1998 Toyota Camry

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE OR REMAIN IN ITS MOST RECENT POSITION REGARDLESS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE WAS HYDROPLANING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, BRUISES AND GLASS CUT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT STATED LOCAL DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

EXITING A PARKING PLACE WHEN CAR SURGED AND ACCELERATED. COLLIDED WITH FOUR VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND FELT LOOSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL UP TOWARDS HER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V307000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED BETWEEN THE CONTACT'S TREE AND A NEIGHBORING HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BROKE. THE END THAT ATTACHES TO THE TRANSMISSION IS PLASTIC. THIS LEAVES THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO SHIFT.

STARTING IN 2015, THREE OF THE 5 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1998 CAMRY DO NOT REMAIN LATCHED, OR FAIL TO INITIALLY LATCH. AS A (RETIRED) MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I DISASSEMBLED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE DEFECT IS IN THE ANCHOR MECHANISM WITH THE "PRESS" BUTTON ON IT. THE "PRESS" BUTTON HAS A METAL SPRING MOUNTED ON THE RED PLASTIC PART, AND THE PLASTIC HAS GRADUALLY CRACKED AT THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS METAL SPRING IS WHAT PUSHES THE METAL BLOCK THROUGH THE RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE SHOULDER BELT COUPLER, WHEN IT IS PLUGGED INTO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCHED PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CRACK GROWS TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL SPRING CANNOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO RELIABLY LATCH TO THE SHOULDER BELT. IT MAY INITIALLY LATCH AND FEEL SECURE, BUT CAN THEN COME LOOSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. I PLAN TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM PART, ONE SHOWING THE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SEAT BELTS, SO I BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DEFECTIVE BELT ANCHORS. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO LONG-TERM HEAT AND COLD CYCLES COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE SPRING HAS ITS HEAVIEST LOAD ON THE PLASTIC MOUNT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED, SO THE CRACK COULD POSSIBLY START, OR GROW, EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BEING USED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER FAILED. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES AND LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND WORKED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THIS 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT NOW HAS 64, 970 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTAINS ALL ORIGINAL PARTS, AND HAS A FLAWLESS ELECTRONICS SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WHICH HAS BURNED CONSTANTLY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHILE DRIVING. TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM CHECKED IS COSTLY, YET THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THESE AIR BAGS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. IN ADDITION, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF ANY KIND REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED COLLAR BONE INJURIES AND ABRASIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

I HAD USED THE COAST ON MY CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE MY SET SPEED FROM 78MPH TO 71MPH, AFTER ABOUT 50 YARDS, MY CRUISE CONTROL SPED UP ON ITS OWN TO ABOUT 76MPH BEFORE I TAPPED THE BRAKES AND CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, I CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL BACK ON AND WENT TO USE THE SET BUTTON TO SET MY SPEED AT 71MPH. WHEN I PUSHED THE SET BUTTON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT 'LOCK IN' TO THE 71MPH BUT INSTEAD STARTED TO SPEED UP BEYOND 71MPH AND AT 75MPH I TAPPED THE BRAKE AND CUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE NEXT DAY, THE NEXT THREE TIME I WENT TO CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WENT TO PUSH THE SET BUTTON TO SET IT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING, THE CAR ALWAYS TOOK OFF BEYOND WHAT I WAS WANTING TO SET IT AT AND CAUSING ME TO TAP THE BRAKES AND I WAS FORCED TO CUT IT OFF BECAUSE AFTER I HAD TAPPED THE BRAKE AND LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WOULD START TO INCREASE SPEED AGAIN. *TR

BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *TR

DRIVER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *TR

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS RECALL. EVAP SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS: P0441/P0446 ON ALL MODELS. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS YOU CAN FEEL IT JERKING LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND WHEN THE CAR STOPS IT CUTS OFF. SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY SAY ITS A RECALL NOW I AM WONDERING IF TOYOTA IS GOING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PIECE IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I NEED MY VEHICLE TO RUN PROPERLY. *TR

CAR BEGAN "GOING OUT OF CONTROL" UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING WITH THE ROAD, INTO A FENCE/TREE AND CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER RECEIVED FACIAL TRAUMA, CHEST TRAUMA, AND MULTIPLE LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS, REQUIRING SURGERY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMING TO A STOP SIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL THE SUDDEN, THE CAR SPED UP AND THE BRAKE WAS FAILING. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR TO THE CURB. I CHECKED THE BRAKE AND WAS FUNCTIONING. LATER, I HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO PIERCEY TOYOTA TO DIAGNOSIS AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

JUST GOT HOME DID NOT SMELL OR SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL, WENT INSIDE AND MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LATER I SEEN LOTS OF SMOKE WENT OUTSIDE AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND FLAMING UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR

THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE KEY FAILS TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK OF THE CAR AND DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. I ALSO HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER OR ACCIDENT RELATED. *TR