1998 Toyota Camry LE review from North America

- drivers' side door handle broke off (really cheap plastic support when you look close). Dealer wanted almost $200 to replace it AND WOULD NOT PAINT IT TO MATCH THE DOOR COLOR!!!

- driver's side power window did not like cold weather - it would go down, but not back up. Motor worked fine once warmed up.

- trunk latch broke.

- latch broke that secures the bracket to hold the engine hood up.

- door covers would bulge out soon after we purchased the car.

- left rear brake light cover would not hold.

- the timing chain had to be replaced, although explicitly listed as covered under warranty for "certified used vehicles", we ended up paying for it.

- water pump broke - strangely fixed under warranty???

- the original (and very weak) struts needed to be replaced, Toyota wanted $1200 for a new set!!! Goodyear did it for half.

- ABS sensor light came on - don't know whether it was really bad, but only Toyota can tell (will not give test software to anybody else). $300 right there.

- various interior plastic parts.

- the lock of the console beween front seats.

- the power locks of the doors except the driver's worked only most of the time.

I probably missed a few items, after three years we traded it in - good riddance! And the last Toyota for us, they are too expensive to sustain!

We have had several Toyotas' and loved their reliability and workmanship. Therefore we thought nothing of buying this car, with typical mileage for the Atlanta area.

One of our mistakes was to assume that a "certified" used car implies that all scheduled maintenance/replacement parts until that time was performed prior at least to selling. after all, why then certify?

Bu-humbug, it is just a ploy and extra $$$ for the dealer, it comes down to "buy as is".

Put it that way - the engine was the only thing working reliably.

Note that most of the parts broken had nothing to do with the mileage, just sloppy and cheap design and workmanship.

The car has not been abused in any way, but was used to commute to and from work, 30+ highway miles one way.