1998 Toyota Camry

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE WAS HYDROPLANING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, BRUISES AND GLASS CUT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CONTACT STATED INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT STATED LOCAL DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND FELT LOOSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL UP TOWARDS HER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN OR WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V307000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED BETWEEN THE CONTACT'S TREE AND A NEIGHBORING HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

STARTING IN 2015, THREE OF THE 5 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1998 CAMRY DO NOT REMAIN LATCHED, OR FAIL TO INITIALLY LATCH. AS A (RETIRED) MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I DISASSEMBLED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE DEFECT IS IN THE ANCHOR MECHANISM WITH THE "PRESS" BUTTON ON IT. THE "PRESS" BUTTON HAS A METAL SPRING MOUNTED ON THE RED PLASTIC PART, AND THE PLASTIC HAS GRADUALLY CRACKED AT THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS METAL SPRING IS WHAT PUSHES THE METAL BLOCK THROUGH THE RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE SHOULDER BELT COUPLER, WHEN IT IS PLUGGED INTO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCHED PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CRACK GROWS TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL SPRING CANNOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO RELIABLY LATCH TO THE SHOULDER BELT. IT MAY INITIALLY LATCH AND FEEL SECURE, BUT CAN THEN COME LOOSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. I PLAN TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM PART, ONE SHOWING THE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SEAT BELTS, SO I BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DEFECTIVE BELT ANCHORS. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO LONG-TERM HEAT AND COLD CYCLES COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE SPRING HAS ITS HEAVIEST LOAD ON THE PLASTIC MOUNT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED, SO THE CRACK COULD POSSIBLY START, OR GROW, EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BEING USED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER FAILED. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES AND LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND WORKED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THIS 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT NOW HAS 64, 970 MILES ON IT, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, CONTAINS ALL ORIGINAL PARTS, AND HAS A FLAWLESS ELECTRONICS SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WHICH HAS BURNED CONSTANTLY FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHILE DRIVING. TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM CHECKED IS COSTLY, YET THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL ON THESE AIR BAGS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. IN ADDITION, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OF ANY KIND REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE