2001 Toyota Camry

MY CAR (A 2001, 4-CYLINDER, TOYOTA CAMRY LE; VIN #: [XXX]) HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 26 DAYS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THAT DEALERSHIP WHEN IT SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR STARTED TO JERK SPORADICALLY AND HESITATE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR GOT WORSE IT STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING-AND-CLACKING NOISE AND SEEMED THAT IT WOULD DIE AT ANYTIME. AS I APPROACHED THE SERVICE STATION, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE. I ASKED THE MECHANICS AT THE STATION TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR, ONE OF THE MECHANICS ASKED HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS CAR?? WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A 2001, HE SAID THAT HE?D NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IN A 2-YEAR OLD CAR. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE A REPAIR THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TWO LETTERS AND SEVERAL CALLS LATER AND MY CAR STILL SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM PERCY CHAN OF TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER (310-468-2846) ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. [XXX]. [XXX] CALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY (APPROX 66,060 MILES). HE THEN SAID THAT HE'D GOTTEN AN EMAIL FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS FOR $500 (THIS IS DOWN FROM $5,500; THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. I RECEIVED A SECOND CALL FROM [XXX]. [XXX] ON OCTOBER 20, 2003. HE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE'D REVIEWED THE LETTER AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEALERSHIP WOULD LET MY CAR SIT ON THE LOT TAKING UP SPACE. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN MONEY FROM TOYOTA TO MAKE REPAIRS UNDER THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. I RECEIVED A THIRD CALL FROM [XXX]. [XXX] ON OCTOBER 21, 2003. HE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE [XXX]. BOOTS WAS NO LONGER THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE NEW MANAGER WAS [XXX]. HE SAID THAT [XXX] CHECKED WITH THE MECHANIC AND SAID THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY VALVOLINE WHO HAD DONE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

PREMATURE TIRE FAILLURE. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES ON A 2001 TOYOTA CAMARY. THE CAR HAS 47000 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE DEALER INDICATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THSI PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING SEVERAL BRANDS OF TIRES. HE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE OUTER EDGE WEAR INDICATING A POSSIBLE SPECIFICATION PROBLEM.

PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY.*MR (NAR) WHILE DRIVING ON THE MAJOR INTERSTATE THE CONSUMER VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WITH OUT ANY WARNING, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK SPORADICALLY AND HESITATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND HAD TO TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE DEFECT ENGINE BUT FELL TO FIX PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS REQUESTING THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED FOR ALL AFFECTED ENGINES, OR RE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AND COVER THE INCIDENTAL AND COLLATERAL EXPENSES MADE FROM DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB