1995 TOYOTA CELICA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE CAR UP WITH GAS, THE GAS GUN SHUTS OFF BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING BLOCKING THE FLOW OF GAS INTO THE GAS TANK WHICH ACTIVATES ANTI-SPILL MECHANISM IN THE GAS GUN. *JB

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A LOT OF SCRATCHES ON THE OUTER SIDE WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING NIGHT BECAUSE OF GLARE FROM ONCOMING VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MY MOM'S 98' TOYOTA CAMRY HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *JB

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND FIND A PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF MY ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY 3 YEARS, STARTING IN 1999. THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED JULY 28, 1999 (INVOICE #C10120). APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER (APRIL 8, 2002), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN (INVOICE #W66160). TOYOTA OF BERKELEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AS OUT OF WARRANTY GOODWILL. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT (BEGINNING OF 2005), I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MONICA) TO LOOK INTO IT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER NEARLY SPENDING $800 ON NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR (60,000 MILE MAJOR SERVICE, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND BRAKE REPLACEMENT), I WAS INFORMED BY A TOYOTA EMPLOYEE, WHO RETRIEVED MY CAR AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETE, THAT MY CAR DIED WHEN HE STARTED IT. I HAD HIM TALK TO THE RED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE FREDDIE VALENCIA AND HE MADE A NOTE OF IT IN MY FILE. HE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE HIM MY OLD INVOICES SHOWING THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENTS SO THAT HE COULD SHOW HIS MANAGER, JULIAN SARKASSIAN (SEE ATTACHED). TO MY DISMAY, JULIAN REVIEWED THE INFORMATION AND INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD HIGH OPINIONS OF TOYOTA QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE UNTIL NOW. TO HAVE THIS COSTLY REPAIR OCCUR EVERY THREE YEARS DOES NOT LIVE UP TO TOYOTAS HIGH-QUALITY REPUTATION THAT I, MY FAMILY, AND FRIENDS RELY ON. I HOPE THAT THE TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW MY ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS AND COVER AN APPROPRIATE REPAIR TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND FIND A PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF MY ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY 3 YEARS, STARTING IN 1999. THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED JULY 28, 1999 (INVOICE #C10120). APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER (APRIL 8, 2002), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN (INVOICE #W66160). TOYOTA OF BERKELEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AS OUT OF WARRANTY GOODWILL. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT (BEGINNING OF 2005), I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MONICA) TO LOOK INTO IT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER NEARLY SPENDING $800 ON NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR (60,000 MILE MAJOR SERVICE, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND BRAKE REPLACEMENT), I WAS INFORMED BY A TOYOTA EMPLOYEE, WHO RETRIEVED MY CAR AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETE, THAT MY CAR DIED WHEN HE STARTED IT. I HAD HIM TALK TO THE RED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE FREDDIE VALENCIA AND HE MADE A NOTE OF IT IN MY FILE. HE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE HIM MY OLD INVOICES SHOWING THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENTS SO THAT HE COULD SHOW HIS MANAGER, JULIAN SARKASSIAN (SEE ATTACHED). TO MY DISMAY, JULIAN REVIEWED THE INFORMATION AND INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD HIGH OPINIONS OF TOYOTA QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE UNTIL NOW. TO HAVE THIS COSTLY REPAIR OCCUR EVERY THREE YEARS DOES NOT LIVE UP TO TOYOTAS HIGH-QUALITY REPUTATION THAT I, MY FAMILY, AND FRIENDS RELY ON. I HOPE THAT THE TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW MY ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS AND COVER AN APPROPRIATE REPAIR TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1995 TOYOTA CELICA AND SHE SAID THAT ON HER WAY TO WORK SHE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN IT WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN YOU CUT THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. I WENT WENT AND GOT THE CAR AND TEST DROVE IT AND IT WAS MAKING THESE TERRIBLE NOISES, BUT ALSO, WHEN I WOULD BRAKE, SOMETIMES, NOT EVERYTIME, THE BRAKE PEDEL WOULD FADE BEFORE CATCHING. I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND PULLED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A BAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING. I INSTALLED A NEW FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SEALS AND WHEN I STARTED TO REINSTALL THE AXLE, I NOTICED IT WAS BROKE, EVEN WITH THREADS ENDS AND THE SHOULDER BEGINS. I PULLED THE AXLE AND INSTALLED AN NEW AXLE. I HAD TO GIVE THE OLD AXLE TO ADVANCE AUTO AS A CORE. BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK