2000 Toyota Camry Suspension Problems

Driving lights and back up lights are not bright enough even when changing the bulb. The lights constantly dim while on. The front lights are always on no matter what time of day it is. The rear of the car sways dangerously if driving over anything smooth, bumpy, like a manhole. Or turning and running over a manhole.

I FOUND RECALLS OF MY CAR ABOUT EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AND REAR SUSPENSION. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF MY CAR GOT FIXED BEFORE SINCE IT WAS A SECOND-HAND CAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

THE CAR IS A 2000 CAMRY AND IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. I PURCHASED A ONE YEAR SERVICE POLICY. AFTER A FEW YEARS I GOT A FACTORY RECALL TO REPLACE SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END - THE STRUTS I BELIEVE. IT HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY SINCE THEN AND I HAVE ABOUT 71,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO WHEN I BRAKE THERE IS A FUNNY NOISE FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. IT IS NOT EVERY TIME I BRAKE HOWEVER. IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THE BRAKE PAD WEAR OUT NOISE BUT MORE OF A RATTLING SCRAPING KIND OF NOISE. THE CAR BRAKES OK HOWEVER. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED WITHOUT FAIL ON SCHEDULE WITH LUBS, TIRES, BALANCING, AND INSPECTIONS BY THE LOCAL DEALER AND NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND IN THE LEFT FRONT END. I CHECKED THE WEB AND IT SEEMS THOUSANDS OF US CAMRY DRIVERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I RECOMMEND TOYOTA CALL BACK THESE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. *TR

EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM REAR OF CAR. INITIALLY INDICATED AS A TIRE PROBLEM BUT TURNED OUT TO BE INCORRECT. THEN AS A RIM PROBLEM - DETERMINED TO BE INCORRECT. NEXT, CHECKED BREAKING SYSTEM BUT NOT THE CAUSE. DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, STATED THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY WITH THE TIRES, RIMS, BRAKES OR EXHAUST SYSTEM. REPLACED TIRES, EXAMINED RIMS, ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED TIRES, CHECKED EXHAUST SYSTEM - NO PROBLEMS NOTED. DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH LOCAL AUTO SUPPLIER (AUTO ZONE) AND WAS INFORMED TO CHECK THEIR WEBSITE OF RECALLS. LOCATED RECALL, WHEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SHOWED SERVICE REP THE NOTICE. REP INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOT CAMPAIGNS REGARDING THE 2000 CAMRY SOLARA; STATED THAT A FAILURE OF THE AXLE BEARINGS/HUB IS EXTREMELY REAR. REQUESTED TECH TEST DRIVE THE CAR TO HELP RESOLVE THE NOISE PROBLEM. THE TECH DROVE THE CAR, INFORMED SERVICE REP AND MYSELF THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED. REPEATED LINKAGE TO RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEIR SYSTEM WOULD HAVE NOTIFY THEM OF ANY CAMPAIGNS WHEN COMPLETING EARLY WORK . ORDERED THE PARTS AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE AXLE(S). CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 00V154000. CAMPAIGN COVERS MY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT COVER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1999. COULD THE RECALL HAVE MISSED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR AXLES ON 2000 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA SOLARAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THE TIME FRAME OF MARCH 30 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2000. *JB

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V154000. I AM EXPERIENCING THIS DEFECT WITH MY 200 TOYOTA CAMRY AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL (REAR SUSPENSION, HUB ASSEMBLIES). WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY AS IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. PERHAPS TOYOTA NEEDS TO EXPAND THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE REAR AXLE OR WHEEL BEARING. TOYOTA ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IN 2004 AT 29,000 MILES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IN DECEMBER OF 2007. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY CORRECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,811.

2000 TOYOTA CAMRY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM.*MR THE CONSUMER FIRST COMPLAINED OF A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THE NOISE HAD PERSISTED. AFTER BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL 3 YEARS LATER THE VEHICLE FAILED THE SAFETY INSPECTION AND THAT IS WHEN THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED, AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE NOISE DISAPPEARED. *JB

VEHICLE HIT A SIX INCH CONCRETE CURBING, WENT THROUGH A CHAINLINK FENCE, AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. ALSO, HIT ANOTHER TREE ON PASSENGER SIDE, AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES WHICH LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER TOOK PHOTOS OF ACCIDENT, ONE PHOTO SHOWED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE MOUNTING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WITH THE STEEL BEAM AND BUMPER ATTACHMENT BRACKET BENT UP SHOWING THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE HIT A 6 INCH CONCRETE CURB, WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT A TREE HEADON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. TREE BRANCH WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD, AND HIT CONSUMER IN FACE REQUIRING 18 STITCHES , AND BUSTED OPEN CHIN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES BECAUSE A VIBRATION WAS FELT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER TOOK PHOTOS OF ACCIDENT AND ONE SHOWS THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE MOUNTING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WITH THE STEEL BEAM ATTACHMENT BRACKET BENT UP SHOWING THE FORCE OF IMPACT. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 50-55 MPH WHEN SHE FELT A VIBRATION, APPLIED BRAKES, AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HIT A 6 INCH CONCRETE CURB, WENT THROUGH A FENCE, AND HIT A TREE. BRANCH OF TREE CAME THROUGH WINDSHIELD, AND HIT CONSUMER IN FACE. CONSUMER WAS 5 MONTHS PREGNANT. SHE HAD 18 STITCHES IN HER FACE, AND CHIN WAS BUSTED OPEN. THERE WERE 4 SKID MARKS ON ROAD, VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS WHILE BRAKING, ABS FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. TOYOTA STILL HAS NOT SENT INVESTIGATOR OUT TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER TOOK PHOTOS OF VEHICLES AND ONE SHOWS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE MOUNTING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WITH THE STEEL BEAM AND BUMPER ATTACHMENT BRACKET BENT UP SHOWING THE FORCE OF IMPACT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON INTERSTATE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER TOOK EXIT, AND SLOWED DOWN TO 55 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE MORE. ANTI- LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP ON RIGHT SIDE FIRST, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER TO RIGHT AND VEHICLE TO HIT SIX INCH CONCRETE CURBING, WENT THROUGH CHAIN LINK FENCE AND HIT A TREE.*AK AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED WITH MANY INJURIES, CONSUMER TOOK PICTURES AND ONE SHOWS THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE MOUNTING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WITH THE STEEL BEAM AND BUMPER ATTACHMENT BRACKET BENT UP SHOWING THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EXPERIENCE DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

RATTLING OR POPPING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE AS VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO A STOP ON AN INCLINE OR HILL, WITH VEHICLE'S ORIENTATION FACED DOWNWARD WRT THE DECLINE. HAD LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, ANTWERPEN CONDUCT A 15K CHECK UP AND DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ANY TSBS OR RECALLS; SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT NO RECORD EXIST. LOUD POPPING NOISE COULD ORIGINATE FROM REAR STRUT SYSTEM. SAW RECALL OF REAR AXLE FALLING OFF; ANTWERPEN TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR SAID NO SUCH RECALL OF TSB FOR THIS VIN.*AK

CONSUMER HAD HANDLING PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DLR, AND DEALER SAID THAT WHEELS ARE MAKING TIRES WEAR, CAUSING A SAFETY RISK. *AK

THE 2000 CAMRY LE WITH 15" BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES I PURCHASED NEW IN AUG. OF 2000 VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH AND ABOVE. THE DEALER SERVICED THE CAR (ONLY 900 MILES ON IT), AND SAID THE VIBRATION MUST BE A TIRE PROBLEM AND SENT ME TO A TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE DEALER SAID THE TIRES WERE GOOD BUT ONE WHEEL WAS OUT OF BALANCE. THE ROAD TEST INDICATED A SMALL IMPROVEMENT AND THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM, IT'S A TIRE PROBLEM; BUT BALANCED THE WHEELS ON A JAGUAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S WHEEL BALANCING MACHINE. THE VIBRATION SEEMS TO HAVE IMPROVED SLIGHTLY, AND TOYOTA SERVICE HAS SCHEDULED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2000. IT WILL BE HELPFUL IF YOU CAN INFORM ME OF ALL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (I FOUND 3 AT YOUR WEBSITE) ON THIS VEHICLE.

0WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE SHAKES VERY HARD WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY BALANCED THE TIRES TWICE. THIRD TIME, THEY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND CHANGED 2 WHEELS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEEL VIBRATION AT 60-65 MPH. TIRES BALANCED 3 TIMES AND CHECKED FOR RUN OUT. ORIGINAL TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN. PROBLEM IMPROVED BUT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES SIDE TO SIDE. SUSPENSION NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS, ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND AFTER MAKING LEFT TURNS. HEAR GAS MOVEMENT FROM FUEL TANK WHEN TANK IS FULL AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. DEALERS SAY CAR PERFORM TO SPECS. CURRENTLY IN THE PRE-ARBITRATION STAGE WITH TOYOTA.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, THERE WAS A LOT OF SHAKING AND VIBRATION IN FRONT END. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IT PULLED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DEALERSHIPS 5 TIMES. ALL THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE, BALANCED 5 TIMES, BRAKES ADJUSTED TWICE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE TWICE. PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CONTINUES. *AK

TOYOTA'S REGIONAL TECH. REP TELLS ME HE KNOWS OF NO OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY, FROM READING THIS WEBSITE THAT IS NOT TRUE. I AM PURSUING THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE.

STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATES. *AK

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION - MILD TO SEVERE AT/OVER 60MPH AT ALL TIME (DURING HWY DRIVING); OVER 10 VISITS TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS AT 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS DURING 8 MONTHS, TOYOTA CERTIFIED MECHANICS COULD NOT FIX IT PROPERLY; MECHANICS CLAIMS IT'S BEEN FIXED. BUT STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION REAPPEARS AFTER 1 - 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING; MECHANICS DIAGONOSED THIS PARTICULAR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AS A "SIMPLE/COMMON PROBLEM" BUT THE VIBRATION KEEPS ON COMING BACK; AFTER BALANCING TIRES-ROTATING TIRES-SUSPENSION WORK DONE-REPLACING BREAK PADS WITH NEW-CLEANING ROTORS-ETC., THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION STILL REMAINS. *AK