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 ↗2006 Toyota Camry cruise control problems
critical 104 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
104
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
55crashes
1fire
26injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 104 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 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
Owners have filed 104 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.
Cruise control accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
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 2006 Toyota Camrys and Solaras report three distinct acceleration failures that have caused crashes, injuries, and totaled vehicles—none of which Toyota has recalled or fixed.
Sudden unintended acceleration is the most dramatic. Drivers apply the brake to park or slow down, and the engine surges instead, pushing the car forward uncontrollably. This happens at speeds from 1 mph in parking lots to 80 mph on highways. One owner's wife was stopped in a driveway when the car lurched forward, crashed through a garage door, and hit a gas heater. Another was hit by an oncoming vehicle on the interstate when braking made the car accelerate instead. One accident in Las Vegas killed two people. Owners have shifted to neutral, stomped the emergency brake, and shut off the engine—and the car still wouldn't stop. Toyota engineers who inspect these vehicles afterward tell owners nothing is wrong.
Throttle lag at low speeds creates a dangerous 1.5 to 2-second delay before the engine responds to pedal input, especially during traffic merges. Owners describe the RPMs dropping abnormally low, then the car suddenly lurching forward as if the accelerator was floored—creating near-miss collisions. Dealers told customers this is "normal and intended" and "acceptable," while one owner states Toyota ordered a computer reflash to fix it but dealers refused to perform it.
Stuck or unresponsive accelerator pedals also appear: pedals feel sticky, don't work until pressed halfway down, then cause abrupt lurches. One vehicle never entered fail-safe limp-home mode despite repeated malfunctions, a critical safety system failure.
Toyota excluded the 2006 model from its unintended acceleration recalls, leaving owners unprotected and unsuspecting buyers at risk.
Same Toyota Camry cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) while braking or at low speeds
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly when driver has foot on brake, particularly during parking, turning into driveways, or slowing down. Engine surges despite brake application, often forcing vehicle into obstacles. Occurs at speeds ranging from 1-80 mph and in various driving scenarios—parking lots, intersections, exiting highways, reversing.
When: Most incidents occur at low speeds (1–40 mph) during parking or low-speed maneuvers; some at highway speeds. Often happens immediately after cold start or after brief stops (5 minutes to overnight). A few reports note acceleration 10–30 seconds after reverse cold start.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges with high RPM increase despite foot on brake; Vehicle accelerates forward uncontrollably; Brakes become ineffective or unresponsive; Loud roar or revving sound from engine; RPM needle climbs into red zone (above 6000 RPM in some cases); Vehicle moves on its own when foot is released from brake after shifting into Drive
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners report Toyota dealers and engineers inspect vehicles but find nothing wrong or fail to recreate the problem. One owner received $6,000 in damage estimates. Some vehicles were totaled. One owner noted unhooked floor mat suspected by insurance company despite no evidence of jamming. Another owner's vehicle damage repaired for $3,000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued recalls for 2005–2012 models but explicitly excluded the 2006 Camry from official recalls. Multiple dealers informed owners the 2006 model is 'not part of recall.' Toyota engineers who inspected vehicles concluded 'no manufacturer defect' or 'nothing abnormal.' One dealer refused inspection until body damage was repaired first. Dispute settlement program deemed at least one case 'not eligible.' Toyota told one owner 'nothing could be done' about the problem.
Acceleration hesitation / throttle lag at low speeds and from stops
Vehicle hesitates or exhibits delayed throttle response when accelerating from a stop or low speed, particularly during traffic merges, turns, or passing slower traffic. Delay ranges from 0.5 to 2 seconds before engine responds. RPMs drop abnormally low when backing off accelerator, then vehicle struggles to re-engage. When throttle finally responds, vehicle may lurch or surge as if floored without driver input.
When: Happens every time in some cases; most frequent during low-speed, stop-and-go driving or merging into traffic. Also noted when vehicle backs off gas pedal to slow for turns.
Symptoms owners cite: 1.5 to 2-second delay before acceleration occurs; RPM drop abnormally low when releasing accelerator; Engine seems to 'make up its mind' about which gear to use; When throttle finally engages, vehicle lurches or surges as if accelerator was floored; Noise from engine during hesitation; Multiple 'close calls' during merges and traffic situations
Repairs/costs cited: One owner states Toyota ordered a reflash (computer reflash) to correct the problem, which was available but owners claim dealers refused to perform it. Dealers told customers 'they couldn't recreate the problem' or stated hesitation was 'normal and nothing can be done.' One owner notes the 2007 Camry does not have this problem, implying a fix exists.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota denies the problem exists. Dealers claim the hesitation is 'normal and intended by the manufacturer' or 'normal acceleration for the V6 engine.' At least one dealer stated lag is 'acceptable.' Toyota reportedly instructed dealership staff to 'withhold this information from customers.' Multiple owners note the 2007 model was corrected, suggesting awareness of the defect.
Electronic throttle control malfunction / stuck accelerator pedal
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck or throttle does not respond properly. Vehicle does not accelerate when pedal is pressed (fail to accelerate), or accelerator becomes stuck in a depressed position causing uncontrolled acceleration. No throttle movement until pedal is pressed approximately one-third to one-half way, then vehicle lurches due to rapid throttle opening.
When: At traffic lights, during low-speed maneuvers, and during normal driving. One incident noted high idle for extended period after engine start.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal feels sticky and difficult to control; No throttle response until pedal pressed 1/3 to 1/2 way down; Rapid, abrupt throttle opening causing lurch when pedal finally responds; Vehicle fails to accelerate when pedal pressed; Accelerator becomes stuck in depressed position; High idle for extended period after cold start, then reduces
Codes mentioned: Electronic throttle control fault (no stored codes in one case; vehicle did not enter fail-safe mode)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports floor mats were identified as broken and needed replacement at owner's expense. Dealers told customers 'nothing wrong' or could not identify cause. One vehicle involved in rear-end collision; insurance company could not determine cause. Vehicle not put into fail-safe mode despite repeated malfunctions, indicating a safety system failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers stated no diagnostic codes were present. One dealer stated 'nothing they could do about it.' No manufacturer response documented in these narratives regarding throttle control failure.
Synthesized from 104 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota camry. While attempting to pull out of the driveway, the vehicle did not accelerate. The contact released the accelerator pedal and depressed it harder, in which the vehicle responded. Later the same day, the vehicle did not accelerate when approaching an intersection. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing. The…
Fails to accelerate when the pedal is pressed or revs to quickly when the pedal is pressed-see rk. Found electronic throttle control fault. There is no throttle movement until the accelerator pedal is pressed approximately 1/3 to 1/2 way to the floor. Then the vehicle lurches due to rapid throttle opening to 1/3-1/2. There are no stored diagnostic codes. The vehicle is not going into fail…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota camry. While attempting to shift the vehicle from park to drive, the accelerator pedal became stuck. Consequently she crashed into the wall of a garage. She was taken to the hospital for a strained neck and shoulder. A police report was available. The insurance company will call the Toyota manufacturer. The vehicle received major damages. The vehicle was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota camry. The contact stated that while reversing from a residential driveway, the vehicle uncontrollably accelerated and crashed into a wall, two fences, and a tree. The vehicle was destroyed. The driver and a passenger sustained chest and arm injuries. The vehicle was towed from the scene and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota camry. The contact stated that after starting the engine and shifting into drive, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The driver was unable to react in enough time to control the vehicle and crashed against two fences and a tree. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The driver and passenger sustained injuries. The vehicle was taken…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota camry. The vehicle would hesitate when applying pressure on the accelerator pedal, and then lurch forward. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer multiple times. The technicians stated that they could not provide a remedy because it was a computer failure between the accelerator pedal and the motor. The failure mileage was 4500 . The current mileage was 40,000.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 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 2006 Toyota Camry?
It's a serious issue. 104 complaints have been filed, including 55 reports involving a crash and 2 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 75 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 13,725 and 73,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,725; a quarter make it past 73,000. 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/2006/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.