1998 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder
Summary:
Cheaply made
Faults:
- drivers' side door handle broke off (really cheap plastic support when you look close). Dealer wanted almost $200 to replace it AND WOULD NOT PAINT IT TO MATCH THE DOOR COLOR!!!
- driver's side power window did not like cold weather - it would go down, but not back up. Motor worked fine once warmed up.
- trunk latch broke.
- latch broke that secures the bracket to hold the engine hood up.
- door covers would bulge out soon after we purchased the car.
- left rear brake light cover would not hold.
- the timing chain had to be replaced, although explicitly listed as covered under warranty for "certified used vehicles", we ended up paying for it.
- water pump broke - strangely fixed under warranty???
- the original (and very weak) struts needed to be replaced, Toyota wanted $1200 for a new set!!! Goodyear did it for half.
- ABS sensor light came on - don't know whether it was really bad, but only Toyota can tell (will not give test software to anybody else). $300 right there.
- various interior plastic parts.
- the lock of the console beween front seats.
- the power locks of the doors except the driver's worked only most of the time.
I probably missed a few items, after three years we traded it in - good riddance! And the last Toyota for us, they are too expensive to sustain!
General Comments:
We have had several Toyotas' and loved their reliability and workmanship. Therefore we thought nothing of buying this car, with typical mileage for the Atlanta area.
One of our mistakes was to assume that a "certified" used car implies that all scheduled maintenance/replacement parts until that time was performed prior at least to selling. after all, why then certify?
Bu-humbug, it is just a ploy and extra $$$ for the dealer, it comes down to "buy as is".
Put it that way - the engine was the only thing working reliably.
Note that most of the parts broken had nothing to do with the mileage, just sloppy and cheap design and workmanship.
The car has not been abused in any way, but was used to commute to and from work, 30+ highway miles one way.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 18th October, 2005
21st Aug 2006, 14:08
I bought an used 98 Toyota Camry in January 2000 with 35,000 some odd miles on it. I bought the additional warranty to 100,000 but never needed it. I have had little maintenance issues with mine. I now have 191,000 miles on it and outside of gas, oil changes, brakes, tires, and other routine maintenance items, I have only had the following expenses:
Timing belt replaced--parts and labor $141.00.
Front end struts, ball joints, rotors, front and inner tie rod, and sway bar links replaced--parts and labor $783.00.
Trans-axle cable replaced--parts and labor $220.00.
Total major maintenance = $1,144.00. Less than $6.00 per 1,000 miles of travel. Pretty nice!!!
My drivers side door handle also broke, but with 191,000 miles I do not intend to fix it. I can still open the door. Also the lock on my console in the middle broke (from me leaning over it; too much weight!!)
16th Nov 2005, 16:50
What have you been doing to your car? I've had many Camrys (some unfortunately abused when I got them) and they never had any of these problems.