1998 Toyota Camry Body & structure Problems

DRIVER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641070

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

245,000 mi

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I HAVE 1998 CAMRY LE AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES CLUNKING AND BANGING NOISE WHEN I DRIVE OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE OR SMALL HOLE, BUT NOISE GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN I DRIVE OVER BUMPS OR HUMPS. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE ACTION TO MY COMPLAINT AND THANK YOU ADVANCE FOR TAKING CARE FOR US AS A CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394549

Incident

Dec 8, 2010

1998 TOYOTA CAMRY (139K MILES) REAR DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BREAK WHILE DRIVING. PURCHASED TWO REAR TIRES AND CAR ALIGNMENT MID OCTOBER. TWO WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD, FELT A PROBLEM WITH WHEELS, PULLED OFF ROAD, CALLED TOW TRUCK. TIE ROD HAD BROKEN INTO TWO EQUAL SIZED PIECES. TIE ROD WAS VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED AND MISSING THE SLEEVE THAT COVERS OVER BOTH ENDS. PART WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING OR SOMEHOW LOST THE SLEEVE. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN THE CAR. HOWEVER THE TIRE PLACE CHARGED ME FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN I BOUGHT THE TIRES. MORE ANNOYING WAS THE FACT THAT THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED/RUSTED AND LIABLE TO BREAK. I HAD NO INDICATION THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT A BREAK LIKE THAT IS RARE. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR INJURY. LASTLY I HAVE TIRES ROTATED TWICE A YEAR AT LOCAL TOYOTA PLACE AND WAS NEVER INFORMED THE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE/ RUSTED AND MISSING THE SLEEVE

NHTSA ID

10368601

Incident

Nov 14, 2010

Mileage

139,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT IN DECEMBER OF 2001 3 OUT OF HER 4 DOOR HANDLES FAILED. THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T FAIL WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, SINCE IT WAS RARELY USED. THEN ON DECEMBER 11 OF 2006 THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR HANDLE FAILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERN BECAUSE ON 12/06/06 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE THAT SHE GOT REPAIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2001 FAILED, AS WELL AS THE REAR LEFT HANDLE DOOR SEEMS TO BE ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THAT ONCE THE DOOR HANDLE FAILS THERE ISN'T A WAY TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN FOR HER. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES, THE FAILED DOOR HANDLE AND OR, INVOICES IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10176601

Incident

Dec 11, 2006

Mileage

38,199 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE. UPON PULLING OPEN THE DOOR HANDLE IT BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE HANDLE WAS MADE OF POOR QUALITY PLASTIC THAT WAS VERY FRAGILE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE DOOR HANDLE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140325

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

1. THE AUTOMOBILE WOULD SHIMMY, SHAKE AND STOP OPERATING SUDDENLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS LEAD TO SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENT SCENARIOS. . WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD CUT OFF IT PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM PROCEEDING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND AT INTERSECTIONS CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR. BRAKE REPAIRS WERE DONE BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THIS RESULTED IN ANOTHER VERY DANGEROUS NEAR ACCIDENT DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION IN WHICH THE AUTO WOULD NOT START AFTER SHAKING AND COMING TO A VIOLENT HALT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093335

Incident

Sep 25, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR IS PEELING OFF. IT FIRST BEGAN TO BUBBLE AND THEN PEEL. THE AREAS ARE VERY LARGE AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PAINT JOB BECAUSE THE REST OF THE PAINT IS FINT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081197

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE OFF (IN COLD WEATHER) WHEN I TIRED TO OPEN THE DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056938

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

APPARENTLY SOME PART OR PARTS HAVE FAILED WITHIN THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO OPEN DOORS. OFTEN THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN A DOOR FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUS FAILURES COULD RESULT IN BEING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

763616

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

DASHBOARD TROUBLE LIGHTS -- BULB OUT, CHECK ENGINE, REVERSE INDICATOR ON GEAR SELECTOR ( WHILE IN PARK OR ANY OTHER SETTING) CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LICENSED MECHANIC WHOM I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS. HE EXAMINED CAR AND FOUND THAT THE REAR WIRING HARNESS IN THE TRUNK ALONG THE LEFT SIDE TRUNK HINGE HAD BEEN STRETCHING TO THE POINT WHERE THE WIRES WERE TEARING, MELTING THE INSULATION, POPING FUSES, AND SHORTING OUT THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUITS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AFTER THE REPAIR AND I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THEIR FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMED NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH INCIDENT EVER HAPPENING. *AK

NHTSA ID

738233

Incident

Nov 29, 2000

DEALER WANTS 80$ TO TELL US IF GAS TANK PURGE VALVE IS UNDER WARRENTY OR NOT. ALSO DEALER STATES THAT DOOR HANDLE CLIP BREAKING IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

730111

Incident

Aug 3, 2000

EITHER THE FRAME IS OUT OF LINE OR SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PARTS AS THE FRONT END CANNOT BE ALIGNED ACCORDING TO SPECS. THEY REPLACED BOLTS IN THE FRONT END FOR ALIGNMENT & THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF FRONT END SHIMMY AND TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ID

728845

Incident

Jun 26, 1998

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES WILL EXPERIENCE A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK DEALER WOULD MAKE SO CALLED ADJUSTMENTS, HOWEVER WOULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, A BRAKE SPECIALIST DETECTED BRAKE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM, CONSUMER FEELS BRAKES ARE UNMATCHING PARTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR REPAIR, THE DEALER HAS ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, REPLACED BRAKE PADS, MACHINED ROTORS, REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND, VEHICLE WOULD SCRAPE THE GROUND WHILE ENTERING AND EXITING DRIVEWAY THAT HAD A VERY SMALL PEAK, DEALER STATED STRUSTS WERE FINE, CONSUMER FEELS STRUTS ARE DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE HAS A LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND IDLES HIGH ON A COLD START, DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING BELT. LEFT SUN VISOR IS LOOSE, DEALER TIGHTENED, VISOR MIRRORS WERE CRACKEDM DEALER REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER HAS AN ODOR WHEN IN USE. TIRES KEEP LOSING AIR, FOUND TIRES WERE MISSING A VALVE STEM. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED AIR FUEL SENSOR, ENGINE STALLS AT TIMES WHEN STARTING, DEALE REPLACED THE IAC VALVE. RIGHT HEADLAMP IS DIM, DEALER ORDERED NEW BULB ASSEMBLY, BULB SHORTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER OF VEHICLE WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE MANY BRAKE PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX, MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MADE WITH AN ILL FITTING PART THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE RECALLED, PREVIOUS OWNER HAD RETURNED VEHICLE DUE TO THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS, WHEN CURRENT OWNER BOUGHT VEHICLE TOYOTA HID THE FACT THAT VEHICLE WAS LEASED AND THAT IT HAD EXPERIENCED THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

864996

LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS TORN. NLM

NHTSA ID

543872

A CLIP WITHIN THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY BROKE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO OPEN DOORS. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

858501

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA (NO COST TO ME ) BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. BUT THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS SINCE DAY ONE: ELECTRIC SHOCK WHEN TOUCHING DOOR ON THE WAY OUT AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF. WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF.

NHTSA ID

719764

Incident

Sep 13, 1999

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. YH

NHTSA ID

549513

Incident

Sep 24, 1999

SUN VISORS.

NHTSA ID

609752

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE DOESN'T WORK FROM INSIDE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

609527

PULLING VERY SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE, I SCRAPED THE METAL AROUND THE WHEEL OPENING OF THE CAR NEXT TO ME. HE HAD PAINT MARKS BUT THE SIDE FRONT DRIVER'S BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED.

NHTSA ID

710347

Incident

May 3, 1999

WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A SHARP CORNER OF THE DOOR THAT WHEN CLOSING HITS AND INJURES HER LEG. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

845331

Incident

Aug 14, 1999

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL AT RANDOM. IF YOU ENTER THE CAR, CLOSE THE DOOR, AND LOCK THE CAR USING THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, YOU CANNOT UNLOCK THE CAR DOORS UNLESS THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. THIS IS CLEARLY

NHTSA ID

710161

Incident

Aug 18, 1999

WHEN THERE ARE PASSENGERS IN THE BACK SEATS, AND VEHICLEGOES OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE HITS THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID

843786

Incident

Apr 15, 1998

POWER DOOR LOCKS ARE DESIGNED TO ONLY LOCK WHEN ALL FOUR DOORS ARE SLAMMED SHUT, FAILURE OF LOCK SYSTEM WHEN ONE DOOR NOT CLOSED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. MJS

NHTSA ID

545849

LEFT SIDE INTERIOR PANEL DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY. YH

NHTSA ID

609938

Incident

Apr 1, 1998