NHTSA Complaint #10214103 — 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY

RE: TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE FAILURE ON 12/21/07 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE DECEMBER 31, 2007 DEAR SIR, ON DECEMBER 21, 2007 AT 11:30AM PT, MY WIFE KIM LY NGUYEN DROVE OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON THE 405 SOUTH FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PASS THE BRISTOL ST. EXIT IN COSTA MESA, MY WIFE SUDDENLY HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISY SOUND AND DETECTED THE STRONG SCENT OF OIL AND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY, MY WIFE MANEUVERED OUR CAR TO THE RIGHT-HAND SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. ONCE MY WIFE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT RE-START. OUR CAR WAS TOWED BY 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE TO ACCU AUTO SERVICE (23253 MADERO #A-104, MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691) FOR REPAIR. SINCE WE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OUR CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY DAY, IT WAS CRUCIAL THAT WE RECEIVED IMMEDIATE SERVICE ON OUR CAR. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC EXAM, ACCU AUTO SERVICE DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND TOTAL FAILURE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURES) AND WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AND SERVICED. SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON 4/10/99, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THROUGH THE ?GOLD SEAL MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN SERVICES CONTRACT LIMITED, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP US WITH A REIMBURSEMENT OF OUR REPAIR COSTS. DUE TO THE DEPENDENCY ON OUR CAR FOR SURVIVAL, WE HAD TO AUTHORIZE AN IMMEDIATE REPAIR. THROUGH THE LIFE OF OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE, WE HAVE MAINTAINED A GOOD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND UPKEEP, WHICH CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH LEW WEBB'S IRVINE TOYOTA, INC. (30 AUTO CENTER DR., IRVINE, CA 92618) AT 949-768-0688 OR ACCU AUTO SERVICES AT 949-859-9637. WE HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION AND ARE ABLE TO HONOR OUR WARRANTY BY GRANTING US A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE CAR ENGINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND TIME. SINCERELY, LIEM NGO & KIM LY NGUYEN *TR