Toyota reliability really has gone down the drain

[02whiteLE]

OK, many of you know I've had several Toyotas in the past, and all have been pretty good. I purchased a new 2008 Camry LE on August 20, and lovde it, as well. Now the car is 2 and a half months old... I've got 15,000 miles on it. And it's falling apart. A listing of things to go wrong, just in the past few weeks.
1-passenger side headlight no longer operational. Replaced bulb. It lit for approximately 2 milliseconds. It's still out.
2-drivers side brake light went out. Replaced.
3-windshield washer fluid light on in dash, despite a full washer fluid tank.
4-radio presets? As long as I don't shut the car off.
5-daylight savings time? Nah, it's always midnight when I start the car.
6-very harsh vibration throughout the cabin when going up a hill, at about 40 mph. Dealer experienced it and agrees it's odd. Told me to "bring it back in if it gets worse."
7-aux adapter quit working. I can no longer play my iPod in the car. Part on order.
8-rotors have been turned because of shaky braking.
9-15,000 mile oil change? It was 2 and a half quarts low. That's right, the car burnt 2.5 quarts of oil in 3 weeks. I asked the service guy why that would be. He suggested that I am "driving the car too much." I suggested that he may be a moron. I don't take camry joy rides. I drive it for work. Sure, I put a lot of miles on, but I also follow maintenance schedule, and get it serviced at the dealer, even after warranty.
Oh, and my cupholder lid in the center console? Broken. I've closed it a total of maybe three times since I've had the car.
I'd planned to keep the car for about three years, and put 250,000 miles on it. The way things are going with it, I'm sincerely thinking I should just dump it at 35,000 miles.
I guess it's partially my fault, though.. I just HAD to have the first '08 model the dealer had.

[TRD VVTi]

That sucks.

That's all I have to say about that...

[streetxdreamer]

v6 or i4?

Sounds like you got a bad electrical issue that is causing alot of it maybe. bad ground?

[02whiteLE]

Yes, it does suck. It seems like everytime I go out to drive it, something else is wrong with it.

It's an i4. I thought it may be something electrical, too. The dealer I took it to thinks its a possibility, as well. However, they'd may have to tear the car apart to find a short, and they don't give loaner cars for more than one day. After that, TRAC rental fees apply. Furthermore, I don't feel comfortable handing over my keys and letting who knows who tear my car apart, messing with electrical stuff. That seems like it could very easily make matters worse.

[geoff5093]

That really sucks, I have almost 15K miles and have none of the issues you have. One of the annoying issues before was a loud dash click, however that has gone away, and the flare doesnt happen nearly as much as it used to.

Again, you are one person, out of the hundreds of thousands of Camry buyers out there. There will always be a few select cars with loads of problems, just look at VW's.

[Mistabullet]

Originally Posted by 02whiteLE

Yes, it does suck. It seems like everytime I go out to drive it, something else is wrong with it.

It's a lemon. Get rid of it.

[ram]

I had gotten the first 07 in central Florida, right off the truck, and I had a few problems as well, but nothing close to your situation! I know it may be hard, but I would get rid of it.

[02whiteLE]

I was afraid this was gonna be the general consensus. Now I've just got to worry about how much money I'll lose on it. I don't think I'll get another Toyota, either but y'all are friendly, so I'd still hang out some.

[ram]

There was an article out which stated that Toyota did not want to be the best anymore. I read it a while back but I think it was about them not wanting to be as superior to American cars as they were b/c it seemed Un-American of the Toyota Co....I guess it kinda makes some sence...

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by 02whiteLE

I was afraid this was gonna be the general consensus. Now I've just got to worry about how much money I'll lose on it. I don't think I'll get another Toyota, either but y'all are friendly, so I'd still hang out some.

If you car qualifies under the local lemon law rules, then you may not lose much (if any) money, except mileage.

[marc780]

the legacy of the crappy and sub-par 2007's continues - perhaps they need a whole another section here just for 2007 and 2008 problems? I love my 2002 but looks like i wont be getting another cam unless its '06 or before - Honda, here i come!

There was an article out which stated that Toyota did not want to be the best anymore. I read it a while back but I think it was about them not wanting to be as superior to American cars as they were b/c it seemed Un-American of the Toyota Co....I guess it kinda makes some sence...

I read the same article. All well and good for the corporate world, and the grand scheme of things - After they overtook Ford in sales they made this announcement, which to me is very relevant. what they are saying is, "we are not going to make our cars so good anymore! they are too good so we are going to make them worse. " And a quick read through the posts here on all the stupid and needless problems with the 2007 camry's will confirm, they were not just blowing smoke either.

When you are running a multi billion dollar corporation, i'm guessing you have plenty of money in your bank account, and you have never been in the predicament of having to spend any time crawling on the ground fixing your broken car in order to get to work the next morning. But if you've had to do this, even once - it is naturally going to affect what car you are going to buy for yourself.

So thanks to the muckity muck who made this announcement, because to me it is the same thing as a warning not to buy toyotas anymore because they have deliberately engineered the reliability right out of them. (After all, It seems to have worked for Ford all these years - another make of car i'll never buy).

[ram]

yea, when I was waiting for the dealership to finish some work on my Camry, I walked over to the Honda dealership and one of the sales reps was havin so much fun talkin straight smack about my car....prick

[marc780]

yea, when I was waiting for the dealership to finish some work on my Camry, I walked over to the Honda dealership and one of the sales reps was havin so much fun talkin straight smack about my car....prick

i wouldnt be thinkin he's a prick unless maybe he was right? Nobody buys toyota for the styling so if the reliability is gone, then so am i!

[ram]

well, he was basically dwelling on the V6 flare issue. But he was a prick b/c he was talkin smack about my car!!! Right or wrong, that my car dude, I love that thing! But oh well, I was actually looking for a Lexus dealership to get a good trade-in anyways!lol

[Rapid Roy]

Originally Posted by 02whiteLE

Yes, it does suck. It seems like everytime I go out to drive it, something else is wrong with it.

It's an i4. I thought it may be something electrical, too. The dealer I took it to thinks its a possibility, as well. However, they'd may have to tear the car apart to find a short, and they don't give loaner cars for more than one day. After that, TRAC rental fees apply. Furthermore, I don't feel comfortable handing over my keys and letting who knows who tear my car apart, messing with electrical stuff. That seems like it could very easily make matters worse.

I think you need to find a better dealer. You should also contact Toyota directly and open a complaint file with them. My dealer gave me a loaner car for 4 days to fix a shimmy in the front end. Your dealer should fix the problems under warranty AND give you a loaner car to drive. They are just trying to bullshit you hoping you'll go away.