Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 4545 | 03/10/2005 | 4610 | 10015549 | 1997 camry repair manual correction. diagnostics - engine (5s-fe) 00400-rm503-u1. *tt 00400-rm654-u1. 1999 camry. *tt | 07/28/2005 |
| 03704 | 09/03/2004 | 10010021 | Engine bank 1 and bank 2 a/f and 02 identification. various toyota models. *tt | 11/03/2004 | |
| EG00999 | 10/01/1999 | 610058 | Some 5s-fe equipped vehicles and california emission specification vehicles may exhibit a malfunction indicator light on diagnostic trouble code p1133. *tt | 04/14/2000 | |
| 020499 | 02/04/1999 | 605166 | Information regarding revised timing belt tension spring. *tt | 06/02/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| TC02002 | 01/30/2002 | 628696 | Special policy adjustment regarding vehicles experiencing engine oil gelling or sludge. *tt | 03/19/2002 | |
| EG00200 | 02/11/2000 | 610077 | Some california emission specification vehicles may exhibit a malfunction indicator light on with diagnostic trouble code p1133 present. *tt | 04/14/2000 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | ||||||
| PE02079 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 10/22/2002 | 03/18/2003 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE | ||
| Odi's data analysis found the fires rates to be consistently low and evenly distributed among six model years and six different engine configurations.odi examined a variety of root causes, those being detonation (resulting in oil pan puncture from connecting rod), starter fires, various fuel related fires, leaking oil filters, wiring issues, improper repairs and brake fluid leaks.none of the issues examined had reports that indicated a trend when normalized for populaton and exposure.see attached report for full details. | ||||||
| DP02004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 04/30/2002 | 06/20/2002 | ENGINE SEIZURE | ||
| Alleged that the engine seizure due to oil sludge | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 12/01/2011 | 159108 | ||
| Connecting rod failure. while i was checking my battery, the engine exploded, blowing a 4 hole on the engine body and spreading pieces of the connecting rod around the yard. no prior signs had indicated anything was wrong with the engine. engine was running fine up to the last second before the explosion. | |||
| 02/01/2010 | 127000 | 1 | |
| Engine froze while on nj turnpike. oil coagulated into gook/mudr | |||
| 01/27/2009 | 105000 | 1 | |
| Hi , i have a 1997 camry that's got roughly 150,000 miles on it.. recently my engine blew up/froze ...and is a total loss-with little to no warning. i have been taking my car to jiffy lube for 3-4 years faithfully every 3,000.00 miles. actually paying them for their special high-mileage oil every time. in late october i took my camry to a independent dealer that did a $ 800.00 tune-up , replaced my pcv valve, and did a oil change.-i also paid this dealer to do a special comprehensive-diagnostic test to find any thing else they could find wrong with my car-supposedly a stem to stern inspection of my car. 3,000 miles later, jan 6th 2009, i got my regular scheduled jiffy lube oil change and actually asked them to check for any oil leaks..as i was adding 1-2 extra quarts between oil changes. they told me no leaks.. and sent me on my way. 250 miles and 21 days later my car died on jan 27th, .stranding me in the middle of the road with no warning. jiffy lube sent out investigators- ...who looked at my engine, and said sludge build-up was so massive that the pressure blew out the pcv valve, causing a sudden massive loss of oil..and they were not responsible..as they said it was a maintenance issue. i changed my oil religiously every 3,000 miles with jiffy lube's oil no less...and just had a stem to stern tune-up and a new pcv valve put in.. help!!!!...i can't figure out who's responsible...toyota defect? tune-up shop or bad jiffy lube oil? please help if you can. *tr | |||
| 08/31/2006 | 90000 | 1 | 01/04/2004 |
| 1997 toyota camry caught on fire while driving on i-87. fire began somewhere under the front hood of the vehicle. brakes failed while moving to highway shoulder. passengers were immediately evacuated and the fire department was called to put out the fire. the car was completely destroyed by the fire. *jb | |||
| 07/15/2005 | 78238 | 1 | 05/15/1997 |
| My chek enigne light came on when i was headed out for a 250 mile trip. i took it to the dealer and got theis list of problems. timing belt replacment,water pump, reseal oil pan, replace engine pipe, transmission gasket and filter replacement oxygen sensor, a/f sensor, efi service, cam seal, crank seal, oil pump seal . blue smoke coming from exhaust. i went on line and realized that i had oil sludge. called toyaota, they told me to get it evaluated for oil sludge | |||
| 02/05/2005 | 123000 | 1 | 10/06/1996 |
| Vehicle experienced oil leakages coming from underneath the vehicle. dealer was not notified, and the cause of the problem has not been determined.*ak | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle mad a loud explosive noise while on the expressway followed by a bang. the rod had broken and caused a hole in the engine. incident date 01/28/2005. *sc | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 72000 | 1 | 04/14/1997 |
| At 72,000 miles engine blew. perfectly maintained car with records to back it up. needed new engine. at 39,000 miles valve seals had to be replaced. at 67,700 miles valve seals had to be replaced again. i believe this engine was defective since the time it left the factory. no response from manufacturer.*ak | |||
| 11/24/2004 | 140400 | 2 | 08/08/2000 |
| The following is a complant that was sent to toyota motor co. it is not my wish to have to write under these circumstances. however i must, because of the things that have come to pass. my family has supported toyota, and ofcourse all own toyota due to the beautiful work and craftsmanship of toyota. however my toyota camry has made me to doubt the strong feeling i once had for my car. i turned my car over to toyota of louisville for service and the repair of oil sledging. i assume that the problem was fixed. however at the time i witnessed no symptoms. i simply did not want to wait until the problem occurred. so i had it serviced to avoid any problem. later after having my timing belt replaced i started to witness a sluggish acceleration, and worsening gas mileage, the problem worsened. eventually the check engine light flashed. and the oil light also. however it was right before the engine threw a rod on the interstate on the way home from college for thanksgiving break. i would like to have my car restored to the state it was in before the special servicing. i would like to continue to do business with your company; i plan on purchasing from toyota in the future. however this matter has placed me in salty waters, and as u can imagine that is not a very pleasant taste. i would like to hear something back from your office regarding this matter as soon as possible. thank you for your time. sincerely a faithful customer john r. cummings jr.*ak | |||
| 07/28/2004 | 133000 | 1 | |
| While driving at 60 mph consumer smelled gas in the vehicle. after parking the vehicle consumer was informed that the engine compartment was on fire. the fire totally destroyed the vehicle.*ak | |||
| 11/15/2003 | 93000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 92972 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/15/2003 | 81061 | ||
| 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). | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 84000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 11/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| My toyota camry's engine failed as i was merging onto a very busy freeway with my baby in the backseat. i was stuck on the shoulder of the fast lane for 2 hours before the tow truck arrived; my fancy driving is the only reason an accident was avoided. i had just received the letter about the oil gel and was going to get my oil changed the next day because the engine failed on my mother's birthday. now both toyota and my local dealer are telling me that my engine does not have oil caked inside the head so it could not be oil gel that caused my engine to throw a rod at 80,000 miles. when asked what could have caused it to happen they have no answer except sometimes that happens to engines and they want me to pay them a significant sum of money to open up the engine to find out if oil gel is present. if it is not the cause as they keep saying it is not yet i feel sure it is; i will have to foot the bill for a new engine at the dealer. toyota also will not allow me to have the work done by an independent mechanic if i move the car and find oil gel is the cause. i have been without a car for over 3 months and have 2 small children and live in the country. is the only way to detect oil gel a sludge on the head? i am so frustrated. | |||
| 11/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| Toyota has completely denied my engine blew up due to engine sludge and in fact are holding my car hostage. they told me it was going to cost me 2200.00 for them to tear it down so toyota could determine that it was engine sludge, then they denied it was and said that my cam shaft broke. a cam shaft should not have broke in a 5 year old car, especialy one that had been maintained and i had the oil changed 1 week prior at toyota. i then got a call saying my car was ready and it was 7800.00, that they had replaced the cam shaft. i was furious and told them i never gave my authorization to replace a cam shaft for 7800.00. when i went to pick it up they wouldn't release it because they couldn't find the paperwork.. (suddenly) and i kept getting the run around.. now they say the cam shaft was never replaced.. ( i think they removed it).. needless to say my car has been parked at toyota since last november or when i filed this report. i am furious that they won't fix it.. and they refuse to give me the persons name at toyota corp. who turned down my request to have it fixed under the sludge problem.. | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 34800 | ||
| Exhaust blowing blue smoke, sludge buildup on valve covers, now check engine light is on, car vibrates. in shop again | |||
| 03/15/2000 | 48234 | ||
| When i took my camry in for a routine oil change, i was told that i needed to have my engine \desludged.\ i was told that this was highly recommended and would prevent more costly repairs in the future. | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 63000 | ||
| A bolt that holds the rod to the cylinder broke, causing the rod to break loose and move around inside the engine. | |||
| 08/30/2003 | 75000 | 11/11/2001 | |
| Engine seizure due to oil sludge. | |||
| 02/23/2002 | 136000 | 3 | 03/09/1998 |
| 1997 camry xle..oil gel problem. toyota blamed problem on us/lack of oil change receipts. in 1999. cert.used car. needed new engine after one year. problem undetected again. in feb 2002 car blew engine after being checked @toyota. got letter in july 2002 stating their was a gelling problem. i sent information they needed. never a response from toyota. i sent all info again certified mail. no response.*ak | |||
| 01/29/2003 | 70000 | 1 | 02/05/1997 |
| 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 | |||
| 12/10/2002 | 75041 | 1 | 12/01/1996 |
| 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 | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 01/05/2001 | 1 | ||
| Brake pedal was going to the floor, dealer repaired front brakes. consumer stated there is a noise in the front of the vehicle, dealer states 2 front struts need replaced, also axle boots leaked and dealer replaced. vehicle was hard to start and then would die, dealer replaced the isc valve. water pump leaked and was replaced. *slc | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE | |||
| 05/13/1999 | 1 | ||
| Timing belt,all engine belts, head gasket replaced (leakage), motor mounts replaced (causing excessive vibration). mjs | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 01/23/2009 | 93000 | 1 | |
| Connecting rod went through the engine block. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2002 | 39000 | 3 | 11/01/1996 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 toyota camry. the contact stated that the engine light has been illuminating intermittently since august of 2002. the vehicle was taken to the dealer three different times for this failure. on the most recent occurrence, the contact was informed that it would cost $5,000 to replace the engine. the engine light currently remains illuminated, however, the vehicle is still being driven. speed was not a factor because the light illuminates as soon as the vehicle is started. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 68,000 and failure mileage was 39,000. the front brakes were cracked and the rotors needed to be machined. the taillight bulb was replaced, the head gasket was leaking. the timing belt was replaced. updated 10/10/07. *jb | |||
| 04/06/2004 | 122745 | 1 | 12/20/1999 |
| While driving home, heard clanging noise and car lost power - car would not start. had car towed to toyota dealer. upon examination the following was found: #3 piston rod broken coming through block - there was a hole in the block. the dealer replaced short block, oil pump, balanced shaft & replaced necessary fluids. toyota replaced the engine, however, i incurred $1,560 in labor. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 87000 | 1 | 08/01/2001 |
| Car : 97 toyota camry le 4 cylinder three major problems 1) blue smoke at cold-starting (mileage: 87 miles -aug. 2001) engine gave off blue smoke from the exhaust when cold-starting in the morning. after replacing valve stem seals (paid around $1000 to a toyota dealer for the repair), the problem was solved. 2) power steering rack & pinion leaking (mileage: 87kmiles -aug. 2001) power steering rack & pinion leaked and a mechanic replaced it with a new one. 3) egr vsv failure (mileage: 100 kmiles -oct. 2004) check engine light came on. obd ii scanner says insufficient egr flow. a mechanic replaced egr vsv and the problem was solved. 4) front strut mounts failure ((mileage: 87 kmiles -aug. 2001) both front strut mounts made noise. after a toyota dealer replaced it, the problem was solved. *jb | |||
| 08/31/2005 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Dt: while driving the vehicle threw a rod through the engine and destroyed it. this occurred on august 31, 2005. the consumer had the vehicle towed to a mechanic, who told him that it was the piston rod that came loose. no one was injured. they were not having the vehicle repaired. when the consumer contacted the manufacturer, they told him that they would not cover the damage. *ak 11/02/05. *jb | |||
| 12/02/2002 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 03/01/2002 | 56000 | 15 | 05/23/1999 |
| Engine sludge and puff of black smoke when car is started. *ak | |||
| 11/30/2002 | 70000 | 1 | 08/15/1999 |
| Valve oil seal failure due to oil sludging or jelling smokes while starting. *ak | |||
| 07/08/2004 | 2 | 04/05/1997 | |
| Took 1997 camry to dealer september 2002 for slight hesitation problem and advised them that i noticed a small oil leak while parked at home. dealer advised it was engine sludge. car remained in dealer's possession for 1 1/2 months because of no response from service tech. they claimed that sludge problem was fixed, however. july 8, 2004 the car stopped. had it towed to dealer and was advised that the engine died from sludging...again. dealer say they will not fix it and that i must purchase another engine for $5200.00 (used 2000 toyota engine). i advised them of the letter found on the i-net from toyoto re. coverage for oil gelling related engine damage for 8 years unlimited mileage from date of first sale but service tech said we fixed it once and we will not do it again. i am without transportation, and no satisfaction from toyota dealer. help!*ak | |||
| 04/08/2004 | 114000 | 1 | |
| While driving front end/steering wheel vibrated. dealership informed consumer that the problem pertained to engine sludge. *ak | |||
| 07/18/2003 | 87000 | 0 | 11/25/2002 |
| Engine seized. problems with oil. | |||
| 04/08/2004 | 85000 | 1 | 03/05/1997 |
| 1997 toyota camary heavy blue smoke on cold starts, originaly taken in for oil gel problem was told no gelling found but valve oil seal worn and need replace $1000.00. car has 85,000 miles and has been servied by toyota per thier service manual. have talked with numerious other toyota owners with same complaint. feel this is a problem with the valve seals being sub standard. please advise if other complaints have been posted. *ak | |||
| 11/03/2003 | 110000 | 2 | 10/17/2001 |
| 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 | |||
| 08/13/2003 | 70000 | 0 | 08/21/2000 |
| My engine valves need to be replaced, my oil and transmission is leaking, and i have blue exhaust coming from my tailpipe | |||
| 06/03/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 03/31/2003 | 79500 | 1 | 10/25/1996 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states the engine seized w/o warning. vehicle checked by dlr who diagnosed that the piston was cracked. nlm | |||
| 08/09/2002 | 1 | 07/01/2099 | |
| Engine exploded - hole in block alots of smoke no fire- have replaced car - asked toyota to research unusual event at their cost - they refuse - going to scrap car but worried about other drivers - i want nothing from toyota. *ak | |||
| 06/22/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2000 | |
| Vehicle was in parked position at department store, smoke coming from engine compartment under hood, #4 crankshaft rod broke and penetrated cast iron block, spraying shrapnel & hot oil through the area, penetrating radiator core. vehicle was towed to local toyota dealership (crown toyota, ontario) for diagnosis of problem and estimate for subsequent repairs. toyota service manager contacted two days later and advised it wasn't due to defective toyota part(s). service manager states he contacted district manager for toyota's western region, states the vehicle was out of warranty, it's your problem. week previously, owner receives letter from toyota explaining oil gel problem advised service manager of this issue, states i need to verify oil & maintenance records for this vehicle. same are produced for inspection & forwarded to district manager. toyota's position is too bad it's out of warranty! vehicle is towed to personal mechanic, whom changes engine components & radiator, states problem was defective oil pump balancer.*ak | |||
| Engine head gasket blewout. heard strange sound coming from front end of vehicle. took vehicle to dealer. rod had blown, and block was cracked. please provide vehicle identification number, and any further information.*ak | |||
| 12/12/2001 | 1 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Toyota acknowledges to have issued only a service bulletin to its dealers on this issue. it does acknowledge a high number of incidents of failed struts and mounts on 1997, 1998 and1999 camrys.*ak | |||
| 12/08/2001 | 2 | 04/01/1998 | |
| Dealer acknowledges high number of strut and mount failures on 1997, 1998 and 1999 camrys. probably design defect. *ak | |||
| 12/15/2000 | |||
| Excessive amounts of smoke was coming from rear of vehicle. consumer took vehicle to a dealership that determined that an o-ring was allowing oil to leak from engine, which was burning up on engine/exhaust system. please provide any additional information. *ak | |||
| 1 | 01/30/1997 | ||
| Defective engine mounts. *slc | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1997 | ||
| Motor requires rebuilding due to oil sludge, oil has been changed in excess of warranty requirements, but factory will not honor warranty. *et | |||
| 05/13/1999 | 1 | ||
| Timing belt,all engine belts, head gasket replaced (leakage), motor mounts replaced (causing excessive vibration). mjs | |||
| 1 | 05/01/1997 | ||
| Oil pan failed. mjs | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 124420 | 1 | 12/15/1996 |
| Without any lights or indication of a problem, while my husband was driving on the freeway in california, smoke began billowing out from under the hood. within seconds, flames were seen, by the time he reached the side of the road, the engine was fully engulfed in fire. by the time he got out of the car, minutes, the dash was engulfed. it took 15 minutes for the fire department to put it out. this vehicle has had regular services per manufacturers requirements, plus a safety and engine examination approximately 30 days ago. no evidence of a problem of any kind was found at that time. *jb | |||
| 09/12/2004 | 70000 | 1 | 08/10/1997 |
| At about 70k miles, my 1997 toyota camry starting exhibiting problems of huge amounts of smoke from tail pipe at cold startup. i understand that this is related to the engine sluge or gelling problem. i believe this problem is related to the tsb-628696 as noted in the nhtsa. however, toyota has declined to cover the repair, but is willing to cover only the parts, but the labor is being charged to me. they are not honoring the extended coverage that they have announced for this tsb tc02002 and nhtsa item number: 628696. this is totally ridiculous | |||
| 02/07/2003 | 0 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 01/19/2002 | 1 | 03/01/1997 | |
| While in motion, the vehicle suddenly made a screeching sound and stopped. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer informed consumer of a hole in the engine block about 4 inches in diameter. the number 2 and number 4 connecting rods had come out and the piston rod was broken. consumer no longer owns the vehicle. *jg | |||
| While driving consumer notice d a loud noise. soon vehicle stalled. dealer was contacted, technician noticed engine needed to be replaced. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 07/01/2001 | |||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 07/12/2002 | 08/01/2000 | ||
| Midas in forestville, md did not put any oil in my car and now the engine is gone. *ak | |||
| While traveling on interstate 60 mph, enginecheck light came on. owner eventually pulled over to find that engine had severe oil leakage and began to smoke. please describe details.*ak | |||
| 05/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| The engine failed and the vehicle would not start, the failure resulted in an explosion and a hole in the engine, the warranty on the car was for 60000 miles, the dealer refused to abide by the warranty stating that the oil was not changed properly resulting in sludge, the consumer believes the vehicles slanted engine could possible impede the flow of oil as it returnes to the oil chamber thus resulting in sludge. nlm | |||
| 02/05/2002 | 02/01/2097 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 03/03/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2097 | |
| My husband was driving down the expressway at a normal speed, when all of sudden the engine started making noises. it was driven to the nearest safe place to stop, at which the engine ceased functioning. i'm told that the engine needs to be rebuilt for a cost of $4500. i presently owe $12,000 on this car. this is due to the so-called oil sludge problem and i demand immediate compensation in this matter. evidently thousands of other customers have had similar problems. for more information: features/2001overview/toyota/camry.tmpl. *ak | |||
| 02/18/2002 | 01/01/2002 | ||
| Engine has excessive amounts of smoke that is coming from rear of vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/07/2001 | 1 | ||
| The engine failed and the vehicle would not start, the failure resulted in an explosion and a hole in the engine, the warranty on the car was for 60000 miles, the dealer refused to abide by the warranty stating that the oil was not changed properly resulting in sludge, the consumer believes the vehicles slanted engine could possible impede the flow of oil as it returnes to the oil chamber thus resulting in sludge. nlm | |||
| 09/01/2000 | |||
| Dealer says car not serviced properly....i have changed oil as required and contacted previous owner who says that he has done the same. no safety defect listed. *ak | |||
| 06/28/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| Engine oil changed every 3000-4000 miles. i previously had honda accord with 186000 miles and no problems. there is an obvious defect with this engine!*ak | |||
| 05/08/2001 | 2 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Transmission makes a noise when car is placed in reverse or placed in drive and the engine dies leading to brake failure. | |||
| 10 | 10/01/2000 | ||
| The brakes are constantly squealing, i was told this is normal....the car keeps dying when i am coming to slow down to take right hand turn. has been dangerous problem, i drive through two rotarys, it has stauled around them. i am very concerned. *ak | |||
| 3 | |||
| Engines stalls approx. 15 min. after warmed up upon acceleration and will does not restart for at least 1 min.*et | |||
| 09/01/2000 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1998 | ||
| My 1997 camry is having engine problems the dealer informerd me that the engine need a new short block and overhaul, and cost and labor will be $5952.56 plus tax , and that the work was not going to be covered under warrenty because i didn't have reciepts for the oil changes and in which paid the cost of $2011.52 just for them to tear apart the engine and find what was wrong with it put it back together. the dealer also informed me that the had engingeers from toyota come out take pictures of the engine and take a oil sample and at that time they made the decision that the company was not going to cover the car under the 60,000 mile warrenty. the explanation to me was the piston rings was burnt and the cyclinder was deaply scared and there was metal fragment in theoil pan and oil pump and that it all needed replacing. i disagreed with them when they stated to me this was the cause of bad oil in the engine also i did give them the last oil change reciept i did which was only the month before and also told them that my car usely set in storeage due to the fact that i am the only driver to the vehicle and i was deployed at sea every three months. also on the $2011.52 payment they quoted me a cost of 2506.00 plus tax , also the reason i'm writing this is because a friend gave me a copy of the october 1999 consumer reports ad on hidden warranties and that did sounded like one of those cases. | |||
| 01/31/2000 | 07/01/1997 | ||
| This vehicle never had repairs other than a shock replacement on the passenger side and normal maintenence. the vehicle left home in the morning and with in 4 miles smke came out of the engine compartment. all the guages showed normal right before the engine quit. it then became engulfed in flames and actually melted the entire engine compartment. this appears to be a serious defect and should be investigated. toyota will not release the cause of the fire. *ak | |||
| 09/21/1999 | |||
| Wheels locked up on two occasions; one on a stop, and the other on a wet pavement. also noticed grinding sound coming from front wheels. vehicle hesitateing while stopping. dealer / manufacturer notified. *ak | |||
| 08/18/1999 | 1 | ||
| Possible engine failure resulted in fire under the hood. nlm | |||
| 06/07/1999 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| After a headgasket repair @ gresham toyota when the vehicle ac is turned on engine speed increases 500 rpms each time the ac pump cycles on , mostly while the vehicle is in motion, intermitently when the vehicle is stopped. when this happens at a stop the vehicle can lurch forward without warning posing a potentially hazardous condition. also because of the constantly fluctuating engine speed (every 30 seconds at stop & every 10 seconds while in motion ) it is causing un-necessary wear & tear on other vehicel componants ie. brakes,transmision ac compressor cooling fans (radiator) etc. | |||
| 05/13/1999 | 1 | ||
| Timing belt,all engine belts, head gasket replaced (leakage), motor mounts replaced (causing excessive vibration). mjs | |||
| While driving vehicle caught on fire, the location of where the fire started has not been determined, cause is also unknown. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 2 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Engine making knocking noise. nm | |||
| 07/01/1997 | |||
| There is a noticeable rumbling sound coming from the floor of my 1997 toyota camry. this is most noticeable during acceleration, but can be detected while traveling at constant speed. this problem seems to be intermittent in nature. | |||
| 11/15/1998 | |||
| The engine siezed at 21,000 mile for no apparent reason. cause unknown. please provide further information and vin #. *ak | |||
| 01/22/1998 | |||
| When driving the vehicle the brakes went out and then caught on fire in the engine compartment. the vehicle has been totalled. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 1 | 02/12/2003 | ||
| Vehicle was making a loud ticking noise. took vehicle to the dealer, and dealer stated that the timing belt was loose and was rubbing against the timing belt cover. *ak | |||
| 05/13/1999 | 1 | ||
| Timing belt,all engine belts, head gasket replaced (leakage), motor mounts replaced (causing excessive vibration). mjs | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - TURBO-CHARGER | |||
| 40700 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle was taken in for an oil change, upon driving white smoke began to come out of tail pipe, and oil light illuminated. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 01/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/17/1998 | 100 | ||
| Strong odor in car. causes headaches. toyota has failed to fix problem after several attempts. *nlm | |||
| 05/30/1999 | 1 | 11/01/2096 | |
| On 4/16/01 engine check light came on. the dealer diagnosed problem on 4/19/01 and replaced air fuel ratio (afr) sensor. on 6/26/02 the check engine light came on. the dealer diagnosed problem on 6/29/02 and again replaced afr sensor. it cost over $700.00 to fix the problem. are there problems with afr sensors? --- about may, 1999, the vehicle started producing visible exhaust smoke at start up. the problem continues today. the problem only occurs when starting a cold engine (when the vehicle has not run for few hours). vehicle recently passed a smog check. the vehicle has been well maintained. are there know problems with vehicle producing exhaust smoke when starting a cold engine? is the exhaust smoke related to afr sensor failure?*ak | |||
| 03/16/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states after starting vehicle a lot of smoke come out from the exhaust.*jb | |||
| 06/30/1998 | 2 | 03/01/1997 | |
| Smog sensor failed. yh | |||
| 07/09/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1997 | |
| Isc valve failed. mjs | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||
| 04/01/1997 | |||
| For the last three years there has been a smell of sulfur that comes into the car whenever i acclerate or open the drivers side window. the catalytic converter has passed inspection checks. on the advice of my mechanic i changed the oxygen sensor and was even told to change to high test gasoline which helped slightly but the smell is still there. i contacted my dealer(lee toyota)who told me that noth8ing is wron with the converter. my private mechanic insists that the converter is the cause of the smell, but because it passes the emissions test it is not considered defective. a new converter will cost about $1200, but a defective one is warranted up to 80000 miles | |||
| 09/06/1999 | 1 | 05/12/1997 | |
| Oxygen sensors failed causing the check engine light to illuminate. *mjs | |||
| 1 | 12/01/1997 | ||
| Charcoal canister failed. yh | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Oxygen sensor failed. *yc | |||
| 02/06/1997 | 1 | 01/23/1997 | |
| Emissions control line failed. yh | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | |||
| 08/01/2001 | 87000 | 1 | 08/01/2001 |
| Car : 97 toyota camry le 4 cylinder three major problems 1) blue smoke at cold-starting (mileage: 87 miles -aug. 2001) engine gave off blue smoke from the exhaust when cold-starting in the morning. after replacing valve stem seals (paid around $1000 to a toyota dealer for the repair), the problem was solved. 2) power steering rack & pinion leaking (mileage: 87kmiles -aug. 2001) power steering rack & pinion leaked and a mechanic replaced it with a new one. 3) egr vsv failure (mileage: 100 kmiles -oct. 2004) check engine light came on. obd ii scanner says insufficient egr flow. a mechanic replaced egr vsv and the problem was solved. 4) front strut mounts failure ((mileage: 87 kmiles -aug. 2001) both front strut mounts made noise. after a toyota dealer replaced it, the problem was solved. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 02/28/2005 | 73890 | 4 | 11/17/2000 |
| In july, 2003 (please refer to odi id number: 10030262) our 1997 toyota camry ce (manual transmission) began leaking large amounts of gasoline. it was determined internal pressure had caused the tank to bulge out and rip at the seams. after two soldering attempts were made to patch the tank, the entire tank was replaced with a new one. a pressure test was conducted but no problems were found. in february 2005 the gas tank started leaking again. the same bulge from inside out was found as had previously been seen with the old and since replaced tank. the tank was removed & sent out for welding, returned and tests were conducted on the charcoal filter & vacuum switch. both tested fine. the vacuum switch was replaced as the cost of replacing the charcoal filter was too expensive and since it didn't show failure, it didn't appear to be necessary. the mechanic suggested periodic tests in case the problem was intermittent. also, the heat distributor (i believe that's the name for the metal between the exhaust pipe & the gas tank to keep the tank from overheating & exploding) was found to have been wrinkled but from the pressure of the in-out expansion of the tank, not from an out-in push that would have been caused from driving over something. *ak less than two weeks later, the gas leak returned. toyota was contacted and we were referred to the local dealership customer service manager. the csm coordinated with the service department to have the car put up on the rack and looked at. three individuals, including the csm declared it was an external leak from the patch and felt it was nothing they were willing to investigate further. they did suggest replacing the tank and doing further investigations to attempt to duplicate the process, however, the expenses are so extraordinary, we have opted to replace the tank with a used one and look at other replacement vehicle options, possibly selling parts or towing to a junk yard. | |||
| 05/06/1997 | 1 | ||
| I have 1997 toyota camry with 39,000 miles and large amount of white exhaust comes out of tailpipe when car is first started in the morning or when engine is cold. *ak | |||