NHTSA Complaint #10554616 — 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECU. I DON'T THINK TOYOTA NOTIFIES CURRENT OWNERS OF FREE WORK TO BE DONE THAT IS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL. INSTEAD THEY WAIT TO SEE WHO FINDS OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 2404 DATED 07-01-04 COVERS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REPROGRAMMING THE ECU TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT MENTIONS THE SMELL OF SULFUR FROM THE EXHAUST AND WAS APPARENTLY THE ONLY REASON MOST PEOPLE HAD IT CHECKED OUT. MY WIFE'S CAR HAS HAD THE SMELL OF SULFUR FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, BUT SINCE WE DON'T MAKE IT A HABIT OF MAKING OUR CAR EXHAUST SMELL PLEASANT WE NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT. NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT HER CAR IS OVER THE 8 YEAR, 80,000 MILE LIMIT OF THE TSB. IF WE WERE NOTIFIED OF TOYOTA'S DESIGN ERROR EARLIER AND HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AND THE ECU REPROGRAMMED FOR FREE, WE WOULD NOT BE LOOKING AT A $1000 REPAIR BILL IN OUR FUTURE. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR TOYOTA'S ERROR, WE ALREADY PAID FOR THE CAR. *TR