1997 Toyota Camry Complaint Log

CRUNCHING /RATTLE FROM FRONT STRUTS WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN ROAD. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND I WAS ADVISED AT TIME OF THE INSTALLATION THAT THE NEW STRUTS WOULD NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND NO RESOLUTION EXITS. *AK

THE CONSUMER CAN START THE IGNITION WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED IN ANY POSITION.*AK

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE / MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO VARIOUS TAIL LIGHTS / TURN SIGNALS / BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. NOW IT SEEMS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNING DIMLY. NEW BULBS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ENGINEERING ISSUE OVERALL WITH RESPECT TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS YEAR / MODEL OF CAR. *LA

LOUD KNOCKING HEARD FROM FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE TO BE A BAD CV JOINT. ADDITIONALLY, DURING A ROUTINE ENGINE OIL CHANGE, I DISCOVERED AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF BEADING SLUDGE THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED BY HAND TO DRAIL AND FILL THE OIL. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF THE TOYOTA ENGINES PRODUCING SLUDGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED ON THEIR RECALL IF ONE OCCURS.

I BOUGHT A 97 TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON 10-17-01, WITH 36,847 EXISTING MILES. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER 02/07/03:92588 MLS. FOR ENGINE KNOCK NOISE AND SMOKING ON COLD STARTS,ALSO TO CHECK TRANSMISSION VIBRATION/CHATTER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANS, REPLACED LEAKING GASKETS AND REPLACED WORN VALVE GUIDE SEALS. AT THIS SAME TIME THEY WERE ASKED TO CHECK FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE LETTER TOYOTA SENT ME IN REGARD TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL GELLING OR SLUDGE... ON 05/16/03 WITH 98910 MILES I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WITH ENGINE STILL KNOCKING ON COLD STARTS. THEY FOUND THE OIL PUMP SHAFT BINDING , CRANKSHAFT, ROD AND MAIN BEARINGS DAMAGED. WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THEIR INTENT TO REPLACE THESE PARTS I QUESTIONED THE POSSIBLE REPAIR OF RINGS AND OTHER UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, KNOWING THAT METAL PARTICLES COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT AND DAMAGE THESE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT NO SUCH WORK WAS INTENDED OR NEEDED. THEY DID PROCEED WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT, ROD BEARINGS AND MAIN BEARINGS... ON 11/03/03 WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK OUT WHIRRING TYPE NOISE FROM ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT FLICKER AT IDLE WITH ENGINE WARMED. THEY FOUND BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO CAMSHAFT AND CAM BEARING WEAR... I FIRST SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA REPAIR DEALER, THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. I NEXT WAS REFUSED ANY HELP BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CORP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPT IN CALF (REF # 200311140813). PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN,I BOUGHT THIS CAR KNOWING IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY RELIABLE BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES EACH WAY GETTING TO AND FROM WORK. *LA

FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES TERRIBLY. STRUTS WERE REPLACED, DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE A RECALL. *LA

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WHEN A SOLID LIQUID STARTED SPILLING OUT OF THE VENTS. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE A/C REFRIGERATOR.*AK

EXHAUST BLOWING BLUE SMOKE, SLUDGE BUILDUP ON VALVE COVERS, NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, CAR VIBRATES. IN SHOP AGAIN

THE PISTON SNAPPED SUDDENLY TOTALLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 - 5,000 BY A REPUTABLE LOCAL INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION. THE DEALER AT FIRST ATTEMPTED TO BLAME THE OWNER, SAYING THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED BY THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE STATION HAD PROBABLY USED THE WRONG GRADE AND USED THE WRONG TYPE OF AIR FILTERS. HOWEVER, THEY LATER BACKED OFF THIS CLAIM AND SAID IT NOW APPEARS THE OIL PUMP FAILED. THEY CALLED THIS AN 'ACT OF GOD'. THEY ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE OIL FILTER POSSIBLY BEING CLOGGED. THEY REFUSED TO CONSIDER SLUDGE AS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM.

2 YEARS AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT BELT FAIL. THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT TO COME OUT AND THEN WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PAST SUMMER I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM (IT ALSO FAILED) AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

ENGINE SEIZURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGE.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE'S CAMBER TO SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT REPLACING MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MANUFACTURE AN ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENT TO ADJUST CAMBER. *AK THE ONLY WAY TO ALIGN THE CAR IS EITHER TO BUY COSTLY NEW SUSPENSION PARTS FROM TOYOTA OR RESORT TO AN AFTERMARKET CAM BOLT. *NLM

MY ENGINE VALVES NEED TO BE REPLACED, MY OIL AND TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING, AND I HAVE BLUE EXHAUST COMING FROM MY TAILPIPE

COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TANK. MECHANIC DETERMINED LEAK IS COMING FROM A DEFECTIVE TANK AND THE LEAK IS COMING FROM A GAP IN THE SEAM. LOCAL AUTOMOBILE DEALER STATES PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (62K MILES) AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR EXPENSES. POSSIBLE REMEDY MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE TANK BUT YET TO BE DETERMINED. SOLDERING THE TANK AT THE GAPS DID NOT SUFFICE AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING. *AK

ENGINE SEIZED. PROBLEMS WITH OIL.

MY 1997 CAMRY WILL NOT START BACK AND HOLD AN IDLE SOMETIMES AFTER IT HAS BEEN DROVE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT STARTS FINE WHEN IT IS COLD AND WHEN IT REFUSES TO IDLE, IF I WAIT UNTIL THE FUEL INJECTORS FILL, AND TURN ON THE A/C IT WILL THEN START. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY CANNOT GIVE ME ANY EXPLAINATION, THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE THREE DIFFERENT THINGS AND EACH PART WOULD COST AT $100.00 OR MORE PLUS LABOR THEY TOLD ME I'D HAVE TO JUST PUT ON EACH PART UNTIL IGET IT RIGHT, THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY TO GUESS, SO I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT AND HOPE THAT IT WILL START, THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I THOUGHT THAT TOYOTA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY GOOD AT SERVICE? WHAT ARE THEY DOING, HIRING JUST ANYONE OFF THE STREET TO REPAIR CARS?*AK

A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ROD TO THE CYLINDER BROKE, CAUSING THE ROD TO BREAK LOOSE AND MOVE AROUND INSIDE THE ENGINE.

I HAVE A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 85,000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE, AND THE ENGINE JUST CRACKED I HAD GOT A LETTER FROM TOYOTA THAT TALKED ABOUT OIL GELLING BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN. I TOOK IT TO PHILLIPS TOYOTA IN LEESBURG FL AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHY MY ENGINE WENT. I KNOW WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE MY ENGINE WOULD LAST WELL OVER 120,000 MILES. *JB

WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE TRIED TO START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. *JB MADE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT CONSUMER 10/16/07, NO ANSWER *LJ RETURN USPS, MADE 2ND ATTEMPT 07/16/07 FAILED. *BF

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED BY PIECES OF METAL. *JB

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RUBBER CORRODED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS TYPE OF DETERIORATION DOES NOT NORMALLY OCCUR. *JB

I RECEIVED A LETTER LAST YEAR FROM TOYOTA EXPLAINING A GELLING PROBLEM AND TO WATCH OUT FOR BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE WHEN STARTING THE CAR. I WENT INTO SEARS FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE MOISTURE WAS GETTING IN THE OIL AND IT LOOKED SLUDGY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT THIS GELLING. THE LETTER INDICATED THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE PART/INSTALLATION. I GOT THE ESTIMATED BACK FROM TOYOTA AND THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE ANY GELLING OR SLUDGE IN THE OIL/ENGINE, BUT THAT I DID HAVE ROTTED VALVE STEM SEALS AND HEAD GASKET LEAKS, AND OIL PAN LEAKS AND THATS WHY THERE WAS BLUE SMOKE. THE CAR IS BARELY 7 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL FAITHFULLY AT 3000 MILES. I DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, BECAUSE I WANTED A SECOND OPINION FROM A MECHANIC THAT WAS REFERRED TO ME THAT IS TRUSTWORTHY. I PLAN ON TAKING THE CAR IN(AN APPT. WAS MADE FOR 2 DAYS AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) AND I HAVE QUESTIONS IN HAND ABOUT HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE NOT HAD 1 INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE IS GOING BAD/VALVES ARE LEAKING(I.E. THERE HAVE BEEN NO NOISES, LEAKING OF ANTIFREEZE OR OTHER FLUID WHEN I PARK MY CAR O/N OR FOR A FEW HOURS).

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PH *JB

DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCK IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAS TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ALMOST $600.00 TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

POOR DESIGN AND BUILD - 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER). I OWN A 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY LE. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, ITS STARTER WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. THIS MORNING, THE DEALER FOUND THAT ITS ENGINE VALVE SEALS WORN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED (OVER $1000 REPAIR). I CHECKED THE INTERNET CAR FORUMS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1997 MODEL YEAR 4-CYLINDER TOYOTA CAMRY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND BUILD PROBLEM. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S POOR DESIGN AND BUILD. ALL 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. *NLM

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT RATTLE PRESENT FOR TWO YEARS. ON 03/30/03 DURING A DRIVE AT 56 MILES/HR SPEED, STRUT RATTLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GREW WORSE SUDDENLY AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE LEFT STRUT CENTER BOLT CAME OFF COMPLETELY AND ITS THREADS WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED. STRUT CAME OFF THE MOUNT SLEEVE. AFTER A NEW STRUT IS PUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE DAMAGED STRUT IS CHECKED AND ITS TOP THREADS (WHERE THE CENTER NUT GETS FASTENED) WERE PARTIALLY STIPPED.

THE SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG MODULE BLEW THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. *NLM

REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE- STICKY LATCH. (I DO NOT HAVE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ). *NLM

AIR BAG COMPUTER SENSOR BAD AND SHUTS DOWN CAR WHILE ENGINE ON IN PARK. CAR DID NOT RESTART. SENSOR BLEW ENTIRE FUSE BOX FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM, WHICH WERE THEN REPLACED AND A ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM, WHICH WERE REPLACED AND A ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 45,000 MILES.*JB *TS

DURING COLD WEATHER THE PISTON THAT RELEASES THE GAS HATCH DOOR FROZE TO THE HOUSING. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE GAS DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE PISTON BROKE IN HALF. SINCE THE PISTON WAS FROZEN IN PLACE, THE GAS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OWNERS MANUAL DID NOT REFERENCE HOW TO DEFEAT THE MECHANISM AND DRIVER COULD NOT FILL WITH GAS. *NLM

DEFECTIVE ENGINE IN VEHICLE(1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE) LEADING TO CONSTANT OPERATIVE PROBLEMS. THE STATED VEHICLE WAS REQUESTED FOR RECALL FOR ENGINE MALFUNCTION LAST YEAR AND I HAD VEHICLE DELIVERED BACK TO BOURNE TOYOTA OF3069 WASHINGTON RD AUGUSTA, GA 30907 (706-868-5454) FOR TECHNICAL SERVICE UNDER RECALL. ONE DAY AFTER RECALL WORK WAS DONE STATED VEHICLE HAD TO BE RETURNED NOW IM FACED WITH AN ENGINE REPLACMENT DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. AN PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT ONLY BEEN PROBLEMATIC IN THE CAMRY LINE BUT WITH THE SIENNA, SOLARA, AVALON, & LEXUS MODELS AS WELL. HOWEVER BOURNE TOYOTA SAYS THAT ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD-UP IS MY PROBLEM DUE TO ME NOT GETTING THE OIL CHANGED ENOUGH. THE OIL WAS CHANGE ON PERIODIC INTERVALS SINCE RECALL WORK WAS DONE AND THIS IS JUST AN ATTEMPT BY BOURNE TOYOTA TO DENY MY CLAIM AND BILL FOR REPAIRS. IT WELL DOCUMENTED HOW TOYOTA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUGE BUILD-UP ARE BEING DENIED WARRANTY CLAIMS, AN ACT THAT I FEEL AS AN LOYAL CUSTOMER IS UTTERLY IRREPONSIBLE ON THE PART OF THE TOYOTA AND THERE DEALERSHIPS AS WELL. IM AN SCHOOL TEACHER ON AN LIMITED INCOME AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM BOURNE TOYOTA IN GOOD FAITH AND THIS WHOLE SITUATION HAS CAUSED ME FINANCIAL BURDEN IN CAR RENTAL BILLS SO I CAN GET TO WORK. I ASK FOR ANY ASSISTANCE OR DIRECTION IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER FULLY.

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM.*AK

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS AT CURRENT SPEED.ONE OF THE BOSE SPEAKERS THAT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS BUSTED.*AK

IN 2001, WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE DOOR UNLOCKED THE FLAT PART OF THE HANDLE THAT IS FLUSH WITH THE OUTER BODY OF THE DOOR BROKE OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE HANDLE FIXED INTO THE DOOR LEAVING A SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HANDLE AREA THAT MUST BE PRIED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE SAME WEEK, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT "THESE PLASTICS JUST DON'T HOLD UP WELL IN THIS SUN." I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST $150 TO REPAIR THEM [AS OF JANUARY 2003 IT WOULD NOW COST $200 TO REPAIR THEM] AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. I AND MY WIFE HAVE BOTH BEEN CUT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS STILL "THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 36 MONTHS."

WHILE ACCELERATING THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION THE DRIVER NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DUE TO LACK OF OIL. *PH *NLM

FIRESTONE FR 690 TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT-TIRE DEFECTIVE. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT P18570R14 87S M+S

I WAS INVOLVED IN A 5 CAR PILE UP ON INTERSTATE 94, HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME GOING AT 45-50 MPH, AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE DUE TO THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF FRONTAL ACCIDENT I HAD. IF HITTING A CAR AT 45-50 MPH DEAD ON IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING THEN WHAT IS? DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING, I SUFFERED A SEVERE BRAIN CONTUSION WITH BLEEDING IN THE BRAIN AND LOSS TIME OFF OF WORK. EARLIER ENGINE PROBLEM: OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE, ONCE REPAIRS WERE DONE 6 MONTHS LATER ENGINE MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT AND DOG BONE, INJECTORS AND GASKETS, WHY?, THIS WAS ALL REPLACED ON THE FIRST ENGINEERING DEFECT TOYOTA CREATED AND WHY SHOULD I PAY A PORTION OF THEIR OIL SLUDGE ENGINEERING DEFECTS.

MY ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THIS OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THE GELLED OIL, ONE OF THE PISTONS BROKE OFF CREATING A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND THE MOTOR MOUNT BECAME DISPLACED FROM THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE BLOCK TO CRACK WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM GREER TOYOTA IN MILLBROOK, NY IN AUGUST OF 2001 AND WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS WOULD COMPLETE A THOROUGH INSPECTION BEFORE THE CAR WAS TURNED OVER TO ME. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES BY A TRUSTED MECHANIC. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR AT MY OWN COST, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS MONTH. NOW IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE, IT APPEARS THAT MY STRUTS ARE FAILING AS WELL. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING A CLAIM FOR THE ENGINE.

NAR 1/15/2003. 40% OF THE VEHICLES PAINT WAS PEELING OFF OF THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S FRONT RIGHT STRUT HAS BEEN DESTROYED. WHEN VEHICLE DRIVES OVER BUMPS IT MAKES LOUD NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED. *TT

JUST STARTED RAINING I WAS CUT OFF AND BRAKED. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED AND I HIT THE MIDDLE MERIDIAN.

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT SLUDGE AND OIL GELLING IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REPORTED SEEING SMOKE FROM THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE MAIN BEARINGS, ROD BEARINGS AND THE OIL PUMP. *JB

VALVE OIL SEAL FAILURE DUE TO OIL SLUDGING OR JELLING SMOKES WHILE STARTING. *AK

FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AT STRUT MOUNTS MAKE A NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT 20 TO 30 MPH.