2001 Toyota Camry: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Feb 28, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 78,500 miles · PA

I used the date of 2/23/2013 because that is when the problem became full blown but about 2 months before that date the car began surge when I put the car in gear after being parked and while at a stop sign. It sounded then and still sounds like a fly wheel or something under the hood is running at a very high rate of speed. If I had not had my foot on the brake it felt as though I would have gone forward into the car ahead of me. Finally on 2/23/2013 the car started surging and then hesitating non-stop. The check engine light came on and began to blink so I crept back home with fear. When the car hesitates it feels as though it loses power and there's a backfiring sound in the rear. I took the car to aaa, they did a diagnostic on the computer and I had the ignition coil and spark plugs changed but the problem still exists. The surging and hesitation happens when the car is in gear (both drive and reverse) but not in neutral or park and it is constant. I have a fear that either the car will surge ahead while driving on a highway and I will cause an accident or be killed because the car may just completely stop. I contacted toyota corporate office on 2/28/2014 to see if there was a recall and to ask if they were aware of the problem. The representative said no to both questions, but I see that's no true.

Filed Nov 11, 2004 · Electrical · 1,000 miles · PA

Vehicle hesitates when accelerating and stalls out when attempting to stop vehicle. Power brakes fail to work properly once call stalls out creating a hazard. No injuries or crashes to date but in fear of one occurring. Dealership has made many attempts to correct the problem with no success as of 11/11/04. Replaced the computer module, spark plugs, wires, fuel injectors & clean valves to no avail.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 66,000 miles · MD

My car (a 2001, 4-cylinder, toyota camry le; VIN #: [xxx]) has been at the service department for 26 days. I had the car towed to that dealership when it suddenly broke down on a major interstate without warning. The car started to jerk sporadically and hesitate when I depressed the gas pedal. The car got worse it started to make a clicking-and-clacking noise and seemed that it would die at anytime. As I approached the service station, I heard a loud popping sound and the front of the car started to smoke. I asked the mechanics at the station to check under the hood. After looking at the car, one of the mechanics asked how long have you had this car?? When I told him that it was a 2001, he said that he?d never seen this type of damage in a 2-year old car. He recommended that I take it to the dealer because it should be a repair that would be covered under warranty. Two letters and several calls later and my car still sits at the dealership. I received a call from percy chan of toyota's national customer relations center (310‑468‑2846) on october 17, 2003. [xxx]. [xxx] called to find out what happened with my 2001 toyota camry (approx 66,060 miles). He then said that he'd gotten an email from the dealership that said that the dealership offered to make the repairs for $500 (this is down from $5,500; the original estimate for the repair. I received a second call from [xxx]. [xxx] on october 20, 2003. He called to tell me that he'd reviewed the letter and couldn't understand why the dealership would let my car sit on the lot taking up space. He said that they had gotten money from toyota to make repairs under the customer support program. I received a third call from [xxx]. [xxx] on october 21, 2003. He called to tell me that the [xxx]. Boots was no longer the service manager and the new manager was [xxx]. He said that [xxx] checked with the mechanic and said that the damage was caused by valvoline who had done my last oil change. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information AC

Filed Oct 27, 2003 · Engine · MD

Problems involving 2001 toyota camry.*mr (nar) while driving on the major interstate the consumer vehicle broke down with out any warning, the car started to jerk sporadically and hesitate when depressing the gas pedal. The vehicle started smoking and had to towed to the service department. The dealer was notified about the defect engine but fell to fix problem. The consumer was requesting that a recall be issued for all affected engines, or re purchase the vehicle and cover the incidental and collateral expenses made from defective vehicle.

Filed Oct 14, 2003 · Engine · MD

The vehicle jerked and hesitated when the accelerator was depressed.*mr the consumer has requested that toyota recall all affected engines, or repurchase the vehicle and cover incidential and collateral expenses. *cb

Filed Oct 2, 2003 · Engine · 66,066 miles · MD · 1 injury

The car suddenly broke down on a major interstate out of washington, dc, on my way home from work. Without warning (e.g., no warning lights or previous problems), it started to jerk sporadically and hesitated when I depressed the gas pedal. As I approached my exit to I-495 north, the car got worse it started to make a clicking-and-clacking noise and seemed that it would die at anytime. I took the first exit off of I-495 (210: indian head highway, south) because I knew that there was a shell gas station with a garage. As I approached the station, I heard a loud popping sound and the front of the car started to smoke. I was terrified that the car would catch on fire.