1997 Toyota Camry complaints

MY AUTOMOBILE SUSTAINED A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH BUT THE SAFETY AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE OR INFLATE. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT/TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH WITH ONLY THE DRIVER IN A TOYOTA CAMRY 1997 VEHICLE. (AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT, INSTALLED AT 68,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 205/65R15 AND THE DOT# IS A3UR4422301) THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTRATED. THE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 CAMRY V6 WITH AMERI GENERAL G4S TIRES WHOSE SIZE IS 205/65 R15 AND DOT # IS A3UR 442 2301 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ON RTE. 287 NORTH NEAR 14B EXIT FOR BRIDGEWATER MALL , THE RIGHT REAR TIRE JUST BLEW OFF INTO PIECES. THE WHOLE TREAD JUST CAME OFF THE REAR WHEEL AFTER A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN SHE STOPPED SHE FOUND TIRE COMPLETELY DIS-INTEGRATED. IT IS THE FIRST TIME EVER IN OUR LIFE THAT THIS KIND OF THING HAS HAPPENED AND I AM LUCKY THAT MY WIFE IS ALIVE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. BUT SHE IS COMPLETELY UNDER SHOCK AND AFRAID TO DRIVE NOW. AFTER ANALYZING THE WHEEL AT STS TIRE CENTER, THEY JUST WANTED TO GIVE 25% ON NEW SAME TIRE AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEFECT WITH TIRE. I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED BUT REALIZED LATER THAT "HOW WILL THEY ACCEPT FAULT OPENLY" HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED CONTINENTAL DIRECT BY PHONE, THEY ASKED ME TO HANDOVER THE TIRE TO THEM AND I AM AFRAID THAT THEY WILL DEFINITELY NOT REVEAL THE REAL REASON AND JUST OFFER ME PROBABLY FREE 1 TIRE REPLACEMENT. SINCE I AM AWARE OF SEVERAL SUCH INCIDENTS IN THE NEWS, I THOUGHT OF CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE FOR PROPER ACTION. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOUR OFFICE SOON. I HAVE ALSO VERBALLY COMPLAINED OVER PHONE. AWAITING BHARAT AIDASANI. *AK

VALVE OIL SEAL FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGING OR JELLING SMOKES WHILE STARTING. *AK

TRUNK HINGES ARE CUTTING INTO THE WIRE HARNNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS. FUSES FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER INFOMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

AT ABOUT 70K MILES, MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY STARTING EXHIBITING PROBLEMS OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE AT COLD STARTUP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE SLUGE OR GELLING PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE TSB-628696 AS NOTED IN THE NHTSA. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS DECLINED TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT IS WILLING TO COVER ONLY THE PARTS, BUT THE LABOR IS BEING CHARGED TO ME. THEY ARE NOT HONORING THE EXTENDED COVERAGE THAT THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED FOR THIS TSB TC02002 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 628696. THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED GAS IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE TOTALLY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE.*AK

TOOK 1997 CAMRY TO DEALER SEPTEMBER 2002 FOR SLIGHT HESITATION PROBLEM AND ADVISED THEM THAT I NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK WHILE PARKED AT HOME. DEALER ADVISED IT WAS ENGINE SLUDGE. CAR REMAINED IN DEALER'S POSSESSION FOR 1 1/2 MONTHS BECAUSE OF NO RESPONSE FROM SERVICE TECH. THEY CLAIMED THAT SLUDGE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, HOWEVER. JULY 8, 2004 THE CAR STOPPED. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE DIED FROM SLUDGING...AGAIN. DEALER SAY THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AND THAT I MUST PURCHASE ANOTHER ENGINE FOR $5200.00 (USED 2000 TOYOTA ENGINE). I ADVISED THEM OF THE LETTER FOUND ON THE I-NET FROM TOYOTO RE. "COVERAGE FOR OIL GELLING RELATED ENGINE DAMAGE FOR 8 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE FROM DATE OF FIRST SALE" BUT SERVICE TECH SAID "WE FIXED IT ONCE AND WE WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN". I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION, AND NO SATISFACTION FROM TOYOTA DEALER. HELP!*AK

TRUNK LID WAS CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BACK UP LIGHTS WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE TRUNK. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

MY 1997 CAMRY WILL NOT START BACK AND HOLD AN IDLE SOMETIMES AFTER IT HAS BEEN DROVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT STARTS FINE WHEN IT IS COLD AND WHEN IT REFUSES TO IDLE, IF I WAIT UNTIL THE FUEL INJECTORS FILL, AND TURN ON THE A/C IT WILL THEN START. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CANNOT GIVE ME ANY EXPLAINATION, THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE THREE DIFFERENT THINGS AND EACH PART WOULD COST AT $100.00 OR MORE PLUS LABOR THEY TOLD ME I'D HAVE TO JUST PUT ON EACH PART UNTIL IGET IT RIGHT, THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY TO GUESS, SO I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT AND HOPE THAT IT WILL START, THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I THOUGHT THAT TOYOTA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY GOOD AT SERVICE? WHAT ARE THEY DOING, HIRING JUST ANYONE OFF THE STREET TO REPAIR CARS?*AK

5INCIDENTS: 1) MILDEW ODOR FROM AIRCONDITION (BROUGHT CAR TO CHECK--DATE NOT AVAILABLE). THE AIRCONDITION WAS REPLACED WITH EITHER NEW OR USED PART. *AK 2) WENT TO RENO (SNOWING) AND THE AIRCONDITION (HOT/COLD) DID NOT DEFROST PROPERLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. ALL FOGGED WITH NO VISIBILITY. I STICKED MY HEAD TO THE SIDE WINDOW AND DRIVE VERY SLOWLY & ON A SLOW LANE BEHIND A HUGE TRUCK--IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY!!!!! 3) PERIODICALLY, THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT FLASH TOO FAST BUT BY HITTING THE FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR IT'S WENT BACK TO NORMAL. 6) WHEEL ALIGNMENT--ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEM WITH THAT TOO (AT THE MOMENT CANNOT RECALL DETAILS). 5) ON 6/9/04, MY HUSBAND WENT TO GET A SMOG CHECK. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 15,000 MILES BU IT DIDN'T PASSED THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS VISUAL INSPECTION/FUNCTIONAL CHECK RESULTS. "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT--FAIL. THIS VEHICLE FAILED THE MIL/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DUE TO OBD COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE."--NO SIGNAL. THE CAR IS HARDLY USED AND PARKED IN GARAGE. WHAT SHOULD WE DO AND HOW CAN YOU HELP? THANKS ;-)!!!

I HAVE 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 39,000 MILES AND LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE EXHAUST COMES OUT OF TAILPIPE WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING OR WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ALSO, HAD PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT END/STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO ENGINE SLUDGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOMING NOISE. THEN, SAW FIRE THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TORE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. NO FIRE WAS REPORTED.*AK

ENGINE SEIZED. PROBLEMS WITH OIL.

1997 TOYOTA CAMARY HEAVY BLUE SMOKE ON COLD STARTS, ORIGINALY TAKEN IN FOR OIL GEL PROBLEM WAS TOLD NO GELLING FOUND BUT VALVE OIL SEAL WORN AND NEED REPLACE $1000.00. CAR HAS 85,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN SERVIED BY TOYOTA PER THIER SERVICE MANUAL. HAVE TALKED WITH NUMERIOUS OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE SEALS BEING SUB STANDARD. PLEASE ADVISE IF OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN IT RAINED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER EXTENDING SEAT BELT TO LOCK IN PLACE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SYSTEM ON A TOYOTA CAMRY. *MR *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *AK

A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ROD TO THE CYLINDER BROKE, CAUSING THE ROD TO BREAK LOOSE AND MOVE AROUND INSIDE THE ENGINE.

WHEN I TOOK MY CAMRY IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ENGINE \\DESLUDGED.\\ I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND WOULD PREVENT MORE COSTLY REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE.

EXHAUST BLOWING BLUE SMOKE, SLUDGE BUILDUP ON VALVE COVERS, NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, CAR VIBRATES. IN SHOP AGAIN

MY ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THIS OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THE GELLED OIL, ONE OF THE PISTONS BROKE OFF CREATING A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND THE MOTOR MOUNT BECAME DISPLACED FROM THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM GREER TOYOTA IN MILLBROOK, NY IN AUGUST OF 2001 AND WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS WOULD COMPLETE A THOROUGH INSPECTION BEFORE THE CAR WAS TURNED OVER TO ME. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES BY A TRUSTED MECHANIC. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR AT MY OWN COST, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS MONTH. NOW IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE, IT APPEARS THAT MY STRUTS ARE FAILING AS WELL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING A CLAIM FOR THE ENGINE.

TOYOTA HAS COMPLETELY DENIED MY ENGINE BLEW UP DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE AND IN FACT ARE HOLDING MY CAR HOSTAGE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO COST ME 2200.00 FOR THEM TO TEAR IT DOWN SO TOYOTA COULD DETERMINE THAT IT WAS ENGINE SLUDGE, THEN THEY DENIED IT WAS AND SAID THAT MY CAM SHAFT BROKE. A CAM SHAFT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE IN A 5 YEAR OLD CAR, ESPECIALY ONE THAT HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AND I HAD THE OIL CHANGED 1 WEEK PRIOR AT TOYOTA. I THEN GOT A CALL SAYING MY CAR WAS READY AND IT WAS 7800.00, THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT. I WAS FURIOUS AND TOLD THEM I NEVER GAVE MY AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE A CAM SHAFT FOR 7800.00. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THEY WOULDN'T RELEASE IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PAPERWORK.. (SUDDENLY) AND I KEPT GETTING THE RUN AROUND.. NOW THEY SAY THE CAM SHAFT WAS NEVER REPLACED.. ( I THINK THEY REMOVED IT).. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AT TOYOTA SINCE LAST NOVEMBER OR WHEN I FILED THIS REPORT. I AM FURIOUS THAT THEY WON'T FIX IT.. AND THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME THE PERSONS NAME AT TOYOTA CORP. WHO TURNED DOWN MY REQUEST TO HAVE IT FIXED UNDER THE SLUDGE PROBLEM..

MY TOYOTA CAMRY'S ENGINE FAILED AS I WAS MERGING ONTO A VERY BUSY FREEWAY WITH MY BABY IN THE BACKSEAT. I WAS STUCK ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FAST LANE FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED; MY FANCY DRIVING IS THE ONLY REASON AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. I HAD JUST RECEIVED THE LETTER ABOUT THE OIL GEL AND WAS GOING TO GET MY OIL CHANGED THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THE ENGINE FAILED ON MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY. NOW BOTH TOYOTA AND MY LOCAL DEALER ARE TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE DOES NOT HAVE OIL CAKED INSIDE THE HEAD SO IT COULD NOT BE OIL GEL THAT CAUSED MY ENGINE TO THROW A ROD AT 80,000 MILES. WHEN ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN THEY HAVE NO ANSWER EXCEPT SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS TO ENGINES AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY THEM A SIGNIFICANT SUM OF MONEY TO OPEN UP THE ENGINE TO FIND OUT IF OIL GEL IS PRESENT. IF IT IS NOT THE CAUSE AS THEY KEEP SAYING IT IS NOT YET I FEEL SURE IT IS; I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR A NEW ENGINE AT THE DEALER. TOYOTA ALSO WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO HAVE THE WORK DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IF I MOVE THE CAR AND FIND OIL GEL IS THE CAUSE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR OVER 3 MONTHS AND HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. IS THE ONLY WAY TO DETECT OIL GEL A SLUDGE ON THE HEAD? I AM SO FRUSTRATED.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ON INTERSTATE 94, HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME GOING AT 45-50 MPH, AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF FRONTAL ACCIDENT I HAD. IF HITTING A CAR AT 45-50 MPH DEAD ON IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING THEN WHAT IS? DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING, I SUFFERED A SEVERE BRAIN CONTUSION WITH BLEEDING IN THE BRAIN AND LOSS TIME OFF OF WORK. EARLIER ENGINE PROBLEM: OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE, ONCE REPAIRS WERE DONE 6 MONTHS LATER ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND DOG BONE, INJECTORS AND GASKETS, WHY?, THIS WAS ALL REPLACED ON THE FIRST ENGINEERING DEFECT TOYOTA CREATED AND WHY SHOULD I PAY A PORTION OF THEIR OIL SLUDGE ENGINEERING DEFECTS.

I RECEIVED A LETTER LAST YEAR FROM TOYOTA EXPLAINING A GELLING PROBLEM AND TO WATCH OUT FOR BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. I WENT INTO SEARS FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE MOISTURE WAS GETTING IN THE OIL AND IT LOOKED SLUDGY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT THIS GELLING. THE LETTER INDICATED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE PART/INSTALLATION. I GOT THE ESTIMATED BACK FROM TOYOTA AND THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE ANY GELLING OR SLUDGE IN THE OIL/ENGINE, BUT THAT I DID HAVE ROTTED VALVE STEM SEALS AND HEAD GASKET LEAKS, AND OIL PAN LEAKS AND THATS WHY THERE WAS BLUE SMOKE. THE CAR IS BARELY 7 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL FAITHFULLY AT 3000 MILES. I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BECAUSE I WANTED A SECOND OPINION FROM A MECHANIC THAT WAS REFERRED TO ME THAT IS TRUSTWORTHY. I PLAN ON TAKING THE CAR IN(AN APPT. WAS MADE FOR 2 DAYS AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) AND I HAVE QUESTIONS IN HAND ABOUT HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE NOT HAD 1 INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE IS GOING BAD/VALVES ARE LEAKING(I.E. THERE HAVE BEEN NO NOISES, LEAKING OF ANTIFREEZE OR OTHER FLUID WHEN I PARK MY CAR O/N OR FOR A FEW HOURS).

THE PISTON SNAPPED SUDDENLY TOTALLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 - 5,000 BY A REPUTABLE LOCAL INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION. THE DEALER AT FIRST ATTEMPTED TO BLAME THE OWNER, SAYING THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED BY THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE STATION HAD PROBABLY USED THE WRONG GRADE AND USED THE WRONG TYPE OF AIR FILTERS. HOWEVER, THEY LATER BACKED OFF THIS CLAIM AND SAID IT NOW APPEARS THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THEY CALLED THIS AN 'ACT OF GOD'. THEY ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE OIL FILTER POSSIBLY BEING CLOGGED. THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER SLUDGE AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM.

LOUD KNOCKING HEARD FROM FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE TO BE A BAD CV JOINT. ADDITIONALLY, DURING A ROUTINE ENGINE OIL CHANGE, I DISCOVERED AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF BEADING SLUDGE THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED BY HAND TO DRAIL AND FILL THE OIL. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF THE TOYOTA ENGINES PRODUCING SLUDGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED ON THEIR RECALL IF ONE OCCURS.

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD TICKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS LOOSE AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIMING BELT COVER. *AK

CRUNCHING /RATTLE FROM FRONT STRUTS WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN ROAD. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND I WAS ADVISED AT TIME OF THE INSTALLATION THAT THE NEW STRUTS WOULD NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND NO RESOLUTION EXITS. *AK

THE CONSUMER CAN START THE IGNITION WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED IN ANY POSITION.*AK

2 YEARS AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT BELT FAIL. THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT TO COME OUT AND THEN WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PAST SUMMER I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM (IT ALSO FAILED) AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE / MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO VARIOUS TAIL LIGHTS / TURN SIGNALS / BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. NOW IT SEEMS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNING DIMLY. NEW BULBS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ENGINEERING ISSUE OVERALL WITH RESPECT TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS YEAR / MODEL OF CAR. *LA

I BOUGHT A 97 TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON 10-17-01, WITH 36,847 EXISTING MILES. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER 02/07/03:92588 MLS. FOR ENGINE KNOCK NOISE AND SMOKING ON COLD STARTS,ALSO TO CHECK TRANSMISSION VIBRATION/CHATTER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANS, REPLACED LEAKING GASKETS AND REPLACED WORN VALVE GUIDE SEALS. AT THIS SAME TIME THEY WERE ASKED TO CHECK FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE LETTER TOYOTA SENT ME IN REGARD TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL GELLING OR SLUDGE... ON 05/16/03 WITH 98910 MILES I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WITH ENGINE STILL KNOCKING ON COLD STARTS. THEY FOUND THE OIL PUMP SHAFT BINDING , CRANKSHAFT, ROD AND MAIN BEARINGS DAMAGED. WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THEIR INTENT TO REPLACE THESE PARTS I QUESTIONED THE POSSIBLE REPAIR OF RINGS AND OTHER UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, KNOWING THAT METAL PARTICLES COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT AND DAMAGE THESE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT NO SUCH WORK WAS INTENDED OR NEEDED. THEY DID PROCEED WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT, ROD BEARINGS AND MAIN BEARINGS... ON 11/03/03 WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK OUT WHIRRING TYPE NOISE FROM ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT FLICKER AT IDLE WITH ENGINE WARMED. THEY FOUND BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO CAMSHAFT AND CAM BEARING WEAR... I FIRST SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA REPAIR DEALER, THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. I NEXT WAS REFUSED ANY HELP BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CORP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPT IN CALF (REF # 200311140813)

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE'S CAMBER TO SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT REPLACING MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MANUFACTURE AN ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENT TO ADJUST CAMBER. *AK THE ONLY WAY TO ALIGN THE CAR IS EITHER TO BUY COSTLY NEW SUSPENSION PARTS FROM TOYOTA OR RESORT TO AN AFTERMARKET CAM BOLT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WHEN A SOLID LIQUID STARTED SPILLING OUT OF THE VENTS. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE A/C REFRIGERATOR.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES TERRIBLY. STRUTS WERE REPLACED, DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE A RECALL. *LA

MY ENGINE VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED, MY OIL AND TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING, AND I HAVE BLUE EXHAUST COMING FROM MY TAILPIPE

ENGINE SEIZURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE.

COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TANK. MECHANIC DETERMINED LEAK IS COMING FROM A DEFECTIVE TANK AND THE LEAK IS COMING FROM A GAP IN THE SEAM. LOCAL AUTOMOBILE DEALER STATES PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (62K MILES) AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR EXPENSES. POSSIBLE REMEDY MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE TANK BUT YET TO BE DETERMINED. SOLDERING THE TANK AT THE GAPS DID NOT SUFFICE AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING. *AK

1997 CAMRY XLE..OIL GEL PROBLEM. TOYOTA BLAMED PROBLEM ON US/LACK OF OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. IN 1999. CERT.USED CAR. NEEDED NEW ENGINE AFTER ONE YEAR. PROBLEM UNDETECTED AGAIN. IN FEB 2002 CAR BLEW ENGINE AFTER BEING CHECKED @TOYOTA. GOT LETTER IN JULY 2002 STATING THEIR WAS A GELLING PROBLEM. I SENT INFORMATION THEY NEEDED. NEVER A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA. I SENT ALL INFO AGAIN CERTIFIED MAIL. NO RESPONSE.*AK

DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCK IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAS TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ALMOST $600.00 TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, UPON DRIVING WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF TAIL PIPE, AND OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 85,000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE, AND THE ENGINE JUST CRACKED I HAD GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT TALKED ABOUT OIL GELLING BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN. I TOOK IT TO PHILLIPS TOYOTA IN LEESBURG FL AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHY MY ENGINE WENT. I KNOW WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE MY ENGINE WOULD LAST WELL OVER 120,000 MILES. *JB

SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. HAVE HAD FRONT BELTS REPLACED ON MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY TWICE AND PROBLEM COMES BACK. BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND HANG OUT DOOR OR ON ME AFTER RELEASING. *NLM

WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE TRIED TO START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM