2000 Toyota Camry XLE Sedan from North America - Comments

The right headlight had a short in it. I replaced it countless times.

The gas gauge was never completely correct. It would go from empty to full to half to full to empty to half again in a matter of minutes.

The trunk was almost impossible to close.

The airbags were faulty (see below).

Generally, I liked my Camry.

My previous car was a Subaru GL 4WD. It only got 19 MPG, so I wanted something more fuel effecient (the Camry was barely better at 21 MPG).

The cloth seats were comfortable (my XLE did not have leather, surprisingly).

The controls were logically placed.

The radio was acceptable.

The brakes were the worst I have put up with.

It took forever for the window defrosters to defrost the windows.

However, one day, I was with my son in the Camry on an icy back road. I will never forget this day. Because all that I had previously had to this car were AWDs, I was taking particularly more caution driving. I was going 15 MILES PER HOUR, and the Camry slid out of control. It hit another car (I think it was a Ford Taurus) with the back left quarter panel, then, I had put it into Park, and the thing rolled down a grassy hill and broke through a guard rail at 45 MILES PER HOUR!! To top it off, the air bags did not deploy. My son and I were lucky to leave the scene without a scratch, but the air bags should have deployed. A passerby called an ambulance, which we didn't need, and the ambulance was a Ford! There were also two police cars, both Fords! I understand every make and model has its lemons, but this was unreal! I will NEVER drive another Toyota as long as I live! I went on a vacation, and they offered my a Toyota as a rental, and I said, "No! Give me the keys to the Ford!"

I think the airbags probably worked as intended. Maybe they have a weight sensor so the airbags don't go off in no ones in the car? Or maybe they don't go off if you're in park with the key not in the ignition... that seems to make sense? That way if someone rams into your car while it's parked.. the airbag won't go off.. saving you the $1000 or whatever it costs to replace an air bag.

Original reviewer.

That makes sense, however, my son is 15. When we slammed through the guard rail, the speedometer said 45 miles per hour. I would think that at 45 miles per hour the air bags (if functioning properly) would deploy.

The car was a fine car, but the air bag issue turned me off of Toyota vehicles.