1996 Toyota Camry steering problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE IN THE TURNED POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READING LEVELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY XLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR, SIMILAR TO A THUMP. THE STEERING THEN BECAME DIFFICULT AND THE CONTACT BEGAN HAVING DIFFICULTIES STEERING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR AND FRONT END SUSPENSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE FRACTURED, AN OIL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED AND THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,510 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,555.”

“MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT CRASHED AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE SWERVED AND AT NEAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I CANNOT SEE IN THE DARK AND I AM FORCED TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS. AROUND SUMMER OF 2010, I CRASHED M Y CAR ON A CURVE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA ON HIGHWAY 85. AS I WAS ABOUT TO CURVE I SLOWLY WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 25 MPH OR A BIT LOWER TO CURVE CORRECTLY. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CURVE APPROPRIATELY SO MY CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE CURVE (LUCKILY IT WAS BLOCKED BY A STEEL HIGHWAY FENCE). I REPLACED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND FRONT BUMPER WITH AN AWFUL OFF COLOR PAINT JOB. I DID NOT MAKE A POLICE REPORT AND I DID NOT CONTACT MY INSURANCE. I FIXED MY CAR AND NOW I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. PROPERTY DAMAGE OF MY CAR WAS DONE. MY WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS AND MY KEY ENTRY IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS WELL DUE TO THE CRASH. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE STOPPED AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.”

“THIS IS A REPAIR SHOP IN THE BETHESDA MARYLAND AREA AND THE CUSTOMERS CAR IS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY STATION WAGON. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 135,000 MILES. WE DID MAJOR REPAIRS TO THE CAR INCLUDES REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE. THE CUSTOMER CALLED AND SAID THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOLDED UNDER THE CAR. WE HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP AND FOUND THE CASTLE RETAINER NUT FOR THE RIGHT OUTER TIE WAS COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF STEERING KNUCKLE. THE COTTER KEY WAS STILL INSIDE OF THE HOLE, WHICH INDICATED THE NUT DID NOT UNTHREAD BUT CAME APART- I WENT BACK WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PART OF THE CASTLE NUT. WE REPLACED BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR SAFETY AND DID FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMER. WE FOUND NO CRACKS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CASTLE NUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, BUT BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS CAME WITH NEW CASTLE NUTS. WE ARE FILING THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CAMRY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED , AT CUSTOMERS REQUEST. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WENT TO HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER HAIL DAMAGED HIS VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER'S 96V037000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHT) AND 99V307000 (STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,800. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB”