2006 Toyota Camry Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CV AXLE BOOT AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL DROVE ROUGHLY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

STARTED HEARING METAL RATTLING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AREA. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT A SECTION OF THE SPRING AROUND THE STRUT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GO INTO A POT HOLE. THE MECHANIC WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY, BOUGHT BRAND NEW, HAD ONLY 14,606 MILES AND DRIVEN 5 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS, WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY. DEALER HOISTED IT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE RUBBER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (LOWER SUSPENSION) WERE TEARING AND THEREFORE, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE CONTROL ARMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. . COST: $988.38 LESS 10% DISCOUNT. THE RUBBER BUSHING FLEXES UP AND GOWN WHEN THE CONTROL ARM MOVES AND IS SUBJECT TO AGE DETERIORATION AND DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS LIKE SALT, SNOW, ETC. THE BUSHING IS ONLY PARTIALLY SHIELDED BY THE CAR FRAME. IF THE BUSHING TEARS MORE, THE CONTROL ARM COULD FALL AND THE CAR WOULD LOSE STEERING ABILITY - A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I SAW THE SAME COMPLAINT FOR ANOTHER 2006 CAMRY AND 1996 CAMRY ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. I WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA ASKING IF THE RUBBER BUSHING ON THE NEW REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARMS I PURCHASED IS THE SAME POOR QUALITY AS THE ORIGINALS. ALSO, ARE THE NEW 2012 CAMRY'S EQUIPPED WITH SAME SHOCK CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS? I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN TORRANCE, CA DATED 12/12/11 SAYING THEY "REVIEWED AND DOCUMENTED" MY LETTER. WHEN I CALLED, THE TOYOTA QUALITY ASSURANCE CENTER, THE LADY SAID SHE HAS TO FIRST REVIEW MY COMPLAINT LETTER. AFTER 5 MINUTES SHE SAID SHE DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTROL ARM. DO NOT BUY ANY TOYOTA CAR WITHOUT FIRST PERSONALLY INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF BOTH CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TOGETHER WITH THE MECHANIC HOLDING A FLASHLIGHT AND MIRROR, AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. MAKE THE SAME INSPECTION BEFORE THE 36,000/3 YEAR WARRANTY OR 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENTS, EXPIRE! ANY INCIPIENT TEAR IS REASON FOR REPLACEMENT AT TOYOTA'S COST. A TINY TEAR SHOWS A LATENT DEFECT BECAUSE FRACTURE MECHANICS SAYS THE TEAR OR DEGRADATION OF THE RUBBER BUSHINGS WILL PROPAGATE. *TR UPDATED 04/07/14

ONE OF THE FRONT SPRINGS (PART# 48131-AA331) OF MY WIFE'S 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY BROKE IN TWO AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH SPRINGS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SHARP EDGE AT THE POINT OF BREAKAGE COULD HAVE PUNCTURED A TIRE, IF ONE OF THE PIECES DISLODGED. THE CAR HAD ONLY 41,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA. AT 18,000 MILES, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE SPRINGS PROVE THAT THE TIRES ARE RUBBING AGAINST THE SPRINGS OFTEN, BUT NOT CONTINUOUSLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,126 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 08/07/08

MY 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY LE SEEMS TO HAVE A FRONT END PROBLEM. I'VE TRIED TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP FIX THE ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE THE TIRES TWICE, BUT NOTHING HAS IMPROVED. THE CAR DOESN'T TRACK VERY WELL AND IT TENDS TO VIBRATE ABOVE 60 MPH. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE OFTEN BECAUSE IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. DID TOYOTA DESIGN OR ASSEMBLE SOMETHING IMPROPERLY? *JB