1996 Toyota Camry Brakes Problems

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT CRASHED AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE SWERVED AND AT NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I CANNOT SEE IN THE DARK AND I AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. AROUND SUMMER OF 2010, I CRASHED M Y CAR ON A CURVE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON HIGHWAY 85. AS I WAS ABOUT TO CURVE I SLOWLY WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR A BIT LOWER TO CURVE CORRECTLY. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CURVE APPROPRIATELY SO MY CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURVE (LUCKILY IT WAS BLOCKED BY A STEEL HIGHWAY FENCE). I REPLACED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT BUMPER WITH AN AWFUL OFF COLOR PAINT JOB. I DID NOT MAKE A POLICE REPORT AND I DID NOT CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I FIXED MY CAR AND NOW I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. PROPERTY DAMAGE OF MY CAR WAS DONE. MY WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS AND MY KEY ENTRY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS WELL DUE TO THE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386228

Incident

Jun 10, 2010

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY THROUGH JULY 2009, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. OFF AND ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A STRANGE ODOR COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD GENERALLY HAPPEN WHEN ATTEMPTING A ROUTINE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEN ON AUGUST 19, 2009, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED; THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AS THE CONSUMER DESPERATELY SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL, SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO WEAVE IN BETWEEN CARS AS THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR HER TO PULL OVER WITHOUT CRASHING. SHE PUT ON HER HAZARD LIGHTS AND BEEPED THE HORN TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. SHE THEN SWUNG INTO A WIDE PARKING LOT ENTRANCE AND SLAMMED THE GEAR INTO PARK AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10314319

Incident

May 1, 2009

GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL TANK NECK. BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM METAL LINE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181288

Incident

Jan 31, 2007

8/2003 BOUGHT CAR. AT 75.000 MILES, FREEZE PLUGS STARTED TO GO. ONE AFTER THE OTHER. LEAVING ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. AFTER WE REPLACED THE FREEZE PLUGS, 76.000 MILES THE CAR STARTED DUMPING ITS COOLANT THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TANK.. COULD NOT GET ANSWERS FROM PHILLIPS TOYOTA. STARTED LOOSING OIL. THE OBD LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON. THE CAR RUNS QUITE AND SMOOTH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CORPORATION, BUT THEY WILL NOT HELP. ALSO, THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE LOUD NOISES, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. CAR HAS NOW, 130000 MILES ON IT, AND ALL I CAN DO, IS ADD WATER EVERY 25 MILES OR SO. NONE OF THE SHOPS WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO CAN TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172605

Incident

Mar 25, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

I OWN A 1996 CAMRY V6 LE WITH 4-WHEEL DISK BRAKES, AND ITS CURRENT MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 90,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER WORN OUT THE FRONT DISK PADS, WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS A FEW TIMES. TOYOTA SAYS IT'S MY GENTLE DRIVING STYLE THAT CAUSES THE UNUSUAL WEAR. I SAY THAT THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SET AT THE FACTORY IS MIS-SET, BUT IT TAKES SPECIAL TOOLS TO CHANGE AND NO ONE HAS THESE TOOLS, SO I CAN'T PROVE MY POINT. THE BIG QUESTION TO ME: IS MY CAR STOPPING WITH TWO BRAKES OR 4 BRAKES, AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO? *NM

NHTSA ID

10151794

Incident

Mar 3, 2006

WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE ENGAGED THEY FAIL TO WORK. WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD GOING ABOUT 20 MPH ON SNOW COVERD ROAD. BRAKES WAS APPLIED, GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WAS EXPERIENCED-THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ADEQUATELY, IT TOOK ABOUT 40 FEET TO STOP GOING AT 20MPH. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ABS IS NOT ACTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108295

Incident

Jan 22, 2005

THE ENGINE JUST DIES. USUALLY AT A STOP OR SLOW DOWN. PROBABLY 1X/MONTH FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. PREVIOUSLY IT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES LAST YEAR. THE FREQUENCY SEEMS TO BE INCREASING. SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED ONLY WITH CITY DRIVING. I DO 90% CITY DRIVING, BUT AM BECOMING NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING THE CAR OUT ON THE FREEWAY. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANY HISTORY OF THESE STALLS ON THE CAR'S COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ISC VALVE EVER SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ISC VALVE EVERY YEAR. TOYOTA HAS PAID FOR IT, BUT IT IS ANNOYING NOT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.

NHTSA ID

10070289

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE BRAKING AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE, CAUSING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TO HIT IT ON FRONT RIGHT HAND SIDE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10044996

Incident

Oct 6, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE LOST BRAKE AND STEERING POWER. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT JUMPED, AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP BECAUSE OF AN OIL JELLYING PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE, PER DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10041945

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING/STARTING PROBLEMS, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE EGR VALVE, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED, THE TIRES EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, THE BRAKES FAILED, THERE WERE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND STEERING PROBLEMS, THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND ALSO THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10011428

BRAKES GRAB WHEN STOPPING AND MAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED NO FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10007186

Incident

Jun 3, 2002

BRAKES WILL MAKE SQUEAKING AND GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007161

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003433

Incident

Jan 16, 2002

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AT IDLE SPEED, THE CONTROL VALVE STICKS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK BRAKES EXPERIENCE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND VIBRATION, ROTORS WERE WARPED AND BRAKE PADS WERE GLAZED, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, MOTOR MOUNTS WERE WEAK CAUSING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, 16 VALVE SEALS CAME APART DUE TO BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WATER PUMP LEAKED, TIMING BELT FAILED, VALVE COVER LEAKED, AND CAM SEAL WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, RIGHT OUTER AXLE BOOT WAS SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, CV BOOTS FAILED TWICE, SHIFTER WAS HARD AND WAS MAKING NOISES, DEALER FOUND THE SHIFTER LEVER PLATE WAS BROKEN, TRANSMISSION PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. THE CAR JACK WAS MISSING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE ANTENNA WAS INOPERABLE. DEALER FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BATTERY. CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, DEALER SECURED SEAT SLIDE ADJUSTER HOOK, TEMPERATURE GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS, THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY, EGR MODULATOR, IDLER CONTROL VALVE, IDLE AIR SPEED CONTROL, DISTRIBUTOR O-RING, IDLER BEARING, ISC VALVE, AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED, BLUE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST, DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, FUEL INJECTION, AND RECALIBRATED THE FUEL SENSOR, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING DUE TO FAULTY EGR VACUUM MODULATOR, DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE WOULD DEFAULT IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL ADDED, THE VALVE IS TOO SMALL SO IT WILL STICK OR BECOME CLOGGED UP WITH CARBON BUILD UP. *SLC

NHTSA ID

897821

Incident

Feb 1, 1996

FRONT BRAKES MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

750823

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ABS SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP. WHEN THIS HAD HAPPENED, VEHCLE SKIDDED & HIT A POLE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID

890318

Incident

Aug 3, 1996

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH FELT A SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY ITSELF. A MINUTE LATER, WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSAXLE CRACKED AND IT BROKE OFF WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY. DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LOCKING WAS TORN UP, AND CENTER SUPPORT WAS WIPED OUT. TRANSFER CASE ALSO BROKE WHERE IT WENT ONTO THE BODY. *AK DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS CHUNKS OF METAL FOUND FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL DRAIN PLUG. CONSUMER HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE INCLUDING STARTING PROBLEMS. STRUT FAILURE. KEY AND LOCK PROBLEMS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAULTY. INTERIOR AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

885849

Incident

Mar 30, 2001

AFTER PURCHASING CAR I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AFTER 3 MONTHS, THEN TOLD ROTORS WERE WARPED, NOW REAR AXLE IS FAULTY AND CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ROTORS/DRUMS AND BRAKES AGAIN. CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SHAKING. THIS IS TRUE OF BOTH SIDES, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT.

NHTSA ID

741531

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.*AK

NHTSA ID

878463

Incident

Jan 13, 2001

CONSUMER HEARS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, PLACED IN REVERSE, PLACED IN DRIVE AND WHILE BRAKING. NLM

NHTSA ID

784643

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO QUICKLY STOP AT HIGH SPEEDS (50+ MPH), THE FRONT BRAKES GROAN/GRIND AND VIBRATE. THIS INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE BY A FACTOR OF 2 AND IS UNSAFE. PADS AND ROTORS WHERE REPLACED BY DEALER AT MY COST BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. TSBBR002-96 DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT HELP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID

721583

Incident

Mar 22, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717298

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

ON THE DATE OF FAILURE, DURING A ROUTINE VISIT TO A TOYOTA SHOP, MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE MEASURED TO BE 8MM. SINCE THAT TIME, AND WITH TOYOTA TECHS TAKING THE MEASUREMENTS, THEIR SIZE HAS NOT REDUCED MORE THAN 0.5 MM. SINCE THE REAR PADS SEEM TO BE WEARING AT A QUICKER-THAN-EXPECTED RATE (THEY WERE 10MM NEW, 6MM ON THE ABOVE DATE AND 3.5MM CURRENTLY), I AM CONCLUDING THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT BEING EMPLOYED PROPERLY, AND THIS CONDITION IS PUTTING ME AND MY PASSENGERS AT A GREAT SAFETY RISK. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO TOYOTA SHOPS, AND HAVE HAD THEIR DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER INVOLVED, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THE BRAKES ARE GOOD BECAUSE THE LINE PRESSURE READINGS ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. I HAVE NOT WITNESSED THESE TESTS NOR HAVE THEY TOLD ME WHAT THE READINGS SHOULD BE, SO I CAN'T BE SURE THAT THE TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THEY HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED A REPAIR, AND WON'T DO SO, BECAUSE "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG" AND IF THERE WAS, IT'S NOT RELATED TO THE WARRANTY. THEY TELL ME THAT I JUST HAVE VERY GOOD BRAKES. THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS HOW THE BRAKES CAN BE WORKING, BUT NOT WEARING. SINCE I HAVE HAD THEM INSPECT THE BRAKES AT LEAST THREE TIMES, I HAVE PAID FOR AT LEAST ONE INSPECTION, THEY HAVE TOLD ME TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT TO ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WARRANTY. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE TOYOTA PEOPLE CAN TELL ME THAT THE FRONT BRAKES ARE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY WITHOUT SHOWING ANY WEAR. THEY WORK BY WEARING. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS, UNDER WARRANTY, UNTIL MY BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY, THAT IS, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE DOING MOST OF THE STOPPIN, AS THEY SHOULD. *AK

NHTSA ID

716239

Incident

Mar 15, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO MAKE A STOPBY APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE GRINDS/ SQUEAKS, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

849809

Incident

Sep 4, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING HIGH SPEED , THERE WAS GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE CRASH. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

843082

Incident

Dec 12, 1998