I was in an accident 10/29/18 which totaled my 2017 camry. I was trying to stop and the car accellerated and I hit the car in front of me.
2017 Toyota Camry cruise control problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
6crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 16 cruise control complaints filed for the 2017 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
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple owners report unintended acceleration, brake failure, and cruise control malfunctions on 2017 Camrys—some resulting in collisions. Before buying one, have a dealer run a full engine and brake diagnostic, test cruise control in various conditions, and get a pre-purchase inspection focusing on brake responsiveness and accelerator function.
Over 16 complaints, 2017 Camry owners describe distinct problems: unintended acceleration in parking and low-speed driving situations, with brakes failing to stop the vehicle; jerking and hesitation during deceleration at 20–30 mph; and abnormal transmission hunting when cruise control is engaged, especially on hills. Cruise control also fails entirely in rain or wet windshield conditions.
One owner experienced simultaneous brake, ABS, and stability control warning lights with power loss recurring every few days, forcing a restart to clear. Another reported the vehicle bucking and losing control during slow right turns with stuck pedals. At higher speeds, several owners noted the vehicle would not immediately respond when accelerating from a stop, or the cruise system hunted excessively for speed control, causing hard shifts.
Multiple collisions resulted from these issues—including at least two total-loss accidents where brakes did not respond or unintended acceleration occurred during parking. Dealers often cannot duplicate the failures, and manufacturer involvement has been minimal. One owner retrieved diagnostic data but received no resolution, while others were told extended diagnostics would take too long or nothing was found.
Same Toyota Camry cruise control reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control malfunction under environmental conditions
Cruise control fails to engage or disengages in rain or when windshield is wet. One owner reported cruise control will not work in rain and disengages even after windshield wash, with car maintaining 30+ mph.
When: Intermittent, triggered by wet conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control non-functional in rain; Cruise control disengages when windshield wet; Vehicle maintains speed at 30+ mph despite driver intent
Cruise control sensitivity and hunting behavior
Cruise control exhibits excessively tight tolerances and frequent downshifts to control speed, particularly on hilly terrain. The system is described as 'shifty' on hilly roads compared to flat terrain, causing abrupt transmission shifting and potential transmission wear.
When: Upon engagement at highway speeds (~70 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive shifting to maintain speed; Tight tolerances in cruise control operation; More pronounced hunting behavior on hilly roads; Hard shifting when cruise control engaged
Brake, ABS, and stability control warning cascade with power loss
While driving on highways, brake, ABS, and stability control warning lights illuminate simultaneously with warning bell. Dashboard cycles through three associated error messages. Intermittent loss of power during these warnings; pressing accelerator further does not restore power; releasing and re-pressing accelerator restores function. Cruise control disabled when warnings active. Warnings persist until vehicle is shut off and restarted. Problem occurred intermittently with increasing frequency over several weeks.
When: Intermittent, increasing in frequency to every three days on average, starting around October 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Brake warning light illuminated; ABS warning light illuminated; Stability control system warning light illuminated; Warning bell sounds; Apparent loss of power while driving; Vehicle slows down intermittently; Cruise control does not function during event; Lights remain on until vehicle restarted
Unintended acceleration and poor braking response
Vehicle accelerates independently without driver input, often in low-speed parking or driving scenarios. Multiple owners report vehicle did not respond adequately to brake pedal depression or failed to stop when brakes applied. Several incidents resulted in collisions. One incident involved apparent brake pedal sticking; another involved accelerator pedal traveling to floorboard without driver input.
When: Various; incidents reported at mileages from 8,500 to 89,000; low-speed maneuvering and parking situations most common
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended acceleration; Vehicle fails to respond to brakes; Vehicle will not stop when brake pedal depressed; Vehicle accelerates when attempting to slow down; Brake pedal feels stuck or sticks mechanically; Accelerator pedal travels to floorboard without input; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported vehicle was taken to independent mechanic and repaired; one owner's vehicle was deemed total loss after collision; dealers unable to duplicate failure in multiple cases; field technician retrieved data from one vehicle but no resolution reported
Jerking and unintended speed maintenance during deceleration
Vehicle jerks and resists driver's intention to slow down, attempting to maintain speed when no accelerator input is given. Problem is most noticeable at 20-30 mph. Vehicle shifts abnormally to hold speed instead of coasting to a stop, forcing driver to brake repeatedly. Owner suspects transmission switching gears inappropriately during deceleration.
When: From new; noticeable at low speeds during deceleration (20-30 mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking sensation during deceleration; Vehicle resists slowing down; Vehicle attempts to maintain speed without accelerator input; Abnormal gear shifting during deceleration; Extended time to slow down without pedal input; Excessive brake use required to stop vehicle
Throttle response hesitation at low speeds
Vehicle hesitates to accelerate when attempting to accelerate at very low speeds, with a delayed response time. Dealer was unable to duplicate the failure during testing.
When: At approximately 4,231 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not immediately respond to accelerator input; Hesitation during low-speed acceleration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; failure was not repaired as it could not be duplicated by dealer
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
While the vehicle is in motion traveling straight on a highway, warning bell sounds and three warning lights are illuminated simultaneously and constantly: brake, ABS and stability control system. The center error message panel of the dashboard cycles through the three messages, as shown in the accompanying photos. While these messages are displayed, every few miles there is an apparent loss of…
I was trying to slow down at a stop light on a city street and when I hit the break the car accellerated and I hit the truck in front of me.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 6,500 and 42,000 miles, with the median around 26,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,500; a quarter make it past 42,000. 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/2017/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.