First of all, the rattling of just about everything inside the car, very unpleasant.
The air condition had a leak that reduced the eficiency of the system by the second summer, the dealer refused to take care of it, finally after talking to the owner the mechanics refilled the system without fixing the leak, it soon leaked again, the front mat was cut as it came out of the service bay, extreemely poor service at all visited dealers (3).
The battery died after three years, but was weak after the first year.
One of the shocks in the rear had to be replaced at about 12000 miles due to "thumping" noise.
Other than that, I love my Camry and it is far better than many other cars in it's class.
The audio in the navigation version is top quality.
The navigation is easy to use and very fast to recalculate another route.
However, due to the low quality of the vehicles that are now built in U.S. I would definitely advise against buying one, I've had four and there will not be another Toyota again.
Did you ever think that the problems with your Toyota might be due to faulty components, as opposed to where the vehicle was made? Faulty components are what your problems sound like to me, based on everything you described, and Toyota's recent track record. If I were you, I would personally consider myself lucky that you got that many miles out of your car without the engine blowing from Toyota's long running engine-sludge/head-gasket defect.
I agree that the new Toyotas are not at all up to the standards of the older models, but I do not blame where they are built. Toyota was having problems with head gaskets long before they started being built outside of Japan. There are also widespread and well documented (but of course not widely reported) "design" problems with Toyota's OBDII engine control systems.
Toyota's OBDII design flaw, and subsequent misrepresentation of their system to the EPA, led to Toyota being levying a heavy fine, and a number of 1996 - 1999 Toyota miles being mandated to on several models have their evaporative emissions warranties extended to 150,000 miles, to give custumers recourse for the defect. You can look any of these things up, as well as well as numbers of other design defects. You just will not hear about them in the news.
I know many people who have been burned by both of these above mentioned, as well as many other Toyota problems. Naturally, they could not believe it when they happened, because they actually believed a Toyota could never have a problem, let alone a major one.
This nonsensical notion that Toyota is infallible is a myth, and this naive rationalization of any problems with Toyotas being blamed on the fact that some of them are now made in the US, coming from Americans...well, that just sad. I guess your next car will be a Nissan or Honda. Enjoy freedom while it lasts.
A very appropriate first comment. I couldn't agree more.
How about you american car supporters swallow your pride, take a look at the comments of the earlier camry owners like the early 90s and see how many clicks they got on the tranny and engines before they went out, and all the other problems and now the toyotas built in the usa aren't as realiable I think that shows something, also that's the same case with the honda's, when they were built in japan not as many issues so that pretty much shows why the quality isn't like it used to be, even though these problems occur they still last longer then your ford's, chevy's and chryslers and you cannot deny it.
We own a 1995 Lincoln Town Car Cartier with over 270,000 miles.
About 4-burned out bulbs, lower radiator hose leak-@250K- and broken off key in the trunk.
No leaks and has never broken down, even the original alternator, water pump, starter etc. The car has used about one quart of oil every 800-miles and has since 150K.
We also just bought a new Camry and when I went with my daughter to get it, I saw that it was a Japan built one. I thought that they all were built in Georgetown KY.
I could guarantee if the reviwer's Camry had been built in Japan or Australia, it would not have the problems he/she described. Espcially the rattling interior one.
It might be important to note that despite where the vehicles are actually assembled, Toyota is still responsible for governing the quality of its output.
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