The radiator fins separated from the core, causing the engine to overheat. This caused the aluminum head to seperate from the iron block and leak at the head gasket. A very expensive repair.
The control switch for the power windows failed. Another expensive repair. Over $100 for a switch.
The motor for the drivers side power window failed. Another expensive repair.
The power radio antenna does not work; I've given up on fixing little things that cost so much.
The flexible coupling on the exhaust pipe failed $300.
Brake warning switch on the parking brake sticks.
Air bag light came on when I replaced the battery. Dealer wants $40 to "pull out the code" says it is normal condition for this to happen. On a battery replacement!
A little less reliable than my 1985 Buick, but much more expensive to get repaired.
Don't forget to change your oil every 3,000 miles. The manual says every 5,000 to 7,500, but people who follow this have developed engine sludge. Toyota now has a policy that they will repair any sludge problems for up to 8 years, but believe me, it is not worth it. Best to play it safe and change oil frequently. Of course, this adds to the cost of ownership.
I don't know what you or the previous owner have done to your car, but it must have been destructive. My family owns 2 1994 Camry's. One has 95k and the other 97k miles... biggest problem on the one with 97k... none. The one with 95k had its starter replaced not too long ago, aside from that just usual maintenance (oil, tires, brakes).
Sounds as if your car may have been treated roughly. I have 188000 miles on my 1993, never having most of those problems.
Hello.
We have a 1992 Toyota Camry Wagon with less that 85K miles on it. A very nice looking and riding car. It's more or less a back up and keep for nice family outings.
So, we haven't driven it a lot in the 1 year that we've had it.
So far, the Power Amplifier smoked while the car was parked in the driveway.
The Water Pump went out for no apparent reason, other than maybe the lack of use.
And now after being parked for a month w/no use, the battery went dead. After starting the car with a starter pack the Air Bag light is on!!! Gee what else can go wrong with a car when it's parked in the driveway?
Based on what I am reading, this is normal and will require another trip to the dealer to get it reset?
It was fine before the battery went dead from lack of use.
This is my first Toyota and I love the car, but my little Ford Escort wagon with 222K miles is still running strong and is making the Toyota look pretty bad.
Excuse me, but ford SUX, I have a 94 camry 183000 miles and besides the ABS warning light and the periodic CHECK ENG. light going on and off the car runs like a dream and rides like your floating on air its not pretty to look at any more, but that's what 11 years of New England winters will do to a car, it still runs so silent you can't tell its runing and has awsome power the dealer told me a year ago it needed a transmision, but it still runs today with absolutley no sign of needing a new transmision, my uncle gave this car to me 2 yrs ago he drove it 50 miles one way to work 5 days a week previous to that it belonged to my grand father and I am proud to say its still in the family, I plan on passing it down to my younger sister. I havnt known 1 lousy ford to make it that far and last that long. so maybe you got a lemon and as for your ford I guss 1 out of a million aint bad.
Does anyone see a pattern here? Cars were meant to be driven. I drive less now with $3 gas, but to let it set for a month seems silly. Notice: the cars driven daily, especially more than "normal" last the longest and run the best. I had a '91 Accord with over 280,000 miles and it still purred like a kitten.
"Excuse me, but ford SUX". Yes, this is the typical response from these kids who think anybody who says something bad about a Toyota is attacking their core beliefs so they need to lash out. Oh yes, anyone who would dare state that their Ford or Buick was better than a Camry must be ruthlessly excoriated! Look, kids, I hate to burst your bubbles, but when you get right down to it, products from the major manufacturers are pretty much on par with each other and the need for repairs basically comes down to owner care and maintenance.
Kids, that's funny. I've been around long enough to have owned a Ford Granada and two versions of the Taurus. I now own a Camry and Avalon. I couldn't afFORD to throw my money away any longer.
"products from the major manufacturers are pretty much on par with each other"
This is the most naive thing I've seen anyone write on this website. The major difference between the American and Japanese manufacturers is that the manufacturing process in "big three" facilities allows for such inconsistent quality control that built-in defects exist, and often major design flaws are known to management and aren't acknowledged because the bean counters tell them it's cheaper to ignore the problem (with the Ford Pinto fuel tank problem in the 1970's being the most famous) - flaws that are simply engineered out by six sigma quality control in places such as Toyota or Honda. You can claim that car x is exactly the same as car y, but if car x is a Ford and car y is a Toyota, chances are car x will have a lot more problems over time, especially as it hits around 40 or 50k, and definitely by 80k, no matter how well it's been taken care of. Look at the reviews on this very site of cars such as the Taurus, Mazda 626, Chrysler Cirrus, Chevy Monte Carlo, Saab 9-3 etc - American-designed or managed cars competing with Toyota and Honda for market share. Look at all of the people complaining of built-in defects that the manufacturer refuses to recall. Compare that to the number of happy faces in the Toyota and Honda reviews. Sure, you'll get the occasional Escort with 220k on it because it was manufactured on a Tuesday and treated well by its owner, but for every one of those there are ten Toyotas of the same model year with the same mileage - even after a time when most American cars of that model year have been long junked. Is it any wonder that Ford and GM have lost so much market share over the past 20 years that they're now effectively bankrupt? The "Ford sux" person wasn't very articulate and certainly not a good typist, but it's not fair to dismiss their argument by assigning an arbitrary age and background to their response, then arguing that "all major brands are equal and anyone who says differently is not worth taking seriously". Of course a lot of the quality of the car is based on how well you take care of it, but a lot of it is simple quality of design and effective quality control.
Car batteries for starting (Cranking batteries) are not meant to just be left sit otherwise they become "sulphated" and no longer hold their charge. Car batteries must be regularly charged if they are being left sit. It wouldn't not be unusual for many batteries to "die in this case"
Waterpump was a little early perhaps although they are suggested to be replaced around the 80K mile mark as well as the timing belt and the idlers.
Power amplifier? Some aftermarket stereo component?
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