NHTSA Complaint #10862496 — 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY

I MUST SADDLY ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST OF DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE HEAD GASKET/ STRIPPED BOLTS PROBLEM. MY 2003 CAMRY HAS 105K MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW LAST WEEK DURING NORMAL USAGE. I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH NOW TO REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THE STRIPPED BOLTS ARE PERVASIVE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. I NOW REQUIRE A NEW ENGINE, WHICH IS A COST PROHIBITIVE REPAIR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING AT THE DASHBOARD AND WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT FROM NORMAL TO THE THE HOTTEST POSSIBLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, LET THE ENGINE COOL, ADDED OIL AND THEN WAITED A BIT LONGER TO ENSURE IT HAD COOLED SUFFICIENTLY. I RESTARTED THE CAR, PUT IN IN DRIVE AND WENT ABOUT 20 FT BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE SHOT BACK UP AGAIN. I PARKED IT IMMEDIATELY, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACING THE ENGINE AND WILL COST IS EQUIVALENT TO THE CAR'S VALUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT REPLACEMENT REBUILT ENGINES ARE HARD TO FIND BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS SO COMMON WITH THIS CAR. AND, THAT THE BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE THE SAME ENGINEERING FLAW IT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN AGAIN. BOTH MECHANICS, ALONG WITH MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORUMS AND BLOGS I HAVE READ HAVE TOLD ME THE CAR IS USELESS NOW SO I PLAN TO DONATE IT TO CHARITY TOMORROW.