1990 TOYOTA CAMRY Recalls, Complaints & Safety

MY HUSBAND WAS A PASSENGER IN THIS CAR WHEN A DUMP TRUCK SMASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE IMPACT CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO OPEN WHICH UNLOCKED THE SEAT BELT WHICH ALLOWED MY HUSBAND TO BE EJECTED FROM THE CAR. HE SUFFERED BROKEN BACK, CRUSHED TIBIA, BROKEN RIBS....ALL BECAUSE THE DOOR OPENED AND THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS UNLOCKED WHEN DOOR OPENED. SEATS WHERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP YOU IN THE CAR AND NOT EJECTED FROM THE CAR. *TR

Crash 2 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE KEY AND THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BENT LOCK MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,310.

1990 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATES AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILURE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS COMPLETELY FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE DOORS MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY. THIS OCCURRED DURING FREEZING TEMPERATURES, SO AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT THE LOCKS WERE FROZEN. SHE USED DE-ICER TO NO AVAIL. FORTUNATELY, HER SON WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A MANEUVER TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO GET IN THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER BECAME TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK/OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND INSERT THE KEY IN THE LOCK, TURN IT SLIGHTLY AND THEN PULL ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. THEN ON THE WAY HOME, THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED AND SHE HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR HANDLE WHILE DRIVING WITH ONE HAND. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR OVER A HALF OF MILLION CAMRY'S FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HER LOCAL DEALER AND SHE WAS INFORMED, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) WHILE DRIVING, MY DAD'S CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TO DRIVE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR. LATER, HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME THING OCCUR AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. FINALLY, MY BROTHER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD A HEATED DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALERSHIP. MY DAD WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PROVIDE ANY PAPERWORK TO HIM ON WHAT REPAIRS WERE MADE. HE WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ADAMANT ABOUT NOT DISCLOSING ANY DETAILS. IT WAS ONLY MONTHS LATER WE FOUND OUT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. SADLY, WE DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DISCONNECTED IT OR IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. EITHER WAY, WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION ISSUE SINCE THEN. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE EXACT DATES, BUT I AM HOPING THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS RECORD OF THIS TRANSACTION. I AM SENDING THIS EMAIL FOR NOTIFICATION PURPOSES IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON WITH TOYOTA CAMRY. [XXX] *TR

TIRE TREAD FAILURE SEPARATED. BOUGHT TIRES USED NOV/DEC 2009. TIRE=GENERAL AMERI G4S I HAVE PICTURES. *TR

MY REPORT IS ESSENTIALLY IDENTICAL TO CASE #10153732 EXCEPT WE LIVE IN THE MIDWEST NEAR CHICAGO. WE REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE REAR AND NOW, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE FRONT LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

DEAR SIR, I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY AND THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK DOESN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE MARCH OF 2005. THE LOCK DOESN'T WORK MANUALLY ALSO I.E. INSERTING A KEY FROM OUTSIDE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN IT. THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCOMFORT COMING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR AS I NEED TO USE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE SEEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME DEFECT THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR THE PAST ONE YEAR WITH MY CAR. WHEN I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO TOYOTA THEY SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. I WANTED TO COMPLAIN THIS ISSUE AND IF THERE ARE MORE NUMBER OF CASES LIKE MINE THEN MAY BE TOYOTA CAN CONSIDER OUR CASE. WITH BEST REGARDS, -RAJA. *NM

TOYOTA CAMRY - SITUATION WHERE THE REAR BRAKE LINES (COVERED AND CANNOT BE SEEN) HAVE CORRODED THROUGH. MY CAMRY RECENTLY HAD ONE OF THE LINES FAIL (BOTH BRAKE LINES AND 3 FUEL LINES HAVE SEVERE CORROSION UNDER THE SHIELD) AND I'M LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR ANYBODY. THIS IS A VERY POOR DESIGN FOR SUCH AREAS AS MINE (SYRACUSE, NY) WHERE THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SALT USE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE SHIELD ACTUALLY PROMOTES CORROSION BY RETAINING WINTER SLUSH, MUD AND SALT. TOYOTA SHOWS A COMPLETE OF CONCERN OVER SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS NOT COVERED BY EITHER A SERVICE BULLETIN OR BY A RECOMMENDED INSPECTION PER THE MAINTENANCE BOOK. TOYOTA DESIGNED SUCH AN INADEQUATE BRAKE LINE SYSTEM FOR THIS MODEL FOR ANY AREA THAT USES SALT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WITHOUT EVEN A WARNING TO CHECK UNDER THE PLASTIC GUARDS FOR CORROSION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OR INABILITY TO STOP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILS TO UNLOCK. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 92V135000, REGARDING THE DOOR LOCKS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN. UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY OUT OF PARKING THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AT FULL SPEED AND CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE POLE. THE DRIVER DID NOT CAUSE THIS

Crash

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HINGES CRACKED CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF WHEN OPENING. NO LONGER ABLE TO UTILIZE REAR PASSENGER SEATS BECAUSE OF FEAR OF DOOR SUDDENLY OPENING AND CAUSING INJURY. NOT REPAIRED. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AND PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. *JB

THROTTLE INTERMITTANTLY STICKS AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE, THEN LETS LOOSE CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP.

WAS LOCKED INSIDE 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY, ABOUT 250 DEGREES OR MORE. ALL DOOR HANDLES FAILED. MOONROOF WOULD NOT OPEN. HAD TO KICK OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO ESCAPE. TOYOTA, IF YOU DON'T THINK THESE ARE DEFECTIVE CARS, YOU MUST BE FROM AN ALIEN PLANET. PLEASE, POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I SURVIVED A DEATH TRAP...SEEMS LIKE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS THE ONLY ANSWER.

1 injured

MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK IS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, MAKING IT UNABLE TO OPEN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.*AK

RIGHT/PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS STUCK IN A LOCKED POSITION. NOT ABLE TO OPEN LOCK MANUALLY EITHER. ALL OTHER DOORS WORKING PROPERLY WITH AUTOMATIC OR MAUAL DOOR LOCK USE. ALL POWER WINDOWS WORK PROPERLY. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL #92V135000 , BUT TOYOTA STATES IT'S NOT MY VEHICLE. THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURING, AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF EVER I WAS TRAPPED AND ME OR MY CHILDREN NEEDED TO GET OUT THAT DOOR.

THE DRIVER SIDE (AUTOMATIC SEATBELT) ON MY 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY WON'T RETRACT. *AK

WILDE TOYOTA WILL FIX A PROBLEM ON MY MOM'S 1990 TOYOTA CAMERY. WE HAVE 2 DIFFERENT GARAGES SAYING THAT THE REPAIR THAT WILDE TOYATA MADE WADNT DONE. *AK

FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELT MECHANISM WILL BUCKLE, BUT WON'T RELEASE. ALSO, PLASTIC COVER WHICH PROTECTS THE METAL FELL OF. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION. THE TIRE HAD BEEN REMOVED MORE THAN ONCE AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. DOT NUMBER #ACJ73JFFF1500. *AK THE DEALER SAID THAT THE STEEL BELT WAS BROKEN AND CAUSED A FLAT AREA. *SCC *JB

POWER DOOR LOCKS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND FAILED. VEHICLE'S VIN NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 92V135000. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED HE/SHE MAY EXPERIENCE TROUBLE EXITING/ENTERING VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TT *JB

THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED A YELLOW BOX IN THE TRUNK TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

I HAVE 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY AND DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, GOT STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. 8NLM

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#92V135000 (LATCHES AND LOCKS). DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. * TS THE DRIVER DOOR'S ELECTRIC LOCK OPENED FROM THE LOCK POSITION. RECALLL# 92V135000 *SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE DEALER HAVE REPAIR THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR THEY ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

WHILE CONSUMER WALKED AROUND THE CAR NOTICED THAT TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUEOUSLY COME ON. CONSUMER HAS HAD IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

CHECKED ON RECALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1990 TOYOTAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT AM TOLD THIS VEHICLE NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL NUMBERS. HOW CAN SAME MADE YEAR BE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THIS VEHICLE?*AK

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOOR USING HANDLE FROM INSIDE WHILE LOCK BUTTON WAS DOWN. AFTER STICKING, LOCK BUTTON COULD NOT BE MOVED MANUALLY, WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH, OR WITH THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. DRIVER WAS LOCKED IN. CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE STICKING LINKAGE THAT OVERPOWERED THE RETURN SPRING. LUBRICATION SOLVED THE PROBLEM (FOR THE TIME BEING), BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER THE DOOR WAS DISMANTLED. POOR DESIGN LEAVES A SMALL SPRING TO OVERCOME ANY LINKAGE FRICTION CAUSED BY WEAR, DIRT BUILDUP, CORROSION, LACK OF LUBRICATION, ETC. AFTER PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED, STICKING SITUATION COULD BE CREATED ON DEMAND BY SIMPLY PULLING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WHEN THE LOCK KNOB WAS DOWN. STICKING LINKAGE WAS VERY CONSISTANT. IN MY OPINION, THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR THE DRIVER TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING IT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND BEING LOCKED IN THE CAR WITH NO RECOURSE. THIS PROBLEM IS WORSENED BY THE FACT THAT THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED INDEPENDENTLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCKING MECHANISM LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER IT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. BOTH LINKAGES STUCK IN THE SAME SPOT AND BOTH WERE REPEATABLE. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE'S A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT REVEALS ITSELF AS THE MECHANISM AGES AND WEARS, AND IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT EXIT THROUGH THE POWER WINDOWS.

MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. EMERGENCY RELEASE LEVER LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND MAKES AN INTERMITTANT LOW VOLUME BUZZING SOUND. SEATBELT LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON, WHETHER LAP BELT IS LATCHED OR UNLATCHED. *AK

THE TREAD ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING A BLOW OUT. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON WARRANTY.(BF GOODRICH M65 195-70-14). *YH

WHILE CONSUMER IS IN VEHICLE AND LOCKS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CONSUMER CANNOT GET OUT UNLESS SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE OPENS DOOR. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE TO WARM VEHICLE UP AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULDN'T OPEN . HE PULLED UP ON HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT MOVED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT ELECTRICAL DOOR RELAY WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

ENGIEN FAILURE. *AK

PE00 020 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAYAND FELT VIBRATION ON THE ROAD, HE PULLED OVER . RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND STEEL BELT WAS STICKING OUT. ALSO, DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, P185/70R14. CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT HIS TIRE WASN'T ON RECALL.*AK

Crash

8 WIRES IN DRIVER DOOR BROKE DUE TO NORMAL USE CREATING VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS: POWER WINDOWS FOR ENTIRE CAR INOPERABLE, POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, DRIVER MOTOR BELT INOPERABLE. HARNESS DESIGN UNSAFE! BETTER, SAFER HARNESS DESIGN NEEDED. MANUFACTURER NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR CONTACT TO MAKE REPORT DIRECTLY AND SEEK COMPENSATION FOR FAILURES AND REPAIR COSTS. *AK