeds (30-70 mph) or while stopped at traffic lights. Brakes may not prevent continued acceleration. Drivers report loss of control.
When: Occurs at random during normal driving, at traffic lights, intersections, and highway speeds. No clear mileage or temperature trigger.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs unexpectedly; Car accelerates suddenly at high speed (up to 85 mph recorded); Brakes feel weak or ineffective against the surge; Noise from engine revving or grinding; Engine continues to accelerate even after brakes applied
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate problem on test drives, even after extended driving. No stored fault codes found. No repairs typically performed because no defect can be diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota states no problems found after inspection. Refuses to acknowledge defect or issue recalls. Denies responsibility in multiple cases, stating vehicle is 'operating as designed.'
Engine over-revving at idle / high RPM on startup
Engine races to high RPM or maxes out revolutions without driver touching the accelerator, particularly on startup or when shifting gears. Can occur multiple times on successive restarts.
When: Occurs on cold start or when shifting from reverse to drive. Can happen repeatedly when attempting to restart. Mileage varies; some early (under 5,000 miles), some later.
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs spike to maximum without driver input; Engine races at 4,000+ RPM on startup; Loud engine noise; Car may jolt forward or attempt to move despite being in Park; Problem can repeat on multiple restart attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement identified in at least two cases (~$900+). One case involved defective throttle body frozen in wide-open position. Another case: dealer replaced throttle body; third case attributed to idle control being stuck.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denied responsibility in at least one case, stating warranty invalid; refused to assist with repair costs.
Acceleration hesitation / delay on pedal input
Car hesitates or does not respond immediately when driver presses the accelerator, creating a lag between input and engine response. Makes lane changes and highway merging hazardous. Distinct from unintended acceleration but creates different safety concern.
When: Happens from dead stop, during lane changes, on freeway, and whenever accelerating from a stop. Reported by multiple owners from day one of ownership or early in vehicle life. Ongoing from 2005 to 2016.
Symptoms owners cite: Lag or delay in acceleration response when pedal pressed; Car hesitates as if about to stall; Feeling of imminent stall on acceleration from dead stop; Unpredictable response to throttle input; Makes merging and lane changes dangerous
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers stated hesitation is normal for 2005 model due to redesigned electronic throttle (sensor-based, no cable linkage). No adjustments offered. One shop cleaned throttle plate. No permanent repair identified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota customer service explained hesitation as normal for the redesigned 2005 throttle system. Stated this behavior is typical and expected.
Brake system failure during acceleration event
During a sudden acceleration event, brakes lose effectiveness or fail entirely. Driver applies full brake pressure but car continues to accelerate or slows only slightly. Suggests either a brake-throttle conflict or brake override by engine.
When: Occurs concurrently with unintended acceleration events, both low speed and higher speed. No specific mileage pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal pressed hard but car does not decelerate proportionally; Brakes feel weak or unresponsive against acceleration; Full-force brake application insufficient to stop car; Skid marks evidence brakes were engaged but ineffective; Anti-lock brake system (ABS) may activate during event
Repairs/costs cited: ABS activation reported in a few cases concurrent with acceleration. No specific brake repairs documented as addressing this. Brakes test as normal after incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota 2011+ models included brake override system. 2005 models not equipped with this and no retrofit offered.
Cruise control malfunction / unintended resume
Cruise control fails to disengage when brakes applied, or resumes acceleration without driver input. Car may lurch forward as if resume button activated when driver was not operating cruise control.
When: Occurs during normal cruise control use. One case during exit from highway. Timing and mileage variable.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control does not cancel when brakes pressed; Car lurches forward or continues accelerating after brake applied; Resume feature appears to activate without driver input; Cruise control light remains on after brake engaged
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Dealers found no fault with cruise control system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denied event could occur. Later inspection found no problems with cruise control.
Synthesized from 219 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
This is a delayed response, as I was not aware that Toyota finally accepted responsibility for spontaneous accelerations. I was in slow, stop and go traffic and my car suddenly accelerated. I recall looking down as I pressed the brake as hard as I could because the car was not stopping or decelerating. I thought that my foot must have been inadvertently on the gas pedal but it was firmly planted…
On dec. 23, 2006, around 11:20 am, I was driving at about 5 MPH in a parking lot. As I made a slight turn to the left to straighten out, the car suddenly accelerated and hit a parked car. The brakes did not work, even when floored. The car would not stop until it pushed another car up onto the sidewalk and its wheels bumped up against the curb. The car was eventually stopped by turning off…
Tl*the driver owns a 2005 Toyota camry. When the brakes were applied, the vehicle surged forward and crashed. A police report was filed. The driver was taken to the hospital via ambulance due to the injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to an insurance lot and the contact was unsure if the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not examined to determine the cause of failure and it was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota camry. While making a left turn the vehicle began to accelerate. As a consequence she crashed into a parked vehicle. The vehicle was completely destroyed. After the crash she suffered many bruises and a broken collar bone. She was taken to the hospital for the injuries. The manufacturer went to inspect the totaled vehicle to exam the electronic throttle…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Toyota Camry?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Toyota Camry?
It's a serious issue. 219 complaints have been filed, including 128 reports involving a crash and 5 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 168 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 20,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Camry.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.