NHTSA Complaint #10193528 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

I PURCHASED A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY IN SEPTEMBER 2006. THE VEHICLE HAS 16,000+ MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION , AND AT TIMES LUNCHES INTO GEAR . THIS HAS CAUSED HONKNING AT US AND HARZARDOUS CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHANGING LANES ON THE FREEWAY. THERE IS A LOUD INTERMITENT CLUNK WHEN TURNING CORNERS, BACKING UP, AND STOPPING. THERE IS AN APPARENT LACK OF POWER WHEN THE GEARS SHIFTS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO, THERE IS VIBRATION WHEN BACKING UP WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND MOSTLY GET A SONG AND DANCE ROUTINE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WE WERE EXPERIENCING WAS NORMAL OR DUE TO THE COMPUTER DESIGN OR EMISSION STANDARDS. THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. TOYOTA HAS AT THIS POINT NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES. HOWEVER, THEY DID REMOVE AND REPLACE THE GAS TANK TO ELIMINATE THE CLUNKING PROBLEM, AND I NOW KNOW ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE CLUNKING IS STILL PRESENT. THIS CAR REACTS LIKE A VEHICLE WITH 200,000 MILES ON IT THAT IS IN DIRE., IT NEEDS F A TUNE UP AND MAJOR OVERHAUL. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT 6 WEEKS AGO, AND NOW WE REALIZE THAT THIS MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE CAR WOULD HAVE ACCELERATED PROPERLY. *AK