Toyota Camry Complaints (1998)

600 consumer complaints on file.

#10178738January 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I OWN A TOYOTA CAMRY 1998 MODEL. THE ENGINE OIL LEAKS NON-STOP. SEVERAL MONTHS BACK I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WITH THE TOYOTA COMPANY. IT STATED THAT ALL TOYOTA CAMRYS 1998 HAD AN ENGINE OIL LEAK DEFECT, AND AS PER THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT I COULD TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. ALSO, THAT IF I HAD INCURRED ANY COSTS TRYING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED ON MY OWN, TOYOTA WILL PAY SUCH COSTS TO THE OWNER. ACCORDINGLY, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK THE COPY OF THE NOTICE FROM ME AND INFORMED ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD CHECK AND FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THIS WAS THE CASE, THEN WHY WAS I SENT A NOTICE IN THE FIRST PLACE TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THE PROBLEM FIX? THIS HAS BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING AND EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCE. THIS IS MY COMPLAINT, AND I REQUEST HELP IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179552January 12, 2007
TIRES
CONTINENTAL TIRE NORTH AMERICA CLAIM # 6264005. **CC CONTINENTAL TIRE 195/70HR14, CONTI TS 772. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED NOV 2005 AND FAILED JULY 2006. THE TIRE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176601December 19, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT IN DECEMBER OF 2001 3 OUT OF HER 4 DOOR HANDLES FAILED. THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T FAIL WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, SINCE IT WAS RARELY USED. THEN ON DECEMBER 11 OF 2006 THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE FAILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERN BECAUSE ON 12/06/06 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE THAT SHE GOT REPAIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2001 FAILED, AS WELL AS THE REAR LEFT HANDLE DOOR SEEMS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT ONCE THE DOOR HANDLE FAILS THERE ISN'T A WAY TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR HER. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES, THE FAILED DOOR HANDLE AND OR, INVOICES IF NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175325December 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE BLEW. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE INSPECTION DETERMINED A LIFTER ROD HAD FRACTURED AND BLOWN OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE CASING. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174630November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT
BLUE SMOKE COME FROM TAIL PIPE AFTER CAR SIT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE FRONT RIGHT STRUT OR SOMETHING ON THAT SIDE RATTLE. THE DATE IS WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE NOISE BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HEARD THE NOISE A YEAR OR TWO AFTER PURCHASE,SHE HAD THE STRUTS CHANGED AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171098October 17, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I STARTED SMELLING GAS ODORS INSIDE OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN JULY 2006 AND TOLD THEM THAT I ALSO SAW GAS DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. THEY FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SMELL. TWO WEEKS AGO I SMELLED THE FUMES INSIDE AND SAW LEAK. DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK, SAYING THERE WAS RUST NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. MY CAR IS GARAGED, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170590October 11, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL CONSTANTLY STICKS. HAVE TO PRESS IT HARD TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, ESPECIALLY AFTER STOPPING FOR LIGHT. UNABLE TO PROCEED NORMALLY WHEN LIGHT TURNS GREEN ,MUST GIVE THE GAS PEDAL A QUICK JOLT TO GO. TOYOTA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE FOR A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168925September 22, 2006
AIR BAGS
JUST RECENTLY MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS A RECALL PERHAPS AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT AND I WAS SURPRISED ONLY BECAUSE THAT THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE IN EVENT THAT I WAS EVER IN A ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS HAVE NOT REACHED 10 YRS OLD YET AND THEY ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS NOW? WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT WHEN I HEARD THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON YOUR AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING MEANING THAT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CONSIDER OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168928September 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
GAS PEDAL STICKS. ONE DAY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING FROM A COMPLETE STOP FROM A RED TO GREEN LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, SO I HAD TO PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE THE CAR GO. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR 98 CAMRY'S. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS COMING FROM 0 MPH GOING TO AN UNKNOWN SPEED TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AND CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS FOR A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165572August 15, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS DESCRIPTION IS IN REFERENCE TO A CONTINUING MECHANICAL ERROR THAT HAS AFFECTED MY 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE AND THE TERRIBLE WAY MY SITUATION HAS BEEN DEALT WITH BY TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE. TO SUMMARIZE, AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK OF MY ENGINE OIL LEVEL ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2004, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM 1- INCHES OF THE ENGINE OIL DIP STICK HAD BROKEN OFF. THE PIECE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AND I IMMEDIATELY BECAME CONCERNED AS TO ITS WHEREABOUTS. AT THAT TIME, I VISITED MY LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER EXPLAINING TO THEM THE SITUATION, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE HOW THE BREAK ORIGINATED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE DIP STICK UNDER A MICROSCOPE IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS A CLEAN BREAK ON THE METAL. THIS RULED OUT A BENDING OF THE DIP STICK, AND COULD ONLY MEAN THE METAL BROKE OFF BY RUBBING AGAINST ANOTHER PART OF THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS MY IMMEDIATE CONCERN. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER CENTER TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF MY CONTINUED CONCERN. WE AGREED THAT OBVIOUSLY IF THE DIP STICK WOULD BE FOUND, THE CUSTOMER (MYSELF), WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE LABOR, AS I WAS TAKING A PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH BY LOOKING INTO THE MATTER. ON THE 27TH OF SEPTEMBER, I VISITED TOYOTA TO GET THE WORK DONE. ONCE THE PAN WAS PULLED, THE 1- INCH PIECE OF THE DIP STICK WAS FOUND IN THE OIL PAN. UPON RE-INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE WITH THE DIP STICK MOUNTED NORMALLY, THE TECHNICIAN AND MYSELF WERE ABLE TO SEE NO INTERFERENCE. HOWEVER, ONCE WE MOUNTED THE DIP STICK BACKWARDS, IT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH PART OF THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THE DIP STICK IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INSERTED THAT WAY, IT STILL SHOULD NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY PART OF THE MOTOR AND WE CONCLUDED THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE BREAK. I WAS GIVEN ZERO ASSISTANCE FROM TOYOTA AFTER THIS, AND WAS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THE $270 THAT WAS PAID IN GOOD FAITH. THIS IS WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU TODAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165336August 12, 2006
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PULLING 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY INTO PARKING SPACE. FOOT ON BRAKE. PUT INTO PARK. CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING. TRIED REVERSE, DIDN'T STOP. TRIED PARK AGAIN STANDING ON BRAKES. DIDN'T STOP. WENT OVER CURB DOWN HILL INTO CREEK. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN FRONT OF CAR HIT BANK OF CREEK. SAW PUFF OF SMOKE AFTER HITTING BANK COME FROM UNDER CAR. TURNED CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10162537July 17, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE STARTS AND STALLS. RPM'S WON'T STAY UP. HAVE TO USE GAS AND BRAKE TOGETHER UNTIL IDLE STAYS UP ENOUGH TO KEEP CAR RUNNING. IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACED @ 38,315 MI ON 6/20/02. REPLACED AGAIN @ 45,703 MI ON 8/22/03. SERVICE MGR SAID THEY HAVE "CHANGED MANUFACTURERS, SO SHOULD BE OK NOW". PROBLEM RECURRED @ 56,000 MILES IN MID-JUNE. IT'S A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE, SO WILL RETURN TO DEALER IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. THIS AMOUNTS TO 3 REPLACED IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVES IN 20,000 MILES. SERVICE WILL REPLACE PART, BUT I MUST PAY LABOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161935July 9, 2006
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
SEAT BELT ON MY 98 TOYOTA CAMRY MALFUNCTIONED WILL NOT RETRACT. MY 5 YEAR OLD WAS PULLING ON THE SEAT BELT AND PULLED IT OUT ALL THE WAY. DEALER SAID HE WOULD FIX FOR $200.00 I ASKED HIM WHY THEY DON'T FIX IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S WHAT THEY CHARGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161215July 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1998 CAMRY, 4 CYLINDER, 62650 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 50 MPH SPEED, HEARD AN UNUSUAL SOUND AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE AND THE OIL DIP STICK WAS SHEARED IN TO 2 PIECES. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND PUT A HOLE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A REFURBISHED ONE AT A PRIVATE SHOP. CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOYOTA WILL NOT BE REPLACING THE ENGINE AND THE LEAST QUOTE FOR REPAIR WAS $4500.00 I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER IN JAN 2001 AND HAVE HAD REGULAR SERVICE OIL CHANGE AND MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT. IN FEB 2006 HAD THE 60K MILE SERVICE DONE. IN MAY 2002 HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ABOUT POSSIBLE GELLING ISSUE WITH ENGINE OIL. SUSPECT THE ENGINE FAILURE IS A RESULT OF ENGINE OIL GELLING. THE FAILED ENGINE MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SHOP, NOT SURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154822April 7, 2006
TIRES, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
LOOSE TIRE AIR PRESSURE. VALVES AND TIRES CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES. NO EXPLANATION EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS I AM STOPPING TO PUT AIR IN TIRES. PSI SHOULD BE 35 BUT DROPS TO 20 WITH NO EXPLANATION. CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150841February 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN MAY 2000 STATING THAT HIS 1998 CAMRY HAD THE POTENTIAL OF OIL GELLING OR SLUDGING. *TS THE LETTER ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE PRESENCE OF BLUE SMOKE OR EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE DIDN'T EXHIBIT ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WHEN THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED. EVENTUALLY THE CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE ON STARTUP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE LETTER WAS PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE CONSUMER PAYING A FEE. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO PAY AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER DIAGNOSE OR FIXED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD TO PAY THE DEALER FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142025November 8, 2005
AIR BAGS, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY MOTHER JUST HAD AN ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AND FROM HER DESCRIBING THAT 98 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND BREAK SEEMED NOT WORKING AT ALL. SO I STARTED LOOKING FOR VEHICLE RECALLS AND DEFECTS THEN I REALIZED THIS ACCIDENT MY MOTHER HAD COULD BE CAUSED BY DEFECTS. IF YOU JUST LOOK, YOU COULD EASILY FIND MANY OTHERS COMPLAINTS. SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND TRYING TO CHANGE LANE THEN NEXT THING SHE KNOW WAS CAR STARTED TO SWERVING SO SHE TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL THEN HIT THE BREAK WHICH DID NOT FUNCTION. I WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR LEGAL ADVISE WITHIN NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BY THE WAY AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVATED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY LAWSUIT OR COMPENSATION FOR THIS KIND OF FATAL ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10140325October 20, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE. UPON PULLING OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE IT BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE HANDLE WAS MADE OF POOR QUALITY PLASTIC THAT WAS VERY FRAGILE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139975October 17, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. I CHOSE NOT TO GET IT REPLACED, BECAUSE MY CHILD RIDES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MY CHILD IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SIT IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK, AND IT IS VERY AWKWARD TO USE THE CENTER SEAT WITH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF HIS BOOSTER. I WILL BE SPENDING NEARLY $600 TO GET THE SHOULDER BELTS REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140993October 14, 2005
STEERING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER MECHANIC FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE COLUMN POST ABOUT TO COME LOOSE SO THAT THE DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. *TS THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT BOTH AIR BAGS WERE NOT COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED. PARTS WERE ON TOP OF THE AIR BAG BUT NOT INSTALLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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