This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My car's check engine light would come on and my son would check the code (PO420) then send me to the dealer. I took this car to two different dealers during this time. The first time the light came on I was out of town and took the car to a local dealer who changed a sensor connected to the exhaust system. The next time to light came on I took the car to a dealer in my area and they told me that it was a bad sensor (same one that had just been changed) after I told them that sensor had already been replaced they came back and told me that it was a different sensor. I left this dealer and shortly after the check engine light was on again and I went back to the second dealer who said that the computer needed to be reprogrammed. This problem has been on going for about four years, during which time my car was under warranty and the first service bulletin on this problem was issued on May 24, 2004 and the second on July 27, 2004. Now that the car is not under warranty I have found out about these service bulletins. I intend to take this issue up with Toyota as this should have been repaired back in 2004.
At approximately 90,000 miles, the vehicle check engine light came on. Checking with Toyota dealer, they indicated the catalytic converter must be replaced. They futher indictated that there is a nationwide backorder for this item and they already have 10 vehicles on the waiting list at their dealership. I believe, from this information, that this must be a problem that is a result of a design defect and therefore should be resolved by Toyota.
Rotten egg smell since the car was purchased. Complained to Toyota dealership and the regional rep without a resolution. The rep suggestion was to just put premium gas in it. Certainly not what I expected from Toyota but I have been putting premium gas in the car and it does seems to tame the smell somewhat. In addition we have had problems with the front alignment and the car pulls to the left. Have purchased a life time alignment warranty but it still seems to go out of alignment quickly. Also have a constant wind problem with the driver side front door. Been repaired once, going into the shop again to repair. Also the original tires had to be replaced at 24,000 miles. I wouldn't consider a Toyota in future car purchases.
Since I purchased this car it has been problems, first it was the brakes vibrating, took it in and right away the dealer knew what it was without me even explaining it to him, they fixed that in 2 trips. Then it was the rotten egg smell, they could not find anything wrong.(then why does my car stink when I try to get power out of the engine?) then it was the knocking and pinging in the engine, (I was told that they could not duplicate the problem, but my octane level was low to upgrade my gas. The manufacturers provided owners manual states 87 octane gas or higher, I already use 89 octane and have since the day I bought the car, so why should I have to spend money on higher priced gas when the car is only 1 year old and the engine should not make any noises. Now it is the tires and alignment the alignment is completely off that the tires are destroyed with only 17,250 miles on them, yet the car shows no sign of the alignment being off, it drives straight stays in one lane and the steering wheel is even straight, so how after one year with low miles is the alignment off and the tires are destroyed, and why was it unnoticed when I had my tires balanced and rotated 2 months earlier at 15,000 miles" by the same dealership! I feel that this car has alot of problems that the manufacturer does not want to address, look at how many other people are having the same problems, and we are all told that it is wear and tear or that there is no problem at all, well then why are we all having the same problems? I called Toyota's main office logged a complaint and was told that someone would get back to me, it has been 3 days now and not one call has come my way! I feel that I should not have to pay for the repairs to this car since it is a nation wide problem, especially since it is a $27000 car that has depreciated in value by more than $7000 in less than one year, what happened to Toyota's retaining there value" I wish everybody much luck with their issues.
Rotten egg smell inside vehicle cab since I leased it, been in shop 5 times they asked me to do things like put blue planet gas in it and drive it for along time none of this seem to work last time was they swaped the computer system and converters from another 2002 Camry and the gas smell is still there. I have tried everything..the smell is to the point where it makes my daughter and I have headaches. At one point I had Toyota tell me there was nothing they could do for me....im not sure if my car has a defect due to some other reason it seems funny to me that they just dont know whats wrong with this car.there is also a clunking sound in the sterring they told me it was normal too? not sure about whats going on.....and thought someone else like you guys should know about it. Thanks tammy cole.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Jacksonville, FL, USA