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 ↗2009 Toyota Camry cruise control problems
critical 243 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
243
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
70crashes
2fires
28injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 243 cruise control complaints filed for the 2009 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 243 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.
Among the 18 model years of Toyota Camry in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
As communicated in mid-June 2013, the Federal Court in Orange County, California continued the Fairness Hearing regarding the proposed settlement of the consolidated Economic Loss Class Actions related to claims of unintended acceleration until July 19, 2013.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Federal Court in Orange County, CA today continued a Fairness Hearing regarding the proposed settlement of the consolidated Economic L:oss Class Actions relating to claims of unintended acceleration. The new (continued) date for Fairness Hearing is July 19,2013. After the hearing TMS will provide further updates on the status and timing of the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On June 14, 2013 the Federal Court in Orange County, California will conduct a Fairness Hearing regarding the proposed settlement of the consolidated Economic Loss Class Actions. Dealerships may notice media coverage of this Fairness Hearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 2009 Camrys describe sudden uncontrolled acceleration from parking-lot speeds up to 90+ mph, often with brakes that either won't respond or respond only after extreme pedal pressure. The pedal sticks down, the engine revs to 4500+ RPM, and shifting to Neutral is sometimes the only way to stop the car. Early on, dealers blamed removable floor mats; owners removed them and the problem continued. Toyota then recalled the accelerator pedal itself and shaved it down—owners now report the shortened pedal lets their foot slip off during normal driving, creating a new hazard.
Cruise control also malfunctions, resuming or surging to speeds 20–30 mph above the set point, especially on uphill grades. Multiple owners report this happening after the cruise control was off the whole time, suggesting a possible electronic glitch rather than driver error.
Braking failures are equally serious: the brake pedal goes rock-hard with near-total loss of stopping power, often in cold weather, and illuminates a cascade of warning lights (CHECK VSC SYSTEM, ABS, traction control). These failures disappear after the car warms up or sits, making them nearly impossible for dealers to diagnose. When dealers did find a cause, it was the brake actuator assembly (costing ~$1700 to replace), but owners report the same part failing again.
Dealers routinely tell owners they cannot replicate problems or that the behavior is "normal," even when multiple visits occur. Owners have found hundreds of similar complaints online. Even after official recalls, problems resume within weeks, leading owners to believe the root cause is electronic or software-based, not purely mechanical.
Same Toyota Camry cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration / stuck accelerator pedal
Accelerator pedal sticks or becomes unresponsive to driver input, causing sudden uncontrolled acceleration. Occurs during normal driving, highway merging, approaching intersections, or parking lot maneuvers. Speeds can exceed 80-90 mph. Floor mats initially blamed, then pedal itself, then software; multiple failures reported even after recalls performed.
When: Throughout ownership; earliest reported Feb 2009 through at least late 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck in down position or feels stuck; Vehicle accelerates without foot on accelerator; Vehicle continues accelerating after foot removed from pedal; Engine revs to high RPM (3000-4500+) without driver intent; Brakes difficult or impossible to override acceleration; Shifting to Neutral stops acceleration; Manual pulling pedal back to normal position required to stop acceleration; Fish-tailing, loss of control, crashes reported
Codes mentioned: No fault codes found in dealer diagnostics, Dealer unable to replicate problem on test drive
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed floor mat replacement, pedal shaving/modification (pedal shortened making it difficult to operate), and software updates; owners report repairs ineffective. One owner reported gas pedal 'mutilated' after being cut down, allowing foot to slip off. Pedal replacement with same OEM part offered. One owner cited $1700 brake actuator replacement cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 09V388000 (floor mat), 10V017000 (accelerator pedal), and software updates issued. Dealerships blamed floor mats first, then pedal design. Toyota told some owners vehicle was excluded from recall or that they already had current software. Many owners report dealer inability to find cause despite multiple visits. Some owners refused to drive vehicles due to continued danger after repairs.
Cruise control malfunction / unwanted acceleration when engaged
Cruise control engages or resumes at excessive speed, accelerates beyond set speed, or causes sudden RPM surge. Issues occur when resuming cruise, during gear shifts while cruising, or when cruise disengages. Owners report excessive or uncontrolled acceleration while cruise control is active. One narrative suggests possible resume button activation without driver action.
When: Throughout ownership period, especially during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control accelerates beyond set speed (e.g., set to 59 mph but accelerates to 80 mph); RPM surge to 3000-5000+ when cruise control active, lasts 10 seconds or longer; Resume button appears to activate without driver pressing it; Extreme acceleration when resume button pressed (e.g., from 35 mph to 65 mph very rapidly); Speed continues to increase even when brakes or cancel button pressed; Vehicle jerky or feels out of control during cruise control operation; Problem worse on inclines or hills
Codes mentioned: No codes found by dealers
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers told owners problem could not be replicated; offered no repairs. One dealer claimed rapid cruise control acceleration was 'normal' for Toyota. One owner stopped using cruise control entirely to avoid incidents.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls specifically addressing cruise control malfunction noted in narratives. Dealers denied problem exists or claimed behavior is normal.
Brake system failure / loss of braking power
Brakes fail to respond or provide reduced braking capacity, often accompanied by warning lights (CHECK VSC SYSTEM, ABS, traction control, brake lights). Problem appears intermittent, temperature-sensitive (worse in cold), and difficult for dealers to diagnose. Brake actuator assembly identified as root cause in some cases. Related to hybrid braking system issues.
When: Intermittent; cold weather more likely; throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Complete or near-total brake failure; Brake pedal becomes rock hard with little to no response; Reduced braking power requiring severe pressure to stop vehicle; Multiple warning lights illuminate: CHECK VSC SYSTEM, ABS, traction control, parking brake, master warning; Warning lights disappear after vehicle stops or warms up; Brakes work intermittently; Problem occurs more in cold temperatures or early morning before warm-up
Codes mentioned: Code U0073 (communication error) noted in one case, Warning lights not showing fault codes in computer history despite occurring days prior
Repairs/costs cited: Brake fluid reservoir replacement performed under recall; brake actuator assembly replacement ($1700 cited) identified as fix in some cases. One dealer replaced recall part (brake fluid reservoir) but brakes still malfunctioned intermittently. Dealers found no problems in many cases despite warnings occurring repeatedly.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners report 2012/2013 recalls for different Toyota models addressed same brake actuator failure. NHTSA investigation noted in January 2014 per one owner. No specific 2009 Camry recall for brake actuator failure mentioned in narratives.
Acceleration hesitation / lag when starting or accelerating
Engine hesitates or fails to respond to accelerator input for 0.5-1 second when starting from stop or accelerating in traffic. Creates dangerous situation when merging or crossing traffic. Intermittent, does not follow predictable pattern.
When: During acceleration from complete stop or quick acceleration while moving; intermittent, no clear pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation of 0.5-1 second when accelerating from stop; Delayed engine response to accelerator input; Car slows when accelerating into traffic; Problem occurs 'here and there' without pattern; Particularly dangerous during turns, traffic merging, freeway entry
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed as normal operation or dirty air filter; proposed $200 service for throttle body cleaning (owner declined). No actual repairs made.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner vehicle functions normally; no recalls applied.
Pedal design defect after recall repair
After pedal shaving/modification performed as part of recall, gas pedal became too short, making it difficult and unsafe to operate. Foot can slip off pedal during normal driving. Exposed nub created potential hazard for shoe straps during emergency braking.
When: After recall repair performed (early 2010)
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal extremely short after modification; Foot constantly slips off pedal while driving; Exposed nub at bottom of pedal; Pedal not wide enough for safe foot positioning; Difficulty operating shortened pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership shaved/cut down gas pedal as recall remedy. No shim assembly or alternative pedal offered. Owners reported the 'fix' created new safety hazards.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 10V017000 pedal modification; no alternative remedy offered despite owner concerns about safety of the modification itself.
Electronic / software control system fault
Multiple owners suspected electronic or software malfunction rather than mechanical pedal sticking. Issues persist after pedal-focused recalls, occur after software updates, or appear related to electronic 'cross-talk' or hybrid system interaction. Problem sometimes resolves with software update, then returns.
When: Throughout ownership; some owners note worsening or recurrence after software update
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration without mechanical cause (foot not on pedal, no floor mat interference); Problem persists or returns after recall repairs; Problem worsens after software update; Radio getting extremely loud momentarily before acceleration event (possible electronic glitch indicator); Acceleration during specific electronic events (e.g., when shifting gears, when cruise control transitions)
Repairs/costs cited: One software update was performed to address 'power loss' issue on interstate; owner later reported acceleration issue. One dealer technician mentioned software upgrade, but no root cause or permanent fix identified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledged software issue in one case and offered update; however, owners report problems continuing or returning. Dealers could not escalate electronic concerns to manufacturer.
Synthesized from 243 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
We have an intermittent reoccurring issue when vehicle us driven before full warm-up (10 minutes or longer). The issue is when accelerating from a zero RPM (stop light) scenario, the vehicles rpms go up high, but the the car moves very slowly. As if it's not in sync with the gas pedal when being pressed. Transmission failure has been tested and not noted. Due to the intermittent nature of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota camry. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the brakes were applied and the vehicle began to accelerate. The driver crashed into a pole and was transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment of injuries. The vehicle was towed to a towing company and was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota camry. During brake application at 30 MPH the vehicle would not decelerate. Consequently he rear-ended a vehicle. Even after impact the vehicle continued to accelerate. This caused him to crash into the same vehicle for a second time. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 10500.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Toyota Camry?
It's a serious issue. 243 complaints have been filed, including 70 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 194 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 10,000 and 37,055 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 37,055. 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/2009/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.