NHTSA Complaint #764124 — 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY

THE CAMRY SE MODEL EQUIPPED WITH SPORT TIRES(BRIDGESTONE TURANZA IN THIS CASE) WILL NOT FUNCTION IN ANY LEVEL OF SNOWFALL. I HAVE HAD EASILY OVER 10 INCIDENTS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE...MORE INCIDENTS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET STARTED IN RIDICULOUSLY LIGHT SNOW CONDITIONS. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR-ENDED A CAR WHILE DOING 10 MPH BECAUSE I COMPLETELY LOST ANY CAPABILITY OF STOPPING. I HAVE HAD 5 OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE THE CAR AND EVERY ONE OF THEM COULD NOT BELIEVE THE LACK OF TRACTION. MY INSURANCE AGENT OWNS A CAMRY LE WITH COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TIRES AND CLAIMS THE CAR IS EXCELLENT IN THE SNOW. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS...BULL!!! ...THE DEALER WHERE I TAKE THIS CAR FOR SERVICE SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN REGARD TO THIS SE SITUATION BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S A MANUFACTURER / TIRE ISSUE. THEY TELL YOU TO CALL TOYOTA ONLY TO HAVE CORPORATE TELL YOU TO GET LOST. I FEEL THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW!...THERE ARE MANY MANY SE OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM .. IT IS DANGEROUS! SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED! ...I NOW HAVE 2 CHOICES ...SPEND 500.00 ON NEW TIRES SO MY FAMILY CAN BE SAFE OR TRADE THIS IN AND TAKE A HUGE MONETARY HIT. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT REQUIRED TO TEST THIS CAR WITH THESE TIRES IN SNOW CONDITIONS BEFORE PUTTING PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY? THEIR SERVICE PEOPLE ADMIT THAT THESE TIRES ARE TOO HARD AND THE CAR IS TOO LIGHT ....A RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THESE TIRES NOW!*AK