Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2018 Toyota Camry On October 26, 2026, the driver was operating a 2018 Toyota Camry on a public roadway at approximately 45 mph when the vehicle unexpectedly activated its automatic emergency braking system. The dashboard displayed a “BRAKE!” warning, immediately followed by extremely forceful braking, comparable to someone suddenly slamming their foot on the brake pedal. The vehicle rapidly decelerated from approximately 45 mph to a complete stop, despite there being no vehicles, pedestrians, or visible obstacles in front of or near the vehicle. The sudden braking caused the driver’s body to lurch forward. According to the driver, the seat belt did not noticeably tighten during the incident. After the vehicle came to a complete stop, the brakes released, and the car slowly began rolling forward without the driver pressing the accelerator. The driver did not intentionally initiate the emergency braking. This unexpected activation created a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in a rear-end collision, loss of vehicle control, or serious injury. The incident raises concerns about a possible malfunction of the vehicle’s Pre-Collision System (PCS), including its radar sensor, forward-facing camera, calibration, or associated software. A VIN search through the federal safety agency database indicated zero outstanding safety recalls for this vehicle. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document and investigate this incident as a potential safety defect involving unintended automatic emergency braking in the 2018 Toyota Camry.
Toyota Camry collision warning problems
47 of the 17,932 owner complaints about the Toyota Camry describe false forward collision warnings, most of them for the 2018 model year.
- owner complaints
- 47
- worst model year
- 2018
- typical repair cost reported
- $9,338
- typical mileage
- 17,419
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 17Adaptive cruise 12Loss of power 6ABS 6Lane assist 5Transmission failure 4Warning lights 3Won't shift 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P0302 1C1A50 1C1300 1C1201 1
What owners say
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
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact stated that the pre-collision, secondary brake, lane departure, and engine warning lights were illuminated and flashed on and off. The vehicle was restarted after depressing the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle stalled shortly afterwards. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
At approximately 93,000 miles, my vehicle experienced a sudden transmission malfunction. About one week before the failure, intermittent warning messages appeared for Emergency Braking Malfunction and Forward Collision Warning Malfunction. These warnings appeared and disappeared several times over multiple days. About three days before the major transmission issues began, the vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership in North Brunswick, New Jersey, for a routine oil change. At that time, the vehicle was operating normally, and no transmission-related issues were reported. 3 days later, the warning messages returned, and the check engine light came on. Around the same time, the vehicle began experiencing serious transmission problems, including delayed shifting, harsh gear changes, and RPM flare-ups without corresponding acceleration. These issues created a serious safety risk because the vehicle could hesitate or fail to accelerate properly when merging into traffic, turning at intersections, or attempting to avoid hazards. The unpredictable shifting and loss of power increased the risk of a collision. After the check engine light appeared, the vehicle was returned to the same Toyota dealership. The dealership performed diagnostic testing and identified internal transmission and transmission control system faults, including solenoid-related failures and torque converter clutch issues. The dealership determined that the transmission requires full replacement and provided a repair estimate of approximately $12,000. The vehicle has no known prior accident damage related to this issue. there are numerous consumer complaints involving similar transmission problems in 2018–2019 Toyota Camry vehicles equipped with the 8-speed automatic transmission. I am filing this complaint because this failure occurred at relatively low mileage for a Toyota vehicle and presents a significant safety concern due to unpredictable power delivery and loss of acceleration.
I was driving my daughter to work then all of a sudden 6 different vehicle alerts came on my dashboard. Vehicle Alerts: advanced ultrasonic detecting and ranging system, lane departure alert, pre-collision system, parking brake system, vehicle stability control system, and secondary collision brake system. I was at a stop light then the car would not drive it was like it started stalling. I had to put on my hazard lights then turn the car off and back on. That's when I was able to accelerate to 20 mph to get out of traffic. I could not give to car any gas to move. I pulled over to a doctor's office parking lot. The car would not go into reverse. Once again, I had to turn it off and on. I had to eventually put it into neutral and cruise all the way home. Once home the last alert came on which was the check engine light. I had the car towed to my nearest Toyota dealership. Toyota kept my car for over 24 hours. I had to go back up there to inquire about my car. That was when I was told it was my transmission and they quoted me $9,338.96 ($2,479.87 labor for 12.4 hours, $ 6,808.92 part, $50 for shop supplies) to get my car repaired.
Owner bought new 2021 Camry XLR 4 cylinder all wheel drive. It currently has 39,000 miles on it. No problems until January 25, 2026. It was 11 degrees below zero, my car had the original battery. Car started without issue, I return to house to "warm it up" prior to driving. Upon my return I had multiple error codes; 1. AWD System Malfunction, 2 WD Engaged (Visit your Dealer), Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction, Pre-Collision Brake System Malfunction, Parking Brake Malfunction, Check Engine light. I did NOT drive the car that day. Once the weather warmed up in Iowa, the number of codes would change and sometimes absolutely NO codes. Upon extensive internet research, I purchased a new battery (old battery did "test" ok, but no load test was completed). During all of this time, my car has always started well, performed well, etc. HOWEVER, when the "codes" show up, my cruise control also will not work. . . . Original dealership "ran computer codes" (C059746) indicating "calibration memory failure."Quote was given for: Parking rake actuator replacement $1,760. 2nd Toyota dealership opinion: $3,300 for parking brake actuator, low pressure fuel pump replacements. Original dealership adamantly denied the need to fuel pump replacement. Again, my car intermittently may or may NOT show warning codes. . . .Not I dealership has conducted any examination, they simply "run the computer codes" and quote a repair cost. I am concerned about repair scandals, diagnostic incompetence and perhaps the CAUSE of my "error codes" has not even be addressed (computer glitch, faulty sensor, corroded wiring, etc.) I am a 70 yr old female still working and needing transportation. I spent $34,000 on my car expecting safe and reliable transportation. I have NO confidence in the Toyota Repair diagnostics. I also own a 2005 Toyota Camry which was involved in the Toyota acceleration debacle years ago, of which they decline any responsibility. Luckily, no human injuries!!!!!
While driving the car just shut-off in the middle of the road. If you tried to restart the car it would turn on rev the engine and shut off. The dash display displayed a message " precollision system malfunction" and "secondary brake collision malfunction". Safety wise if this had happened on the highway could have been very dangerous or worse. The car was inoperable and required a tow truck. Luckily we were not on a very busy road during the incident. The problem has been replicated and is currently being tested at Joe Meyers Toyota in Houston, Texas. When the message displayed on the dash, check engine light came on as well as the brake light on the dash.
While driving, the vehicle experiences unintended braking and refusal to accelerate. ABS, traction control, pre-collision system, and secondary collision brake warnings illuminate. Toyota dealer diagnostics documented ABS and brake system fault codes C1201 and C1A50. The vehicle also produces a loud whining/buzzing noise from the brake actuator area while stationary. Dealers have recommended transmission replacement despite active ABS/PCS fault codes and safety system involvement. The condition temporarily resets after battery disconnect but returns. This presents a safety risk due to unintended braking and loss of vehicle control. When this happened I was in the street with my daughter in the back we could have got injured.
The transmission in my 2019 Toyota Camry went from normal, expected operation to complete transmission failure in less than 2 weeks! There was no advanced notice of the issue until the transmission issues became so pervasive that I was already taking it in to be looked at. That was when the dashboard lit up with notifications of pre-collision system malfunction, drive-start control malfunction and secondary collision brake system malfunction followed by a notification to take it to the dealer (where I was headed when this occurred). I pulled the vehicle off the highway and had it towed to the dealer as the vehicle was not drive-able and would not stay in gear. The reason for going to the dealer was the day before, I went to a mechanic and on the way the CEL came on. The mechanic noted the scanner did not have any codes and suggested I take it to the dealer... where I was going when the above happened. I use this car to transport my children to school and the 2 days prior to the complete malfunction of the car's transmission the failure to find a gear while accelerating resulted in multiple instances where vehicles behind me came exceptionally close to a rear end collision. On one instance, I was crossing an intersection and the transmission didn't find a gear and I narrowly avoided being struck broadside by another vehicle. The service department at the Toyota dealership advised the transmission suffered complete internal failure (providing numerous codes regarding the solenoids) with a cost of $10,599.67 to replace it. It worked fine 2 weeks earlier with no prior warnings than an occasional hard shift and an instance of a slipping gear. Fluids were not excessively dirty, I changed the transmission fluid as required with Toyota Brand WS transmission fluid. No leaks exist and no excessive indication of metal particulates in the used transmission fluid. I'm waiting on Toyota for information on what they plan to do. Must be manufacturing defect.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, with the engine, Forward Collision Avoidance, and brake malfunction warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ECM had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,599. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Toyota Camry collision warning
Which Toyota Camry years have false forward collision warnings problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2018 (20 complaints), 2019 (10 complaints) and 2020 (8 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix false forward collision warnings on the Toyota Camry?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $9,338 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Toyota Camry?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history