1994 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

"TAKATA RECALL" MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A DIRT ROAD TO GET HOME. INSTEAD I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A DITCH. MY AIRBAGS INFLATED. NOW MY MUFFLER SOUNDS LIKE ITS RATTLED AND A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE DUE TO THE CRASH. ONLY INTERNAL AND PRIOR TO THIS, MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME OFF AND ON. I WAS TOLD THAT IT JUST MEANT THAT MY BRAKE SENSOR HAD A GLITCH. OTHER THAN THAT MY BREAKS WORKED JUST FINE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF THEM GOING OUT SOONER.

NHTSA ID

11042263

Incident

Oct 20, 2017

1994 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE EXPLOSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE EXPLOSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE WITH SMOKE. THE CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND THAT MANY PARTS OF THE ENGINE HAD BURST; THE RIM AND PISTON WERE VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALL THE ENGINE OIL BLEW UP AND WAS OVER THE FLOOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10327420

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

1994 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4-CYL ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP, DESPITE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. ORIGINAL OWNER PURCHASED NEW. ENGINE SEIZED UP AT APPROX. 90,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158440

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

AT 67,320 MILES, UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY, THE ENGINE EXPLODED BELOW THE FILTER HOUSING AND THE CRANKSHAFT WAS VISIBLE. ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS THE ONLY REMEDY. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE,I SUSPECTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE CAMRY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE-RELATED PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ABOUT MY CAMRY THAT SHOW THAT OIL AND FILTER WAS CHANGED REGULARLY BY A TOYOTA DEALER OR COMPETENT CAR MECHANIC. THUS THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY NEGLECT. ON APRIL 24, 2005, I SENT A LETTER TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., TORRANCE, CA 90501 THAT DESCRIBED THE EVENT AND REQUESTED REPLY. THERE WAS NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. ON JUNE 18, 2005 I WROTE ANOTHER LETTER TO THE TOYOTA ASSISTANCE CENTER REMINDING THEM THAT I EXPECT BOTH A REPLY AND EXPLANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. AGAIN, NO REPLY TO THIS DATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137355

Incident

Apr 20, 2005

Mileage

67,320 mi

AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM A REST STOP, DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION, THE AUTOMOBILE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELARATING. IT TOOK BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF TO FINALLY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. BRAKES WERE SMOKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098848

Incident

Nov 14, 2004

Mileage

103,950 mi

WIFES CAR STARTED SMOKING AT 59,000 MILES. I WENT TO LOCAL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT TRUE. I ASKED HOW MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AND THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA ENGINES DO NOT GIVE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IN SECRET THAT SOME OWNERS HAVE PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE OIL AS A DETERGENT AND BREAK UP THE SLUDGE. WE DROVE THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD 73196 MILES AND FOUND A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER WHO HAD A SHOP WHO QUOTED ME THE $2100.00. HE SAID IT WOULD COST $4,800.00 IF TOYOTA DID IT. I WAS FURIOUS WITH TOYOTA AND LET HIM DO IT. HE TOLD ME HE AND A PARTNER WORKED AT TOYOTA 12 HOURS A DAY FOUR DAYS A WEEK TEARING DOWN FIXING AND REASSEMBLING TOYOTA ENGINES BECAUSE OF SLUDGE BEFORE HE BECAME SERVICE MANAGER

NHTSA ID

10071218

Incident

Feb 15, 1999

Mileage

73,196 mi

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH CAR FOR 3 YEARS OWNED. HAD CAR TOWED DUE TO SLUGGISH/ WANTING TO CUT OUT WHEN IDLING ISSUE. WHEN FT WAYNE TOYOTA CHECKED CAR, THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGE" IN IT, WAS UNFIXABLE AND CAR NEEDED NEW ENGINE. LOOKED THEY SAID LIKE THE OIL HADN'T BEEN CHANGED OFTEN OR CORRECTLY. OIL CHANGES DONE APPROX EVERY 4000 MILES SINCE OWNERSHIP. PERSON AT FT WAYNE TOYOTA BOUGHT CAR TO PUT NEW ENGINE IN AND TOOK A SCOPE THROUGH IT- SAID ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE, METAL CHUNKS AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE RINGS HAD JUST SUDDENLY SNAPPED AND ENDED UP IN ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10069910

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

SLUDGE IN ENGINE - JAPAN MOTOR - HAD THE VALVE SEALS REPLACED TWICE AND ENGINE STILL SMOKES AND USES ALOT OF OIL - 1 QUART PER 1500 MILES. HAVE HAD MANY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AUTO REPAIR SHOPS LOOK AT AND ALL SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE!!

NHTSA ID

10069444

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

I HAVE A 1994 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND I HAVE AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT VERY GOOD RECORDS OF THE SERVICE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, BUT SOMEHOW THIS WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I APPLIED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OIL SLUDGE PROGRAM BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OLDER THAN THE MODELS IN THE OIL SLUDGE PROGRAM. I REALIZE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OTHER MODEL VEHICLES ARE ALSO BEING AFFECTED BY THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10069198

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL GEL'S UP THE ENGINE AND ON THIS CASE CAUSES A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL BUILDING UP ON THE ENGINE AT THIS TIME THERE IS A RECALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THIS RECALL IS ONLY ON YEARS 97 AND UP WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. TS

NHTSA ID

8022820

THIS ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO ENGINE GEL OR SLUDGE. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TOO LIED ABOUT THE FAILURE AS WELL AS TOYOTA CORPORATE DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS PARTICULARLY INSULTING BECAUSE WE OWN A 1998 CAMRY THAT IS UNDER THE GEL PROGRAM AND HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH CAMRY'S. WE TRUSTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AND THEY LIED AND SAID THAT IT WAS AN UNFORESEEN PROBLEM AND THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD CAUSED IT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MATTER TIRELESSLY AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE 2.2 LITER ENGINE THAT IS IN THIS CAR IS IN FACT AT RISK FOR GEL OR SLUDGE. I BELEIVE THAT I HAVE PROOF OF THE SLUDGE PROBELM. TOYOTA CORPORATE IS DENYING ANY RESPONSIBLITLY FOR THIS ENGINE FAILURE THEY PAID FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY AND NEVER TOLD ME WHY THIS HAPPENED TO THIS ENGINE. WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED LUCKILY MY SON WAS ON A CITY STREET,, WHAT IF HE HAD BEEN ON ONE OF THE MANY BRIDGES IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA OR TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED? WHEN WILL THE NHSTA HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES THAT THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD DEFENDING WHILE BLAMING OWNERS?*AK

NHTSA ID

766906

Incident

Apr 22, 2002

UPON DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM BACK END OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER NOTICE OIL WAS GETTING THICK, TURNING INTO SOME KIND OF SLUDGE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE OIL CONTINUOUSLY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008234

SMOCKING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. DEALER SAID SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759614

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005192

Incident

Feb 11, 2002

TOYOTA SELLING A VERY EXPENSIVE PART WHICH FAILS IN JUST 18 MONTHS OF NORMAL DRIVING. PART RETAILS FOR $180-230. REGISTERED OWNER IS JOHN REYES-SO EL MONTE, CA (FATHER-IN-LAW). HIS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND CONTINUED REPLACEMENT COST IS A DEFINATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A. -TORRANCE, CA HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE COST. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

750673

Incident

Nov 4, 1999

ENGINE STARTS,THEN DIES;STARTER CONTINUES TO CRANK AFTER KEY REMOVED&IGNITION TURNED OFF. ENGINE CHECK LIGHTSTAYS ON WHOLE TIME ENGINE RUNNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

737591

Incident

Dec 9, 2000

#1 CYLINDER-SCORED OWNER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

724755

Incident

May 16, 2000

NOT SURE WHETHER THE FAILED PART IS ORIGINAL OR REPLACEMENT?? NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA ID

724404

THE VEHICLE DIED, DRIVER LEFT VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, WHEN COMSUMER RETURNED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. YH

NHTSA ID

552669

ALL MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AS PER SERVICE MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS. OIL CHANGED IN VEHICLE 3896 MILES AGO WHEN ENGINE BLEW. HAVE GONE THROUGH TOYOTA PROCESS TO SEEK "GOODWILL WARRENTY" AND COMPLETED THIS PROCESS AT THE PRESENDITAL LEVEL OF TOYOTA. NO HELP PROVIDED FROM TOYOTA. HAVING ENGINE REBUILT FROM INDEPENDANT REBUILDER. DOCUMENTING ALL DAMAGED PARTS WITH DIGITAL PICTURES AND MECHANICS NOTES. FINAL DIAGONIS OF CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET BY MECHANIC. SAVING ALL PARTS FROM VEHICLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE ENGINE AT TIME OF FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

721810

Incident

Mar 27, 2000

PISTON RINGS SPLIT IN NUMBER ONE CYLINDER DISABLING VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ABUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

718945

Incident

Jan 9, 2000

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WON'T GO INTO GEAR. ALSO, ENGINE TIMING BELT CAME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

849467

Incident

Sep 17, 1999

INTERMITTANT ENGINE/ELECTRICAL COMPLETE FAILURE. NO MATTER IF IDLE, ACCELERATING, OR DECCELERATING. WEATHER NOT A FACTOR. NO WARNING OF FAILURE, USUALLY STARTS BACK UP AFTER PULLING OVER. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MAITA TOYOTA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. DEALER FAILED TO ENTER ORIGINAL INCIDENT (OCCURED APPRX 3-5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE PRIOR TO WARRANTY END) IN THEIR SYSTEM. HAD THEM CHECK IT AT 15K CHECKUP.

NHTSA ID

709702

Incident

Jul 10, 1999

ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR WAS DONE BY MYSELF. ALL FLUIDS, FILTERS ETC., WERE CHANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TOYOTA'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE EITHER ON SCHEDULE OR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A RECEIPT FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGES WHICH I PERFORMED MYSELF SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW, TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ANYONE WHO LOOKED AT MY CAR THAT IT HAS IN FACT, BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IT IS 6 YEARS OLD, STILL LOOKS LIKE NEW INSIDE AND OUT AND ALL OTHER FLUIDS ARE CLEAN AND BEEN REGULARLY CHANGED AS WELL. I PURCHASED A TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE AND COMPANY REPUTATION. I THINK IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS WHAT I FEEL ABOUT TOYOTA'S SERVICE REPUTATION AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SENT SEVERAL REGISTERED LETTERS TO ALL COMPANY EXECS, CEOS, ETC. ALSO, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THE DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, ACTION LINE HERE IN CHARLESTON AS WELL AS A FEW OTHERS. THANKS TO ALL FOR LISTENING.

NHTSA ID

704657

Incident

Mar 11, 1999

POWER STEERING LEAKING, ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHEN GOING THOUGH WATER AND IS SPLASHED UP IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.ALSO, TWO POWER WINDOW REGULATORS INOPERATIVE. SAMETIMES WAS TOLD THE RUBBER SEAL WAS TOO TIGH., WATER PUMP LEAKING, ENGINE OVERHEATED CAUSE WATER CAP (1994). THE VALVE COVERS WAS LEAKING OIL IN 1998, COULD IT BE FROM OVERHEATING ? MY SON HAS THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE CAMRY AND HIS POWER STEERING PUMP/WATER PUMP LEAKED BUT WAS FOUND EAILER THAN MINE UNDER 60000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

702942