1996 Toyota Camry complaints

#1 - DISCOVERED WIND NOISE FROM AN INCOMPLETE SEAL IN RIGHT REAR QUARTER GLASS OF VEHICLE, ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEL TOYOTA(DEALER), WHO SAID THEY RESEALED THE WINDOW. NOISE FROM SAID WINDOW CONTINUED, AT HIGHER SPEEDS ABOVE 30MPH. I TOOK VEHICLE BACK INTO DEALER ONE MONTH LATER. THIS TIME, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE WEATHERSTRIP AROUND THE WINDOW, THAT THE "WIND NOISE" HAD BEEN CAUSED BY DEFORMED WEATHERSTRIP. THIS WAS DONE WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, NEVER TO MY SATISFACTION. CONDITION EXISTS TODAY, 05/29/2002!! #2 - DISC BRAKES WERE SERVICED BY JERRY'S TOYOTA IN BALTIMORE, AFTER MAKING A STICKING NOISE RIGHT BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS, MACHINED THE ROTORS, AND SERVICED THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER AFTER HE FOUND IT STICKING. THIS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE NOISE, WHICH CONTINUES TODAY (05/29/2002) EVEN AFTER A SECOND SERVICING! #3 - ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK THE TOYOTA CAMRY INTO JERRY'S TOYOTA FOR SERVICING. THEY CLEANED CARBON DEPOSITS FROM INJECTORS, THROTTLE PLATE VALVES AND PISTON RINGS; SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME; I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING. I AM NOW WAITING FOR EITHER A THIRD INCIDENT AT $200. TO FIX, OR IF THEY REPLACE ANY FUEL INJECTORS, THESE COST $200. EA PER PART!!*AK

THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, THE SENSOR WAS RESET AS POSSIBLE CAUSE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YH

96 V 0237 000/LIGHTING:LAMP OR SOCKET:TAIL LIGHT: CONSUMER REPORTING INOPERATIVE TAIL LIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE MANUFACTURER RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DURING A CAR CRASH DRIVER'S SEAT FULLY RECLINED, AND WAS UNABLE TO PULL BACK INTO THE RIGHT POSITION.*AK *JG

BOUGHT 2 TIRES ON 3/4/2002 FROM NTB; NEITHER HAS THE DOT TIRE GRADING INFORMATION ON THEM. SENT PICTURE TO GEORGE GILLESPIE IN NHTSA. AT HIS REQUEST WENT BACK TO NTB AND LOOKED AT DISPLAY TIRE; IT WAS A DIFFERENT SIZE BUT IT ALSO DID NOT HAVE THE GRADINGS ON IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TURNING ON IGNITION VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. NLM

IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE KEEPS CLOGGING UP. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED IT TWICE, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING, AND GAS PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO START THE VEHICLE. *YD

BRAKES WILL MAKE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.*AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER HAS TO STEP ON GAS PEDAL TO START VEHICLE, WHICH CAN CAUSE INTERNAL DAMAGE TO BEARINGS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

POWER STEERING RACK & PINION GEAR AND HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE BEGAIN TO LEAK AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. DEALER SAID THESE ITEMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A NEW PART NUMBER FOR THE POWER STEERING GEAR, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PART. 70,000 IS WAY TO EARLY FOR SUCH A FAILURE. THE REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. PARTS ALONE FOR THE REPAIR ARE ABOUT $1400. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COMPENSATE.

CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT RELEASE FROM TRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE.*AK *JG

SEATBELT RETRACTORS IN THE VEHICLE DON'T WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES BELT DOESN'T RETRACT ALL THE WAY OR SOMETIMES IT WON'T RETRACT AT ALL. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE IT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *YH

WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

SLUDGE BUILDUP IN ENGINE. HUGE PUFFS OF BLACK SMOKE ON STARTING. *AK

THE ENGINE DOES NOT HEAT SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH FOR THE OIL TO CLEAN THE ENGINE, MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THE SLUDGE BUILDS UP IN THE ENGINE DUE TO THE OWNERS FAILURE TO GET REGUALAR OIL CHANGES OR THE OWNER USING THE WRONG OIL, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ENGINE REACHES 165 DEGREES AROUND TOWN WHEN IT SHOULD REACH 195 DEGREES, CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINE OR THE THERMOSTAT. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC WHEN RELEASING GAS PEDAL, THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED THAT HAS TO HAPPEN WITH THEM BEFORE VEHICLE CAN BE CHECKED. *AK *SLC

DURING AN ACCIDENT ON 10/15/01 MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AT IDLE SPEED, THE CONTROL VALVE STICKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK BRAKES EXPERIENCE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND VIBRATION, ROTORS WERE WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WERE GLAZED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WEAK CAUSING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, 16 VALVE SEALS CAME APART DUE TO BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WATER PUMP LEAKED, TIMING BELT FAILED, VALVE COVER LEAKED, AND CAM SEAL WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, RIGHT OUTER AXLE BOOT WAS SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, CV BOOTS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTER WAS HARD AND WAS MAKING NOISES, DEALER FOUND THE SHIFTER LEVER PLATE WAS BROKEN, TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE CAR JACK WAS MISSING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE ANTENNA WAS INOPERABLE. DEALER FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BATTERY. CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, DEALER SECURED SEAT SLIDE ADJUSTER HOOK, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS, THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY, EGR MODULATOR, IDLER CONTROL VALVE, IDLE AIR SPEED CONTROL, DISTRIBUTOR O-RING, IDLER BEARING, ISC VALVE, AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, B

PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CRACKED . HANDLE WAS RARELY USED. TWO MONTHS LATER, DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR HANDLE CRACKED. THE PART COST OVER $90, INSTALLATION ABOUT $90. TOTAL FOR 2 HANDLES ALMOST $400. I'M THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE CAR, 55 YRS OLD, TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.*AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS EITHER IDLING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT IT WOULD STALL . COULD BE DRIVING OR TURNING A CORNER, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING.*AK

FRONT BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. *AK

TAIL LIGHTS FAILED: CHECK LIGHT BULBS - THEY'RE OKAY; WARNING LIGHT SOMETIME GOES ON. *AK

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW TOYOTA CAMRY LE IN NOV. 95 IT WAS MODEL 96. AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF STARTING THE CAR. WHEN I START THE CAR WHETHER ITS MORNING OR IN THE AFTERNOON, ONCE I RELEASE THE KEY IT DIES. I'VE BEEN GOING TO 2 TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEIR DIAGNOSED IS ALWAYS THE IDLE CONTROL. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 1997, THEN AGAIN IN 1999. I WENT TO TOYOTA NORTH HOLLYWOOD AND THEY FIXED IT BY REPLACING THE IDLE VALVE ITSELF, SO I WAS TOLD. THEN MAY 2000, I HAD A PROBLEM AGAIN WHEN IN MY DASHBOARD THE WARNING "CHECK ENGINE " LIT. SO I WENT AGAIN TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEN THIS TIME, I AM HAVING A PROBLEM AGAIN STARTING THE CAR, THE ENGINE DIES AND I HAVE TO STEP ON GAS PEDAL FOR MORE THAN 2 MINUTES TO START IT , WHETHER IT'S MORNING OR AFTERNOON. I WENT BACK TO TOYOTA SERVICE THIS TIME IN TOYOTA WONDRIES ALHAMBRA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE AGAIN AND IT WILL COST AGAIN $330. WHY IS THIS AN ONGOING PROBLEM? I KNOW DOZENS OF CARS FROM MY FRIENDS AND FAMILIES BUT THEY DONT GO THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY OTHER YEAR. PLEASE HELP.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT SUDDENLY, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMERER SLAMING THE BRAKE IN PANIC STOP, BUT WITH OUT ANY ACCIDENT DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ABS SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP. WHEN THIS HAD HAPPENED, VEHCLE SKIDDED & HIT A POLE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, AND WENT THROUGH LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND TIRE DEFLATED. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER TEMPORARILY. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN ON FREEWAY. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHUR INFORMATION.*AK

MANUALLY ADJUSTING DRIVERS SEAT WILL MOVE FORWARD & BACKWARD WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, AND CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKING SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE SOME COMPONENTS OF SEAT THAT ARE LOOSE AND CAUSING THIS NOTICABLE MOVEMENT OF SEAT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND ARE GOING TO HOLD THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXAMINATION/REPAIR RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY GETTING READY TO BACK UP AND FRONT SPRING COIL POPPED THROUGH TIRE ON DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY SIGNS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. TIRE WAS TAKEN OFF, AND WHAT WAS LEFT HAD A BIG BLOTCH IN METAL. IT WAS BROKEN IN HALF, ONLY TOP PART WAS ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS FOR 36,000 MILES.*AK

WHEN OLDER SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. YOUNGER SON WAS RIDING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER.*AK

REPLACED VALVE ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES (ABOUT 1/YEAR). *AK

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *AK

RACK & PINION STEERING SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 70,000 MILE - NO WARRANTY COMPENSATION. *AK

CANNOT START ENGINE AND ENGINE STALLLING DUE TO IDLE SPPED CONTROL VALVE FAILURE. REPLACED ISC VALVE 5 TIMES SINCE 1997.

LEFT SIDE FRONT END COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE GETTING INTO PARKED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CENTER SUPPORT WAS WIPED OUT. TRANSFER CASE ALSO BROKE WHERE IT WENT ONTO THE BODY. *AK DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS CHUNKS OF METAL FOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG. CONSUMER HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING STARTING PROBLEMS. STRUT FAILURE. KEY AND LOCK PROBLEMS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAULTY. INTERIOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH FRONT END HIT SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR . WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 15MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST. CONSUMER STATED THAT AN AIRBAG WAS THERE TO PROTECT PASSENGER, BUT INSTEAD IT BROKE CONSUMER'S WRIST.*AK

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE CRASHING FRONTEND OF CAR AT THE SPEED OF 35 MPH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DRIVER INJURED NECK & PASSENGER INJURED KNEES! *AK

IN A NORMAL WINDY DAY OR MILD WIND TRUNK WILL FALL DOWN HARD AND EASILY.*AKTHE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AFTERMARKET SPOILER IS TOO HEAVY CAUSING THE TRUNK LID TO FALL EASILY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE LID HAS FALLEN ON THE CONSUMERS HEAD WHILE REACHING INTO THE TRUNK ON A WINDY DAY. NLM

AFTER PURCHASING CAR I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AFTER 3 MONTHS, THEN TOLD ROTORS WERE WARPED, NOW REAR AXLE IS FAULTY AND CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ROTORS/DRUMS AND BRAKES AGAIN. CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SHAKING. THIS IS TRUE OF BOTH SIDES, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP . CONSUMER HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL 3 ITMES, AND ONCE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF ENGINE. TOYOTA DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THROTTLE. *AK

DEALER SERVICE REPS SAYS TO REPLACE ENTIRE RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. *AK

CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT DEALERSHIPS PER TOYOTA'S SCHEDULE; NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. 73,000 IS TOO EARLY FOR THE RACK AND PINION TO HAVE AN INTERNAL LEAK. CAR HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED AN NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. COST TO REPAIR THE R&P $1500, COMPANY AGREED TO ADJUST IT BY $241. BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE LEAKING OUT OF BACK DOORS. DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. *AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH IMPACT AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

ALL FOUR OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES, FIRESTONE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE TIRE WARRANTY (FIRESTONE FR-14-195-70-14, FR-1416800). NLM

POWER ANTENNA WAS CAUSING SHORTAGES IN RADIO. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ANTENNA. AT PRESENT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE ANTENNA DOES NOT CONTRACT IN VERY COLD WEATHER, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *SLC

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.*AK

I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS SLUDGE ENGINE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. TOYOTA NOT BACKING THE WARRANTY. THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WORLDWIDE HERE. *AK

VEHICLE DID NOT HOLD IDLE WHEN STARTED. ISC MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 2.5 YEARS. EACH REPLACEMENT LASTED 1 OR 2 MONTHS MORE THAN THE LENGTH OF WARRANTY. *AK

CAR STALLS WHEN STARTING COLD. IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILED 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASED, ALMOST ONCE A YEAR.