2018 Toyota Camry

My car started to have issues while driving, especially when I slow down. It wants to die while I’m driving or waiting for traffic so I can turn or entering roundabouts. I recently waited for traffic and found myself turning in front of a semi. I had plenty of time, but through my turn realized that if my car had died that semi would have hit me at 45 mph. There are 2 lights on, check engine and master warning light. I have tried to have the issue fixed twice already and it was better for about 20 miles and then I have the same issue. These issues seem identical to the ones as described in the recalls for the same year make and model of my vehicle, but my specific vin is not part of the recall. I am concerned it is also part of the same issue. (It seems to have the same symptoms as the recall for the fuel pump issue or the incorrect sized pistons)

The longer I have this car, the more issues arise yearly. When this car was first bought as new I noticed that the car battery would die whenever I didn't drive for a single day. As the years pass the situation just gets worse. Today I was about to drive to work and found to my dismay that the car refuses to start. I couldn't even unlock my car with the key fob buttons, I had to use the key itself to unlock the car door to get in. The trunk refused to open even with the button inside the car, so I had to ONCE AGAIN use my key in the key slot to open. No lights came on when I tried to start the car, usually you can hear the engine struggle to start but not this time. After I had it jumpstarted the engine made a truly weird and strange sound, like rattling but much more higher pitched. Engine also sounded very weak too, much higher pitched than usual, almost like it was going to fade out of power. I have not changed the battery for a bit over 4 years. I don't drive much at all, I have 16K miles accumulated in the 4.5 years I've had this vehicle. I really want to love this car and own it until 100K but with problems like this I don't think this car will even last another 5 years. I'm thinking of selling this after a few years and getting a Lexus SUV instead. Apparently this battery issue is common in modern Toyotas, particularly sedans. I have other relatives with new Toyotas and they all had to have battery replacement in less than 2 years of ownership. It's a bummer that Toyota QC is going down and they are focusing instead on more technology in the cabin. I can only hope and pray that my car won't quit on me in a dark and empty lot one day.

The car hesitates while driving different speeds and kicks in almost like the transmission is slipping I have taken it in to the local dealership and they continue to tell me that everything is fine, they have done what they call a software update stating that it should fix it but it has not, there are no open recalls for the vin number but its an on going issue.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS NEEDED. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED WHILE USING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. HER HUSBAND WAITED FOR A WHILE BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO AIR ENTERING THE VACUUM PUMP. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND ORDER THE VACUUM PUMP AND REPLACED IT HIMSELF. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

VEHICLE JERKS WHEN IN MOTION OR BEFORE BRAKING. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO PROPERLY SWITCH SPEEDS WHICH ALSO CAUSE IT TO JERK FORWARD. AGAIN, POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT CONSTANTLY SLOWS DOWN BECAUSE IT "DETECTS ITEM" WHEN THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN THE ROAD. IT WILL SLOW DOWN AT ANY TIME ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE RECEIVED 2 MASTER WARNINGS ALERTS THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID, WEREN'T REGISTERED IN THE VEHICLES DATA BASE. THE MASTER ALERT IS LOUD AND FILLS UP MY DASHBOARD SO, IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE NOT RESPONDING WELL TO BURSTS OF SPEED, SIMPLY TURN OFF ECO MODE, AND REFILL VEHICLE WITH BETTER GAS (DO NOT USE THE CHEAPEST TIER OF GAS AVAILABLE AT THE GAS STATION, GO THE NEXT TIER UP FROM THAT). I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS NOW WITH UNDER 13,800 MI AT TIME OF WRITING. THERE ARE STEERING ISSUES WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I SHARE THIS VEHICLE WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND ALL OF THEM COMPLAIN OF THE VEHICLE SHAKING SEVERELY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. STEERING WHEEL FREQUENTLY SEEMS TO "LOCK" IN PLACE WHEN DRIVING CURVES. THE RECALL THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE, 20V682, HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE SINCE LATE OCTOBER 2020 AND AS OF NOW THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. I SPOKE TO A TOYOTA REP EARLY FEBRUARY AND THEY WERE ANTICIPATING A REMEDY TO BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF THE MONTH BUT THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. TRIED CALLING AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE ME AN EXACT DATE FOR THE REMEDY TO BE READY. MEANWHILE I AM READING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE STALLING WHILE IN MOTION, ENDANGERING NOT JUST THEIR OWN LIVES BUT THE LIVES OF OTHER DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE LAST THING I WANT IS FOR ME OR MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY LOSE OUR LIVES. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR TOYOTA TO KEEP US ALL WAITING FOR SUCH A LONG TIME FOR A REMEDY. THERE SEEM TO BE MORE AND MORE RECALLS AFFECTING ALL TOYOTA BRANDED VEHICLES DUE TO POOR QC. IF THEY COULD ONLY TAKE THE TIME TO PROPERLY TEST ALL PRODUCTS BEFORE RELEASE THEM TO THE PUBLIC, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE IN OUR VEHICLES FEELING ON EDGE AND UNCOMFORTABLE ALL THE TIME. IF THESE RECALLS KEEP COMING I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SELLING THE VEHICLE ONCE MY PAYMENTS ARE DONE IN 3 YEARS, AND CONSIDER LOOKING ELSEWHERE FOR BRANDS WHO VALUE SAFETY INSTEAD OF ADDING MORE TECH GADGETS TO HIKE UP PRICES.

AN EMERGENCY MESSAGE CAME ON TELLING ME MY BRAKES WERE LOSING POWER BAND I NEEDED TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE AREA. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY! I COULD NOT PUSH DOWN. I HAD TO USE THE PARKING BREAK AND GO INTO A LOWER GEAR TO GET TO THE SHOULDER THEN MY CAR CAME TO A STOP IN THE CROSSWALK OF THE FREEWAY EXIT. VACUUM PUMP STOPPED WORKING. WENT IN TO REPLACE IT AND THE BACKSIDE IS DECENTIGRATED INTO THE MOTOR. NEEDS CAMSHAFT ASSEMBLY/EXHAUST REPLACED, INVESTIGATE THE MOTOR TO LOOK FOR PIECES SO THEY DON'T DAMAGE THE MOTOR, NO GEAR AT THE END OF THE VACUUM PUMP, IT HAS GONE DOWN NOT THE MOTOR

I HAD RECENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAMRY MODELS THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5 4 CYLINDER HAVE ENGINE ISSUES SUCH AS STALLING AND I HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS SITUATIONS TO WHERE NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN HURT TERRIBLY. ONE MORNING I WAS JUST CASUALLY DRIVING AND AS I WAS TURNING LEFT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME BRAKED AND SPED AHEAD AND TO MY RIGHT I CAN SEE A CAR RUNNING A RED LIGHT AND I ALSO HAD TO FLEE THE AREA BUT, WITH THE ENGINE STALLING THERE WAS A LATE RESPONSE AND THANKFULLY GOD WAS WITH ME THAT DAY AS NONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WERE HURT OR HARMED, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE WAS 9,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.