1995 TOYOTA CAMRY Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD ROARING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,223 UPDATED 12/19/12 *CN UPDATED 01/09/13

Mileage: 29,223

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BY HIMSELF ALTHOUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID RESPOND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 243,447.

Mileage: 243,447

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

Mileage: 227,000

PROBLEM: MY 1995 CAMRY SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED FROM 32 TO 35 MPH IN THE THIRD LANE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AS IF I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL (THE PEDAL WAS MINIMALLY DEPRESSED.) I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND GLIDED TO A STOP. AFTER WAITING 2 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE REVED UP PAST 7,000 RPM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR IMMEDIATLY. I TRIED PUSHING THE PEDAL UP AFTER WAITING 3 MINUTES. ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE RACED IN NEUTRAL TO 7,000 RPM. I OPENED THE HOOD AND (USING A PAIR OF PLIERS) ROTATED THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY. WHILE ROTATING THE ASSEMBLY I FELT THE ASSEMBLY HIT AND GO THROUGH SOME KIND OF BARRIER. I RESTARTED MY VEHICLE. THIS TIME IT STARTED NORMALLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPAIR TECH WHO SAID HE THINKS THE SPARK PLUG WIRE CAUGHT ON THE ASSEMBLY. HE WIRE TIED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES TO A SMALL RUBBER HOSE TO SECURE IT. THERE IS ENOUGH PLAY IN WHERE THE CABLES ARE ROUTED (EVEN THOUGH THE WIRES ARE TIGHT) FOR THE SPARK PLUG WIRES TO TOUCH THE ASSEMBLY WHILE DRIVING. THE TECH SAID THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM AND TO CALL HIM IF I HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS. HE ALSO REMINDED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE (AGAIN) IF I HAD ANY FURTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. ANY OTHER CAUSES? I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE IN IN FRONT OF ME. HAD I NOT TURNED OF THE ENGINE THE BRAKES (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NEW) WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. I REACTED QUICKLY. FROM SUDDEN ACCELERATION TO ENGINE OFF WERE LESS THAN 3 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE WAS REALLY RACING. THE DEPRESSION I PLACED UPON THE PEDAL SHOULD HAVE TAKEN 10 SECONDS TO BRING ME TO 35 FROM 32. INSTEAD, IN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS I WAS GOING 40 AND ACCELERATING. THE BRAKES ALONE COULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 231,624

UNASSISTED AND UNSAFE ACCELERATION ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITH MY 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY AND A COMPLETE ENGINE STALL-OUT WHILE DOING 15 MPH WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE VIBRATES TERRIBLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES; THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN IN REVERSE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SPENT A LOT OF $$ TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. NOW, I'M SPENDING $$ TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I JUST HAD A TUNE UP, AND I WILL BE REPLACING THE TIMING BELT, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, PCV VALVE, DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR, TENSION SPRING, IDLER PULLY, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE. I HAVE READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, BUT THIS IS NOT NORMAL VIBRATION BY ANY MEANS. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

ENGINE FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 135,440

MY 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 CYLINDER SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES. NO WARNING LIGHT COME ON. I SAW MANY COMPLAINT SIMILAR HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/TOYOTA_ENGINE.HTML AND THIS "TOYOTA AGREES TO SLUDGE SETTLEMENT FOR CONSUMERS" HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/01/TOYOTA_SLUDGE_SETTLEMENT.HTML. *JB

Mileage: 162,000

1995 TOYOTA CAMRY THREATENS TO STALL WHEN SHARPLY ACCELERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, UNLESS FOOT REMAINS ON ACCELERATOR. TOYOTA MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF THE ERG VALVE. VALVE AND HOUSING WERE REPLACED, AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *NM

Mileage: 130,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WENT INSIDE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THEY LOOKED OUT AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. NO INSPECTION HAS BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Mileage: 130,000

MY 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN TO HAVE DOCUMENTED SIGNS OF OIL SLUDGE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AROUND 1999. EACH TIME I WOULD HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND ANY REPAIRS MADE TO KEEP MY CAR IN GOOD AND WORKING CONDITION, IT WAS NOTED THAT MY OIL HAD SLUDGE. AT THAT TIME, I KNEW NOTHING OF THE TOYOTA SLUDGE ISSUE. AFTER HAVING THIS DIAGNOSIS A FEW TIMES, I WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A SECOND OPINION SINCE THE "SLUDGE" PROBLEM KEPT RECURRING DESPITE OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD ABOUT TOYOTA MODELS WITH COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE SLUDGE. MY MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED (1995 CAMRY, V4). I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED TOYOTA WITHOUT RECOURSE. I HAVE SPENT OVER 5K TO REBUILD MY ENGINE AND I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA AND PETITIONING TO HAVE MY MODEL AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS WITH ENGINE OIL SLUDGE TO BE RECALLED. *JB

1995 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD WHEN HE NOTICED FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

WHEN I WENT TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED, THE SERVICE TECH SAID THAT IT WOULDN'T PASS AND ASKED IF I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT I WANTED TO TAKE IT TO. I TOOK IT TOO MEINEKE AND HE SAID THAT THE PIPE GOING INTO MY CONVERTER WENT AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE PIPE AND CONVERTER. HE SAID THAT IT WAS RELATIVELY COMMON FOR MY CAR. I HAVE A 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY AND IT HAD A LITTLE OVER 29,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

Mileage: 29,223

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SOMETHING FELL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THE TIRES EXPLODED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THERE WERE BEARINGS IN MY OIL PAN. THEY SAID THAT SLUDGE PROBABLY PLUGGED UP THE OIL FLOW. I CAN\\'T BELIEVE A SIX CYLINDER TOYOTA ENGINE SHOULD FAIL AT 110,000 MILES.

Mileage: 110,000

ENGINE SEIZED WITH OIL STICK STILL SHOWING OIL. 1,000 MILES LATER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. CAR STILL STALLED AFTER NEW TRANSMISSION. REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR CAP, NO LUCK. TIGHTENED LOSE IGNITION WIRE, NO LUCK. REPLACE IGNITION WIRE CONNECTION, FINALLY NO PROBLEMS. NOW I NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN TOYOTA PRODUCTS.

Mileage: 89,470

ALTHOUGH I HAD TIMELY OIL AND FLUID CHANGES AND INSPECTIONS, THE TECHNICIANS REPORTED I HAD OIL SLUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WITHOUT NOTICE, IN NOV, 2002, CAR SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. SYMPTOMS WERE SMOKING AND LEAKY RADIATOR. DURING INSPECTION TECH NOTED: "VEHICLE HAS ALOT OF SLUDGE IN VALVE COVER/ OIL DRAINS SLOWLY & OVER FLOWS W/FILLED TOO FAST."

Mileage: 70,000

SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE WHEN START VEHICLE. THICK BLACK OIL SLUDGE, BUILD-UP IN OIL CONTAINER. CAUSING CAR TO RUN BAD AND BURN OIL. CAR IS A 1995 TOYOTA CAMRY V6 LE WITH ONLY 69,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT! HAD OIL CHANGED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, STILL HAPPENING! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS COMING ON! TOOK TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG? *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND SHUT DOWN. IT WILL NOT RESTART. IDEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE MOTOR BLEW AND NOW IT IS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THREE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. AS A RESULT OF THE FATIGUE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS CRACKED AND IT IS NOW IN NEED OF REPLACMENT. THE ENGINE O RINGS WERE LEAKING AND WERE REPLACED. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT THREE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. AS A RESULT OF THE FATIGUE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS CRACKED AND IT IS NOW IN NEED OF REPLACMENT. THE ENGINE O RINGS WERE LEAKING AND WERE REPLACED. *JG

THE TOYOTA CAMRY 1995 WAS IN FOR 90,000 SERVICE ON 5/23/02. THE SERVICE TECH AT SCHAUMBURG TOYOTA REPORTED THAT I NEEDED 3 ENGINE MOUNTS. SINCE HE STATED THE WORK IS NEEDED FOR SAFETY REASONS I CONSENTED. THEN, AT THE TIME OF PICKING THE CAR UP, HE STATED THAT I WILL NEED AN EXHAUST PART . I FOUND OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CRACKED. I WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAD THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS. NLM

THE TOYOTA CAMRY 1995 WAS IN FOR 90,000 SERVICE ON 5/23/02. THE SERVICE TECH AT SCHAUMBURG TOYOTA REPORTED THAT I NEEDED 3 ENGINE MOUNTS. SINCE HE STATED THE WORK IS NEEDED FOR SAFETY REASONS I CONSENTED. THEN, AT THE TIME OF PICKING THE CAR UP, HE STATED THAT I WILL NEED AN EXHAUST PART . I FOUND OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CRACKED. I WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAD THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS. NLM

THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE BREAKS DOWN EVERY ABOUT TWO YEARS. IN COLD STARTING, ENGINE DOES NOT START. REPLACEMENT IS EXPENSIVE AT $400. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE PART. MY PROBLEM BEGAN IN 1997, 1999 AND 2002.*AK

FROM A DEAD STOP CAR LURCHED WHEN GAS WAS APPLIED.ALSO, FRONT AND REAR ENGINE MOUNTS DISPLAYED FAILURE FROM METAL FATIGUE*AK

CONSUMER THINKS IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE SHE IS ABLE TO REMOVE HER KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE.*AK TIMING BELT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

FAILURE OF TWO ENGINE MOUNTS, CAUSING SHIFTING OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 50MPH, A BOLT HOLDING ROD CAP CAME OFF & FELL INTO OIL PAN. THIS CAUSED ENGINE TO LOCK UP ON FRONT WHEEL DRIVE IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE WAS NOT STRIPPED. A FRIEND TOOK OIL PAN OFF. *AK CONSUMER WHO USED TO WORK IN TOYOTA'S DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO FINDA ONE ROD TAP THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TIGHTENED AND A LOCK CAP THAT WAS NEVER INSTALLED. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS ON SIDE & FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER & NO WARRANTY. CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO COVER COST. *AK

WHEN FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE IT HAD A MINOR ENGINE VIBRATION WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE WITH THE CAR ON AND IN DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN CONSITENTNLY WORSE OVER TIME. THE ENGINE VIBRATION'S SEVERITY WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND IN GEAR VARIES. IT CAN BE QUITE SEVERE AT TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS VIBRATION IS NORMAL ON ALL TOYOTA CAMRYS FROM 1992- 1995. THE VEHICLES TIMING BELT AND COMPLETE TUNEUP HAS BEEN DONE AND IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. *AK

ACCELERATOR STUCK AFTER PVC VALVE REPLACED CAUSED BY CLAMP ON PVC VALVE. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN TRAFFIC, NOTICED BRAKES DID NOT STOP CAR. TRIED TO PUMP ACCELERATOR HARD TO RELEASE BUT IT DID NOT WORK. RPM'S REACHED 6000. TRIED PUTTING CAR IN PARK BUT IT STOPPED AT REVERSE. CAR SCREECHED TO HALT AND SQUEALED INTO REVERSE IN LUNCH HOUR TRAFFIC. IMMEDIATELY PUT BACK IN DRIVE. AGAIN SCREACH AND SQUEAL AND GOING FORWARD. AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS TO GET CAR OUT OF GEAR, FINALLY GOT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. WHEW! TURNED KEY OFF. CALLED AAA. AAA MECHANIC 'SUPERVISOR' ON TOW TRUCK FOUND ACCELERATOR STUCK ON CLAMP FROM PCV VALVE. AAA 'SUPERVISOR' TURNED CLAMP AND SAID ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT STICK ON IT AGAIN. PVC VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACE AT LAST OIL CHANGE. NOW TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING IN 3RD AND REVERSE. WHILE ON A DOWNWARD HILL WITH CAR IN REVERSE, ROLLED FORWARD. CAR JERKS AROUND 45MPH. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $1800-3200 (REBUILT VS. NEW). NOW NOTICE THAT STEERING COLUMN COVER RATTLES WHILE DRIVING? *AK

WITHIN 96,000 MILES ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE FAILED CAUSING FIRE.

WHILE DRIVNG, THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE DRIVNG, THE ENGINE FAILURE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF SIX TIMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOISE. TT