1999 Toyota Camry Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRAC OFF INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACK TAYLOR'S ALEXANDRIA TOYOTA (703-684-0700, LOCATED AT 3750 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22305) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 274,000.

BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED... HAD TO RUN CAR INTO CURB AND INTO TREE BEFORE A CAR WAS HIT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE OR PARKED CARS. MECHANIC NOTED BOTH BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH APPARENTLY HAPPENS ALOT ON THIS AGE OF TOYOTA BECAUSE OF DESIGN OF COVERING BRAKE LINES TRAPPING IN SALT AND MOISTURE LEADING TO FAILURE. RESULT OF ACCIDENT WAS TO REPLACE BOTH BRAKE LINES FROM TO BACK AND BODY WORK TO REPAIR VEHICLE SO IT WAS DRIVABLE. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 130,000 MILES. LAST REPAIRMAN SAID THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN IN ANY SALT WATER. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THIS IS NOT A FORMAL COMPLAINT. IT IS A MATTER OF CONCERN THAT MIGHT BE SHARED BY OTHER1999 TOYOTA OWNERS. WHILE THE NEWS IS EXTENSIVE IN REPORTING THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF SELECT LATER MODEL TOYOTA AUTOMOBILES, I BELIEVE AN ASPECT OF AN EARLIER CAMRY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY FOR WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR (GAS PEDAL) WILL NOT DEPRESS AS INTENDED. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS ARE NECESSARY TO HAVE THE CAR RESPOND TO MY DESIRE TO INCREASE SPEED. THIS SITUATION IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT NOW BEING PUBLICIZED; HOWEVER, IT IS EQUALLY DANGEROUS. FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD I FIND MYSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE I NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, I HAVE DOUBTS AS TO THE RESPONSE OF THE CAR, THAT IS, WILL IT INCREASE IN SPEED SUFFICIENTLY IN TIME TO AVOID A POTENTIAL COLLISION. IT IS MY INTENT TO HAVE MY SERVICE STATION INSPECT THE CAR FOR ANY OBVIOUS DEFICIENCIES. YET, I FEEL THIS SITUATION, IN LIGHT OF THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION PROBLEM NOW GARNERING THE HEADLINES, MIGHT BE BEING NEGLECTED BY TOYOTA. IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS AND FIX IT. *TR

THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON A DECLINE; THIS IS PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS IF THE BRAKES DO NOT WANT TO WORK. MY MECHANIC HAS TWICE THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WORN PARTS, BUT HE IS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

I REPORTED THIS TO COMPLAINTS.COM ON 11/12/2005 BUT WANTED TO ALSO SUBMIT IT TO YOU DUE TO ALL OF THE NEWS LATELY. IN NOVEMBER 2005, MY PARENTS WERE DRIVING THEIR 1999 CAMRY AND PULLING SLOWING INTO A PARKING SPOT. JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO COMPLETE PARKING AND ONLY GOING LESS THAN A MILE PER HOUR, THEIR CAR ACCELERATED VERY FAST, LEFT THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. WE ASKED ABOUT IF SUDDEN ACCELERATION COULD BE INVESTIGATED AT THIS TIME BUT WERE TOLD IT COULDN'T. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. MY MOM WAS INJURED (BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO HER CHEST) BUT RECOVERED FAIRLY SOON AFTER. SHE DID GO TO THE ER. MY DAD, WHO WAS DRIVING, WAS OK BUT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WAS STRESSED DUE TO WORRY ABOUT MY MOM'S INJURY AND HAVING THEIR CAR TOTALED SINCE HE WAS SURE HE HADN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG.. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAD IS SURE HE DID NOT HIT THE GAS BY MISTAKE AND MY MOM AGREES THAT HE DIDN'T HIT THE GAS EITHER. *TR

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET JUST OVER 70 MPH AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE REACHED 90 MPH. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE FINALLY QUIT. 20 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND REDLINED. THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. (DENSO CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR, TOYOTA 88002-06020, SERIAL#MX100300-6040 12V, MADE IN MEXICO) *AK THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, HOWEVER THE HEAT PRODUCED CAUSED THE ROTORS TO WARPED. *SC *JB

DRIVING AT ABOUT 10 MPH, BRAKES SEEMED TO GIVEAWAY. WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR, GIVING NO RESPONSE. *JB

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

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

I HAVE A 1999 SOLARA AND EVER SINCE OWNING IT, IT'S BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. THE CD PLAYER SKIPS WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES, THE ROTORS NEEDED RESURFACING BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PADS VIBRATED WHEN BREAKING, THE STRUTS RATTLE BADLY AND CONSTANTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE VANITY MIRROR BROKE OFF, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CONTROL PANEL HAS CAME OFF TWICE NOW, I'VE REPLACED BREAK LIGHT BULBS FOUR TIMES, THE ENGINE SPUTTERS AT TIMES AT START UP AND WILL NOT STAY RUNNING ON IT'S OWN AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALER FIXED THE SEAT ONCE OUT OF THE 7 TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR FINALLY SAID IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. I TOLD THEM THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM ONCE ALREADY SO HOW CAN IT BE A NORMAL THING? I SAT IN A NEW SOLARA ONTHE SHOWROON FLOOR AND THAT SEAT ROCKED TOO. THE DEALER REPLACED MY CD PLAYER BUT THE NEW SKIPS AT TIMES BUT NOT NEARLY AS OFTEN. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STRUTS AND REFUSED TO REPLACE. TIRED OF ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER...THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST TOYOTA.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM CONCERNED ABS PUMP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED. EVERY TWO-THREE MONTHS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2001. THE FIRST DOCUMENTATION WAS FOR MAY OF 2002. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS, BUT NONE AS OF YET. THE DEALER WAS UNSURE OF THE EXACT PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND IT. THEY HAVE TOLD THE CONSUMER NUMBERS POSSIBILITIES, BUT STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THEY CHANGED THE TIMING BELT BECAUSE OF ENGINE NOISE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WATER PUMP AND IT WAS CHANGED. THE CONSUMER HAD A REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BUT, NOT ALL OF THE TIMES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WAS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT ENGINE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VALVE AND THE LIFTERS. *AK

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

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

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA (PURCHASED MARCH 1999).LAST MONTH WITH 34,825 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JUNE 2001 WITH 22,125 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK BOTH TIMES, THE DEALER BLAMES EXCESSIVE RUST AND RUNOUT ON THE ROTORS AS THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THEY CLAIM I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND USE THE BRAKES ENOUGH. THE SOLARA IS GARAGE KEPT AND GETS AT LEAST AS MUCH USE AS ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE ANY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED FOR THIS REASON AND FOUR OF THE CARS I OWNED FOR A PERIOD OF NINE YEARS EACH. TWO OF THOSE SAT OUTSIDE THEIR ENTIRE EXISTENCE AND AVERAGED A GRAND TOTAL OF THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND MILES/YEAR. I HAVE TRIED DEALING WITH THE DEALER REP AND HE AND THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY SHOULD DO ABOUT IT AND I SHOULD EXPECT TO BE DOING THIS AGAIN EVERY TWO YEARS. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME AND SO FAR I HAVE GOTTEN THE RESPONSE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THE OPINIONS OF THEIR DEALER SERVICE TECHS. EVEN AFTER REPAIR, I GET SOME VIBRATION IN PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES. HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. JUST TODAY I HAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND ANTILOCK RELEASED BRAKING CAUSING A LONGER BRAKING DISTANCE THAN NECESSARY. ONE DAY WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON A SMOOTH SURFACE, ANTI-LOCK KICKED IN AND RELEASED BRAKING POWER. I WOUND UP WITH THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR IN THE INTERSECTION. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH AS I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS COMING. ANY TIME YOU TRY TO STOP ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT CAN BE AN ADVENTURE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER TO KEEP EXTRA DISTANCE WITH THIS CAR. ANYTIME BROUGHT UP TO DEALER, THEY SAID COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND THIS IS THE WAY ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK.

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

BRAKE FAILURE. *DT

TAKEN VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT FILLING STATION. MECHANIC NOTICED ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS WERE CRACKED. OWNER INFORMED NOT TO DRIVE UNTIL REPAIRED, BUT OWNER DROVE VEHICLE. MECHANIC FINALLY CONTACTED OWNER TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR BRAKE ROTOR REPAIRS. TS

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

ROTORS BROKE OFF AND WENT INTO FRONT WHEEL, AND WHEEL STOPPED MOVING, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK