NHTSA Complaint #10302346 — 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY

THIS IS A REPAIR SHOP IN THE BETHESDA MARYLAND AREA AND THE CUSTOMERS CAR IS A 1996 TOYOTA CAMRY STATION WAGON. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 135,000 MILES. WE DID MAJOR REPAIRS TO THE CAR INCLUDES REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE. THE CUSTOMER CALLED AND SAID THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FOLDED UNDER THE CAR. WE HAD CAR TOWED TO SHOP AND FOUND THE CASTLE RETAINER NUT FOR THE RIGHT OUTER TIE WAS COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF STEERING KNUCKLE. THE COTTER KEY WAS STILL INSIDE OF THE HOLE, WHICH INDICATED THE NUT DID NOT UNTHREAD BUT CAME APART- I WENT BACK WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY PART OF THE CASTLE NUT. WE REPLACED BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR SAFETY AND DID FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMER. WE FOUND NO CRACKS OR PROBLEMS WITH THE CASTLE NUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, BUT BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS CAME WITH NEW CASTLE NUTS. WE ARE FILING THE PROBLEM TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CAMRY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED , AT CUSTOMERS REQUEST. *TR