2009 Toyota Camry: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 127,990 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked while accelerating from a complete stop. Additionally, the vehicle intermittently failed to start, with the ABS warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for repairs, but the failure reoccurred shortly after the repair. The contact stated that while attempting to shift into drive(D), the transmission remained stuck in neutral(N) with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward while the vehicle was parked, turned off, with the parking brake engaged. The contact placed trash bins in front of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from rolling. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and the vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was 127,990.

Filed Mar 4, 2019 · Steering · 62,000 miles · NJ

Left axel cv joint is bad at under 59,000 miles on the car. It is effecting the steering when turning left and jerks the wheel back - dangerous!

Filed Dec 14, 2018 · Steering · 153 miles · AR

At 150k miles steering wheel is locking up while in motion. Usually occurs when trying to turn right, locks for 2 or 3 seconds then jerks slightly back to the left. Has done this 3 times recently, twice leaving me paused momentarily in opposite lane of traffic! Fortunately no traffic was in that lane during those moments before it unlocked. The third situation was in motion but not our of parking lot yet. Also makes a screeching sound while this is going on! I see where there are similar complaints about later year model camrys but haven't seen one on 2009. Also have not seen screeching sound mentioned. Trying to find out if others have experienced with 2009?

Filed Aug 19, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 14 miles · CA

I started to back out of the parking spot at the hotel I was staying to go out for dinner with my friends, I release the brakes and put the car in reverse. Then all of sudden the dash board lighted up then disappeared briefly when I put it in forward. As I was driving away from the hotel the lights on the dash board was lighted again. Then as I proceed to get on the freeway the dashboard lit up with warning check vsc system. (the hotel to the freeway ramp was a block away) I was driving in the right hand lane for several miles on the 580, because I noticed the brakes felt weird. The lights on the dash board remained lighted. The red indicator light for my brakes were on indicating the brakes were not released, but it was. At this point I was tensed and scared as I drove on the 580 freeway. I exited off the freeway slower than normal and I would press down on the brakes lightly and it would jerk and rock. It would bounce myself and friends in a rocking motion. We were all scared when I told them that I was not pressing on the brakes as it rocked. I was not playing with the brakes. My friend sitting in the front passenger side, confirmed to my friend sitting in the back I was not doing anything with the brakes as we rocked while driving or at the stop signs. I was driving cautiously on the streets due to I was afraid I might rear end someone. Every time I made the stop it would rock. So from the restaurant to the hotel I drove the streets and stayed off the freeway. The "check vsc "and indicators lights remained on the whole time. The following day, my husband drove out to get the car and drove it home for me. We took the back roads home to avoid freeway driving. As I drove behind him, I notice the brake lights stayed on most of the time. He too noticed the lights on the dash board remained on and the brakes were not working correctly.

Filed Apr 6, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 33,000 miles · IL · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota camry. While at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. One day later while driving 2 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle jerked, and failed to stop. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. No injuries were sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v388000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

Filed Dec 25, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 107,420 miles · TX

Moved to tx in 2012 and have not had any previous starting issues before moving. Attempted to start the vehicle during my lunch break, engine turned over but was unable to start. Attempted to start the car again and the engine cranked and started with a hard "jolt" as if the gear shift was out of position. Several days later the temperature was warmer and the same problem occurred. Scheduled a appointment with my local toyota dealership and was told all systems were normal and they could not determine the cause of the problem since they could not replicate starting issue. The starting issue occurs on relatively hot days, turning the key to "on" before starting does not help the problem, the second start attempt is usually a "hard" start such that it feels as if the engine is jerking. Toyota should investigate electrical/fuel/and air components to determine the cause of this starting problem, especially since the issues seems to be temperature related.

Filed Oct 20, 2014 · Steering · 135,000 miles · GA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 toyota camry. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel was turned right to switch lanes and the steering wheel jerked left instead. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed from the scene. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mile was 135,000.

Filed Jul 25, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 48,983 miles · MN

About a month ago I was driving along and the radio got really loud for no reason for 10 seconds and then subsided. I didn't think much of this at the time, but after wednesday, I now believe it must have been related somehow. I was sitting off-road waiting for traffic to pass by in order to turn-around and begin driving south. I had just turned on the car and turned the steering wheel in order to make my approximate 175 degree turn. My foot was on the brake and the car ready to move. All of a sudden the engine revved up and the car tried lurching forward as though someone's foot was on the accelerator. I had to reassert my foot pressure on the brake in order to keep the car from moving. My foot had not left the brake, there was no person or thing trying to accelerate the car, it just occurred. The news about faulty accelerators entered my mind. There has not been any further incident at this time.

Filed May 8, 2010 · Acceleration · 11,300 miles · MI · crash

I was pulling into a restaurant parking lot and had found a handicapped space for my wife. The car was slowly inching forward with my foot on the brake controlling its forward motion. Suddenly it lurched forward, over a curb and into a handicap sign support pole, which in turn bent forward and knocked a cast stone statue against a painted panel attached to the restaurant wall. I was pushing down on the brake the entire time.

Filed Apr 30, 2010 · Acceleration · 16,000 miles · WI

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota camry. The contact stated that he took his vehicle to an authorized dealer in march 2010 for the repairs associated with recalls 09v388000 & 10v017000 (vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal). He had not experienced any failures before the repairs were made. On march 25, 2010, the vehicle suddenly accelerated while his foot was on the brake pedal. The contact continued applying pressure to the brakes and was able to shift into neutral gear which stopped the vehicle from accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a technician from chicago inspected it; however, the technician could not find the cause of the failure. The contact requested a replacement vehicle due to safety risk with the current vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000. The current mileage is 16,040. Updated 07/14/2010.*lj updated 07/15/10.*jb updated 03/10/11 *bf the consumer stated after the accelerator was fixed, he continued to experience problems. The consumer stated he was stopped at a red light with his foot on the brake, when the vehicle accelerated. The consumer was able to put the gear in neutral and the vehicle jerked to a stop. Updated 03/14/11.. Updated 04/23/12 *bf updated 04/25/12

Filed Mar 11, 2010 · Acceleration · 16,553 miles · OH

I had the recall work done the weekend before this incident for the accelerator pedal and shut off switch for the brake pedal. I was pulling into a parking spot with my foot on the brake pedal, then the car tried to accelerate on its own and lurching forward.

Filed Mar 3, 2010 · Acceleration · 20,000 miles · MN

I was on a job assignment in napa valley, california. I had a rental toyota camry from national car rental. I don't have VIN but license was ca. I was driving north of pt reyes on hwy 1 and decided to stop at a scenic area. I took a left off the hwy into the parking area. I was braking and approaching a parking area surrounded by large timbers as parking guards. I was nearly stopped at the timber, braking and preparing to put the transmission into park. My car suddenly lurched forward over the timber, engine roaring. Because I had been preparing to put the transmission into park and did this, the car engine accelerated severely and died. My first thought was that I had been struck from behind and thrust forward but there were no other cars or witnesses. I was able to restart the car, rock a bit and move backwards off the timber. I was bewildered by the strange behavior of the car and didn't connect this event to the recent toyota problems until the recalls and tv reports. I now am sure this was an event of rapid acceleration. I was fortunate in that I had my foot on the brake and had been almost stopped when the lurch forward occurred. After experiencing this, I don't believe the problem had anything to do with the accelerator since my foot was on the brake, not the accelerator. I really wonder if electronic "cross-talk" has been ruled out as this problem seemed to be very related to electronics.