2000 Toyota Camry

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, SHIFT CABLE FAILED. *BF THE CONSUMER PLACED THE SHIFTER IN PARK AND STARTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ATT HE INDICATOR ON THE DASH WHICH INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE BROKE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING IT TO HIT THE GLASS WINDSHIELD. VISOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHEARED OFF AND FELL ONTO OF THE DRIVER HEAD AND CAUSED A DEEP SCAR ON TOP OF THE DRIVER 'S FOREHEAD. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR TEMPERATURE LIGHTS WENT OFF, BUT A RATTLING SOUND OCCURRED, PRIOR TO A "POP", WHICH WAS THE ENGINE "BLOWING" UP. THIS LATER WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE BLOW UP OF ROD #4, WHICH TORE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WITH CURRENT REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $6000. THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING OIL CHANGES WITHIN MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. SINCE THIS YEAR AND MODEL WAS PART OF THE "OIL SLUDGE" MESS, I INQUIRED WHY I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS POTENTIAL FOR THE ENGINE TO SEIZE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THEY INDICATED MY VIN SUPPOSEDLY IS NOT PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN AND SINCE THE MILEAGE IS 96000 MILES, I AM NOT COVERED. TOYOTA TOTES A "QUALITY" PRODUCT, YET THIS IS THE FIRST CAR IN MY LIFE THAT HAS NOT MADE IT TO 140,000 MILES OR MORE. TOYOTA TO DATE HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE WITH SO FEW MILES. THEY INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR OIL SLUDGE NIGHTMARE OR ENGINE DESIGN PROBLEMS.*AK

WHILE TRYING TO JACK MY CAMRY TO CHANGE A TIRE ON DRY, LEVEL CONCRETE, THE TOYOTA PROVIDED JACK SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER MY CAR TWICE. I WAS USING THE JACK IN THE TOYOTA MANDATED POSITION, AND WAS NOT ON ANY TYPE OF LOOSE OR UNSTABLE SOIL. THE TOYOTA JACK HAS A VERY SMALL BASE THAT IS EASILY ROCKED SIDE TO SIDE WITH NO STABILITY. THE JACK IS EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS AND VERY MUCH A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO ANYONE USING IT BECAUSE OF ITS PRACTICALLY CONVEX-SHAPED BASE.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 62,000 MILES THAT HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR LESS, AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. I WAS TRAVLLING AT AROUND 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A HOLIDAY WEEKEND WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS OIL EVERYWHERE. WHEN A PASSERBY STOPPED HE SHOWED ME A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND EXAMINED, THEY OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN THE #4 ROD. SINCE THE CAR WAS 2,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT I WAS STUCK WITH LABOR ESTIMATED AT AROUND $1,500. I HAVE WRITTEN TO TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR LABOR ALSO, BUT THEY HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DETERMINATION AS OF YET. THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELLING ON LESS THAN 10 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURED (THE PA TURNPIKE) WAS HILLLY, CURVEY AND CROWDED. IF THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN ON THAT HIGHWAY AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC AND ABSENCE OF ADEQUATE SHOULDER SPACE. I'M STILL WAITING FOR SHAFFERTOYOTA IN CUMBERLAND, MD TO REPAIR MY CAR. AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY HAVE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE.*AK