Automatic Transmission problems of the 1999 Toyota Camry

1999 Toyota Camry 4 cylinder with 83,500 miles (one owner) blew a piston through the engine block as a result of accelerating from about 69 to 73 mph on a busy turnpike, completely destroying the engine and sending black smoke and oil all over the highway. The car had been regularly maintained and there had never been any mechanical problems nor was oil gel/sludge ever noticed as an issue by the mechanics.

After parking my car and placing it in park, it suddenly launched forward crashing into a restaurant. I am certain that it was in park. Are there similar reported incidents? could this be related to NHTSA campaign 01v012000.

Consumer was traveling about 55mph on the highway, she applied gas pedal to speed up, and vehicle started to roar and slowdown. Consumer was trying to get over to the shoulder of the road, but vehicle stalled and was hit by oncoming truck. Vehicle was in the shop for a month and a half. Mechanic told consumer that she needed a new transmission.

This car is a lemon. I have had five integrated relay's replaced and now it is out again. The headlight or the dash lights will work, but not both at the same time. Toyota said it was because I had a non-factory alarm installed. They replaced the alarm with a Toyota alarm and replaced the relay and it burned out the following day. They can't find the problem. The air conditioner has had a musty smell since the car was new. They spray the vents with "frigi fresh" and it's fine for a few days and the smell returns. They told me to spray simple green in the air intake once a week. That's a pretty poor remedy. The transmission will not hold on any incline. Sometimes the car will pull into the garage by it self and other times it will roll into the street. It depends on it's mood. The car lack power. Some days the car is peppy but most days it's a old mule. I went through arbitration and Toyota just keeps replacing parts instead of replacing the car. It's sits in the garage now because is not dependable. I think there needs to be an in-depth investigation and recall of the 1999 Camry.

Vehicle rolls backwards on any sort of incline. The transmissions will not hold the car on a hill even when the transmission is in drive. Dealer stated this was a "normal operating condition. The transmission has zero drag for best gas mileage and is not designed to hold car without throttle pressure. " the dealer has not been able to correct this problem.

We have several problems with this car. The car hesitates when you take off. The dealership has had it (this will make) 5 times since March 31,1999. They have had it for weeks at a time. The brakes make noises when they are applied. They said they replaced the vents but we still have a problem with them. We still, after all those times in the shop, have the same orginal problems as before we ever went to the shop. We have found out that they have even lied to us when we were buying the car. They told us it was a limited edition and it isn't. They were the orginal owners, they were not. They won't give us the name of the orginal owner. (found this out during arbitration) there are several things wrong with this car. And can't find any help on the situtation. Please advise.