2000 Toyota Camry Solara

EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM REAR OF CAR. INITIALLY INDICATED AS A TIRE PROBLEM BUT TURNED OUT TO BE INCORRECT. THEN AS A RIM PROBLEM - DETERMINED TO BE INCORRECT. NEXT, CHECKED BREAKING SYSTEM BUT NOT THE CAUSE. DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, STATED THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY WITH THE TIRES, RIMS, BRAKES OR EXHAUST SYSTEM. REPLACED TIRES, EXAMINED RIMS, ALIGNMENT AND BALANCED TIRES, CHECKED EXHAUST SYSTEM - NO PROBLEMS NOTED. DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH LOCAL AUTO SUPPLIER (AUTO ZONE) AND WAS INFORMED TO CHECK THEIR WEBSITE OF RECALLS. LOCATED RECALL, WHEN TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SHOWED SERVICE REP THE NOTICE. REP INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NOT CAMPAIGNS REGARDING THE 2000 CAMRY SOLARA; STATED THAT A FAILURE OF THE AXLE BEARINGS/HUB IS EXTREMELY REAR. REQUESTED TECH TEST DRIVE THE CAR TO HELP RESOLVE THE NOISE PROBLEM. THE TECH DROVE THE CAR, INFORMED SERVICE REP AND MYSELF THAT THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED. REPEATED LINKAGE TO RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEIR SYSTEM WOULD HAVE NOTIFY THEM OF ANY CAMPAIGNS WHEN COMPLETING EARLY WORK . ORDERED THE PARTS AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE AXLE(S). CHECKED YOUR WEBSITE AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 00V154000. CAMPAIGN COVERS MY PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT COVER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1999. COULD THE RECALL HAVE MISSED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR AXLES ON 2000 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA SOLARAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO THE TIME FRAME OF MARCH 30 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2000. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE REAR END,. LOUD NOISES CAN ALSO BE HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE REAR AXEL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V154000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: REAR. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK UPDATED 7-13-2006 - *NM

CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE, IDLING WITH GEARSHIFT IN THE "PARK" POSITION; DRIVER STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE AND WALKED IN FRONT OF CAR. CAR SURGED FORWARD AND PINNED DRIVER AGAINST WALL. RESIDENT OF HOUSE CAME TO ASSIST AND COULD NOT GET GEARSHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION - YET CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD, CAUSING FURTHER INJURY TO PINNED PARTY.