NHTSA Complaint #10311050 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

FEBRUARY 5, 2010 RE: LEAKY STRUTS ON TOYOTA CAMRY I HAVE PURCHASED MY 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM DCH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SIMI VALLEY. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY 2 CERTIFIED MECHANICS OUTSIDE OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY STRUTS WERE LEAKING. THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY DID AN OIL CHANGE, BRAKES AND TIRE REPLACEMENTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO DCH TOYOTA FOR AN INSPECTION WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL SEEPAGE AND THEY DID NOT MAKE A NOTE IN THE COMPUTER THAT THEY HAD INSPECTED IT. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM AGAIN YESTERDAY WHEN THE CAR HAD 60,441 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE LEAKING EXCESSIVELY AND THAT COULD CAUSE THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT MUCH MORE QUICKLY. BY THE WAY, I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND THE REAR BRAKES DURING THE 3 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD THE CAR. I'M CERTAIN THAT IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THE STRUTS TO LEAK AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS OUTSIDE OF DEALERSHIP HAVE HAD THE SAME OPINION. I HAVE PRINT OUTS OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THEIR PROBLEMS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES ON THE INTERNET. DCH TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $2,300.00 TO GET THE STRUTS REPLACED ADDITIONALLY, ALL 4 RIMS ON MY CAR HAVE RUSTED COMPLETELY ALL AROUND THE RIMS. THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 19TH FOR THEM TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BY THEIR DISTRICT MANAGER. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE RIMS UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OR NOT. I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT LEAKY STRUTS IS A DEFECT HAS NOT GOTTEN ATTENTION FROM TOYOTA MANUFACTURERS EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. THE PROBLEM WILL CAUSE MY TIRES AND BRAKES TO WEAR OUT MUCH MUCH MORE QUICKLY. *TR