1999 Toyota Camry complaints

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH APPROX. 89,000 MILE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I AM TOLD THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 294 PARTS AND 190 LABOR. UPON CHECKING THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A LEGITIMATE REPAIR IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ON MANY TOYOTA MODELS INCLUDING MINE. *NM

DEFECTIVE PART ON TOYOTA CAMRY 1999. CHARCOAL CANISTER. MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSES OIL TO GEL, RESULTING IN BLOWN MOTOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TRACTION CONTROL AT 65000 MILES FAILED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND HE RESET IT. THEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, LIGHT CAME ON WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER BOUGHT THE PART; HAD IT PUT ON. WITHIN A MONTH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC THEY FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE.*AK

A 1999 GREEN TOYOTA CAMPRY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ITS OWNER WAS DRIVING IT. THE OWNER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AT THE LEFT REAR CORNER CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR DIED IN PLACE A CAUGHT FIRE. *AK

DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILE, RANGING FROM TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS TO PAINT PROBLEMS. ENGINE STALLS. *BF *TC

AFTER BEING STRUCK ON THE SIDE BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAME OUT TO THE SIZE OF A SMALL BALLOON, IT DID NOT DEPLOY TO FULL SIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE V6 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME IT'S THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT, SO I DID AND THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN. I KNOW THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE AND WE NEED TO HAVE TOYOTA ADDRESS THE ISSUE ASAP.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A PARK VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL. *JB INFORMATION.

I BOUGHT A USED 199 CAMRY TWO WEEKS AGO. THE FIRST WEEK I NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER WINDOW. IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN AFTER HAVING ROLLED IN DOWN AND UP SEVEREAL TIMES. I MENTIONED TO MY BROTHER THAT I HAD A PROBELM WITH MY CAMRY AND BEFORE I COULD EVEN STATE THE PROBLEM HE ASKED IF IT WAS A 1999 CAMRY AND IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW ROLLING UP AND DOWN. APPARENTLY HIS MOTHER HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM -- BUT JUST TURNED IT IN AT THE END OF HER LEASE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS PROBABLY THE REGULATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $400. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE WINTER ( I LIVE IN WISCONSIN). THERE IS ALSO A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY AND SECURITY CONCERN. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER I WILL RETURN THE CAR OR GET IT REPAIRED.

VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY DIES ON THE ROAD. *MR THERE WERE MORE THAN FOUR ATTEMPTS MADE TO REPAIR THE WARRANTY PROBLEM. *SC *JB

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALER DISCOVERED, THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT PART THAT IS COVERED UNDER FEDERAL EMISSIONS CONTROL. *TC

ON ONE OCCASION THE GLASS WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FELL OFF TRACK CAUSING WINDOW TO MALFUNCTION. *AK

THE RADIATOR WAS EMPTY, AND HERE WERE TRACES OF ANTIFREEZE ON THE INSPECTION PLUG ON THE TIMING OVER. AS I EXPLAINED UPON OUR INTIAL MEETING, THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFINITE LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE, WITH A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY OF WATER PUMP FAILURE AND CORRESPONDING TIMING BELT FAILURE. HOWEVER, WHEN I DID THE INITIAL TEAR-DOWN OF THE TIMING AREA, I FOUND A RATHER SURPRISING SCENARIO. THE TIMING BELT WAS INTACT. THERE WERE NONE OF HE USUAL OIL LEAKS FROM THE CAM/CRANK SEALS. THE BELT WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THE WATER PUMP HAD SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE. IN FACT, I FOUND PIECES OF METAL IN THE TIMING AREA, AS WELL AS A FEW OF THE BALL BEARINGS FROM THE WATER PUMP SHAFT BEARING. THE TIMING AREA ALSO HAD TRACES OF ANTIFREEZE (OEM ANTIFREEZE) FROM WHERE THE WATER PUMP HAD BEEN LEAKING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. AS PER OUR DISCUSSION, I PROCEEDED TO TEAR THE ENGINE DOWN FURTHER TO INSPECT FOR OTHER POSSIBLE DAMAGE. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE SIMPLY EXPECTING TO FIND A WARPED/POSSIBLY CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. UPON REMOVING THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE HEAD, AND REMOVING THE HEAD ITSELF, I INSPECTED THE BLOCK, CYLINDERS, AND PISTONS. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE PISTONS HAD SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE. THERE IS OVER THIRTY THOUSANDTHS OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TOP EDGE OF THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER WALL. THE TOP PISTON RING IS CLEARLY VISIBLE. THEREFORE, I MUST DECLARE THE ENGINE A LOSS. IN FACT, I HAVE MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT TOYOTA VEHICLES USING THE OEM A

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND CRASH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER T-BONED THE OTHER MOTORIST. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A STERNUM AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *JB

(1) THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING IN WAS PROCEEDING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO OBEY RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL THUS STRIKING MY VEHICLE BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOORS ("B" PILLAR). *AK (2) SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE CONTRIBUTING TO MORE SERIOUS INJURIES SUSTAINED. (3) VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. COULD NOT FIND CONTACT INFORMATION ON MANUFACTURER TO MAKE NOTIFCATION OF DEFECT.

TODAY, JUST 2 HOURS AGO, WHEN I TIRED PARALLEL PARKING MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY INTO A METER PARKING LOT ALONG THE STREET, AS USUAL I GAVE IT A LITTLE GAS TO BACK IT IN, BUT UNEXPECTLY, IT SUDDENLY ACCERATED BACKWARD VERY VERY FAST, HIT THE PARKING METER AND BROKE THE METER POLE, IT ALSO CAUSED A DENT IN THE BUMPER AND TRUNK COVER AREA. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR TO CORRECT THE FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD BANG NOISE WAS HEARD AND A CLANGING SOUND WAS MADE FROM THE CAR. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEC. WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION ON 4/15/04. CONSUMER WAS 400 MILES OVER FORD WARRANTY. WARRANTY COMPANY HAS AN ADJUSTER COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE VEC. 6 OR 7 TIMES. FORD KNEW IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY THAT THE VEC. WAS OVER MILEAGE AND THEY CONTINUED TO LEAD THE CONSUMER AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT. FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE FORD WARRANTY COMPANY ADJUSTER BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. 2 BOLTS THAT HELD THE PISTON IN PLACE BUSTED AND THREW A ROD THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE SAME DEALERSHIP HAD ANOTHER CAMRY WITH 61,000 MILES COME IN WHILE THIS CAR WAS THERE AND HAD DONE THE EXACT SAME THING HAD HAPPENED WITH IT. THE VEC. NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND NOT TOYOTA NOR FORD WILL HELP US. I HAVE DONE SEVERAL SEARCHES OVER THIS VEC. AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN OVER 5,000 CAMRYS THAT HAVE DONE THIS EXACT SAME THING....1999. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE ALSO. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND MUST BE "PUNCHED" AFTER STOPPING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE THE CAR NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS. CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD BANKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A BLOWN GASKET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND HEARD LOUD CLANGING SOUND AND THEN SAW LOTS OF SMOKE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I PULLED OVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND OIL WAS ALL OVER. CAR HAD 66,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS 400 MILES OVER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO SLUDGE OR GEL IN THE ENGINE. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS. WARRANTY COMPANY IS FIGHTING US ON FIXING THE VEC. AND TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING EITHER. THIS HAPPENED ON APRIL 15, 2004 AND IT IS NOW JULY 7, 2004. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP STILL HAS MY CAR. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING. THE THREADS ARE CORRODED ON THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE TIE ROD ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *NM THE TIE ROD THREADS WERE NOT APPARENT TO VISION WHEN INSPECTED. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *SC *JB

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH SOUTH ON I45 ABOUT 10 MILES N. OF HUNTSVILLE AND STARTING TO FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING FROM GENTLY TO VIOLENTLY IN A SHORT TIME. 2) THINK OF HAVING A FLAT I SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN AND BEFORE GETTING ON THE SHOULDER I SAW RUBBER PIECES FLYING AND HEARD SEVERAL LOUD THUMPS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, I HEARD A LOUD FIZZLE SOUND AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LEANED TO THE LEFT. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THE RUBBER COVERING ROAD-CONTACTING SURFACE OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS GONE EXPOSING METAL WIRES AND THE BASE RUBBER. I ALSO NOTED THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUMPER, THE LEFT FRONT FENDER AND MUDGUARD OF THE CAR WERE DAMAGED, DISTORTED PUSHED CLOSER TO THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. THE PEELED, FLAPPING AND FLYING APART RUBBER ALSO CAUSED NUMEROUS BLACK STREAKS AND MARKS ON THE FENDER AND THE BUMPER. THE LEFT FRONT DOOR BELOW THE DOOR HANDLE WAS ALSO SCRAPES. 3) I REPLACED THE BLOWN OUT-TIRE WITH A FACTORY PROVIDED NEVER-USED SPARE TIRE AND DROVE TO A DISCOUNT TIRE STORE ON SOUTH SHAVER ROAD ON THE WAY HOME TO HAVE THE SEPARATED TIRE INSPECTED. THE TIRE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED VERBALLY THAT THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. HE CALLED GENERAL TIRES AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO MAKE THE CALL MYSELF SINCE THIS INVOLVES PROPERTY DAMAGE. I DROVE HOME AND CALLED GENERAL TIRES TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO WAIT 5-7 DAYS FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS BY MAIL. I

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE ACCELERATED AND BRAKE. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON THE LEFT SIDE FAILED TO RETRACT. I CAN NOT ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT OEM, BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS. COULD YOU BE MORE CLEAR ON YOUR OFFICIAL FORMS, PLEASE.*AK

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, AT 7:30 AM ON THURSDAY APRIL 22, 2004, I NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER MY AUTO'S HOOD. THE AUTO WAS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY, WITH ABOUT 90,100 MILES ON IT. THE CLICKING NOISE REMINDED ME OF A SPINNING ROULETTE WHEEL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE NOISE INCREASED IN INTENSITY. AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO GO TO A REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. AS I WAS DOING THAT, THERE WAS A LOUD, EXPLOSION-LIKE NOISE AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING VERY HEAVILY. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AT WHICH POINT, I GATHERED UP SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS FROM MY CAR, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. BY THIS TIME, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I CALLED 911 AND ADVISED THE DISPATCHER OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND LOCATION. THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF MY CALL. THEY TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DO SO. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, 10 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. THEY WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT BY THAT TIME, THE CAR WAS RUINED. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A TOW TRUK REMOVED THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY GARAGE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A CLAIM. THEY HAVE SINCE DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REMITTING MY SETTLEMENT.*AK

BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2003 TO FEBRUARY 2004, THREE OF THE FOUR NEW B.F. GOODRICH TIRES FAILED. *PH IT RESULTED TO DIFFICULTY OF STEERING; VEHICLE SWERVING SLIGHTLY AND DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. IN ADDITION, BRAKING WAS POOR AND RIDE WAS UNSTABLE. ALSO, ALL THREE OCCURRENCES THE FOLLOWING ARE OBSERVED BY THE CONSUMER: NO OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE ROAD, PAVEMENT WAS DRY AND IN GOOD CONDITION, CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE ON TIRE DURING THE TIME OF FAILURE, FOUR INCH CRESCENT SLIT AT THE RADIAL POSITION INSIDE THE SIDEWALL, AND ALL TIRES WERE KEPT PROPERLY INFLATED. CONSUMER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. *LA

AFTER RETURNING FROM A ROAD TRIP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CRANK NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE VENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. *AK

PURCHASED FOUR NEW DUNLOP SP SPORT A2 P195/70R14 TIRES AT 36,157 MILES ON 05/10/02 FROM TOYOTA DEALER IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. ON APRIL 2, 2004, IN PREPARATION FOR A TRIP TO TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA (APPROXIMATELY 180 MILES), ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHECKED AND EACH HAD 32 PSI AIR PRESSURE. ON APRIL 3, 2004 (APPROXIMATE ODOMETER READING 55,000) UPON ARRIVAL IN TALLAHASSEE, DISCOVERED ONE OF THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE LEFT REAR WAS PARTIALLY DEFLATED AND WAS UNDERGOING SEPARATION AT THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ON THE SIDEWALL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY, 1507 KILLEAN CENTER BOULEVARD, TALLAHASSEE (PHONE 850-894-8473) FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PARTIAL DEFLATION WAS CAUSED BY A TIRE DEFECT THAT RESULTED IN THE SIDE WALL SEPARATION. WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE TIRE DID NOT FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70 MPH). DUNLOP THROUGH THE DUNLOP WEBSITE. *AK

FRONT STRUT FAILURE ON XLE V6 CAMRY. NOISE BEGAN AROUND 32,000 MILES. STRUT PLATES REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE AT 42,000 MILES AND ALL FOUR STRUTS THEN REPLACED AGAIN AT OWNER EXPENSE AT 59,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND REFUSED ASSISTANCE "IN THIS CASE." INDICATION FROM OTHER REPORTS ON NET AND MANUFACTURERS' KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM THAT THIS WAS, INDEED, A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR AND STYLE OF CAMRY.

CONSUMER CONCERNED WITH ENTRAPMENT IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC ACTUATOR FOR THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. *PH *MR

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 140,000 MILES ROUTINE OIL CHANGES THREW A ROD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER CHARGED $127.00 TO PULL THE VALVE COVER. DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE ENGINE FAILED BUT IT WAS NOT OIL GELLING. THEY DENIED MY OIL GELLING CLAIM EVEN THOUGH I SHOWED RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGES. *AK

EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN DRIVING UPHILL AT 30 TO 40 MPH. DRIVER EXPERIENCES DIZZINESS, HEADACHES AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. DEALER HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA CAMRY VEHICLES. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S THE TYPE OF FUEL USED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T CAME ON, DEALERSHIP WON'T BE ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *LA

STARTING IN DEC. '03, I HEARD FLUID CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE IN MY "99 TOY. CAMRY (V6), ESP. FROM A STOP. THE TOY. DEALER TOLD ME MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW, BUT FOUND NO LEAKS, AND ADDED MORE COOLANT. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE SOUND CAME BACK AND BECAME WORSE. THE CAR BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGH AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RAN HIGH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ANOTHER TOY. DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW SHORT BLOCK INSTALLED, ALONG WITH A NEW OIL PUMP AND WATER PUMP. *JB

AROUND 15 MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A SET OF YOKOHAMA TIRES FOR MY TOYOTA CAMRY FROM MY TOYOTA DEALER AND AS SOON AS THEY PUT THEM ON I NOTICED DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS IN THE FORM OF STEERING SHIMMY. THE DEALER THOUGHT THAT ONE OF THE TIRES MUST HAVE TREAD SEPARATION SO THEY REPLACED THE SUSPECTED TIRE; ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT IT DROVE SOMEWHAT BETTER I STILL COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SHIMMYING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 15 MONTHS I CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN AND THEY REBALANCED AND ROTATED THE TIRES BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN OVER TIME. SO I SUSPECT THAT ALL 4 TIRES SUFFER FROM THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD A RUN OF DEFECTIVE TIRES.*AK

THE GAS PEDAL STICKS WHEN YOU FIRST START AND THEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THIS AND SUGGEST CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY EVERY 15000 MILES. THEY CHARGE $25 TO DO THIS IF THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE DONE. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS YOU HAVE TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL HARD TO GET IT TO RELEASE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TOLD MY TOYOTA DEALER MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEAMS TO ALLEVIATE ITSELF AFTER YOU HAVE DRIVEN A FEW MILES. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS JUST ONE DATE THIS OCCURRED. IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I ALSO OWN A 1993 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WOULD STICK. *PH *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, THEN COLLIDED WITH A STREET LIGHT POLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER BROKE HER STERNUM AND WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A WEEK. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A GRANDSON IN THE VEHICLE THAT BROKE TWO FINGERS IN THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT CITED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

ON GOING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAGS AND IT'S SENSORS COMING ON. WAS IN THE DEALERS ON TWO OCCASIONS. A WARNING ON BILL THAT A POSSIBLE RE CHECK WILL OCCUR. *CB

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST 2 BRAKE REPAIRS PER YEAR SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR DONE PRIOR TO 20000 MILES .ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND THIS IS THE MOST BRAKE REPAIRS I HAVE EVER HAD ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THE LAST MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE CAR RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CALIPERS BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME OTHERWISE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A TOYOTA ENTHUSIAST, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE APATHETIC RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN FROM THEM. *CB

OIL GEL IN ENGINE AND ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. I HAVE ALL OIL CHANGES MADE ON TIME. TOYOTA DO NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO PROBLEM WITH OIL GEL. I CAN BE REACHED ON (202)708-0614 X2454. I WILL SEND ENTIRE LETTER IN MAIL TO YOU IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR REVIEW. THANKS. SANDRA EDWARDS

SLUDGE

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP AT 107000 MILES. OTHER MANUFACTURERS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA WANTS MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS/OIL PURCHASE RECEIPTS, PROOF OF OWNERSHIP. TOYOTA WANTS TO REIMBURSE, IF THERE IS AN OIL GELLING RELATED PROBLEM. HOW MANY DO-IT-YOURSELFERS KEEP OIL RECEIPTS? WITH TODAY'S OILS, SLUDGE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

APRIL 30, 2003 ON SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2003 - MY 1999 TOYOTA 2.2L 4CYL CAMRY LE VIN NUMBER [XXX] CEASED TO OPERATE AT JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE ENGINE WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE (SUCH HAS GEARS UNDER PRESSURE THAT JUST GAVE WAY) STOPPED ABRUPTLY WHILE SMOKE CAME OUT AND THE OIL SPILLED ALL OVER THE PLACE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO ROCKLAND TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY I LATER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SIZED HOLE ON THE ENGINE AND WAS SHOWN BROKEN THE PIECES. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT ROCKLAND TOYOTA SINCE ITS PURCHASE FROM TOYOTA NORTH (ALL BASED IN NEW YORK). MY CAMRY HAS HAD SYMPTOMS RELATING TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. PERSISTENT DRIFTING/PULLING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES WITH NEED FOR EARLY REPLACEMENT, PREMATURE BRAKE COMPONENT WEAR, INCLUDING REAR BRAKE DRUMS, AND VIBRATIONS, ESP. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN 1999. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

INITIAL SYMTOMS: ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON; CAR RAN VERY ROUGH, AS IF MISFIRING; WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED; ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY VOID OF OIL; RESPONSE: MECHANIC FLUSHED OIL THROUGH ENGINE; REFILLED ENGINE WITH 4 QUARTS OIL; CHANGED FRONT 3 SPARKPLUGS; 1 WEEK LATER SAME SYMTOMS ABOVE RETURNED; ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY VOID OF OIL AGAIN;

BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE AND ODD ENGINE NOICE DURING IGNITION. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO COBB COUNTY TOYOTA IN KENNESAW, GA. I TOOK ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND SOME ARTICLES I'D PRINTED OUT REGARDING OIL GELLING, IN CASE THEY GAVE ME ANY HASSLE. I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO DO A FLUSH - HE SAID THAT TOYOTA WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT ANYHOW, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE TAKING IT APART. HE WOULDN'T EVEN SPECULATE WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS GELLING UNTIL THEY TOOK IT APART. AS SUCH, THEY WOULDN'T AGREE TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THEY THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS GELLING. THEY DID TAKE IT APART AND FOUND THAT THE GELLING WAS LIMITED TO THE HEAD. WITHOUT ASKING FOR MAINTENANCE RECORDS (EVEN THOUGH I'D HAD MOST OF MY OIL CHANGES DONE BY 3RD PARTIES), AND COMPLETELY FREE OF COST TO ME, THEY CLEANED THE HEAD, AND REPLACED THE VALVE STEM SEALS, OIL PUMP, PICK-UP SCREEN, PVC VALVE, AND VALVE COVER. RUNS SMOOTH AS THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NOW (THOUGH I DID REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AS WELL, WHICH I'M SURE CONTRIBUTED SLIGHTLY TO THE IMPROVEMENT). NO RENTAL CAR WAS NECESSARY AS THEY HAD IT BACK TO ME BY THE END OF THE DAY (I'D TAKEN IT IN THE PREVIOUS EVENING). INCIDENTALLY, I TOOK IT IN 4 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF IT.

8/12/03 HEARD UNUSUAL NOISE SHORTLY AFTER GETTING ON A HIGHWAY. PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND STOPPED. FOUND OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE, INSIDE THE ENGINE AND OUTSIDE ON THE GROUND. A TOYOTA DEALER EXAMINED THE CAR AND SAID THAT THE "#1 CONNECTING ROD" WAS BROKEN AND THAT IT IS NOT CUSTOMER'S FAULT. WE BOUGHT TOYOTA CAMRY (4 CYLINDERS) IN 1999. WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AT THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER. EVEN 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN, WE HAD A MAJOR MAINTENANCE FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR PREVENTING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. AS THE MILEAGE IS OVER THE WARRANTE AMOUNT, TOYOTA DOESN'T PAY FOR THE REQUIRED ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND WE HOPE THEY DO. IT'S NOT FAIR TO LET US PAY AS WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

MY ENGINE SEIZED. I'VE RECEIVED 2 LETTERS FROM TOYOTA DATED 2/2002 AND 6/2002 REGARDING OIL GEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP- DEALERSHIP HAD CAR "INSPECTED BY A NO NAME TOYOTA DISTRICT REP" DEALERSHIP SAID NOT OIL GEL REP AGREES CONTACTED CORPORATE THEY AGREED WITH DEALERSHIP. SIGHT UNSEEN BY CUSTOMER. NAPERVILE TOYOTA 1ST GOODWILL REPAIR INCLUDED 50% OF PARTS AND SERVICE. AFTER PERSUING THEY AGREED TO LABOR COST. TOYOTA MASS PRODUCED AN ENGINE WITH SMALL VALVE AND LEARNED IT WAS A PROBLEM. CORRECTED IT AND THOUSAND OF CONSUMERS ARE BEING ACCUSE OF LOW LUBRICANT AND NOT MANITENANCE THERE AUTOMOBILE CORRECTLY .

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. ENGINE MAKES NOISE