Toyota Camry Complaints (1999)

501 consumer complaints on file.

#752075September 11, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON 2 SEPARATE DAYS, THE BRAKES HAVE SEMI-FAILED, IE., WHEN DEPRESSED, THEY DID NOT STOP THE CAR IN THE NORMAL DISTANCE, BUT DID EVENTUALLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP ABOUT 2-3 CARLENGTHS BEYOND EXPECTED STOPPING POINT. NO OTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTED, IE., PAVEMENT WAS DRY, CIRCUMSTANCES ORDINARY. VERY FRIGHTENING, LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, PARTICULARLY THE SECOND OCCURENCE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! BETWEEN INCIDENTS, ALL WORKED NORMALLY. HAVE HAD CAR IN TO A DEALER (AFTER SECOND INCIDENT), BRAKES WORKED ON, CERTIFIED AS SAFE. CONCERNED BECAUSE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE THAT WERE NOT RESOLVED BY DEALER REPAIR! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751321August 29, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, SUSPENSION
THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD A MUSTY SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY SPRAY THE VENTS WITH "FRIGI FRESH" AND IT'S FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SMELL RETURNS. THEY TOLD ME TO SPRAY SIMPLE GREEN IN THE AIR INTAKE ONCE A WEEK. THAT'S A PRETTY POOR REMEDY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD ON ANY INCLINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL PULL INTO THE GARAGE BY IT SELF AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL INTO THE STREET. IT DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD. THE CAR LACK POWER. SOME DAYS THE CAR IS PEPPY BUT MOST DAYS IT'S A OLD MULE. I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION AND TOYOTA JUST KEEPS REPLACING PARTS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CAR. IT'S SITS IN THE GARAGE NOW BECAUSE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE 1999 CAMRY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751306August 28, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES THE BUILDUP OF OIL SLUDGE IN THE 1998-2001 TOYOTA V6 PRODUCTS. APPARETNLY THEY REDESIGNED THE V6 ENGINE SO THAT IT WOULD FIT IN THE SIENNA VAN. IN DOING SO THEY CREATED A DESIGN FLAW THAT CREATES SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY THE DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN TO HOT ALSO CAUSING VALVE SEALS TO LEAK. THE RESULT IS A FAIRLY NEW CAR THAT SMOKES, BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL A WEEK, AND BUILDS UP SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH I AM TOLD WILL RUIN THE ENGINE IF I KEEP DRIVING WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WON'T BE LUBRICATED PROPERLY. MANY OTHERS ARE REPORTING THIS SLUDGE PROBLEM. IN THE 1999 OWNERS MANUEL IT SAYS YOU CAN CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 7500 MILES. WHICH PEOPLE DID. THESE CUSTOMERS THAT FOLLOWED THIS GUIDE LINE INSTEAD OF THE 3000-5000 MILE OIL CHANGES WHICH SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED NOW HAVE OIL SLUDGE. I CALLED MY HONDA SERVICE REP WHO TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS A FIX FOR THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH THEY DO NOT WANT THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE THAN THEY WILL HAVE TO FIX THOUSANDS OF CARS. HE SAID THE ENGINE DOES NOT BREATH PROPERLY AND THAT THEY HAVE AN UPGRADE TO THE BREATHER - THE POSITIVE CRANK CASE?? HE SAID IF I CAN PROVE TO TOYOTA SUCH AN UPGRADE IS AVAILABLE THEY WILL FIX IT BUT WILL DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OTHERWISE. I SUBMIT THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE GOTTEN SLUDGE FROM THIS DEFECT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND INSTALL THE UPGRADED PART SO THAT THEIR ENGINES BREATHE PROPERLY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR MY WARRANTY ON REPLACING THE VALVE SEALS AND RINGS WHICH WILL COST ME ABOUT $3200. THE LEAST THEY COULD DO IS INSTALL THE FIX INTO MY ENGINE SO IF I DO GET IT FIXED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THEIR 2001 OWNERS MANUEL TELLING PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES SO THEY KNOW THE DIRECTION TO CHANGE IT EVERY 7500 MILES WILL NOT WORK FOR THEI ESITB BECAUSE I HAVE SLUDGE AND T OF LYD THGIT OTHERWISE. ISIENOICE LKHE HASPD SATOYOTA EVEN HAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750969August 23, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING SOUNTBOUND WITH 2 OTHER PASSENGERS, WE WERE ALL BELTED IN. A CAR IN THE NORTHBOUND LANE CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO OUR SOUTHBOUND LANE AT THAT TIME I HAD NO WHERE TO MOVE SO I APPLIED MY BRAKES HER CAR PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO APPRX 40-45 MPH AND HIT US HEAD ON. WE HAD INJURIES BRUISES, NECK INJURIES AND THE WORST A BROKEN STERNUM. AT KNOW TIME DID OUR AIRBAGS DEPLOY DURING THIS ACCIDENT. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION AND THEY SAID WE WERE NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY END OF DICUSSION. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN US THE COLD SHOULDER AND MORE OR LESS NOT TO BOTHER THEM ABOUT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME IF WE WERE HIT SO HARD THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE AT THE SCENE ALONG WITH OTHERS WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND ALSO THEY INFORMED NOT TO GET INTO THE CAR BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. THE AUTOBODY SHOP IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH THE AIRBAGS BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT RETURN THEIR CALLS. IF YOU COULD HELP IN ANY WAY IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CYNDY PITASSI. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#894168August 13, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CABLE RUNNING FROM GEAR SHIFT TO TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY IS EXPOSED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749882August 5, 2001
TIRES
AS WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, GOING APPX. 55 M.P.H., WE HEARD A LOUD BANG TOWARDS THE REAR END OF THE CAR. THEN, OUR CAR STARTED SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE AS IF WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT. I COULD HAVE HIT SEVERAL CARS. BUT, SOON I GOT THE CAR INTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. WE GOT DOWN TO SEE THE LEFT REAR TIRE'S STEEL BELT HAD RIPPED OFF AND THE TIRE WAS BALD. THE BALD TIRE CAUSED THTE WHOLE CAR TO SWERVE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: URMW-203 TIRESIZE: 19570R14S)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748965July 23, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 31,920 MILES. DEALER STATES CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE SLUDGE WAS FOUND IN THE OIL PAN, INDICATING POOR ENGINE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT INTERESTED IN SEEING THEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562164July 17, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE INITIAL INSPECTION INDICATED A FIRE OCCURING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT SHIELD, THE FIRE TRANSFERRED FROM THIS AREA TO THE FRONT AND TO THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE LOSS RESULTED FROM THE SEPARATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SUCTION LINE AT THE EVAPORATOR, ALLOWING REFRIGERANT AND PAG OIL TO BE EXPELLED ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IGNITING AND RESULTING IN THE DAMAGES OBSERVED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748380July 12, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BROUGHT CAMRY NEW 1999 REPLACED REAR BRAKES AT 9776 MILES AS WELL AS REAR DRUM TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, 17472 COMPLETE FRONT BRAKE JOB, AT 17472 MILES REPLACED COMPLETE DISC BRAKES, MOUNTED TWO TIRES AND HAD 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BROUGHT TWO MORE TIRES AT 13724 MILES, THEN 2 MORE TIRES AT 29054 MILES, ONCE AGAIN WEAR AND TEAR NORMAL MUST BE DRIVER, ANOTHER FRONT BRAKE JOB AT 29981 MILES AND CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, THEN AT 37738 MILES REAR TIRE WORN AND FRONT TIRES CHOPPED, AT 38685 MILES WARRENTED BRAKE PAD FRONT BRAKES AND MACHINED ROTORS AT 40230 4 TIRES BROUGHT AND INSTALLED, ADJUSTED STRUT MOUNTS, AT 44016 MILES ADJUSTED AND TIGHTENED FRONT CALIPERS AND WARRANTY FOR BEARING SET, CONN. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES TIMES 2 AND BRAKES TIMES 4 WITH ONLY 44016 MILES ON CAR TO DATE CLB. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892391July 10, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON A SIDE STREET TRAVELING ONTO ANOTHER STREET,AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE TOOK OFF AND HIT TWO VEHICLES. CONSUMER HAD FEET ON BRAKES, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM A YEAR AGO, HOWEVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP VEHICLE, FOR THIS LAST ACCIDENT, DEALER REPLACED GASKET AND CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561750June 22, 2001
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THERE IS TWO OR MORE PASSENGERS AND SOME LUGGAGE, 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, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BOTTOMING OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE BEARS A LOAD FAR BELOW ANY MAXIMUM SPECIFIED WEIGHT, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE COIL SPRINGS REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER BUT HAS HAD NO LUCK, HE HAS BEEN TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNLOADED, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADMITTED THAT THE VEHICLE APPEARED LOW, HE THEN STATED THAT CONSUMER OVERLOADED VEHICLE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561718June 21, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAILED CHARCOAL CANISTER. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747171June 20, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON 6-16-01, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I WASN'T ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO STOP IT, I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM. IT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THE WATER PUMP FROZE UP ON IT AND BROKE THE TIMING BELT. THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD ME MY CAR TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HEARD OF MANY OWNERS OF THE CAMRY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I'M EXPERIENCING. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS PRETTY MUCH UNSAFE, SO I TRADED IT IN AND BOUGHT A COROLLA TODAY. I HAD NO INTENTION OF TRADING IN MY CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF TOYTOA KNEW ABOUT THE FAILED WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT IN THEIR CAMRYS'. AND IF SO, WHY DIDN'T THEY LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE? I LEASED MY CAMRY AND TOYOTA IS MAKING ME PAY FOR REMAINDER OF THE LEASE. THEREFORE, I AM PAYING TWO CAR NOTES. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY I LOST IN THIS DEAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746979June 18, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR
LETTER AND ATTACHMENTS FORTHCOMING VIA US MAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746833June 14, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON A LONG DISTANCE DRIVE, MY 6 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE REAR LEFT SEAT WITH HER SEAT BELT ON. SHE PULLED THE SEAT BELT ALL THE WAY OUT TO LAY DOWN AND TAKE A NAP WHILE RESTRAINED IN THE SEAT BELT. WHILE ASLEEP SHE HAD TAKEN HER HAND OUT OF HER SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BELT WAS WRAPED AROUND HER WAIST. WHEN SHE WOKE UP, IN ORDER TO FREE HERSELF FORM THE WRAPED SEAT BELT, SHE UNBUCKLED HER SEAT BELT WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS STILL WRAPPED AROUND HER, THIS IS WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPEND. THE SEATBELT'S RETRACTION SYSTEM ONLY RETRACTED THE SEAT BELT IN, MAKING IT TIGHER AND TIGHTER AROUND HER STOMACH. THE RETRACTION SYSTEM DID NOT LET HER LOOSEN THE SEAT BELT. IN FURTHER EFFORT TO FREE HERSELF, SHE LIFTED HERSELF AND THE SEATBET BECAME TIGHER AROUND HER STOMACH. I PULLED ALONG THE HIGHWAY TO FREE HER FROM THE SEATBELT, BUT THE RETRACTION SYSTEM DID NOT ALLOW ME TO GET THE SEAT BELT LOOSE. I DID NOT HAVE ANY POCKET KNIFE WITH ME TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. I FINALLY FLAGED A MOTARIST WHO HAD A POCKET KNIFE AND CUT THE SEAT BELT AND FREED HER. THE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME SO TIGHT THAT SHE HAD GOTTON INJURED ALL AROUND HER WAIST AND STOMACH. IF THIS HAD HAPPEND WITH A SMALLER CHILD IT COULD HAVE EASILY KILED THE CHILD IF NOT HELPED IN TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#890104June 11, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL IS BEING PUSHED THROUGH THE AIR CHECK VALVE IN CALIFORNIA SMOG SYSTEM, WHICH IS ALLOWING FUEL TO FLOW ONTO ENGINE COMPONENTS THAT HEAT UP DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. THERE WILL BE PUDDLES OF FUEL UNDER VEHICLE WHEN IT IS PARKED IN ONE POSITION, WHICH COULD BE CONSIDERED A FIRE HAZARD. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS/PHOTOGRAPHS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889718June 4, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER HIT EDGE OF A BRIDGE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#888747May 21, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE HAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, IT'S TAKEN IN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES TO BE ADJUSTED. FRONT ALIGNMENT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ALWAYS GOES BAD FIRST, THEN ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER THINKS IT'S CONSUMERS DRIVING, AND DOES NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745267May 13, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON, ENGINE FAILS TO START AND "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON. MANUAL SAYS WHEN THIS HAPPENS TAKE IT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY PATTERN AND MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WEEK OR TWO. I TOOK IT TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA, 4202 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95129. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WARRANTY NOT COMPLIED WITH BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3 -5 TRIES BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#744783May 1, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEATS
DRIVER SEAT BROKE INTO A RECLINING POSITION DURING REAR IMPACT COLLISION - AFTER BEING PUSHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES, FOR FRONT END IMPACT, NEITHER NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED - I AM CONCERNED THAT HAD THE VEHICLE IMPACTED ME HARDER AND COME INTO THE BACK SEAT A LITTLE MORE, THE RECLINING DRIVER SEAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE HEAD INJURIES IF NOT WORSE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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