1997 Toyota Camry

NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, AT ANY SPEED. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES HAD FAILED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM. OUR MECHANIC ORDERED PARTS, 2-3 WEEK NATIONWIDE BACKORDER. WE TRIED ALL OF THE TOYOTA DEALERS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. (THE ONLY PLACE TO OBTAIN THESE PARTS.) 55,000 MILES IS MUCH TO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONENT TO FAIL AND THE BACKORDER WOULD INDICATE THAT A PROBLEM IS SURFACING THAT TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT. *AK

BRAKES MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FIRST TIME UNDER A MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT BULLETIN. THE 2ND TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED WAS IN 6/99 (BRYAN EASLER TOYOTA...EXCELLENT SERVICE). THIRD TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED -- 9/2000 AT 55,000 MILES (TOYOTA OF CONCORD). GRINDING NOISE HAS STARTED AGAIN -- 4 MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES ON THEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR 3.5 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES SO MANY TIMES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. A FRIEND, ALSO WITH A '97 CAMRY, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IF IT WERE A COSMETIC PROBLEM, IT WOULD BE NO BIG DEAL. BUT THESE ARE BRAKES -- A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR. ANY HELP TO GET THIS RESOLVED WILL BE APPRECIATED.*AK

CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS CAME TO STOP SIGN, STOPPED THEN PRESASED ON GAS, ENGINE REVVED, BUT ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, THEN POWER KICKED IN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. TEN MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND HAD A HARD TIME PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE, IT DID THE SAME THING IN ALL GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE. THE NEXT MORING IT DID THE SAME THING, AFTER MOVING IT WAS FINE UNTIL STOPPED. THE ENGINE SOUNDED FINE AND YOU WOULD HEAR IT REVING THEN POWER KICKS IN. BY THAT AFTERNOON THE CAR WAS FINE AND AFTER TWO DAYS AT THE DEALER THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING. I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE OR I TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND ALSO REPORTED THAT CAR MAKES "CREAKING NOISES" WHENEVER GOING OVER BUMPS, INTERSECTIONS, DRIVEWAYS, ETC. WAS INFORMED VERBALLY BY SERVICE ATTENDANT THAT THE "STRUT TOP MOUNTS" ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $500.00 THIS OCCURRED ONLY ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.

INADEQUTE STRAIN RELIEF ON CABLE LEADING FROM CHASSIS TO TRUNK LID ALLOWED/CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON WIRES LEADING TO MULTIPLE INSULATION FAILURES. FURTHERMORE, SOME STRANDS OF AT LEAST ONE WIRE BROKE, PROTRUDED, AND POSSIBLY SHORTED TO ANOTHER WIRE CAUSING THE FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT TO BLOW. THIS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS TO BE OFF, A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT /DUSK/DAWN DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM REPORTING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING CC'D ON ANY CORRESPONDENCE AT EDSCARGOT@AOL.COM

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RATTLES AS IF THE STRUTS ARE LOOSE. DEALER STATES UPPER STRUT BUSHINGS ARE NOW WORN OUT, BUT NOT A HAZARD. PEOPLE RIDING IN MY CAR STATE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF, WHEN THE CAR RUNS OVER BUMPS. THIS NOISE STARTED DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE ONLY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE RIGHT STRUT WAS FINE. TODAY, THEY STILL SAY THE STRUTS ARE STILL FINE, BUT NOW BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS SOUND LOOSE. *AK