2018 Toyota Camry: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · NY

After taking the car on a short drive: Pre-collision malfunction; parking brake malf; ICS malf; chk eng reduced power; secondary collision brake malf; rough idle and driving; sometimes won't accelerate (revs only); cruise control won't work; battery drained when off (12.5 v to 10.5 in one day; battery just under 3 years old); after replacing battery: OBD 2:P0302

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

I own a 2018 Toyota Camry XSE. The car is equipped with a radar cruise control and automatic braking system that will brake the car if programming believes there is risk of an accident. The problem is this is all front-based monitory and no rear based monitoring. Recently I was traveling the speed limit on a 4-lane highway when a car stopped abruptly in the turn lane in which I was following. There was no need for my car to brake abruptly as I was not traveling so close behind the car in front of me to justify that. Rather, I was more concerned about a car behind me that was tailgating me. I wanted to brake gradually to give the car behind me time to stop. But the auto braking system in my car braked so suddenly against my will causing the car behind me to veer off the road onto the shoulder in order to avoid rear ending me. It also made me worry that the driver of the car behind me might believe I intentionally braked hard to make him back away from my car when this was not the case. The 2018 Camry XSE auto braking system is a hazard because it looks forward with the radar but did not consider the car tailgating me and it nearly caused me to be rear ended were it not for evasive action of the car behind me veering onto the shoulder. I can turn it off when I drive the car but it always comes back on when I start the car. I am undecided about liability as well if I must permit this defective system to run or whether I am protected legally by turning it off. It is such a hassle to constantly turn it off each time I start the car so I just let the car do it's thing most of the time thinking I might be better legally protected with it on than with it off.

Filed Apr 17, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MN

While operating my vehicle, the multi information display between the tachometer and RPM gauges flashed bold red letters BRAKE (even though nothing was in front of us at all) then the screen went 100% black. When that happens, the majority of the safety features are obsolete because you cannot see or read what caused the beep. Also, the Odometer could not be seen as well as feul eveonomy, if cruise control was engaged, what gear your engine is in if Sports mode is activated (in which occurs if accidently hitting the gear switches on your steering wheel just turning it), unable to see maintenance messages, cannot control the sensor settings...nothing. When I finally had enough money to even get the car diagnosed (roughly $187), the Corwin Toyota dealership asked me for the mileage, and I had to tell them to tell me. They did confirm the instrument panel/cluster to be defective, however, I and my extended warranty company had to pay the bill. 53,252 miles when they serviced it. When I paid my portion, I asked Lori how long will this one last and she told me, "They are suppose to last the duration of the car's life." I replied, "Um, but...". On April 17th I called Toyota's Customer Engagement line and spoke with them about the defective part and repair. Dorian told me that with the part replaced carries a 1 year warranty. If Toyota designed essentially all the safety features, eco features, cruise control, gears to only be seen or controlled on that multi-informational display within the instrument panel/cluster, they should be required to fix it at no cost to customers for the lifetime of the car. I took video of it before I dropped it off to be serviced., but even Corwin Toyota in Fargo, ND, has video footage of the mechanic's assessment.

Filed Dec 20, 2022 · Airbags · CA · crash · 1 injury

Driving on the freeway, cruise control set, a remnant of a large tire was in my lane, I could not avoid hitting it, it caused my car to lose control, drive up on the concrete divider placed by construction crews, came back down to the freeway and hit the back of a semi causing my car to then spin out of control and eventually landing in a ditch. The entire front end of the car was damaged, the car was deemed totaled by the auto repair place. During this incident none of the airbags deployed.

Filed Jan 10, 2022 · Driver assistance · 40,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds with the cruise control activated, the cruise control system would erroneously deactivate causing the vehicle speed to suddenly decelerate. Also, on several occasions, while driving the anti-collision system would erroneously activate causing the vehicle to abruptly stop although no other vehicles or objects were nearby. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed May 6, 2021 · Driver assistance · 12,000 miles · SC

Many times the blind spot monitor doesn't work properly. When there is no vehicle nearby and driving alone on the road, still the blind spot monitor light up and notify of vehicle at my blind spot and sometime when there is a vehicle at my blind spot overtaking the it shows when the vehicle has already passed. While driving on cruise control suddenly it says cruise control not available. This doesn't happen always but sometime. Both of the above happened while driving on highway.

Filed Feb 21, 2020 · Acceleration, Transmission · 14,000 miles · TX

Transmission: when accelerating hard, such as on an on ramp, my speed only increases slightly while the engine revs to 5000+ rpms. I let off the gas & then it shifts and speeds up. The 8 speed automatic transmission will not shift on hard acceleration until I let off the gas pedal. This is consistent and I believe, a safety hazard. Cruise control: this system has what toyota calls a safety feature that automatically slows the car if it thinks the vehicle or object ahead is too close. In reality it slows the car dramatically without anything in front of me and a clean windshield. It has a windshield camera to detect such things, so I have to keep it clean. This is a recurring thing. I have notified toyota. There should be a required fix for such safety problems.

Filed Jan 15, 2020 · Acceleration · 4,800 miles · KY

When driving with the pre collusion system cruise control activated the car slams on it's brakes dropping up to 19 MPH instantly and can come to a complete stop per toyota. It almost got me run over by a semi. I filed via the toyota lemon law website to no avail. In 2018 the pre-collusion sensor was tied into the pedestrian sensor. Hence at times when sensing periphery it slams on the brakes. Toyota has 71 disclaimers to protect themselves, but almost every toyota since 1018 has this dangerous technology. Several dealerships are aware of this and my salesman told me to use the alternate cruise control since it happened to him also. I was advised of the same by two of their other employees. This system will result in horrific accidents. It typically activated when coming upon the quarter panel of another can and at times when it's oncoming traffic. Some of the disclaimers state: "snow coming off the car in front, signs, other cars, metal in the road" and so on. Toyota exudes indifference and insults me upon investigating the car is operating as designed. I emailed 114 newspapers nationwide, but don't know if anyone published. I've spoken with several dealerships that have had customer complaints. It happens both on streets and highways. It happened the first time around oct 1, 2018. To make things more frustrating twice stated the car is operating as designed. The problem has happened numerous times for no reason. I doubt that anyone cares, but I warn you: do not follow newer model toyota vehicles closely as except for the rav4 they all have the same technology per toyota. Twice toyota informed me my car was operating as designed. That my friends is an ignorant statement. No car is designed to slam on the brakes with no obstructions ahead. Mine has done it at least 50 times, but there software doesn't reveal that so it also is deficient.

Filed Jul 11, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 17,500 miles · AL

This vehicle gave me problems from the beginning. To begin, it began breaking me in the middle of the road going about 45-50 MPH. This continued to happen and my toyota dealer told me that I was a liar. I continued to drive the car, unknowing when it would stop me in the middle of traffic again. It then had electrical problems because the dashboard and radio would go black while I was driving; my air conditioner would stop as well. Also, I was driving on an interstate alone with my cruise control on and it kept breaking me and telling me that there was another car in front of me. This continued for about 30 minutes of constant driving (picture below). The last thing that happened to me in this car was that the lane assist would pull me out of my lane and into another when trying to correct between lines. This happened a few times and toyota would do nothing about it. My mother was driving my car one day about 75 MPH on an interstate and it pulled her off the road to the left. This car gave me nothing but trouble since purchasing it brand new. My car started this trouble within 5 months of me owning the vehicle and toyota provided no assistance. I was very upset and disappointed that I chose this car above others. I hope toyota will do their job and fix these problems so another camry driver may not experience what I, unfortunately, had to.

Filed Jun 7, 2019 · Driver assistance · 21,000 miles · TX

I was driving the vehicle in cruise mode and suddenly warning and pre-collision system dashboard light came on together, and a message pops-up in the screen showing the cruise control is unavailable. The adaptive cruise control gets disabled and the car start dropping the speed unless controlled manually. After driving for a few miles the lights automatically go back to normal. Have taken the car to the dealership and they told me they have calibrated some sensors but I am still having the same problem.

Filed Feb 22, 2019 · Acceleration · IN

2018 toyota camry. Consumer writes to recommend a recall notice on vehicle model because of defective cruise control. *as

Filed Feb 22, 2019 · Acceleration, Transmission · IN

While driving, with or without cruise control on the freeway, the transmission is extremely jerky. Any sort of incline seems to highlight the issue even further! I have taken it to the dealer, only for them to tell me nothing is wrong. But what would I know, even though I drive it 110 miles a day. The problem has also occurred from takeoff from a stop sign or stop light. The RPM's want to jump and the pedal is very touchy. I really hate the transmission jerking this hard when I'm driving 75-80 on the interstate. I also didnt want to pay this much for the camry, which I hold in high regard, only for this to continue happening on a daily basis. I had it looked at with around 6k miles and now I have 13k on the car, with zero improvement. Toyota, please acknowledge and fix this issue for all owners experiencing this problem!