1999 Toyota Camry Latches & Locks Problems

MY HUSBAND WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR OF MY 1999 CAMRY AND IT BROKE OFF IN HIS HAND. NOW IT I CANNOT GET IN THE DOOR IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS, I FEEL UNSAFE WHEN GETTING IN MY CAR AT NIGHT, PARTICULARLY WHEN I HAVE TO WORK LATE ,AT A MALL OR THE GROCERY STORE. IT IS GOING TO COST $150 OR MORE TO REPLACE THIS HANDLE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE TO DO THAT WHEN I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL CAMRY OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS. THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR NOTHING BECAUSE I AM IN DANGER EVERYTIME I HAVE TO ENTER MY CAR. IN ADDITION, HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR BY GRASPING THE METAL PART AND THEN STICKING MY HAND UNDERNEATH, CAN INJURE MY HAND. THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A SAFETY CONCERN TO THEM BUT IT IS TO ME. *TR

EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM ON 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:LATCHES AND LOCKS POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAILED, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR

OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE, AND INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE SNAPPED AND ROTTED.*AK

RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY SOLARA DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, AS IF THE LATCHING DEVICE IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DOOR OPEN LIGHT GOES ON AND SOMETIMES THE LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY SINCE THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED. IF I HAVE TO SLAM THE DOOR SHUT IT SOUNDS AS IF THE WINDOW IS GOING TO CRACK. *JB

HOOD LATCH FRAME BOLTING HOOD LATCH TO FRAME OF VEHICLE SHEARED AS A RESULT OF MATERIAL FAILURE CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN, COVERING WINDSHIELD, BRAKING WINDSHIELD, CAUSING HOOD DAMAGE AND ROOF DAMAGE OF VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, GLASS SHARPS CAUSED MINOR CUTS ON HAND OF DRIVER. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AL;SO NOTE THE HOOD WAS NOT IN AN OPEN POSITION. COMMENTS FROM TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AS WELL AS OTHER AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS WAS THAT THEY NEVER SEEN ANYTHING IN THEIR LIVES. *JB

CONSUMER KEYLESS REMOTE DID NOT WORK AND COULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE DOORS WERE FROZEN BECAUSE THE KEY HAD NEVER BEEN USED TO UNLOCK THEM. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED TO USE THE KEY OCCASIONALLY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM FREEZING UP. *JB

1999 TOYOTA SOLARA DOOR ENTRY REMOTE FAILED.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH HIS KEY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE DOORS WERE FROZEN BECAUSE THE KEY HAD NEVER BEEN USED TO UNLOCK THEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO USE THE KEY OCCASIONALLY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO PREVENT THEM FROM FREEZING UP. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WILL BE HARD TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON OPENING THE DOOR (WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE). THIS COULD BE A HAZARD IF SOMEONE NEEDED ENTRANCE TO THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. THE HANDLE IS A SURPRISINGLY THIN PLASTIC. THE TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SAME.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD KEEP STICKING. HAPPENS WHEN DOOR IS EITHER LOCKED OR UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. *AK