1996 Toyota Camry

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE ARE TRIANGULAR PANELS IN EACH DOOR THAT CONTINUE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT SINCE THE PANELS ARE ONLY HELD ON BY CLIPS, THE PANELS MAY DETACH AND COULD BECOME AIRBORNE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY WERE SCREWED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE BONDO WAS APPLIED TO THE FRONT PANEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 7/25/2006 - THE DOOR PANEL WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTER DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. ALSO, THE TWO FRONT AND THE REAR PASSENGER INNER DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THESE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPENED WITH THE OUTER HANDLES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

I OWN A 1996 CAMRY V6 LE WITH 4-WHEEL DISK BRAKES, AND ITS CURRENT MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER WORN OUT THE FRONT DISK PADS, WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS A FEW TIMES. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S MY GENTLE DRIVING STYLE THAT CAUSES THE UNUSUAL WEAR. I SAY THAT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SET AT THE FACTORY IS MIS-SET, BUT IT TAKES SPECIAL TOOLS TO CHANGE AND NO ONE HAS THESE TOOLS, SO I CAN'T PROVE MY POINT. THE BIG QUESTION TO ME: IS MY CAR STOPPING WITH TWO BRAKES OR 4 BRAKES, AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO? *NM

IN HOT WEATHER AFTER ABOUT 100 OR 200 MILES THE CRUISE CONTROL ON OUR 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY WOULD FAIL AND WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP UNTIL THE CRUISE WAS TURNED OFF. OTHER TIMES THE CRUISE WOULD JUST FAIL AND DROP OUT UNEXPECTEDLY. EITHER EVENT COULD BE HAZARDOUS SO WE STOPPED USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WE WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. TODAY WE DID A RECALL SEARCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THE PROBLEM DID EXIST ON MOST 1996 CAMRY BUT OUR VIN NUMBER DID NOT FIT THEIR LISTING. VIN# [XXX] TODAY WE WENT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW ON 3/14/1996, BUT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR US. THE DEALER IS RINKE TOYOTA 25420 VANDYKE CENTERLINE, MI 48015 586-758-2000. WE ALSO CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER BEFORE CONTACTING YOU BUT THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004 CONSUME HAS BEEN INHALING SULFUR FUMES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SMELL WAS SO GREAT THAT IT MAD. DAUGHTER PHYSICALLY ILL. TWO CONVERTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO SUCCESS. DEALER SAID TO CHANGE GAS BRANDS, TSB INDICATED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SULFUR IN GAS. VEHICLE WAS IN A FLOOD, DEALER STATED OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT IN FLOOD WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE OIL PASSAGE WAS TOO NARROW, NOT LETTING OIL INTO THE CRANK SHAFT. THIS CAUSED A ROD TO BLOW THROUGH THE BLOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND NO LONGER TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED MOTOR, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND CAP ROTOR WIRES. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT DO ANYTHING. *TT

IN AUG 26, 2004 I PURCHASED FOUR NEW GOODYEAR ALLEGRA P205/65R15 FROM SAMS CLUB IN PEARL CITY, HI. I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES IN JANUARY 2005 AND TOOK IT BACK TO SAMS CLUB TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT MY TIRES AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THEY WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT MY RIM WAS BENT AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, I TOOK MY CAR TO A GOODYEAR SHOP IN EWA BEACH TO HAVE MY RIMS CHECKED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY RIMS. SO I TOOK THE TIRES BACK TO SAMS CLUB THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON 02/16/2005, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I INDEED DID HAVE THREE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. SO SAMS CLUB REFUNDED MY MONEY AND I BOUGHT ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES IN PLACE OF THE RECALLED TIRES.*AK