1997 TOYOTA CAMRY Complaints

THE VEHICLE MAD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY FOLLOWED BY A BANG. THE ROD HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. INCIDENT DATE 01/28/2005. *SC

THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPLANT THAT WAS SENT TO TOYOTA MOTOR CO. IT IS NOT MY WISH TO HAVE TO WRITE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. HOWEVER I MUST, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO PASS. MY FAMILY HAS SUPPORTED TOYOTA, AND OFCOURSE ALL OWN TOYOTA DUE TO THE BEAUTIFUL WORK AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF TOYOTA. HOWEVER MY TOYOTA CAMRY HAS MADE ME TO DOUBT THE STRONG FEELING I ONCE HAD FOR MY CAR. I TURNED MY CAR OVER TO TOYOTA OF LOUISVILLE FOR SERVICE AND THE REPAIR OF OIL SLEDGING. I ASSUME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. HOWEVER AT THE TIME I WITNESSED NO SYMPTOMS. I SIMPLY DID NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SO I HAD IT SERVICED TO AVOID ANY PROBLEM. LATER AFTER HAVING MY TIMING BELT REPLACED I STARTED TO WITNESS A SLUGGISH ACCELERATION, AND WORSENING GAS MILEAGE, THE PROBLEM WORSENED. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. AND THE OIL LIGHT ALSO. HOWEVER IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE THREW A ROD ON THE INTERSTATE ON THE WAY HOME FROM COLLEGE FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR RESTORED TO THE STATE IT WAS IN BEFORE THE SPECIAL SERVICING. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOUR COMPANY; I PLAN ON PURCHASING FROM TOYOTA IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER THIS MATTER HAS PLACED ME IN SALTY WATERS, AND AS U CAN IMAGINE THAT IS NOT A VERY PLEASANT TASTE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE REGARDING THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER JOHN R. CUMMINGS JR.*AK

A ONGING PROBLEM RELATING TO THE CRUNCHING/CHUNKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA(FRONT). NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE TOYOTA OFFICIALS HAS NOT EVEN MERITED A MINOR CONCERN. ESTIMATIONS TO FIX THE STRUT ASSEMBLY VARIES FROM $500-$700 DOLLARS. SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE, SOMEBODY WOULD GET THE MESSAGE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. IF THEY CARED.*AK

FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *NM

MY AUTOMOBILE SUSTAINED A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH BUT THE SAFETY AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE OR INFLATE. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT/TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH WITH ONLY THE DRIVER IN A TOYOTA CAMRY 1997 VEHICLE. (AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT, INSTALLED AT 68,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 205/65R15 AND THE DOT# IS A3UR4422301) THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTRATED. THE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 CAMRY V6 WITH AMERI GENERAL G4S TIRES WHOSE SIZE IS 205/65 R15 AND DOT # IS A3UR 442 2301 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ON RTE. 287 NORTH NEAR 14B EXIT FOR BRIDGEWATER MALL , THE RIGHT REAR TIRE JUST BLEW OFF INTO PIECES. THE WHOLE TREAD JUST CAME OFF THE REAR WHEEL AFTER A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN SHE STOPPED SHE FOUND TIRE COMPLETELY DIS-INTEGRATED. IT IS THE FIRST TIME EVER IN OUR LIFE THAT THIS KIND OF THING HAS HAPPENED AND I AM LUCKY THAT MY WIFE IS ALIVE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. BUT SHE IS COMPLETELY UNDER SHOCK AND AFRAID TO DRIVE NOW. AFTER ANALYZING THE WHEEL AT STS TIRE CENTER, THEY JUST WANTED TO GIVE 25% ON NEW SAME TIRE AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEFECT WITH TIRE. I WAS COMPLETELY SURPRISED BUT REALIZED LATER THAT "HOW WILL THEY ACCEPT FAULT OPENLY" HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED CONTINENTAL DIRECT BY PHONE, THEY ASKED ME TO HANDOVER THE TIRE TO THEM AND I AM AFRAID THAT THEY WILL DEFINITELY NOT REVEAL THE REAL REASON AND JUST OFFER ME PROBABLY FREE 1 TIRE REPLACEMENT. SINCE I AM AWARE OF SEVERAL SUCH INCIDENTS IN THE NEWS, I THOUGHT OF CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE FOR PROPER ACTION. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOUR OFFICE SOON. I HAVE ALSO VERBALLY COMPLAINED OVER PHONE. AWAITING BHARAT AIDASANI. *AK

TRUNK HINGES ARE CUTTING INTO THE WIRE HARNNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS. FUSES FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER INFOMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

VALVE OIL SEAL FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGING OR JELLING SMOKES WHILE STARTING. *AK

AT ABOUT 70K MILES, MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY STARTING EXHIBITING PROBLEMS OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE AT COLD STARTUP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE SLUGE OR GELLING PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE TSB-628696 AS NOTED IN THE NHTSA. HOWEVER, TOYOTA HAS DECLINED TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT IS WILLING TO COVER ONLY THE PARTS, BUT THE LABOR IS BEING CHARGED TO ME. THEY ARE NOT HONORING THE EXTENDED COVERAGE THAT THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED FOR THIS TSB TC02002 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 628696. THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS