1996 Toyota Camry Complaint Log

TOOK CAMRY TO DEALER (WORLD TOYOTA) DISCOVERED ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM, ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CANNOT RE-BUILD.. NOTIFIED CUSTOMER SERVICE TWICE AT TOYOTA MAIN OFFICE. STILL HAVE NOT RESOLVED ISSUE.

IDLE PROBLEM. TAKEN TO MECHANIC TWICE. HAVE REPLACED ISC VALVE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR SINCE 1996 (TWICE IN 1997 AND 1998), IN THE LAST YEAR CAR HAS STALLED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROADWAY. ENGINE TAKES A FEW TRIES TO START AGAIN.

AS OF THIS WEEK THE FLEX PIPE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS CAUSED EXHAUST GASES TO BE EMITTED UNDER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS PART WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HE SAYS THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IS A SINGLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE MALFUNCTIONING "FLEX PIPE".

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOM NOISE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN AND HAD 2 LARGE HOLES IN IT. *NLM

THE FRONT COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE. *JB

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WAS REPLACED AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *JB

FUEL SYSTEM: FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, CERTAIN MORNINGS MY CAR WOULDN\\'T START BY SIMPLY TURNING THE IGNITION; I HAD TO TRY IT THE \\"OLD FASHIONED\\" WAY AND DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. POWER WINDOW: THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS DYING; IT TAKES QUITE A LONG TIME FOR THE WINDOW TO OPEN AND CLOSE. OTHER: THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE JUST BROKE OFF IN MY HAND FOUR (4) WEEKS AGO!!! PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES AND IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. SOMETHING WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND I NEED TO POINT THIS OUT BECAUSE I, NOR ANYONE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAS EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THE BLACK WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY (WHICH ATTACHES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TO THE MOTOR), FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE BLACK PAINT HAS "WORN AWAY", EXPOSING A BRIGHT SILVER METAL, WHICH REFLECTS THE SUN DIRECTLY INTO MY EYES. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS. SINCE I DON'T DO A LOT OF DRIVING AND ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES ON SUNNY DAYS, THEY HAS HELPED ME SOMEWHAT. HOWEVER, RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING ON A CLOUDY DAY WHEN THE SUN DID IN FACT COME OUT WHILE I WAS WITHOUT SUNGLASSES. THIS PROVED TO BE MOST DANGEROUS AS I MANAGED TO AVOID AT LEAST ONE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS CONDITION..

MY 1996 CAMRY WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH A MAJOR SLUDGE PROBLEM REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING MY ENGINE UNDER THE "SPECIAL POLICY" REPAIR PROGRAM THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. TOYOTA DID NOT DISPUTE THAT IT WAS THE SAME ENGINE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM - INSTEAD, THE RIDICULOUS AND TOTALLY ILLOGICAL REASON THEY GAVE WAS THAT THEIR "SPECIAL POLICY" REPAIR PROGRAM WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINES MANUFACTURED DURING AN ARBITRARY TIME PERIOD AND THE ENGINE IN MY CAMRY FELL OUTSIDE THAT PERIOD BY TWO MONTHS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE FIXING SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES BUT NOT OTHERS.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAD BLOWN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, THE MECHANIC FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE SHORTED OUT THE TAIL LIGHTS.8JB

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE AFTER ONLY 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS THE SAME 2.2L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM. IN RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES, TOYOTA AGREED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING THOSE ENGINES IN THEIR 1997-2001 MODELS. HOWEVER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND IT WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TIME FRAME, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1996 MODEL TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. THERE IS NO DISPUTING THAT THE FAILURE OF THOUSANDS OF THESE ENGINES AS A RESULT OF A BUILD-UP OF OIL SLUDGE CAN BE ATTRIBUTABLE ONLY TO THE FACT THAT THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF SOME OF THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND NOT OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. GARY LEVINE. *NLM

THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING AS I'M DRIVING...VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WITH A SMOOTH ACTION...MY MECHANIC HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT! *NLM

TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE; CAR WORKED FINE OTHERWISE: RATTLE LING NOISES COMING FROM VALVE COVER, ENGINE CONSUMING COOLANT, FRONT ENGINE SEALS LEAKING. TOTAL COST FOR THESE REPAIRS WAS $1992.42 GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, FOUR DAYS LATER THE CAR DIES ON THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT THEIR EXPENSE. DEALER FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SKIPPED. THEY REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, DECLARED CAR FIXED AND GAVE ME THE KEYS. I DROVE OFF AND GOT AS FAR AS TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM DEALER BEFORE THE CAR DIED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ENGINE GEL. THE DEALER SAID THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA BUT ONLY IF I COULD SHOW PROOF OF OIL CHANGES RECEIPTS, WHICH I PROVIDED. I'M NOW TRYING TO RECOVER A REFUND FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR THAT WERE DUE TO THE ENGINE GEL PROBLEMS.

STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT ALSO WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN AFTER MAKING A TURN. *JB

I OWN A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT HAS THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED TO FOR THE 1997-2001 CARS. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EXAMINED AND ADMITTED MY CAR HAS THE SLUDGE/GEL PROBLEM BUT SAYS THIS YEAR OF MANUFACTURE IS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFOR WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND ITS SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS. TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE ME $800 TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE "EXTENT OF DAMAGE". IN MY RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF 1996 TOYOTAS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES AND I FEEL TOYOTA IS AGAIN TRYING TO MINIMIZE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THE AFFECTED ENGINES.

I HAVE ALWAYS MADE REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HOWEVER, THERE IS A DEFINITE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD ANY RECOURSE, BUT AFTER OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR CAMRYS, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, AND LOW AND BEHOLD I CAME ACROSS THE EXACT PROBLEM MANY TOYOTA CAMRYS HAVE HAD.

ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE BUT WAS TAKING IT IN FOR 60K MILE SERVICE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME OF A BAD OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS TO BE $4500. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED, BUT ONLY A CHANCE. I LET HIM PERFORM THE WORK OF CLEANING THE OIL PAN AND RUNNING A COUPLE OF OIL CHANGES TO CLEAN THE SLUDGE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE, BUT NOW (JANUARY 2003) I AM GETTING A LOT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST AND THEY TELL ME THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BUT THEY CAN'T TELL WITHOUT TAKING THE ENGINE APART.

1996TOYOTA CAMRY, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANS,PROBLEM #1, THERE IS AN ODD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, SAID IT WAS TRANSAXLE BUT THAT THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE PINPOINTED UNTIL THEY TOOK IT APART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANMISSION PLACE FOR SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO BUT CAME BACK. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS NOISE COULD BE.

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS AN ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON 1997-2001 2.2 CYL ENGINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP DURING OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PRONE TO DANGEROUS LEVELS OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION DILUTION. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED EVEN THOUGH ITS A 1996, BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE. *SCC

IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAS A DEFECT, CAUSES VEHICLE TO IDLE LOW, AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP ENGINE FROM STARTING IF THIS CONTINUES. CONTACTED MAUFACTURER/DEALER. THEY WER EAWARE OF DEFECT, BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

FRONT AIRBAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, SERIOUSLY INJURING DRIVER, WHEN FRONT TIRE BUMPED CURB WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS MOVING UNDER 5 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

CONSUMER CAN TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. THIS HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. *NM THE REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKED. SMOKE WAS ALSO PRESENT. *SC *JB

IN APPROX JUNE OF 2002 MY TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED I NOW APPEAR TO HAVE THE OIL GELLING PROBLEM. APPROX MAY 2003 I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO PUMP GAS AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE. APPROX AUGUST 2003 I BEGAN NOTICING IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I APPLY MY BRAKES MY WHOLE CAR BEGINS SHAKING.

I EXPERIENCED 3 OR 4 SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENTS WITH MY 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY DURING THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. NO ACCIDENTS RESULTED. I CAN'T GIVE THE EXACT DATES (IGNORE THE INCIDENT DATE I ENTERED BELOW; I JUST PUT A DATE IN AT RANDOM SINCE IT'S A REQUIRED ENTRY). IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE THE LAST ONE. ALL OCCURRED AS I STARTED TO BRAKE IN A VERY SLOW-MOVING SITUATION - TWO DEFINITELY HAPPENING WHILE PARKING, COMING TO A STOP BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REVERSE DIRECTION OR STOP, THERE WAS A CONFUSING SURGE AS MY INSTINCT WAS TO QUESTION WHETHER I HAD TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN BRAKE AND THUS TAKE OFF MY FOOT - THE WORST ACTION. IN ALL CASES, I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO REALIZE THAT I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED DOWN FORCEFULLY WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. I ASKED MY MECHANIC TO CHECK THIS OUT, BUT UNLESS HE COULD REPLICATE THE SITUATION, NO DIAGNOSIS WAS POSSIBLE. GIVEN THE RANDOMNESS OF THESE OCCURENCES, THE PROBABLILITY OF A REPLICATION IS PRETTY CLOSE TO ZERO. THE ONE COMMON THREAD IN THESE INCIDENTS: THEY OCCURRED FOLLOWING A LONG ROAD TRIP DURING WHICH I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS, THOUGH IN NONE OF THE INCIDENTS, WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I AM SENDING THIS NOW AS I LEARNED YOU ARE LOOKING INTO SUCH INCIDENTS AND THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO BUILD A RECORD. I BELIEVE THERE ARE FAR MORE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS THAT NEVER GET REPORTED BECAUSE THEY END SAFELY; A SOLICITATION OF SUCH INCIDENTS FROM THOSE LIKE MYSELF WHO SIMPLY REMAIN PUZZLED OVER THEM WOULD YIELD A MUCH LARGER DATA BASE. THANK YOU.*AK

THE ENGINE SEIZED AND BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED A CATASTOPHIC FIRE AND COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND SURROUNDING PARTS. IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS EVENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED GREAT INJURY. WE ARE CONTACTING TOYOTA REGARDING THE NEWSWORTHY "ENGINE SLUDGE" PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE ADMITTING IN 1996-2000 CAMRYS (OURS WAS 1996) AND THERE CLAIM OF HONORING ENGINE DAMAGE CLAIMS.*AK

BRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *JB

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, THERE IS BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE AT START UP. DEALER STATED THERE WAS A SLUDGE PROBLEM IN ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY.*AK

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

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

MY CAR HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS RECENTLY NOTICING THAT IT WOULD RUN HARD AND NOT SWITCH GEARS AS SMOOTHLY AS IT ONCE HAD. I TOOK IT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO BE EVALUATED AND WAS TOLD IT HAD SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE PROBABLY DUE TO INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES I WAS THEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $5000-$6000. I INFORMED THE ADVISOR THAT I ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED AS PER THE OWNER?S MANUAL, AND I REQUESTED A WRITTEN ESTIMATE AS TO THE EXACT DETAILS THAT FORMED THE BASIS FOR THIS PRICE QUOTE. I WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED THAT INFORMATION. THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME BACK AND/OR FAX IT TO ME, AFTER WHICH I RECEIVED NOTHING. I CALLED AGAIN, GOT HIS SUPERVISOR INSTEAD OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR, AND HE EXPLAINED THAT ENGINE SLUDGE WAS THE DIAGNOSIS AND THAT I COULD NOT GET A WRITTEN ESTIMATE BECAUSE THE EXACT PARTS NEEDED COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE'S PROBLEM TO GIVE ME THE ESTIMATE IN WRITING. I ASKED WHY THIS HADN'T BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE DIAGNOSIS THAT I ORDERED, AND HE THEN BEGAN STAMMERING AND INFORMED ME THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE MY FILE IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD CALL ME BACK AFTER LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO ASK ME IF I WAS REALLY WILLING TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR AN ENGINE?. WHEN I ASKED WHAT MY OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE, HE OFFERED TO TRANSFER ME TO A SALESMAN! I NEVER RECEIVED ANY FURTHER PHONE CALLS. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IF I AM NOT WILLING TO BUY A NEW VEHICLE, THE LEVEL OF SERVICE I RECEIVE DECREASES DRAMATICALLY. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN MY CAR TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, WHERE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET AN EXPLANATION BOTH IN WRITING AND BY THE ADVISOR IN CONVERSATION AS TO WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG AND WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

OIL SLUDGED AT 77,000 MILES AFTER CAREFUL MAINTENANCE EVERY 3,000 - 4,000 MILES. ENGINE FLUSHED, VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED, ETC. (MY COST) AND CONTINUED MAINTENANCE, NOW 89,000 ENGINE IS BLOW WHILE ON TRIP WITH 80 YEAR OLD MOTHER 400 MILES AWAY FROM HOME

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

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

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

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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 BILL UP IN THE ENGINGE

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.

#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

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WITH A PASSENGER, APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD, IN THE MID AFTERNOON. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAMRY NEW IN 1996, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY DID NOTHING. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA'S REGIONAL OFFICE AND I MET WITH AN AGENT FROM THERE WHO INSPECTED MY CAR AT TOYOTA SANTA CRUZ. HE FOUND EVIDENCE A ROCK HAD HIT A STABILIZING BAR UNDERNEATH. I REPORTED HAVING NOT SEEN OR HIT A ROCK ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD TO AWAIT TOYOTA'S DECISION IN THE MAIL WITHIN 10 DAYS. THEY CONCLUDED MY AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED APPROPRIATELY. MY WITNESS AND I WROTE BACK TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE HAD BEEN REFERRED, DISPUTING THEIR CONCLUSION TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THEIR CONCLUSION WAS FINAL. I AM CONFINED TO ONLY BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BY MAIL. MEANWHILE, I AM DRIVING WITH NO AIRBAGS NOW FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS PROMPTED ME TO GET MY AIR BAG LIGHT FIXED SINCE THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT THAT IS ALL. AND MY HORN DOESN'T WORK NORMALLY NOW THAT THE VINYL IS RIPPED OPEN IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I INTENTIONALLY BOUGHT THE CAMRY FOR IT'S SAFETY RECORD. I AM IN DISBELIEF THAT TOYOTA CARES SO LITTLE FOR SAFETY. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *LA

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

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVES ON TWO 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY'S SOLD IN CALIFORNIA, FAIL EVERY 20,000 TO 30,000 MILES, AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $425.00 PER REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR IN OTHER CARS SOLID IN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FAILURES PER CAR. *NLM

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

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

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

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

FRONT BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. *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

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