1999 Toyota Camry complaints

WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH AND ENGINE INADVERTENTLY LOCKED UP. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, AND SAW THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR A CRACKLING SOUND. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE FIRE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY IGNITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON 287 NORTH AROUND EDISON, NJ, MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FIRE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME THE FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED, 60 PERCENT OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ENGULFED ON FIRE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS FORCED DRIVER TO PULL OF THE ROAD. THEN, CALLED TRIPLE AAA, AND TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. TECHNICIAN STATED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD NAVIGATED IN DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND FOUND 5000 IDENTICAL PROBLEMS.*AK

WITHOUT WARNING, I.E. SQUEALING, SOUNDS, ETC., I EXPERIENCED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER/SERVICE, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PADS ARE METAL TO METAL. THE CAR HAS 89,000 MILES AND THE BRAKES AND PORTIONS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON AVERAGE EVERY 8,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN THE ELEVENTH TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE BEING WORN PREMATURELY. THERE IS USUALLY A LOT OF BRAKE DUST AND CRYSTALLIZED OR SOLID MATERIAL FALLING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER/MECHANIC/SERVICE HAS STATED VARIOUS REASONS FOR THE BRAKE FAILURES EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NEVER RESOLVED. THIS CAR HAS ABS. *LA

FAILURE OF VALVE SEALS AND ENGINE VARNISH AT ONLY 62,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES WITHIN MFG. SPECS. THIS ENGINE RUNS TOO HOT! ONLY 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY TOYOTA REFUSED HELP, OVERCHARGED FOR REPAIR, AND CHARGED FOR AN OIL CHANGE THAT WAS NEVER DONE!!!! *LA

HIT FROM REAR AT ABOUT 45 MILES AT A STOP LIGHT. BOTH BUCKET FRONT SEATS LAID BACK ON REAR SEAT AT IMPACT. IIS THIS IS A DEFECT IN SEAT CONSTRUCTION AS I AM THINKING OF BUYING SAME AUTO. WE DID NOT HAVE INJURIES. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH GOING UPHILL ON EXPRESSWAY, WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SMOKE AND FLAME. BY THE TIME WE GO TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WE HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NOTHING WAS WORKING. CAR WAS TOTALLY COVERED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE INTENSE. ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED WITHIN SECONDS OF OUR PULLING OVER WITH A MEDIUM SIZED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE PROCEEDED TO LAY ON HIS BACK AND TOTALLY EMPTY THE EXTINGUISHER FROM UNDER THE CAR, WHICH MADE NO DIFFERENCE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED (WITHIN 10 MINUTES), THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOTALLY BURNED. I NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE CLOSED OUT PE02-079, BUT BELIEVE IT TO BE RELATED. THE CAR IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THE CAR HAD A MAJOR SERVICE AT 67,000 MILES, INCLUDING A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT ON JULY 24TH, 2003. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER VIEWED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SCC *JB

DRIVER & PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES RATTLING/BUMPING SOUNDS WHEN OPENED OR CLOSED . ALSO, WHEN CAR IS CARRYING 4 ADULTS. THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SAGS TO A POINT WHERE THE TAIL PIPE AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL TANK, OCCASIONALLY COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR WHEN VEHICLE ROLLING OVER THE SMALLEST SPEED BUMP OR EXITING DRIVEWAY. *JB

MY 1999 CAMRY (52K MILE) SEDAN WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND I ASKED THAT CLUNKING AND SQWEEK IN THE FRONT END BE CHECKED. AFTER DRIVING IT, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RUBBER TOP MOUNTS ON THE MACPHERSON STRUTS WERE SPLIT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAD REPLACED A LOT OF THEM. IT COST APPROXIMATELY $350. I HAVE OWNED 9 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES IN THE PAST 18 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. I THINK TOYOTA IS TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT FIXING THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE CLASSIFIED AS A DEFECT. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED.

VEHICLE'S ENGINE FAILED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE CONSUMER WAS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE. THEY STATED THE CAUSE WAS: LACK OF OIL, WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO WEAR OUT. THROW ROD, #3 BEARING ROD SPUN AND CAUSED IT TO BREAK THE ROD. IT WENT THROUGH THE BLOCK AND ALLOWED OIL TO COVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IGNITE, STARTING A FIRE AND MELTING SOME OF THE COMPARTMENTS. *PH *JB

ON 11/26/2002. I WAS REAR-END WHILE STOPING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CAR HIT ME FROM THE REAR, WHICH CAUED THE DRIVERS SEAT TO BREAK ON IMPACT. I WAS AT A STAND STILL! THE DRIVERS SEAT SHOULD NOT BROKE AND FELL BACK WHICH CAUSED LOWER BACK INJURY. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES. AFTER ONE YEAR, THE TIRES BEGAN CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE CAR. AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER AND THE TIRE SALES CENTER CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. SO FAR, 3 OF 4 TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK

THREE OF FOUR MICHELIN TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, RESULTING IN ERRATIC AND DANGEROUS BEHAVIOUR OF THE VEHICLE, A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2001 FROM SEARS, WHO ONLY WOULD PRO-RATE THE TIRES. THE DOT #S FOR TWO OF THE TIRES ARE 2XJ9 DMX 2001 AND 2XJ9 DMX 1901. I DID NOT RETAIN THE DOT NUMBER FROM THE FIRST TIRE THAT FAILED, AS I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THREE OF FOUR TIRES FAILED, INDICATING THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM/DEFECT. LUCKILY, THE SEPARATIONS WERE DETECTED BEFORE ANY OBVIOUS DAMAGE WAS CAUSED AND BEFORE ANY BLOWOUTS OCCURRED. THEY DID, HOWEVER, RESULT IN DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY ON WET OR SNOWY ROADS.THE CAMRY WAS USED AS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY UNUSUAL USE. TIRES WERE INFLATED PROPERLY AND CHECKED PERIODICALLY. THE FIRST TIRE FAILED IN APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2003, THE SECOND IN MAY 2003, AND THE THIRD IN JULY 2003. FOURTH TIRE SHOWED NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF FAILURE, BUT WAS REPLACED ANYWAY.*AK

MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY NEEDED IT'S SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST WAS AT ABOUT 33K AND NOW ANOTHER AT 78K. WHY ARE THE CLUTCH GOING SO FAST. WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE 1993 ACCLAIM WITH 170K. WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL ALL OUR LIFE WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTILL THIS TOYOTA. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE STICKING. *AK THE THROTTLE STICKING WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONSUMER FELT THE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THE 99 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 ENGINES. (RECALL # 01V012000) *SCC *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING MALFUNCTIONED. THIS RESULTED IN ALL ELECTRICAL OPERATED COMPONENTS FAILING AND BEING INOPERATIVE, WHILE DRIVING. *AK THERE WAS BREAKAGE OF THE WIRES THAT OCCURRED IN THE WIRE PACK WHICH CROSSED BETWEEN THE SIDE OF THE TRUNK AND THE HINGE OF THE TRUNK COVER AT THE POINT WHERE THE WIRES WERE FLEXED DUE TO THE OPENING/CLOSING OF THE TRUNK COVER. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY FOUND DUE TO NO VISIBLE DETERIORATION OR DAMAGE TO THE WIRE PACK COVERING AT OR NEAR THE POINT OF BREAKAGE. THE BROKEN WIRES WERE ULTIMATELY FOUND BY USING A FAULTY LOCATOR DEVICE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER THE ITEMS WERE PLACED IN THE TRUNK, THE COVER CLOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SIDE WINDOWS(WHICH WERE CLOSED AT THE TIME)COULD NOT BE LOWERED, THE SUNROOF (OPENED AT THE TIME)COULD NOT BE CLOSED, THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATORS WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR *TS THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB

PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS COMING OFF TRACK AND NOT GOING BACK UP ALL THE WAY. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES.THREE OCCURENCES WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE LAST OCCURENCE THE COST WAS SPLIT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THEN SAW WHITE SMOKE, SOON AFTER THAT SHE SAW BLACK SMOKE.SHE GOT OUT OF CAR, AND SAW SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THEN FIRE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE (FRONT OF THE AUTO) PART. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND WHEN THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE FIREMAN SAID THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MIXTURE OF OIL GETTING ON THE HOT MOTOR WHICH STARTED THE FIRE.*AK

I PURCHASED FOUR NEW BRIDGESTONE "POTENZA RE900" TIRES FOR MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE SEDAN FROM COSTCO WHOLESALE (72800 DINAH SHORE DR, PALM DESERT, CA 92211 (760) 202-1362) IN EARLY MAY. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING TO MORNING CHURCH (APPROX. 45 MPH) I HEARD A LARGE "BOOM" AND DISCOVERED THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD EXPLODED. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION WHERE THEY INSTALLED THE SAME MODEL SPARE TIRE. I RETURNED TO COSTCO AND THEY REPLACED THE SPARE WITH A NEW BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE900 TIRE. LAST SATURDAY EVENING ABOUT 6:00PM (JUNE 21, 2003) WHILE DRIVING HOME TO PALM SPRINGS ON HIGHWAY 10 AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, I HEARD ANOTHER LOUD NOISE AND DISCOVERED ANOTHER BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE900 TIRE HAD EXPLODED. LUCKILY, SOMEONE STOPPED AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SPARE SO I COULD GET HOME. AGAIN, I RETURNED TO COSTCO WHERE THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE900 TIRE. IN MY OPINION, COSTCO'S MANAGER, AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR TIRE SHOULD HAVE: 1. IMMEDIATELY PULLED THEM FROM THE INVENTORY SO THAT THIS MODEL COULD NOT BE SOLD TO OTHER CUSTOMERS 2. REPORTED THIS COSTCO MANAGEMENT... WHO, IMMEDIATELY, SHOULD HAVE PULLED THEM FROM THE INVENTORY OF EVERY STORE 3. REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE 4. REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA. WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT RECOURSE OF ACTION? I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING A PROMPT RESPONSE CONCERNING THIS VERY SERIOUS MATTER. SINCERELY, MILDRED MADSEN. *JB 1370 ADOBE WAY PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262 EMAIL: MADSENE

CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WILL BE HARD TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN HIT AT 15MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT IN OCTOBER, 2002. REPLACED BY TOYOTA OF DURHAM. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT. *TT

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. *NLM

SEVERAL TIMES OIL WOULD BACKUP INTO THE ENGINE OR EXCESSIVE OIL WOULD BE USED. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GAS STATION THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS QUESTIONABLE AND THE DEALERSHIP NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *NLM

THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT RAISE OR LOWER WHEN THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON WAS PUSHED FROM EITHER CONSOLES. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE SUN ROOF. *NLM

SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS ON 5/3/2003 AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

1999 TOYOYA CAMRY. *NLM

DRIVER POWER WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK AND WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. PASSENGER POWER WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK DEALER FIXED AFTER WARRANTY FOR COST OF $80. PASSENGER WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK AGAIN FIXED BY MECHANIC 1/2 DEALER PRICE. BOTH REAR WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $400. EACH. TOYOTA SUPERCEDED THE ORIGINAL PART WITH A NEW ONE. APPARENTLY A KNOWN DEFECT WITH NO RECALL. PASSENGER WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK ONCE AGAIN. NEXT CAR MAY NOT BE TOYOTA. *NLM

IT APPEARS THAT A GOOD PORTION OF CAMRY AND SOLARA (BOTH CARS SHARE SAME PLATFORM) OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS IN THE FRONT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR NHTSA TO EXTEND THE POWER OF CONSUMERS TO GET TOYOTA TO ADMIT TO ITS FAULT, AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY? TSB#: SU00299 TSB#: 012199 TSB#: SU00100 GIVEN THAT THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF 1997-2001 CAMRY'S SOLD, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE MANY FRUSTRATED OWNERS WHO WISH TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AT THE EXPENSE OF TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. SOME OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM EARLY, WITHIN THE 3YR/36K MI. WARRANTY PERIOD, WHILE OTHERS ARE LEFT IN THE COLD TO PAY ABOUT $300 TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NOT PRIMARILY WEAR AND TEAR, I BELIEVE TOYOTA MOTORS CORPORATION HAS THE OBLIGATION TO EXTEND ITS WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THE NHTSA DO TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AGAINST DESIGN FLAWS AND DEFECTS SUCH AS THIS ONE? *NLM

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

MY CAMRY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS FALLING APART! THE SCREWS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE DOORS THREE TIME AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ONLY SOLUTION IS TO PUT SILICONE IN THE SCREW HOLES WHICH NOW CAUSES THE THE DOORS TO SQUEAK. THE CAR IS DRAGGING THE GROUND AS A RESULT OF POOR STRUTS. I CONTINUE TO GET THE RUN AROUND WITH THE MANUFACTURE. *NLM

THE ENGINE STALLED. *JB

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SIEZED DUE TO OIL GEL. *NLM

AIR FUEL SENSOR FAILED AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NLM *JB

THE VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND WENT INTO A SPIN, THE VEHICLE HIT A HIGHWAY SIGN, A FENCE, AND THEN A TREE, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *JB

AFTER PARKING MY CAR AND PLACING IT IN PARK, IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A RESTAURANT. I AM CERTAIN THAT IT WAS IN PARK. ARE THERE SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS? COULD THIS BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 01V012000.*JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT GO TO THE FLOOR, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY FOUR LANE HIGHWAY AT 45 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. SHE RECEIVED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HER RIGHT HAND FROM THE CHEMICALS IN THE AIRBAG. SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED VIA E-MAIL, NO RESPONSE. *NLM

THE VEHICLES AIR BAG FAILED. *AK *NLM

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*AK *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN CONSUMER'S HAND.*JB

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON OPENING THE DOOR (WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE). THIS COULD BE A HAZARD IF SOMEONE NEEDED ENTRANCE TO THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. THE HANDLE IS A SURPRISINGLY THIN PLASTIC. THE TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SAME.

BRAKE FAILURE. *DT

ENGINE FAILURE. *AK