1996 Toyota Camry complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH COOPER DEAN ALPHA 365 TIRES, SIZE P195/70R14. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BURN TO THE LEFT INSIDE FOREARM CAUSED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE AFTER THE CRASH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05T015000 IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,900. THE DOT NUMBER AND VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER HAS A ODOMETER READING CONCERN. *MC THE CONSUMER STATED IN APRIL OF 2005 HE AND HIS WIFE WERE TAKING A TRIP AND HIS WIFE NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS NOT IN SYNC WITH THE MEASURED MILE SIGNS. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE ODOMETER WAS READING IN KILOMETERS AND NOT MILES. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA OF CANADA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE ODOMETER ISSUE. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EARMARKED AT THE FACTORY AS TO WHAT COUNTRY THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO AND THE PROPER ODOMETER IS INSTALLED. THE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT HAPPENS TO CARS IF THEY ARE RETURNED AND HE STATED THERE ARE SOLD IN AUCTIONS AND IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CARS COME TO AMERICA WITH KILOMETER ODOMETERS AND THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED, "YES". THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE NEEDS A SOLUTION TO THIS DILEMMA. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ONE EVENING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. PULLED THE CAR OVER TO SEE THAT THE TIRE HAD VIOLENTLY BLOWN OUT RELEASING THE HUB CAP AND ACTUALLY BENDING THE RIM. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUT EXPLOSIVES UNDER IT. I PLACED THE SPARE ON THE WHEEL WELL AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, THE ALIGNMENT MADE SUCH DIFFICULT. THE CAR WAS TOWED, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS TIRE EXPLOSION I WOULD NEED A NEW AXLE, STRUT, KNUCKLE, MUD FLAP, AND OBVIOUSLY A TIRE. HE ALSO SAID I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS ON THE RODE ALONE AT THE TIME AND AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT I COULD HAVE HIT AS A RESULT OF LOSING CONTROL OF STEERING . CAR IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPLACED. AND I HAVE SAVED THE DAMAGED TIRE, AS WELL AS HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE SENT TO THE INSURACE COMPANY. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED HER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NHTSA RECALL # 96E001000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS FOUND. THE MECHANIC HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE TOOK IT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC PERFORMING THE OIL CHANGE STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS MOTOR FAILURE, HOWEVER SHE STATES OTHERWISE. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN STARTED, SOUNDS LIKE A TRACTOR, AND SHE SMELLS DIESEL FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A STICKY SUBSTANCE AROUND THE VALVE COVER GASKET. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THISWAS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,578. *AK THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS RE-SEALED, THE TIMING BELT AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE RECALL INFORMATION ON HER 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. *CC *NM

GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL TANK NECK. BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM METAL LINE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. *JB

DOOR HANDLES KEEP BREAKING ON MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY AND COST $50 EACH TIME FOR USED HANDLES. *JB

8/2003 BOUGHT CAR. AT 75.000 MILES, FREEZE PLUGS STARTED TO GO. ONE AFTER THE OTHER. LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. AFTER WE REPLACED THE FREEZE PLUGS, 76.000 MILES THE CAR STARTED DUMPING ITS COOLANT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TANK.. COULD NOT GET ANSWERS FROM PHILLIPS TOYOTA. STARTED LOOSING OIL. THE OBD LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. THE CAR RUNS QUITE AND SMOOTH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CORPORATION, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. ALSO, THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE LOUD NOISES, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. CAR HAS NOW, 130000 MILES ON IT, AND ALL I CAN DO, IS ADD WATER EVERY 25 MILES OR SO. NONE OF THE SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO CAN TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE ARE TRIANGULAR PANELS IN EACH DOOR THAT CONTINUE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT SINCE THE PANELS ARE ONLY HELD ON BY CLIPS, THE PANELS MAY DETACH AND COULD BECOME AIRBORNE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY WERE SCREWED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE BONDO WAS APPLIED TO THE FRONT PANEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 7/25/2006 - THE DOOR PANEL WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTER DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE TWO FRONT AND THE REAR PASSENGER INNER DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THESE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE OUTER HANDLES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

MY CAR WAS PARKED, TEMP WAS UNDER 70 DEG. THE REAR WINDOW GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED AND EXPLODED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES, SHOOTING GLASS UP TO 10 FEET AWAY. *JB

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ON THE CONSUMER'S 1996 CAMRY COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE NOR THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE SPRING IN THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY BROKE. *TS A NEW DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALL BY THE DEALER AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *NM

I OWN A 1996 CAMRY V6 LE WITH 4-WHEEL DISK BRAKES, AND ITS CURRENT MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER WORN OUT THE FRONT DISK PADS, WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS A FEW TIMES. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S MY GENTLE DRIVING STYLE THAT CAUSES THE UNUSUAL WEAR. I SAY THAT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SET AT THE FACTORY IS MIS-SET, BUT IT TAKES SPECIAL TOOLS TO CHANGE AND NO ONE HAS THESE TOOLS, SO I CAN'T PROVE MY POINT. THE BIG QUESTION TO ME: IS MY CAR STOPPING WITH TWO BRAKES OR 4 BRAKES, AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO? *NM

IN HOT WEATHER AFTER ABOUT 100 OR 200 MILES THE CRUISE CONTROL ON OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY WOULD FAIL AND WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP UNTIL THE CRUISE WAS TURNED OFF. OTHER TIMES THE CRUISE WOULD JUST FAIL AND DROP OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. EITHER EVENT COULD BE HAZARDOUS SO WE STOPPED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WE WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. TODAY WE DID A RECALL SEARCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THE PROBLEM DID EXIST ON MOST 1996 CAMRY BUT OUR VIN NUMBER DID NOT FIT THEIR LISTING. VIN# [XXX] TODAY WE WENT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW ON 3/14/1996, BUT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR US. THE DEALER IS RINKE TOYOTA 25420 VANDYKE CENTERLINE, MI 48015 586-758-2000. WE ALSO CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER BEFORE CONTACTING YOU BUT THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004 CONSUME HAS BEEN INHALING SULFUR FUMES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SMELL WAS SO GREAT THAT IT MAD. DAUGHTER PHYSICALLY ILL. TWO CONVERTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO SUCCESS. DEALER SAID TO CHANGE GAS BRANDS, TSB INDICATED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SULFUR IN GAS. VEHICLE WAS IN A FLOOD, DEALER STATED OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT IN FLOOD WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

1.) THE BLACK PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS WORN OFF, EXPOSING A BRIGHT METALLIC SURFACE WHICH REFLECTS SUNLIGHT DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES.; 2.) HAVING ONLY 37,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE EXHUAST SYSTEM IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT!!!*AK

THE OIL PASSAGE WAS TOO NARROW, NOT LETTING OIL INTO THE CRANK SHAFT. THIS CAUSED A ROD TO BLOW THROUGH THE BLOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND NO LONGER TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED MOTOR, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND CAP ROTOR WIRES. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. *TT

CAR CONTINUTES TO STALL WHEN AT A STOP AND SLOWLY IDLING REPETITIVELY. CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR EXAMPLE WHEN LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND CAR WON'T GO! TOLD IDLE AIR VALVE WHICH I SEE IN DOING RESEARCH SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE REPAIR. PERHAPS A RECALL WOULD BE IN ORDER?*AK

IN AUG 26, 2004 I PURCHASED FOUR NEW GOODYEAR ALLEGRA P205/65R15 FROM SAMS CLUB IN PEARL CITY, HI. I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES IN JANUARY 2005 AND TOOK IT BACK TO SAMS CLUB TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT MY TIRES AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT MY RIM WAS BENT AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A GOODYEAR SHOP IN EWA BEACH TO HAVE MY RIMS CHECKED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY RIMS. SO I TOOK THE TIRES BACK TO SAMS CLUB THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON 02/16/2005, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I INDEED DID HAVE THREE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. SO SAMS CLUB REFUNDED MY MONEY AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES IN PLACE OF THE RECALLED TIRES.*AK

A THIN LAYER OF ICE HAD FORMED ON MY CAR'S REAR WINDSHIELD OVERNIGHT. I TRIED TO CLEAR IT BY USING MY REAR DEFOST. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WHILE STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AS A BALLON WOULD EXPLODE, CAME FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR AND I SAW A CRACK AT THE CORNER OF MY BACK WINDSHIELD. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 1/2 MILES AND ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. THIS IS WHEN THE REAR WINDSHIELD CRUMBLED TO PIECES. I HAD MY BABY IN THE BACK SEAT REAR FACING. FORTUNATELY, I HAD COVERED HER WITH A BLANKET, WHICH SHIELDED HER FROM THE SHATTERED GLASS. *AK

WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THEY FAIL TO WORK. WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON SNOW COVERD ROAD. BRAKES WAS APPLIED, GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WAS EXPERIENCED-THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ADEQUATELY, IT TOOK ABOUT 40 FEET TO STOP GOING AT 20MPH. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIVE.*AK

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. *NM THE REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED. SMOKE WAS ALSO PRESENT. *SC *JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE RPMS WENT TO THE RED ZONE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND PARKED, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. AAA ARRIVED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE IT WAS REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. CONSUMER FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITE.*AK THE VEHICLE SPUN IN A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS BEFORE IT REACHED 24,000 MILES. CONSUMER CHANGED TIRES FROM THE TIRES TOYOTA PROVIDED TO A MICHELIN TIRE AND THE SPINNING STOPPED. ON JULY 12, 2004 THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND HAD TO GO IN FOR SERVICE. . IN 2002 THE REAR SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS STUCK. THE CONSUMER HAD IT REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THE CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE EXPENSES OCCURRED DUE TO THIS PRE-MATURE DEFECT. * TC

VEHICLE'S COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *MR WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PARKING LOT, THE COIL SPRING SUDDENLY BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE RESULTING IN A BLOWOUT. *SC *JB

4 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS STARTING PROBLEMS WHEN COLD. IT TAKES ABOUT THREE OR FOUR ATTEMPTS TO START (STALLS A LOT.) TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT "PROBABLY" NEEDED A TIMING BELT. $1200 LATER AND THE CAR WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. THE STALLING PROBLEM IS BACK. TOYOTA SAID IT CANNOT DIAGNOSE IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. NO CODES SET AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT IS BECOMING FUSTRATING THOUGH.*AK

1996 TOYOTA CAMRY'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED.*MR THE BELT FAILED AFTER ONLY 42000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BELT FOR FREE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT'S WERE ONLY WARRANTED FOR FIVE YEARS OR 60000 MILES. *NM

DRIVER/PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES CAME OFF THE VEHICLE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS DAUGHTER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING A BLOW OUT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. *JB

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH HEAD ON COLLISION WITH PINE TREE,MY SON WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. HE HAD A SLIGHT CONCUSSION,AND NECK WAS SORE FOR COUPLE DAYS, HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD . THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

AIR FUEL SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. PART IS NOT ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED BY ANYONE INCLUDING A MECHANIC, AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF CHECKING UNLESS THE PART FAILED. *AK

I EXPERIENCED 3 OR 4 SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENTS WITH MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY DURING THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. NO ACCIDENTS RESULTED. I CAN'T GIVE THE EXACT DATES (IGNORE THE INCIDENT DATE I ENTERED BELOW; I JUST PUT A DATE IN AT RANDOM SINCE IT'S A REQUIRED ENTRY). IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE LAST ONE. ALL OCCURRED AS I STARTED TO BRAKE IN A VERY SLOW-MOVING SITUATION - TWO DEFINITELY HAPPENING WHILE PARKING, COMING TO A STOP BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REVERSE DIRECTION OR STOP, THERE WAS A CONFUSING SURGE AS MY INSTINCT WAS TO QUESTION WHETHER I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE AND THUS TAKE OFF MY FOOT - THE WORST ACTION. IN ALL CASES, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO REALIZE THAT I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN FORCEFULLY WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. I ASKED MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THIS OUT, BUT UNLESS HE COULD REPLICATE THE SITUATION, NO DIAGNOSIS WAS POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE RANDOMNESS OF THESE OCCURENCES, THE PROBABLILITY OF A REPLICATION IS PRETTY CLOSE TO ZERO. THE ONE COMMON THREAD IN THESE INCIDENTS: THEY OCCURRED FOLLOWING A LONG ROAD TRIP DURING WHICH I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, THOUGH IN NONE OF THE INCIDENTS, WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I AM SENDING THIS NOW AS I LEARNED YOU ARE LOOKING INTO SUCH INCIDENTS AND THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO BUILD A RECORD. I BELIEVE THERE ARE FAR MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS THAT NEVER GET REPORTED BECAUSE THEY END SAFELY; A SOLICITATION OF SUCH INCIDENTS FROM

AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EVERY MONTH OR EVERY OTHER WEEK REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT BULBS. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN . *AK

FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER PLASTIC DOORS KNOB HANDLE BROKE. PASSENGER SIDE WON'T OPEN FROM OUTSIDE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. *AK

NHTSA 96V037000. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE BULB HOLDERS OF THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HEAT RESISTANCE. WHEN THE BULB ILLUMINATED IT WOULD RESULT IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE BULB HOLDER TO DEFORM. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

FAILURE TO PASS SMOG TEST. MY 1996 CAMRY HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY, MOSTLY BY DEALER. HAD ITS 60,000 MILE SERVICE IN AUGUST LAST YEAR BY TOYOTA (AND 45,000 SERVICE IN 02). FAILED THE SMOG TEST AT 70,271 MILES. TOYOTA DEALER THEN DID INVESTIGATION (SAID FAILING HC READING SLIGHTLY OVER LIMIT). CHECK 02-SS SIGNAL ON BOTH SENSOR AND PCV VALVE. THEY ALSO SAID THEY "REMOVED AND CLEAN MASS AIR FLOW AND PCV SYSTEM". JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT THE CAR DIDN'T PASS THE SMOG CHECK, WHEN TOYOTA HAS BEEN MAINTAINING CAR, AND WHEN THE CAR REALLY ISN'T THAT OLD (WITH NO MODIFICATIONS). *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THEY DEPLOYED IN RIBBONS. THE INFLATER CANISTER SPRAYED THE CONTENTS OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER FELT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOOT TURNED AND THE BOOT FEED GREASED, THIS CAUSED THE WHEEL (PROVIDE DETAILS).

I HAVE ALWAYS MADE REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEFINITE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD ANY RECOURSE, BUT AFTER OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR CAMRYS, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, AND LOW AND BEHOLD I CAME ACROSS THE EXACT PROBLEM MANY TOYOTA CAMRYS HAVE HAD.

OIL SLUDGED AT 77,000 MILES AFTER CAREFUL MAINTENANCE EVERY 3,000 - 4,000 MILES. ENGINE FLUSHED, VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED, ETC. (MY COST) AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE, NOW 89,000 ENGINE IS BLOW WHILE ON TRIP WITH 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER 400 MILES AWAY FROM HOME

SLUDGE BILL UP IN THE ENGINGE

IN APPROX JUNE OF 2002 MY TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED I NOW APPEAR TO HAVE THE OIL GELLING PROBLEM. APPROX MAY 2003 I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PUMP GAS AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE. APPROX AUGUST 2003 I BEGAN NOTICING IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I APPLY MY BRAKES MY WHOLE CAR BEGINS SHAKING.

MY CAR HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS RECENTLY NOTICING THAT IT WOULD RUN HARD AND NOT SWITCH GEARS AS SMOOTHLY AS IT ONCE HAD. I TOOK IT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE EVALUATED AND WAS TOLD IT HAD SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE PROBABLY DUE TO INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES I WAS THEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5000-$6000. I INFORMED THE ADVISOR THAT I ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED AS PER THE OWNER?S MANUAL, AND I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE AS TO THE EXACT DETAILS THAT FORMED THE BASIS FOR THIS PRICE QUOTE. I WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED THAT INFORMATION. THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK AND/OR FAX IT TO ME, AFTER WHICH I RECEIVED NOTHING. I CALLED AGAIN, GOT HIS SUPERVISOR INSTEAD OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR, AND HE EXPLAINED THAT ENGINE SLUDGE WAS THE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT I COULD NOT GET A WRITTEN ESTIMATE BECAUSE THE EXACT PARTS NEEDED COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE'S PROBLEM TO GIVE ME THE ESTIMATE IN WRITING. I ASKED WHY THIS HADN'T BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE DIAGNOSIS THAT I ORDERED, AND HE THEN BEGAN STAMMERING AND INFORMED ME THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE MY FILE IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD CALL ME BACK AFTER LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ASK ME IF I WAS REALLY WILLING TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR AN ENGINE?. WHEN I ASKED WHAT MY OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE, HE OFFERED TO TRANSFER ME TO A SALESMAN! I NEVER RECEIVED ANY FURTHER PHONE CALLS. IT HA

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT HAS THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED TO FOR THE 1997-2001 CARS. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EXAMINED AND ADMITTED MY CAR HAS THE SLUDGE/GEL PROBLEM BUT SAYS THIS YEAR OF MANUFACTURE IS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFOR WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND ITS SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $800 TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE "EXTENT OF DAMAGE". IN MY RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF 1996 TOYOTAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES AND I FEEL TOYOTA IS AGAIN TRYING TO MINIMIZE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE AFFECTED ENGINES.

ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE BUT WAS TAKING IT IN FOR 60K MILE SERVICE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME OF A BAD OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS TO BE $4500. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED, BUT ONLY A CHANCE. I LET HIM PERFORM THE WORK OF CLEANING THE OIL PAN AND RUNNING A COUPLE OF OIL CHANGES TO CLEAN THE SLUDGE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE, BUT NOW (JANUARY 2003) I AM GETTING A LOT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST AND THEY TELL ME THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BUT THEY CAN'T TELL WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE APART.

TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE; CAR WORKED FINE OTHERWISE: RATTLE LING NOISES COMING FROM VALVE COVER, ENGINE CONSUMING COOLANT, FRONT ENGINE SEALS LEAKING. TOTAL COST FOR THESE REPAIRS WAS $1992.42 GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, FOUR DAYS LATER THE CAR DIES ON THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT THEIR EXPENSE. DEALER FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SKIPPED. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, DECLARED CAR FIXED AND GAVE ME THE KEYS. I DROVE OFF AND GOT AS FAR AS TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM DEALER BEFORE THE CAR DIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE GEL. THE DEALER SAID THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA BUT ONLY IF I COULD SHOW PROOF OF OIL CHANGES RECEIPTS, WHICH I PROVIDED. I'M NOW TRYING TO RECOVER A REFUND FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR THAT WERE DUE TO THE ENGINE GEL PROBLEMS.

MY 1996 CAMRY WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A MAJOR SLUDGE PROBLEM REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING MY ENGINE UNDER THE "SPECIAL POLICY" REPAIR PROGRAM THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. TOYOTA DID NOT DISPUTE THAT IT WAS THE SAME ENGINE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM - INSTEAD, THE RIDICULOUS AND TOTALLY ILLOGICAL REASON THEY GAVE WAS THAT THEIR "SPECIAL POLICY" REPAIR PROGRAM WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINES MANUFACTURED DURING AN ARBITRARY TIME PERIOD AND THE ENGINE IN MY CAMRY FELL OUTSIDE THAT PERIOD BY TWO MONTHS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE FIXING SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES BUT NOT OTHERS.

FUEL SYSTEM: FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, CERTAIN MORNINGS MY CAR WOULDN\\'T START BY SIMPLY TURNING THE IGNITION; I HAD TO TRY IT THE \\"OLD FASHIONED\\" WAY AND DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. POWER WINDOW: THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS DYING; IT TAKES QUITE A LONG TIME FOR THE WINDOW TO OPEN AND CLOSE. OTHER: THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE JUST BROKE OFF IN MY HAND FOUR (4) WEEKS AGO!!! PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. SOMETHING WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND I NEED TO POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE I, NOR ANYONE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAS EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THE BLACK WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY (WHICH ATTACHES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO THE MOTOR), FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE BLACK PAINT HAS "WORN AWAY", EXPOSING A BRIGHT SILVER METAL, WHICH REFLECTS THE SUN DIRECTLY INTO MY EYES. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS. SINCE I DON'T DO A LOT OF DRIVING AND ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES ON SUNNY DAYS, THEY HAS HELPED ME SOMEWHAT. HOWEVER, RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON A CLOUDY DAY WHEN THE SUN DID IN FACT COME OUT WHILE I WAS WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THIS PROVED TO BE MOST DANGEROUS AS I MANAGED TO AVOID AT LEAST ONE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS CONDITION..