1996 Toyota Camry complaints

I HAVE ENGINE GELLING THAT HAS LED TO ENGINE DAMAGE SEVERE ENOUGH THAT I WILL EITHER NEED A NEW SHORT BLOCK OR NEW ENGINE (ACCORDING TO TOYOTA). EVEN WITH ALL OF THE WORK THAT I HAVE ALREADY HAD ON THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE IS NOT IN PROPER RUNNING ORDER AND WILL TAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.

IDLE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO MECHANIC TWICE. HAVE REPLACED ISC VALVE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR SINCE 1996 (TWICE IN 1997 AND 1998), IN THE LAST YEAR CAR HAS STALLED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROADWAY. ENGINE TAKES A FEW TRIES TO START AGAIN.

TOOK CAMRY TO DEALER (WORLD TOYOTA) DISCOVERED ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM, ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CANNOT RE-BUILD.. NOTIFIED CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE AT TOYOTA MAIN OFFICE. STILL HAVE NOT RESOLVED ISSUE.

THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY HISTORY OF THESE STALLS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ISC VALVE EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ISC VALVE EVERY YEAR. TOYOTA HAS PAID FOR IT, BUT IT IS ANNOYING NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.

COMPLAIN I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE BEFORE 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AS THEIR CAMRY 1997-2001 MODELS, WHICH TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THOSE ENGINES. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND IT WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TIME FRAME, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1996 MODEL, TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS NO DISPUTING THAT THE FAILURE OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES AS A RESULT OF A BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE ONLY TO THE FACT THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ORIGINAL ENGINE VALVE SEALS FAILED PREMATURELY AT 38K MILES ARE WERE REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER ANOTHER 40K MILES THE SEALS FAILED AGAIN. DEALER ESTIMATE FOR SECOND PREMATUER VALVE SEAL REPAIR IS $1,000.

AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN MARCH 2002, ALL OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED BY ME. THE PREVIOUS OWNER IS A FRIEND, AND I KNOW THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED VERY WELL (APPEARANCE OF THE CAR ALSO REFLECTS THIS). IN EARLY MAY 2003, WITH MY WIFE DRIVING, THE CAR THREW #1 PISTON ROD THROUGH THE BLOCK. THE ENGINE STILL HAD AMPLE OIL, AND ONLY HAD 1500 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE (I CHANGE THE OIL BETWEEN 3-4000 MILES, RELIGOUSLY). THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE TO EXPECT FROM A WELL MAINTAINED CAR, AND AFTER PULLING THE MOTOR OUT, I NOTICED SLUDGE ALL OVER THE OIL PAN, VALVE COVERS, AND ON VARIOUS ENGINE COMPONENTS.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING.*MR WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER HAD TO STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *CB *JB

PROBLEMS WITH 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA WHICH STATED IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TIMING BELT REPLACED BEFORE 60,000 MILES. THE LETTER INDICATED THAT IF THE BELT SHOULD MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE COULD STOP RUNNING. SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER THE CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS ADVERTISEMENTS REGARDING TIMING BELT REPLACEMENTS FROM SEVERAL LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SINCE TOYOTA SEEMED TO KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM. *JB *NM

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH A PASSENGER, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD, IN THE MID AFTERNOON. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY NEW IN 1996, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY DID NOTHING. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND I MET WITH AN AGENT FROM THERE WHO INSPECTED MY CAR AT TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ. HE FOUND EVIDENCE A ROCK HAD HIT A STABILIZING BAR UNDERNEATH. I REPORTED HAVING NOT SEEN OR HIT A ROCK ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT TOYOTA'S DECISION IN THE MAIL WITHIN 10 DAYS. THEY CONCLUDED MY AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED APPROPRIATELY. MY WITNESS AND I WROTE BACK TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE HAD BEEN REFERRED, DISPUTING THEIR CONCLUSION TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS FINAL. I AM CONFINED TO ONLY BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BY MAIL. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING WITH NO AIRBAGS NOW FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS PROMPTED ME TO GET MY AIR BAG LIGHT FIXED SINCE THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT THAT IS ALL. AND MY HORN DOESN'T WORK NORMALLY NOW THAT THE VINYL IS RIPPED OPEN IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I INTENTIONALLY BOUGHT THE CAMRY FOR IT'S SAFETY RECORD. I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT TOYOTA CARES SO LITTLE FOR SAFETY. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THAT OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED.*AK *PH *JB

WHILE BRAKING AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE, CAUSING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TO HIT IT ON FRONT RIGHT HAND SIDE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY, VID #[XXX]. SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR SPUN OUT AGAINST A GUARD RAIL, TOTALING THE CAR. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG NOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WERE DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER WHOSE HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ENGINE SEIZURE IN 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR THE ENGINE SEIZURE WAS DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. *JB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE LOST BRAKE AND STEERING POWER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT JUMPED, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BECAUSE OF AN OIL JELLYING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE TREAD SEPARATION, SIZE# UNKNOWN, DOT# UNKNOWN.*AK

ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF THE FUEL PUMP RELAY CONTINUED TO RUN. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *PH *JB

1996 TOYOTA CAMRY POWER STEERING FAILURE.*MR POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED FOR $1398.56, IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED. TOYOTA WAS INFORMED OF THIS AND DECLINED THE CONSUMER FOR REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY. *PH *CB *JB

SEVERAL PROBLEMS:FAULTY INTERIOR LIGHTING,POWER ANTENNA,BRAKE NOISE,FAULTY POWER WINDOWS,MAIN REAR SEAL LEAK

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT UNLOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING. *TS. THE TIMING BELT AND RADIATOR HOSE WERE REPLACED. *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TEN MONTHS AGO IT HAD FOUR NEW TIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ABOUT A MONTH AGO. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS WEARING OUT THE TIRES TOO FAST. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING AS I'M DRIVING...VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH A SMOOTH ACTION...MY MECHANIC HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT! *NLM

COMPLAIN I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE BEFORE 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE AS THEIR CAMRY 1997-2001 MODELS, WHICH TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THOSE ENGINES. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND IT WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TIME FRAME, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1996 MODEL, TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS NO DISPUTING THAT THE FAILURE OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES AS A RESULT OF A BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE ONLY TO THE FACT THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. PETER XU. *NLM

FRONT AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SERIOUSLY INJURING DRIVER, WHEN FRONT TIRE BUMPED CURB WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS MOVING UNDER 5 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

ENGINE SEIZURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. *NLM

MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTTALLED. *AK

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND FRACTURED THE END OF THE SPRING AND SCORED THE TIRE WALL. *NLM *AK THE MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF THE FRACTURED SURFACE SHOWED DARK CRYSTALS EMBEDDED IN THE STEEL. *SCC THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONDENSOR AND RECEIVER DRYER *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOM NOISE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND HAD 2 LARGE HOLES IN IT. *NLM

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVES ON TWO 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY'S SOLD IN CALIFORNIA, FAIL EVERY 20,000 TO 30,000 MILES, AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $425.00 PER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR IN OTHER CARS SOLID IN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FAILURES PER CAR. *NLM

THE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE. *JB

AS OF THIS WEEK THE FLEX PIPE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS CAUSED EXHAUST GASES TO BE EMITTED UNDER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS PART WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS A SINGLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE MALFUNCTIONING "FLEX PIPE".

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK *JB

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTIES STARTING. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND WAS REPLACED 7 MORE TIMES. THE CONSUMER FOUND INFORMATION ON A TOYOTA REPORT WHICH INDICATED THAT THE EGR VALVE AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SCC *NLM

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM. IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THOSE ENGINES IN THEIR 1997-2001 MODELS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND IT WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TIME FRAME, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1996 MODEL TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS NO DISPUTING THAT THE FAILURE OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES AS A RESULT OF A BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE ONLY TO THE FACT THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. GARY LEVINE. *NLM

STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO START. *TS *JB

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, THE MECHANIC FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SHORTED OUT THE TAIL LIGHTS.8JB

1996TOYOTA CAMRY, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANS,PROBLEM #1, THERE IS AN ODD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE BUT THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE PINPOINTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT APART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANMISSION PLACE FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO BUT CAME BACK. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS NOISE COULD BE.

BRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *JB

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1997-2001 2.2 CYL ENGINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP DURING OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION DILUTION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED EVEN THOUGH ITS A 1996, BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE. *SCC

IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAS A DEFECT, CAUSES VEHICLE TO IDLE LOW, AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP ENGINE FROM STARTING IF THIS CONTINUES. CONTACTED MAUFACTURER/DEALER. THEY WER EAWARE OF DEFECT, BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, THERE IS BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE AT START UP. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SLUDGE PROBLEM IN ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY.*AK

CONSUMER CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

IDELE AIR CONTROL VALVE KEEPS STICKING. THE DEALER HAS CLEAN IT ONCE AND REPLACED IT ONCE. IT KEEPS COMING BACK AFTER 2 MONTHS. I CLEANED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. CLEANING WON'T HELP ANYMORE. VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING WHEN STARTING THE ENGINEE COLD. HAVE TO STEP ON GAS PEDAL UNTIL ENGINE HEATS UP OR ENGINE DIES.*AK

THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED A CATASTOPHIC FIRE AND COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT INJURY. WE ARE CONTACTING TOYOTA REGARDING THE NEWSWORTHY "ENGINE SLUDGE" PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING IN 1996-2000 CAMRYS (OURS WAS 1996) AND THERE CLAIM OF HONORING ENGINE DAMAGE CLAIMS.*AK

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTICED IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL AND OTHER COOLANTS SLUDGED UP IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM.*JB