Plant Company Name: Toyota Motor Corp, Tsutsumi Plant
Plant Country: Japan
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: MCV20L/SXV20L/SXV23L
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1997
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER EXTENDING SEAT BELT TO LOCK IN PLACE. *AK
1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS A USED "PROGRAMED CAR" IN FEBRUARY, 2000. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS DRIVEN JUST FINE UP UNTIL FEBRUARY 24, 2002. IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE CLEAR LIQUID LIKE SMOKE EMIT FROM THE REAR EXHAUST PIPE. I HAD JUST FILLED THE CAR UP WITH GAS. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAD A "BLOWN HEAD GASKET". THIS IS VERY, VERY UNUSUAL FOR TOYOTAS. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR OVER 16 YEARS NOW, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF A PROBLEM IN A NEW CAR. AFTER MY MECHANIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE CAR, HE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED THE "HEAD GASKET". I ASKED HIM WHAT WOULD CAUSE A "HEAD GASKET" TO GO OUT ON A FAIRLY NEW TOYOTA? I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROMPT WITH MY GENERAL UPKEEP ON MY CARS, REGULAR OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS, AND OTHER NECESSARY FILTER CHANGES. MY MECHANIC SAID, IT'S A GOOD POSIBILITY THAT THE HEAD GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. HE ASKED ME TO CHECK WITH SOMEONE TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON ANY 1999 TOYOTA CAMARYS. IS THIS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT I CAN GET FROM YOU, OR DO I NEED TO CONTACT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FOR TOYOTA? PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL ME YOU RESPONSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.*AK
