1999 Toyota Camry Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH THERE WAS AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE SUSPENSION STABILIZER BAR HAD FAILED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE STABILIZER BAR, STRUTS AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN TWO YEARS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE MOTOR MOUNTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER UNKNOWN COMPONENTS WITHIN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10327198

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY SOON AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME WE WENT OVER THE SPEED BUMPS IN OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AT VERY LOW SPEEDS WE WOULD HEAR A NOISE - A CLICK/CLACK AT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE - NOT LOUD BUT DISTINCT. I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER - STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA AND DESCRIBED THE ISSUE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER & REQUESTING AN APPOINTMENT. HE ASSURED ME THAT THIS IS SIMPLY THE BRAKES THAT ARE "BEING SEATED" AND NOT AN ISSUE. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND BECAME LOUDER WITH TIME. AS THIS POINT WE WERE BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MELODY TOYOTA AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AS THE NOISE WAS MUCH LOUDER AND OCCURRED WHENEVER WE GO OVER ANY POTHOLE ETC, NOT ONLY BUMPS.. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THIS WAS A BROKEN STRUT ARM OR STABILIZER ARM. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A WARRANTY AS I HAD COMPLAINED TO STEVENS CREEK TOYOTA WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE IS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL ON THIS ITEM. I ASKED IF THE ISSUE WAS COMMON AND THE MILEAGE AND HE RESPONDED I HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE ON A NUMBER OF CAMRY'S - THE MILEAGE IS IRRESPECTIVE - LOW MILES OR HIGH. I HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE RESOLVED AS HE STATED IT WOULD NOT HURT THE CAR. PER THE MECHANIC THERE MUST BE TONS OF CARS THAT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312820

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

A RATTLING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE CAR. ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR IT INCLUDING REPLACING ALL STRUTS. NOISE HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE SINCE THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES. MUCH MONEY WASTED ON INEFFECTIVE REPAIRS. RATTLE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217849

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

Mileage

32,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STRUT WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A PERSISTENT CLANKING SOUND WAS NOTED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED STRUT WHICH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE CAR AND SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THE TOYOTA DEALERS WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT WHICH WAS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE STRUT MOUNT DESIGN. HOWEVER, REPAIRS WERE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE, NOT THE DEALERS. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $400. A CALL TO TOYOTA FAILED TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10153639

Incident

Mar 24, 2006

Mileage

73,500 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE STRUT PLATES WERE MAKING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THE STRUT PLATES SHOULD BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126509

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

MY 1999 CAMRY HAS SQUEALING SOUND IN THE FRONT END AND ITS STRUT MOUNTS ARE BAD FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT REACHED 50000 MILES. I NEVER IMAGINED SUCH A PROBLEM WITH CAMRY. IT WAS NOT LIKE PEOPLE SAID THAT CAMRY HAD VERY GOOD RECORDS. MY CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT SUCH AS ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF AND NEVER SOLVED. I PAID $99 ONCE FOR THE CHECKING AND DEALERS PAID MANY TIMES. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT AND THE BRAKE CAN NOT STOP CAR FAST ENOUGH THAT CONTRIBUTED A ACCIDENT IN 2001. THE DOOR SIDE TRIM HAS BEEN OFF THE LINE AND LOOKS UGLY, ETC. I FEEL A LOT OF HEADACHE WITH IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110704

Incident

Jan 7, 2003

FRONT STRUT FAILURE ON XLE V6 CAMRY. NOISE BEGAN AROUND 32,000 MILES. STRUT PLATES REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE AT 42,000 MILES AND ALL FOUR STRUTS THEN REPLACED AGAIN AT OWNER EXPENSE AT 59,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED AND REFUSED ASSISTANCE "IN THIS CASE." INDICATION FROM OTHER REPORTS ON NET AND MANUFACTURERS' KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEM THAT THIS WAS, INDEED, A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL YEAR AND STYLE OF CAMRY.

NHTSA ID

10066173

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

APRIL 30, 2003 ON SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2003 - MY 1999 TOYOTA 2.2L 4CYL CAMRY LE VIN NUMBER [XXX] CEASED TO OPERATE AT JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE ENGINE WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE (SUCH HAS GEARS UNDER PRESSURE THAT JUST GAVE WAY) STOPPED ABRUPTLY WHILE SMOKE CAME OUT AND THE OIL SPILLED ALL OVER THE PLACE. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO ROCKLAND TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY I LATER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SIZED HOLE ON THE ENGINE AND WAS SHOWN BROKEN THE PIECES. THE CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT ROCKLAND TOYOTA SINCE ITS PURCHASE FROM TOYOTA NORTH (ALL BASED IN NEW YORK). MY CAMRY HAS HAD SYMPTOMS RELATING TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. PERSISTENT DRIFTING/PULLING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES WITH NEED FOR EARLY REPLACEMENT, PREMATURE BRAKE COMPONENT WEAR, INCLUDING REAR BRAKE DRUMS, AND VIBRATIONS, ESP. AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN 1999. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10070244

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

52,000 mi

DRIVER & PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES RATTLING/BUMPING SOUNDS WHEN OPENED OR CLOSED . ALSO, WHEN CAR IS CARRYING 4 ADULTS. THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SAGS TO A POINT WHERE THE TAIL PIPE AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL TANK, OCCASIONALLY COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR WHEN VEHICLE ROLLING OVER THE SMALLEST SPEED BUMP OR EXITING DRIVEWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039266

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

MY 1999 CAMRY (52K MILE) SEDAN WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND I ASKED THAT CLUNKING AND SQWEEK IN THE FRONT END BE CHECKED. AFTER DRIVING IT, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RUBBER TOP MOUNTS ON THE MACPHERSON STRUTS WERE SPLIT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAD REPLACED A LOT OF THEM. IT COST APPROXIMATELY $350. I HAVE OWNED 9 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES IN THE PAST 18 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. I THINK TOYOTA IS TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT FIXING THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE CLASSIFIED AS A DEFECT. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10038938

Incident

Sep 11, 2003

IT APPEARS THAT A GOOD PORTION OF CAMRY AND SOLARA (BOTH CARS SHARE SAME PLATFORM) OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS IN THE FRONT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR NHTSA TO EXTEND THE POWER OF CONSUMERS TO GET TOYOTA TO ADMIT TO ITS FAULT, AND TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY? TSB#: SU00299 TSB#: 012199 TSB#: SU00100 GIVEN THAT THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF 1997-2001 CAMRY'S SOLD, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE MANY FRUSTRATED OWNERS WHO WISH TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AT THE EXPENSE OF TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. SOME OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM EARLY, WITHIN THE 3YR/36K MI. WARRANTY PERIOD, WHILE OTHERS ARE LEFT IN THE COLD TO PAY ABOUT $300 TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NOT PRIMARILY WEAR AND TEAR, I BELIEVE TOYOTA MOTORS CORPORATION HAS THE OBLIGATION TO EXTEND ITS WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THE NHTSA DO TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AGAINST DESIGN FLAWS AND DEFECTS SUCH AS THIS ONE? *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016284

Incident

Apr 5, 2002

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY CAMRY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS FALLING APART! THE SCREWS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE DOORS THREE TIME AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ONLY SOLUTION IS TO PUT SILICONE IN THE SCREW HOLES WHICH NOW CAUSES THE THE DOORS TO SQUEAK. THE CAR IS DRAGGING THE GROUND AS A RESULT OF POOR STRUTS. I CONTINUE TO GET THE RUN AROUND WITH THE MANUFACTURE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014480

Incident

Apr 16, 2003

Mileage

30,000 mi

THERE IS A SQEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN I GO OVER SMALL BUMPS/DIPS IN THE ROAD. TOYOTA RECOMMENDED THE REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS, WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE NOISE CONTINUES AND HAS INCREASED IN SEVERITY. THE AIR CONDITIONER SMELLS WHEN USING IT. IT SMELLS LIKE MOLD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, BUT ALL THEY DO IS SPRAY IT WITH FRIGI-FRESH, WHICH ONLY MASKS THE SMELL FOR A SHORT WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ID

763519

Incident

Sep 24, 2000

PROBLEMS WITH UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, BRAKES, CAR VIBRATION, AND BUMPY SUSPENSION SINCE NEW. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT CORRECTED, INCLUDING NEW PADS, AND TIRES 2 TIMES EACH, BUT NO LUCK

NHTSA ID

758898

CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE WHILE DRIVING. NOTIFIED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STRUT ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002833

Incident

Jan 23, 2002

THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD A MUSTY SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY SPRAY THE VENTS WITH "FRIGI FRESH" AND IT'S FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SMELL RETURNS. THEY TOLD ME TO SPRAY SIMPLE GREEN IN THE AIR INTAKE ONCE A WEEK. THAT'S A PRETTY POOR REMEDY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD ON ANY INCLINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL PULL INTO THE GARAGE BY IT SELF AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL INTO THE STREET. IT DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD. THE CAR LACK POWER. SOME DAYS THE CAR IS PEPPY BUT MOST DAYS IT'S A OLD MULE. I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION AND TOYOTA JUST KEEPS REPLACING PARTS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CAR. IT'S SITS IN THE GARAGE NOW BECAUSE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE 1999 CAMRY.*AK

NHTSA ID

751321

Incident

May 15, 2000

BROUGHT CAMRY NEW 1999 REPLACED REAR BRAKES AT 9776 MILES AS WELL AS REAR DRUM TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, 17472 COMPLETE FRONT BRAKE JOB, AT 17472 MILES REPLACED COMPLETE DISC BRAKES, MOUNTED TWO TIRES AND HAD 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BROUGHT TWO MORE TIRES AT 13724 MILES, THEN 2 MORE TIRES AT 29054 MILES, ONCE AGAIN WEAR AND TEAR NORMAL MUST BE DRIVER, ANOTHER FRONT BRAKE JOB AT 29981 MILES AND CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, THEN AT 37738 MILES REAR TIRE WORN AND FRONT TIRES CHOPPED, AT 38685 MILES WARRENTED BRAKE PAD FRONT BRAKES AND MACHINED ROTORS AT 40230 4 TIRES BROUGHT AND INSTALLED, ADJUSTED STRUT MOUNTS, AT 44016 MILES ADJUSTED AND TIGHTENED FRONT CALIPERS AND WARRANTY FOR BEARING SET, CONN. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES TIMES 2 AND BRAKES TIMES 4 WITH ONLY 44016 MILES ON CAR TO DATE CLB. *AK

NHTSA ID

748380

Incident

Oct 9, 1999

CONSUMER STATES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THERE IS TWO OR MORE PASSENGERS AND SOME LUGGAGE, THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION SAGS TO A POINT WHERE THE TAIL PIPE AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL TANK, OCCASIONALLY COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BOTTOMING OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE BEARS A LOAD FAR BELOW ANY MAXIMUM SPECIFIED WEIGHT, CONSUMER HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE COIL SPRINGS REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER BUT HAS HAD NO LUCK, HE HAS BEEN TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY UNLOADED, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADMITTED THAT THE VEHICLE APPEARED LOW, HE THEN STATED THAT CONSUMER OVERLOADED VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID

561750

LETTER AND ATTACHMENTS FORTHCOMING VIA US MAIL. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

746979

Incident

May 1, 2001

VEHICLE HAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, IT'S TAKEN IN APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES TO BE ADJUSTED. FRONT ALIGNMENT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ALWAYS GOES BAD FIRST, THEN ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER THINKS IT'S CONSUMERS DRIVING, AND DOES NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

888747

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

WITHIN 32,000 MILES VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF TIRES DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT. VEHICLE CANNOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT OR STRAIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

882833

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD PROPERLY. THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE LIGHTS STILL DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY AND ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES AGGRESIVELY (OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) MAKING DRIVING VERY DANGTEROUS. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT BY DEALER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALL FOUR TIRES WORE COMPLETELY OUT IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. FRONT END PULLED STRONGLY TO RIGHT. DEALER TRIED TO CORRED SEVERAL TIMES. FRONT END NOW PULLS TO THE LEFT. REAR END "BANGS" AND "BOTTOMS OUT" OFTEN WHILE AT SPEED. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THIS SAFETY CONCERN IS "TYPICAL" OF THIS CAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO HOLD CAR WHILE ON AN INCLINE AT LEAST TWICE. WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE FOR DEALER. REAR DOOR HAS NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY. DEALER HAS ATTAMPTED SEVERAL REAPIRS. DOOR STILL "CREEKS AND POPS" WHEN OPENED.

NHTSA ID

737350

Incident

Apr 1, 1999

VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL AND BODY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND ABOVE/ GROWNING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT MODERATE SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

725809

Incident

Jan 27, 2000

REAR STRUT IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACT UP. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS 3/4 FULL, VEHICLE WILL MAKE A THUMPING SOUND. ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP & ACCELERATING. DEALER KNOWS OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

859623

Incident

Dec 17, 1999

VIBRATION AND GRINDING SOUND THORUGH STEERTING COLUMN PARTICULARLY WHEN TIGHT TURNING RIGHT; SPORADIC SOUND OF A SPRUNG "RUBBER BAND" THROUGH STEERING COLUMN; ON 4 OR 5 OCCASIONS STEERING WHEEL MOMENTARILY BOUND UP (DID NOT UNWIND) TOOK MINIMAL PRESSURE TO RETURN WHEELS TO STRAIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

719434

Incident

Sep 15, 1999