Faults:

A sprocket inside of the engine had to be replaced at 99,000-miles. The cost was $1,400. The car just died one day with no warning light or any symptoms.

The small digital mile meter has not worked at night for a few years.

The plastic over the passenger side air bag has started to miss form. (Sun/heat damage I guess)

My headlights are getting dirty and probably will not pass the state inspection next time. I was told that the new headlights are over $350 each, but this car is getting old and it has been parked in the sun.

General Comments:

I have really enjoyed this car, but I was very hurt emotionally when the engine broke. I did buy this car used and I have driven the car fairly ruff, but it was always serviced professionally every 3 to 4,000-miles. I guess that all cars are still robots, so to speak, and some might break every now and then. I just can’t believe that mine did.

I love the black paint and the gold trim along with my very comfortable leather seats.

I really like the easy to start key hole that is smartly placed in the dash and not in the impossible to see steering shaft.

The car gets good fuel economy at about 22 in the city and 32 on the turnpike.

The car has never dripped one drop of fluid of any type on the concrete driveway, even at right over 100,000 miles and almost 8-years of wear and tear. I had this problem in the past with my old car.

This car has always started in the cold.

The A/C works super good, but the heater seems a bit weak.

I planned on driving this car for 15 years or more, but I guess that I will have to face the reality that it may have to be replaced. I can afford a monthly car payment, but I can’t afford getting hit in one pop with a $1,400 repair bill. A rental car and a tow bill adds up also. I think that I will wait till the new 2007 Camry comes out and I will buy a remaining old body style 2006 for dirt cheap. I do plan to buy my “first new car ever” this time.

Faults:

The brakes started squeaking at 63,000 miles; I thought maybe the pads were dirty because I drove through a big rainstorm and the squeaking stopped. But at 64,000 miles, the brakes began moaning and shuddering; the pads were shot and I had a jammed caliper that needed replacing. I went to Midas, they did a good job, all fixed up within 4 hours, plus a good warranty, but the cost was almost $600! I think I could have gone to an independent brake shop and gotten away a lot cheaper.

General Comments:

My Camry is getting on in years, now seven years old with 64,000 miles on it; the brakes incident is the only major post-warranty problem I've had; it's still a smooth-riding, quality car overall except for the suspension, I had it worked on (struts support) twice, and it never stopped squeaking; I understand other late 90's Toyotas based on the Camry chassis (Avalons, Sienna minivans) also had the suspension issues; one of Toyota's few weak spots at the time I guess!