Problems with my camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mlw · 08-30-2007, 10:54 PM

Ok, As I told you guys several months ago that my 07 camry has a problem starting. It doesnt do it all the time just periodically. It can happen once a week, or couple times a day. It doesnt matter if it is hot or cold out. It has done this since about a month old. I took it into the dealership and they put it on the computer, didnt find anything and told me that was normal. I came to this forum and they some wonderfl folks on here said that is not normal and take it back. Well since then I have taken it back to them twice and took it to another dealer when I was on vacation and they had it for 2 days. Nobody can get it to duplicate it when they have it. I finally fed up with it called toyota a month ago, after playing phone tag with the case lady, she finally told me to take it back and they had to give me a car until they could figure out the problem. Well the dealership told me I would have to pay for a rental car, I told them bull**** the gal at toyota says it is under warranty and that they have to supply me with a car. She said well then toyota should send them paperwork saying they will pay for one. Well a week has gone buy and I hae not heard a word from either one yet. So I call back to toyota today, and the lady told me she would call the dealership and get this straightened out for me. About 15 minutes later she called me back and said, I am sorry that nobody can duplicate it so, they cant give me a car and I am just sol. I instantly got pissed, I told them that a brand new car shouldnt have this problem, I told her I wanted to talk to someone else. She told me that nobody else could help me. I told her I would contact my lawyer and go after the lemon law. She said go right ahead. I hung up the phone and called my lawyer, well he was gone to lunch. I called the dealership back and talked to service manager and asked her what we could do about this. She said I cant do anything without it duplicating it. I understand this, but keep it a week and drive it around I gaurantee you will get it to happen. Well she finally offered me a car for 2 days that I could use but, if in 2 days they cant figure it out, she wanted her car back, and they were done with it. I proceeded to tell her that I am fed up and I even contacted my lawyer. Well she was done talking to me right then and there, she said if you talked to a lawyer, I cant do anything and you need to deal with toyota. I told her that I actually just called and he was gone to lunch, she said well once I talk to him it is done and she cant do anything. So where do I go from here? I am trying to figure this out, I love my car but am so frustrated. Do I take toyota to court,do I live with this proble, do I run it in to service every month which the dealership is an hour away from us, or do I just trade it off and get an 08? If I get an 08 what is a fair price for trade? I would want one just like mine and mine has 7800 miles on it and I have had it for 7 months now. Any advice is sure apprciated. Thanks

LNGasMan · 08-30-2007, 11:03 PM

Mine did that a few times the first few months I had it. It always starts now. Never took it to the dealer since it was so intermittent (maybe ten times total). The engine would crank for several seconds and not start. I'd turn the key off, then try again and it would start fine.

My '02 Silverado was doing the same thing but only after I let it sit for a while. That turned out to be the tank fuel pump going out.

Mechanics at dealers have hard time diagnosing problems that are not happening right in front of them. So good luck.

Does your state have a Lemon Law like California?

mlw · 08-30-2007, 11:06 PM

This has done it for the all 7 months that I have owned the car, I would say probably 50 times. I told the dealership that is something with the fuel, fuel pump or something, they told me that they cant just put parts on it. Ugh... and yes Iowa does have the lemon law.

***lammydi*** · 08-30-2007, 11:15 PM

MLW, can you try to video it when it happens? That way you have a video with date and time to prove it.

mlw · 08-31-2007, 07:10 PM

Well the dealership called today and they want $4500 to trade up for a car similar to what mine. Is that high for pretty close exact car to go to an 08? Mine has 7800 miles.

marc780 · 08-31-2007, 11:33 PM

I feel for you, man, SO many posts about the crummy 2007's! I will nEVER buy one even used! I would get an 2006 or older (- i own a 2002 V6 and love it.) Or i'd wait until they iron out the problems with the Generation whatever- they're -calleds.

Since you have a lawyer available to give you advice, at least have the phone call and let him tell you your options. I think you're being screwed- they ought to give you another car. But what you and i think doesnt matter much when it comes to the dealers and their money unfortunately...and this is why they made lemon laws (i suppose).

I'd be fighting mad too - but i doubt they would ever offer you a refund so you are stuck with toyota for now i think. I think i'd eat some money or even trade for a 2006 used but thats me. I dont like messing around with cars that dont want to run like they are supposed to!

tzeshan · 09-01-2007, 11:00 AM

Could you describe the symptoms when the car won't start?

Hialeah Florida · 09-01-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlw

Well the dealership called today and they want $4500 to trade up for a car similar to what mine. Is that high for pretty close exact car to go to an 08? Mine has 7800
miles.

That is a ripoff! My sister had issues with her 07 Camry with only 5k miles on it.She traded it in on a 07 Grand Marquis LS for 2900.The Marquis was a fleet car with 7k miles on it.Toyota tried to do the same with her then they got pissed when she wouldn't go for it.

Trying to deal with Toyota is a total nightmare! They couldn't care less about their their customers.

When my Mom got her Corolla back in 86 they seemed to care but now forget it.She still has it BTW.

Rapid Roy · 09-01-2007, 07:18 PM

Wow, those types of intermitent problems can really be frustrating. There are a few things you can do.

1. Live with the problem (I don't really recomend this one)
2. Roll Video tape at every start with the date stamp on for proof (like lammyd posted)
3. Trade it in for an 08
4. Let your lawyer take care of it.

I really think option 2 is your best course of action. You really need proof for a warranty claim. Same thing for legal action. Option 3 would simply paying for the problem to go away. Which one you choose is up to you.