NHTSA Complaint #10525185 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR! AFTER THE INCIDENT, I ATTEMPTED TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO DIPSTICK NOR COULD I LOCATE ANY INFORMATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN A 2007 CAMRY COULD ONLY BE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. THE RESULTS OF HIS CHECK WERE THAT THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION NOR DID HE FIND ANY LEAKS. HE PUT FLUIDS IN THE CAR, BUT IT CONTINUED TO SLIP WHEN HE TEST DROVE IT. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSET TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, LUSTINE TOYOTA. LUSTINE ALSO FOUND NO LEAKS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WERE NO FLUIDS WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY CHECKED BY THE MECHANIC. LUSTINE INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED DARCARS 355 TOYOTA WHO SERVICES MY CAR FOR THE RECOMMENDED 5000 MILE CHECKS. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH 355 THAT EXPIRED IN MAY 2013. MY CAR WAS LAST SERVICED BY 355 IN MARCH 2013. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES REMAINING BEFORE MY NEXT SERVICE IS DUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO PROOF THAT 355 DID ANYTHING WRONG, SO THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. 355 WAS NOT EVEN WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN HUMAN ERROR IN SERVICING MY CAR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CORPORATE OFFICE. AFTER 4 DAYS OF MY CASE SITTING ON THE DESK OF A SUPERVISOR, I WAS EXTENDED A GOOD WILL OFFER OF $1500 TOWARDS MY NEXT NEW OR $1000 TOWARDS MY NEXT USED TOYOTA PURCHASE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE IN THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TRANSMISSION! MY CAR REMAINS IN THE SHOP. HOWEVER, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION IS REMOVED, LUSTINE WILL CHECK FOR POSSIBLE DEFECTS. *TR