NHTSA Complaint #10310259 — 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

ON SEPT 25, 2007 WE PURCHASED FOR MY WIFE A NEW 2008 CAMRY HYBRID AT LONGO TOYOTA, EL MONTE, CA. SHE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS (DEAD STARTER BATTERY FROM HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON OR COMING ON AFTER PARKING, CAR NOT DECELERATING WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF ACCELERATOR, ODD THINGS WITH AUTO DOOR LOCKS) THE FIRST MONTH, AND WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER THEY TALKED US INTO ATTENDING A NEW OWNERS MEETING, SO WE COULD BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE CAR. WHEN WE BROUGHT THESE THINGS UP DURING THE MEETING, MOST OF IT WAS EXCUSED AS BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CAR FEATURES, ALTHOUGH THEY TOOK THE CAMRY AND AFTER 15 MINUTES TOLD US NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. A SUPPOSED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS REP STATED TO ME, "THE LITTLE WOMAN ISN'T THAT TECHO, IS SHE"? A MONTH LATER SHE WAS STOPPED GOING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING BY CHP, FOR DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS BEING ON, BUT WAS NOT TICKETED BECAUSE THE OFFICER WITNESSED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS ON. (WE STILL NOTICE THE HEADLIGHT DOING ODD THINGS, AND THE SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION, NOT THE AUTI POSITION). BACK TO THE DEALER, NO PROBLEM FOUND. EARLY NOVEMBER 2009 WE RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA A "POTENTIAL FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (INTERM NOTICE)" WHICH STATED "WE WILL NOTIFY YOU AGAIN AS SOON AS A CAMPAIGN REMEDY IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR VEHICLE". WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING SINCE THAT TIME, EXCEPT FOR A SEALED OVERSIZED BUSINESS ENVELOPE LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS NOT ABOUT A FIX TO THE VEHICLE PROBLEMS, BUT SALES MATERIALS ON THE NEW 5TH GENERATION 4RUNNER. TOYOTA IS STILL NOT OWNING UP TO ALL THE DEFECTS IN THE CAMRY HYBRID. *TR