Other Engine Info: ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION
TRANSVERSE MOUNTED ENGINE
Plant Country: Japan
Seat Belts All: Automatic
Series: STANDARD
Valve Train Design: Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 13, 2007 MY WIFE DROVE OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 20 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE TO A GOVERNMENT FACILITY WHERE SHE VOLUNTEERS AS AN INCOME TAX PREPARER FOR THE IRS THROUGH THE CITY OF PHOENIX. AS SHE WAS WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT OF THE BUILDING THE CAR STALLED BUT SHE MANAGED TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL AND PROCEEDED INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR STALLED TWICE AGAIN. SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SLOT AND SHE WENT INTO WORK. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES MY WIFE WAS CALLED OUT TO THE PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WITNESSED THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHING A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE CAMRY. THE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. A PHOENIX POLICE OFFICER WAS PARKED IN THE LOT PRIOR TO THE FIRE AND TOOK A STATEMENT FROM MY WIFE AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR RESIDENCE. THE CAMRY HAD ABOUT 65000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WAS RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THE FIRE. I HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR; THE DRIVER DOOR PUSH BUTTON LOCK, THE STEREO AND THE PARKING BRAKE INDICATOR WERE INTERMITTENT. NO OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAMRY WAS PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN AUGUST OF 2002 AS A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THIS DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ENGINE GEL, THE SECURE KEY LOCK AND WIRING HARNESS DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE. WE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SIMILAR CASES OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1999 CAMRYS THAT STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SOME WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. WE ONLY HAD LIABILITY COVERAGE ON OUR CAMRY. WE ARE DOWN TO ONE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE SUFFERED A TOTAL LOSS. *NM