2000 Toyota Camry

The contact owns a 1997 N/A Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt mechanism had malfunctioned, and the retractor was not working properly. Additionally, the latching mechanism failed to latch securely or release as intended. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,600.

I WAS DRIVING MY VERY FAITHFUL TOYOTA CAMRY ON A BUSY 2 LANE ROAD WHEN A HONDA PILOT STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY REACTED AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE ALLOW ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE, SO I CRASHED INTO THE HONDA PILOT. THE PILOT WASN'T DAMAGED MUCH AT ALL, BUT MY CAMRY TOOK A HUGE LICK TO THE FRONT. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID MY SEATBELT LOCK. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE, BUT WENT TO THE URGENT CARE FOR TREATMENT. I HAVE A PAINFUL CHEST CONTUSION (SPRAINED STERNUM) AND A STIFF NECK (CERVICAL STRAIN, OR WHIPLASH). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY CE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OF THE FIVE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY UNLATCH WHILE IN USE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 167,000.

MAY 28 2008, DRIVER AND 1 PASSENGER KILLED IN 2000 CAMRY CAUSED BY SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS AND DETACHED SEATS IN A RUNAWAY TOYOTA THAT LURCHED AND BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND HIT A TREE (GOING UNDER 35 MPH). BECAUSE DRIVER WORE A MEDIC-ALERT BRACELET SAYING, "SEIZURE DISORDER", ALL ASSUMED THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. DRIVERS (ME) LIFE WAS RECOVERED IN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL, PASSENGER HAD CHEST CRUSHED BY FORCE OF AIR BAG AND SEAT BELTS WHEN SEAT BROKE LOOSE., BLED TO DEATH INTERNALLY. I , THE DRIVER HAVE A PERMANENT CRUSHED LARYNX PAIN FROM BROKEN CHEST BONES AND PERMANENT SMASHED FEET FROM SEAT BREAKING LOOSE AND ME BEING SHOVED UNDER THE DASHBOARD.. 48 HOSPITAL OBSERVATION AND WEEKS OF FOLLOW UP REPORTED NO SEIZURES. BLOOD TESTS SHOWED NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WERE INVOLVED. LAST PREVIOUS SEIZURE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SOME 5 YEARS PRIOR. I NOW HAVE PERMANENT LEG AND /FOOT DAMAGE AND MUST WALK WITH A WALKER AND CANNOT WEAR REGULAR SHOES, NOR CAN SIT FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR AND HAS TO SLEEP IN A RECLINER DUE TO THE PAIN AND INABILITY TO BREATH LYING DOWN IN A BED. USES CANE IN APARTMENT. LIVES ALONE (AGE 77) TOYOTA CLAIMS REFUSES ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE CAR INSURER TOTALED CAR BEFORE TOYOTA COULD INSPECT TO SEE THE USED AIRBAGS, FRONT SEATS BLOOD AND CUT AWAY SEAT BELTS TO GET PERSONS INTO AMBULANCES. FRONT WAS TOO SMASHED TO DETERMINE ANY STEERING ISSUES. TIRES IN GREAT SHAPE... 34 DVD PHOTOS AND FULL POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. REGARDLESS OF LOSS OF CAR CONTROL. SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS AND SEATS BREAKING LOOSE ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR 1 DEATH AND 1 PERMANENT PHYSICALLY DAMAGED DRIVER. *TR UPDATED 06/03/10*BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THIS WAS A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WAS TWO OCCUPANTS. UPDATED 07/19/10*TR UPDATED 6/29/11*CW

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 65,000 MILES. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY REGARDING THE FOLLOWING SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE BEST TOYOTA WILL DO IS CHARGE ME 50.00 TO FIX IT. THIS IS IN THE FACE OF A MAJOR RECALL FOR THE TOYOTA SIENNA VAN WITH A RECENT SEAT BELT FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAT BELT IN QUESTION IS THE SAME MODEL IN BOTH VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO REPLACE ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE VAN AT NO CHARGE TO THE VAN'S OWNERS. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AS DEAD BY HANDY TOYOTA, HOWEVER TOYOTA REFUSES TO EXTEND THE SAME OFFER TO ME. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING IT TO HIT THE GLASS WINDSHIELD. VISOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHEARED OFF AND FELL ONTO OF THE DRIVER HEAD AND CAUSED A DEEP SCAR ON TOP OF THE DRIVER 'S FOREHEAD. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD RUN INTO A POLE AND FLED THE SCENE. THE POLICE OFFICER LOCATED THE CONSUMER AND AS HE TALKED TO HIM, THE CONSUMER SEEMED CONFUSED AND DISORIENTED AND AN AMBULANCE WAS DISPATCHED TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME WHERE THE OFFICER FOUND HIM. THE CONSUMER DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. *SCC *JB