2000 TOYOTA CAMRY Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately respond after the gear shifter was shifted into reverse(R). The contact stated that there was a hesitation before the vehicle responded. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred after shifting into drive(D). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) vacuum switching valve needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 232,000.

Mileage: 232,000

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR OVER 2 YEARS. I HAVE HAD BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS REPLACED, A NEW GAS CAP AND EVERY OTHER ISSUE THE GARAGES HAVE TOLD ME ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. WITH EACH FIX THE LIGHT GOES OFF FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN COMES BACK ON. TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALWAYS TELL ME IT IS BECAUSE I DO NOT TIGHTEN MY GAS CAP, BUT I TIGHTEN IT UNTIL IT CLICKS. I AM NOT LOSING ANY MILEAGE WITH THE LIGHT ON OR HAVING ANY OTHER DIFFICULTIES WITH CAR, BUT I CAN NOT PASS THE EMISSION TEST WITH THE LIGHT ON. I FEEL THAT THE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM OR A DEFECT, BECAUSE I AM NOT EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE NORMAL PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. *KB

ON TUESDAY, 7/12/2011, I NEEDED TO HAVE MY 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY INSPECTED TO GET THE RENEWAL STICKER. I TOOK THE CAR TO R&D AUTOMOTIVE HERE IN ASHEBORO BECAUSE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. TWO OF THE CODES WOULD NOT CLEAR. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM CANISTER AT A COST OF $300.00, NOT INCLUDING LABOR, IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD/IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE CANISTERS. THEREFORE, I REQUEST TO BE REIMBURSED $300 FOR THIS CANISTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. NEITHER THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRIP HEAD BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 45,000

I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS ON MY 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY AND RECENTLY THE ENGINE BLEW ON A TRIP TO THE BEACH. I WAS PASSING A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE ON THE ALLIGATOR RIVER BRIDGE ABOUT 28 MILES FROM NAGS HEAD, NC. AT THE TIME I DID NOT OBSERVE ANY RED LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING A PROBLEM. I HEARD A LOUD BANG, THEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE. I COULD NOT STOP ON THE BRIDGE SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER WHEN I LEFT THE BRIDGE. THE FIRST THING I CHECKED WAS THE ENGINE OIL. IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I FOUND A HOUSE NEARBY AND THEY GAVE ME TWO QUARTS OF OIL TO PUT IN THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME A GAS STATION WAS 15 MILES AWAY. THE CAR RAN FINE BELOW 35 MPH AND MADE A LITTLE NOISE. ABOVE 35MPH IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I MADE IT TO NAGS HEAD AND THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR REPAIR CENTER. THEY NOTIFIED ME AFTERWARDS THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH A THICK SLUDGE. I HAVE READ THE PAST INFORMATION ON THESE PROBLEMS AND BELIEVE IT WAS DUE TO AN ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. I WAS ALSO AMAZED THAT I DID NOT SEE ANY OIL WARNING LIGHT PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT BY REPLACING OR REBUILDING THE ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 126,832

MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2000 MOTOR BLEW UP WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN DEC, 2009. OIL LIGHT CAME ON JUST MOMENTS BEFORE IT STARTED KNOCKING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NO WARNING. IN AUG 2009 MY CHECK OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA. THEY SAID IT WAS JUST MY GAS CAP. IT CAME ON AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA, I TOLD THEM I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I TOOK IT BACK A THIRD TIME AND TOLD THEM SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THEY SAID I COULD MAYBE USE A NEW OIL CAP AND PERHAPS USE A NEW BELT BUT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AGAIN. (I BELIEVE THEY DISCONNECTED IT.) WHEN MY ENGINE BLEW IN DEC. 2009, I HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA. THEY INFORMED ME MY OIL HAD GELLED AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $5,000 TO FIX IT. I TOLD THEM I GOT MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3 TO 4 THOUSAND MILES. I DID NOT WAIT TILL THE 5,000 MILE MARK LIKE IT SAID TO IN MY TOYOTA HANDBOOK. THEY SAID SOMETIMES IT JUST HAPPENS MADAM. TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I SMELLED HORRIBLE BURNING ODOR. I PUT WINDOW DOWN TO SEE IF SOMEONE WAS BURNING BRUSH OUTSIDE. ONCE WINDOW WAS DOWN, SMOKE STARTED TO POUR INTO DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT, AND THEN I SAW THE SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED ONTO SIDE STREET, SHUT OFF CAR, GRABBED PURSE AND KEYS, AND RAN. PERSON IN STREET TOLD ME CAR WAS ON FIRE, WHICH I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE, BECAUSE THE FLAMES WERE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE ONTO THE STREET. I RAN AND CALLED 911 FROM CELL PHONE. TWO FIRE TRUCKS CAME WITHIN 5 MINUTES, AND IT TOOK THEM 20 MINUTES TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY MELTED DOWN. I COULD HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF FUMES OR BEING BURNED AND WAS LUCKY I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2010 MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING HER TOYOTA CAMRY 2000 MODEL SEES HER BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT GO ON WITHOUT WARNING. THEN THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY AND STARTED TO SMOKE OUT FROM THE ENGINE. WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS DISPLAYING THE ENGINE FLAMED OUT AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENTIRE FRONT OF HER CAR SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. THE CAR HAD RECEIVED ITS TIMELY INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION FROM THE REPORTS THAT SHOWED THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDED ANY FURTHER MECHANICAL WORKUP . DUE TO THE COMMON SENSE OF OUR CHILD SHE HAD STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAD STARTED TO SMOKE OUT AND DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES. THE NECESSARY EMERGENCY CREWS HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL ROADS AND THE 2 GASOLINE STATIONS THAT THIS EVENT HAD OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF AND WE WERE ALL LUCKY THAT THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

2000 CAMRY, V6, LE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF FILLING THE GAS TOO MUCH. THE LIGHT STAYED ON OVER TWO YEARS AND I HAD TO HAVE THE "SENSOR" REPLACED. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO WHEN I HAD THIS REPLACED - AND AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. MY CAR HAS ALMOST 150,000 MILES BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS BACK AROUND 50,000. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH BACKEND CLUNKING NOISES, AND MY FRONT WHEELS CLICKED, AND NOW THE BRAKES SQUEAK LIKE CRAZY (AND HAVE FOR OVER TWO YEARS). EVERY TIME I HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT, AND IT HAS BEEN BY THE DEALERS AND AUTHORIZED REPAIR STATIONS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - IT COST ME OVER $400 FOR REPAIR - AND NOW AFTER ONLY ABOUT 5 MONTHS, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO PAY IT AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

2000 TOYOTA CAMRY - 68,400 MILES. SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING AIR. HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM FIREWALL AREA OF ENGINE. GAS MILEAGE WENT FROM 450 MILES PER TANK TO 200 MILES PER TANK. GARAGE REPLACED AIR FUEL SENSOR. PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 68,400

05-23-2008 AT 5:35PM MY CAR WAS SEVERE DAMAGED B/C OF SA AT NEAR COMPLETED STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE-PARKING LOT OF PO 90027 DURING DAYLIGHT&NORMAL WEATHER COND.I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER- 24,000MILES. AAA REPLACED BATTERY 04-17-08-CIRCUIT/AMPER RECORDED;ALL PARTS ARE ORIGINAL TOYOTA. THE PARKING LOT PO90027 IS NARROW U-TURN,WAS PARKING AT THE ENTRANCE. HALFWAY IN THE PARKING SPACE=2' BEFORE THE PARKING CONCRETE GUARD=HEARD A POP SOUND,CAR FLEW OVER THE PARKING GUARD&SIDEWALK CURB INTO THE BRICK WALL OF PO,RICOCHETED&STOPPED 1'AWAY. HEAVY WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE HOOD AT THE WINDSHIELD, DEPLOYED AIRBAGS W/TERRIBLE HEAT,WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT THE AIRBAGS HEAT/TOUCH POINTS-A BURN SKIN ON MY LEFT ARM THROUGH 2THICK CLOTHING,ENGINE WAS RUNNING! PULL OUT KEY,GOT OUT FROM CAR B/C EXPECTED EXPOSION/FIRE.INSTANTLY 2POSTAL EMPL.CAME OUT TO HELP,CHECKED PO BRICK WALL,ASKED MY NAME-HANDLED THEM MY PARCEL W/PREPAID POSTAGE-NAME/ADDRESS.KILLING ATTEMPT WAS TOTAL 5-6'-NOT ENOUGH FOR THE FATAL FORCE,MY FOOT WAS PRESSING PARKING PEDAL,ALREADY W/UNBUCKLED SEATBELT-MY RIGHT KNEE HAS ONLY A BUMP-NOT FRACTURED. 20'LATER MY CAR HALF SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK-SMOKE IS GONE, SML LEAK UNDER HOOD/RADIATOR? STARTED CAR,W/WITHNESS SLOWLY REVERSED IT FRM SIDEWALK/GUARD-CAR WAS CONROLLED FINE DESPITE OF DEPLOYED AIRBAGS-PUSHED WIPERS/WASHER,DROVE BACK HOME/UNDERGROUND GARAGE-1 MILE W/2-3 STOPS. RECALLED THAT A WEEK AGO HAD SA W/OUT PRESSING PEDAL,HAPPENED ON SUNSET BLVD,GOT SURPRISED W/HIGH SPEED SO SLOW DOWN. BOTH TIMES THE DISTANCE BEFORE SA WAS 1MILE FRM THE START,TIME~5MIN.THIS IS ENGINE CONTROL MALFUNCTION.05-24-08 AT 4 PM WENT TO HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA-ASKED FOR SERVICE PERSON IN CHARGE-REFERRED TO PATRICK.EARLIER RCVD TOYOTA GEL NOTICE W/MY VN,WAS TOLD BY PATRICK TO HAVE THE BODY FIXED FIRST.AFTER THE BODYJOB BRING MY CAR FOR THE ENGINE CHECK $99/HOURLY PLS HELP TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS ACCIDENT-LIVE IN LA W/HEAVY TRAFFIC.THANKS GOD DID NOT KILL ANYBODY.THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

2000 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVEN AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED THREW A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED WHICH I CAN PROVE WITH RECEIPTS FROM MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. NO ONE I SPOKE TO AT TOYOTA WOULD HELP ME. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL ESP. WITH ONLY 80,000 MILES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE ALL AT MY COST. THIS SAME VEHICLE BROKE A TIMING CHAIN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEN. I SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED A TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THEIR SUPPOSED RELIABILITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS WILL BE MY LAST TOYOTA. *JB

Mileage: 80,435

THE CAR HAS 77000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER THE CAR FOR MAINTENANCE ONCE IN 4000 - 5000 MILES. WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 55 ON THE FREEWAY I HEARD A BIG SOUND AND SAW THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT PANEL. I PULLED OVER THE CAR AND OPENED THE FRONT PANEL. I SAW FIRE FROM TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. I CHECKED IT WITH MY MECHANIC , AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CONNECTIVITY ROD #2 CAME OUT VERY NEXT TO THE OIL FILTER WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLEW UP. I CALLED TOYOTA AND FILED THE COMPLAINT. BUT TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THEY WON'T REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER SHOP, AND THE DEALER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING THE DEFECTIVE CAR. I GOT A DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND FORCED REPLACE IT ON MY OWN. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT HAS HAD FOUR ENGINE COIL PACKS FAIL IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. THE LAST TIME TWO OUT OF THREE COIL PACKS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURED AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND CAR SHOOK AS SOON AS I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND CONTINUED TO SHAKE AS I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. THE FIRST AND SECOND TIMES I EXPERIENCED THE COIL PACK FAILURES (BOTH SINGLE FAILURES) I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 35 MPH. I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND TO A SERVICE STATION.

Mileage: 76,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER OF THE EMISSION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISCONTINUED ILLUMINATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 74,600

WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP, OIL LIGHT CAME, PLENTY OF OIL IN IT. WE HAD TO DRIVE SLOWLY FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO GET OUT OF THE BOONIES, ENGINE LIGHT THEM CAME ON, SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED SO NOT TO HURT THE ENGINE. MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOT!!! 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE - V6 DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT YET. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND FOR BIG BUCKS! THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR UNTIL NOW? *JB

Mileage: 49,900

THE CAMRY [XXX] I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2000 ENGINE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, GIVING OUT LOUD RATTLING AND KNOCKING NOISES, EVEN THE CAR IS ONLY 5.5 YEARS OLD WITH 95000 PAMPERED HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 6 YEARS OF DRIVE, AND BEING WELL MAINTAINED, THE ENGINE COULD BE OF SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY. IT IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF MY EXPECTATION WHEN I FIRST MADE THE DECISION TO BUY THIS CAR. I WAS BANKING ON THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE CAR, THE DURABILITY. EVEN DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN ADMIT THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE OF, THEY ARE ALL SURPRISED THAT THE CAMRY LESS THAN 100,000 MILES WOULD HAVE SUCH PROBLEM. ALL THAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT I DID NOT HAVE GOOD LUCK, IT MAY WELL BE 1 BAD APPLE OUT OF 1000 GOOD ONES, BUT I GOT IT. ALL I WANT TO SAY BAD APPLE IS BAD APPLE. IT IS NOT 1 OUT OF 1000; IT IS 1 OUT OF 1 FOR ME. TOYOTA SALES PROMOTED THE CAMRY WITH FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENT BY SAYING CAMRY IN AVERAGE CAN RUN FLAWLESSLY FOR 200000 MILES, BASED ON THE TRUST AND PERCEPTION OF HIGH QUALITY OF THE CAR, I BOUGHT IT, I PAID HIGH INTEREST OF 8.9%, PAMPERED MY CAR, THE ENGINE IS STILL PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. TOYOTA REFUSE TO CORRECT THE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED BY TOYOTA DOCTOR IN TUALATIN OR, AND BEAVERTON TOYOTA EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN, THEY BOTH AGREED THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE OF, AND THE PROBLEM IS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SIMPLY GAVE ME A BLUNT ANSWER "TOUGH LUCK" THEY NEED TO RECALL MY CAR, REPAIR IT AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE, TOYOTA SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR SUCH INFERIOR QUALITY OF THE CAR, SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR ITS DENIAL OF CORRE FOR TOYOTA CEO'S COMMENTS ON TOYOTA'S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING VIDEO LINK HTTP://WWW.NYTIMES.COM/PACKAGES/KHTML/2006/01/09/AUTOMOBILES/20060109_TOYOTA_AUDIOSS.HTML. *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 94,000

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BECAUSE OF THE SMOG CHECK ISSUE, I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY CHARGED MY $80 JUST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I FELT IT WAS A RIP-OFF. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY EGR VALVE AND VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WOULD BE $650. SINCE THIS HAS TO DO WITH EMISSION ISSUE, TOYOTA SHOULD BE THE ONE COVERING THE CHARGES. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AMONG RECENT TOYOTA MODELS. *JB

TOYOTA ENGINE SLUDGE 2000 CAMRY ENGINE FAILURE, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. ENGINE BLEW UP. *JB

Mileage: 59,000

TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, 2000 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER SLUDGE POLICY SUDDENLY SEIZED THROWING A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYATA IS REFUSING TO FIX DUE TO UNABLE TO PROVIDE 5 DOCUMENTED OIL CHANGES DUE TO HUSBAND DOING MOST ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. REFUSING TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION STATING DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS.

Mileage: 82,000

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SHUT DOWN, AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE EGR VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL OUT. *JB

Mileage: 39,000

THE ENGINE DEVELOPED EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE SLUDGE SO MUCH SO THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Mileage: 74,032

CAMRY TIMING BELT BROKE AT 46,700 MILES, TIMING BELT NOT EVEN RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 90,000 MILES. *BF *SC

Mileage: 46,700

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR TEMPERATURE LIGHTS WENT OFF, BUT A RATTLING SOUND OCCURRED, PRIOR TO A "POP", WHICH WAS THE ENGINE "BLOWING" UP. THIS LATER WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE BLOW UP OF ROD #4, WHICH TORE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK, WITH CURRENT REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $6000. THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING OIL CHANGES WITHIN MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. SINCE THIS YEAR AND MODEL WAS PART OF THE "OIL SLUDGE" MESS, I INQUIRED WHY I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS POTENTIAL FOR THE ENGINE TO SEIZE SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THEY INDICATED MY VIN SUPPOSEDLY IS NOT PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN AND SINCE THE MILEAGE IS 96000 MILES, I AM NOT COVERED. TOYOTA TOTES A "QUALITY" PRODUCT, YET THIS IS THE FIRST CAR IN MY LIFE THAT HAS NOT MADE IT TO 140,000 MILES OR MORE. TOYOTA TO DATE HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY DIE WITH SO FEW MILES. THEY INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR OIL SLUDGE NIGHTMARE OR ENGINE DESIGN PROBLEMS.*AK

Mileage: 96,000

THE VEHICLE HAS WHITE SMOKE WHEN STARTING CAR. CAR IS PARKED INSIDE GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE.HITE SMOKE COMING FORM MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE. TOYOTA TECH. SUGGESTED THAT CUSTOMER REPLACE STEM SEALS AT CUSTOMERS EXPENSE.*AK

Mileage: 143,000

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 62,000 MILES THAT HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES OR LESS, AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. I WAS TRAVLLING AT AROUND 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING A HOLIDAY WEEKEND WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS OIL EVERYWHERE. WHEN A PASSERBY STOPPED HE SHOWED ME A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND EXAMINED, THEY OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN THE #4 ROD. SINCE THE CAR WAS 2,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE TOYOTA AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT I WAS STUCK WITH LABOR ESTIMATED AT AROUND $1,500. I HAVE WRITTEN TO TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR LABOR ALSO, BUT THEY HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DETERMINATION AS OF YET. THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELLING ON LESS THAN 10 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURED (THE PA TURNPIKE) WAS HILLLY, CURVEY AND CROWDED. IF THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN ON THAT HIGHWAY AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC AND ABSENCE OF ADEQUATE SHOULDER SPACE. I'M STILL WAITING FOR SHAFFERTOYOTA IN CUMBERLAND, MD TO REPAIR MY CAR. AS FAR AS I KNOW THEY HAVE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE.*AK

Mileage: 62,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY WIFE'S 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, 4 CYLINDER. DEALER CHARGED $72 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF CHARCOAL CANISTER DUE TO EMISSIONS VENT CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, CODE PO 440. I DIDNT GET IT DONE. DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEE DOZENS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM TOYOTA USERS. CANT TOYOTA CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, AS ITS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW? *AK

Mileage: 73,000

I PURCHASED A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY CE (VIN # 4T1BG22KOYU962183) WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN FEBRUARY OF 2000. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2004 AROUND 6:15AM I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO WORK ON RTE 495 SOUTH IN HUDSON, MASS. WITHOUT WARNING, I HEARD A POP UNDER THE HOOD AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION. WHITE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT THE REAR AND DARK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN A STEEP GRADE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I QUICKLY BEGAN PULL INTO THE BRAKE DOWN LANE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS ALSO TO THE FLOOR. I SLOWLY APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. I HAD FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMOKE COMING INTO THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. THE TRAFFIC THAT WAS BEING BLINDED BY THE SMOKE AND THE ROAD HAD GUARDRAILS SO I COULD NOT PULL COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE CAR INTO TRAFFIC BUT I HAD TO GET OUT QUICKLY. I GOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE AUTHORITIES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED THE FRONT OF THE CAMRY WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WHAT OCCURRED THAT MORNING HIT ME LATER. I REALIZED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THANKFULLY I DID NOT PANIC AND CAUSE A BAD SITUATION TO BE WORSE. I THOUGHT WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE HAD BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR, MY PREGNANT DAUGHTER OR MY WIFE. WHAT IF A FAMILY WITH A CHILD IN A CAR SEAT, A NEW YOUNGER DRIVER OR AN ELDERLY PERSON WAS DRIVING? I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO WALK AWAY UNINJURED. SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STORY. I DONT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR, I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, TRAVELERS CASUALTY COMPANY OF CONNECTICUT, IS HANDLING THE SETTLEMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LET YOU KNOW OF THIS FAILURE. I HAD FOUND THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO CAMRY FIRES A WHILE AGO. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE DETAILS. WILLIAM HOVEY. *NM

Mileage: 102,000

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA CAMERA WITH 52000 MILES. WENT TO MONTROSE TOYOTA TO HAVE CHECKED OUT. CODE PO441 INDICATED VAPOR PRESSURE SENSOR FOR EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS INOPERATIVE. CANISTER FAILING. COST OF REPAIR AROUND $500. THE ONLY CAUSE THE DEALER KNOWS OF FOR THIS FAILURE IS OVER FILLING THE GAS TANK AFTER IT SHUTS OFF. I DO NOT OVER FILL MY TANK. THIS IS A CHARCOAL CANISTER THAT TAKES IN GASOLINE VAPORS. OVER FILLING THE TANK WILL CAUSE THE CHARCOAL IN THE CANISTER TO START BREAKING UP. I WAS TOLD THIS IS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM AND THESE DEFECTS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR UP TO 100000 MILES. *CB

Mileage: 52,000

MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING ON THE ON RAMP TO THE FREEWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, HE THOUGHT HE BLEW A TIRE. WHEN HE CHECKED, THE SHORT BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THE CYLINDER HAD GONE THROUGH THE BLOCK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING: NO OIL LIGHT, NO OVERHEATING, NO ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE, OIL WAS FULL WHEN CHECKED TWO WEEKS PRIOR. TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY TOTAL REPAIR COSTS DUE TO THE FACT WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF TWO OIL CHANGES IN 15 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP/24,000 MILES. WE BOUGHT THE CAR AT 21.5K MILES, DEALER CHANGED OIL AT 31K MILES IN DEC 02, ONE OIL RECEIPT I COULD FIND WAS DATED JUNE '03, CAR WAS DUE FOR ANOTHER CHANGE. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE ENGINE TODAY AND RECEIVED A REQUESTED OIL SAMPLE. THE PICTURES SHOW SLUDGE ON THE PISTONS, A CRACKED PISTON AND A SEVERELY CRACKED SHORT BLOCK. MECHANIC SAYS ONE OF THE RODS IS BENT, ALSO. I COULD NOT SEE ANY DEFORMITY IN THE RODS, BUT HAVE A PICTURE OF ALL FOUR RODS.

Mileage: 31,000

2000 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 33,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS CODES PO440 PO441 AND PO446. THEY SAID I NEED A NEW "CANISTER AND CONTROL VALVE" AND IT WILL COST $600. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS SOME KIND OF CHARCOAL FILED CANISTER THAT DEALS WITH EMISSIONS. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS IS A NON ESSENTIAL PART. IT WOULD ALSO SEEM THAT THIS WOULD HAVE FEW, IF ANY, MOVABLE PARTS AND SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS HAD TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND COULD NOT BE RELATED TO USE OF THE CAR OR THE DRIVER. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS PART AND REPLACE IT ON A CAR WITH SO FEW MILES. *LA

Mileage: 33,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OVER HEATED. *JB

THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND STALLED. *JB

THE VEHICLES EVAPORATIVE CANISTER, VSV VALVE AND CONNECTOR HOSE FAILED AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *NLM

Mileage: 41,750

WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

Mileage: 12,000

THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IS WAS AN OIL GEL PROBLEM.*JB

Mileage: 51,250

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

TEAM TOYOTA WAS VERY UNRESPONSIVE; ALLEGED OWNER NEGLECT. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY SLUNG A ROD, NO NOTICE NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME IS WAS SLUDGE ALTHOUGH IT DIDN'T TAKE THEM LONG TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. THEY COULDN'T HAVE CHECKED VERY FAR BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE MOTOT (NOT A TOYOTA MECHANIC) SAID THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO SLUDGE THERE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA DISCUSSING OIL GELLING THIS MONTH (JULY 2002). MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN HAVING TOO MANY OWNER NEGLECT CASES WITH BLOWN MOTORS!*AK

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER STATED ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON EITHER BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK CAP HAD NOT BEEN CLOSED TIGHT ENOUGH OR VEHICLE WAS REFUELED WITH ENGINE RUNNING. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN BY DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS CAP WAS ON TIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REFULED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER FEELS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FROM THE DEALER TO STOP THE ENGINE LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*JB

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERIING AND POWER BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK. THE DEALER STATED WHEN THEY OPENED THE HOOD, THEY FOUND NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD STICKING THROUGH THE BLOCK, THEY ALSO FOUND A PIECE OF THE BLOCK STICKING INTO THE HOOD INSULATION AND AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE WAS OIL AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE HOLE IN THE BLOCK, THE DEALER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE WAS DOWNSHIFTED IMPROPERLY, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVER REV AND CAUSED THE CONNECTION ROD TO BREAK AND ALSO TO CATCH ON FIRE, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO DOWNSHIFTING INVOLVED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH, THE ENGINE BLEW AND THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSURED NOTICED FIRE UNDER HOOD, EXPERT ADVISED FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO ANIMAL NEST, CLAIM# 59-V427-952. *YD

OIL SLUDGE WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE AT 12000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE INTERVALS COMPLIED WITH. *AK

OIL SLUDGE WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE AT 12000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE INTERVALS COMPLIED WITH. *AK

THE ENGINE BLEW UP. I HAVE REGULARLY CHANGED MY OWN OIL AT 6,000 MILE INTERVALS FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL. ONE DAY LATER THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON.

THE SE V6 ENGINE IS EXIBITING A ROUGH IDLE AT START, AND WHEN STOPPED. I WAS ADVISED TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BOODY AND INJECTIORS. THIS DID NOTHING BUT WASTE MY MONEY. I AM BEGINING TO BELIEVE ITS SLUDGE OR A MISALIGNED CAMSHAFT

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE ANOTHER DRIVER COULD HAVE REAR ENDED HIM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. *AK

AT 32,000 MILES, THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE CAME ON. THE OWNER TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPAIR, AS IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION REFUSES TO HONOR ANY WARRANTY WORK BECAUSE OF 'ENGINE SLUDGE'. AFTER ONLY CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL AND PULLING THE VALVE COVERS OFF OF THE ENGINE, THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS 'OWNER NEGLECT'. AND WILL ONLY LOOK INTO POSSIBLE CAUSES AT THE OWNERS'S COST. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET THE OWNER HAS FOUND SEVERAL CASES OF 'ENGINE SLUDGE' NOT ONLY IN THE TOYOTA CAMRY'S PRODUCED IN 1999 THROUGH 2001 BUT IN THE TOYOTA TRUCK'S SIENNA MODEL, AS WELL.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC. SECOND TIME HAPPENED ON MAY 5, 2001 WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEFECT ON EITHER OCCASION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THE AIR FILTER WAS DIRTY AT 10K MILES. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST FUMES COME OUT OF TAILPIPE AND SURROUNDS VEHICLE, CAUSING HEALTH RISK.*AK

ODOR OF SULPHURIC ACID ENTERS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN CAR STOPS. REPORTED TO DEALER, WHO FIRST STATED PROBLEM CAUSED BY UNDERCOATING BURNING OFF. ON SECOND COMPLAINT TO DEALER, ADVISED SMELL IS FROM "OXYGENATED GAS". THIS RESPONSE IS UNACCEPTABLE AS EXHAUST SHOULD BE EXPENDED AWAY FROM PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. *AK