1997 Toyota Camry Body & Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD DETACHED AND FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE HINGES FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL BE UNLOCKED ITSELF WHEN THERE IS A SMALL EXPTERN FORCE ACT TO DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE DASH BOARD ALSO INDICATE THE DOOR IS UNLOCK AND THE DOME LIGHT IS ONL. FURTHER MORE, IT HAPPENDS SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHCIH IS NOT COMPLANATE.

WITHIN 1 MONTH, BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE.*AK

TRUNK LID WAS CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE BACK UP LIGHTS WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE TRUNK. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

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

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OF JANUARY 2003 IT WOULD NOW COST $200 TO REPAIR THEM] AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.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."

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG HIT BOTTOM CORNER OF DOOR, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY HALF WAY BETWEEN ANKLE AND KNEE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DRIVER'S OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED - PLASTIC HANDLE BROKE - DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. *AK

PLASTIC LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE & COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR THROUGH DOOR. *AK

FRONT AIR DAM SCRAPES WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELS OVER DIPS AND IN TO DRIVEWAYS. *SLC

DRIVER'S SUN VISOR SNAPPED OFF THE RETAINING CLIP, HITTING DRIVER ON THE FOREHEAD. *SLC

COMPANY AGREES THAT HEADLINER IS LOOSE WILL NOT REPAIR OR GIVE ESTIMATE BECASE NOT COVERED BY CURRENT TSB AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. TSB IS OUT CURRENTLY FOR SOME CAMRY'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER STATES THIS IS A SERVICE ADJUSTMENT AND NOT A DEFECT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND CAUSES A LOSS IN VALUE. *AK

WITH MORE THEN TWO PASSENGERS BOTTOM OF AUTO SCRAPES THE SURFACE OF ROAD. *AK

DRIVERS OUTSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE, RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR

SAFETY HAZARD QUESTION: DUE TO CAR AERODYNAMICS, DOORS, ESPECAILLY FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS CURVE INWARD TO A SHARP POINT AT TOP EDGE. POSES HAZARD TO PASSENGERS SHUTTING THE DOORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SHORTER STATURE BECAUSE IT IS AT FACE/HEAD LEVEL. HAVE HAD PASSENGERS CLOSING DOOR CATCH THAT POINT-EDGE, ONE REQUIRED SEVERAL STITCHES TO TEMPLE AFTER "CATCHING THE EDGE." HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MARY TAYLOR

HINGE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.

INSIDE DOOR RELEASE FAILED. *YC

DOOR PANELS INSIDE UPHOLSTRY FAILED. YH

DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND COUSING DAMAGE ON THE CAR. YH

POWER DOOR RELAY FAILED.

Both the driver and passenger sun visors in your 1997 Toyota Camry have developed cracks or fractures. This happened around 90,000 miles and the vehicle wasn't repaired. Replacing the damaged sun visors should resolve the issue.