[Did you just see a real bright light?]

Oh what a feeling. Finally Kharma has caught up with these fools. Hope the recall make you think about safety. LMAO $$$$$

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

Of course the US had a big influence...and Toyota has had a huge influence on the US and all around the world. You've heard of the Chevy Nova, the Geo Prizm, the Pontiac G6, the Pontiac Vibe, the Lotus Elise, and the Ford Escape Hybrid in the US? All licensed Toyota technology, motors, or platforms, and in the case of the Escape Hybrid, Toyota's old hybrid system that was no longer being used was sold to Ford for lack of anything better to do with it. Toyota may not be the innovator of the car, but they have a conservative policy of developing other good but flawed ideas to perfection before production. Look at the Sienna, the Tundra, and the LS400/430/460 for prime examples.

Did you happen to see this?

"Lexus Ranks Highest in Vehicle Dependability for a 14^th Consecutive Year"

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...y-Study-Results

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/rele...pdf/2008115.pdf

Hmmm...Lexus...that's not Toyota Motor Corp. by any chance, is it?

PS. The nice thing about TRD is that the parts always fit, they're very high quality, they're covered under Toyota factory warranty, and they do amazing things to your car. As a past multiple Supra(s) and TRD parts customer, I can attest to this. Oh, and speaking of racing: did you see the LF-A at Nurburgring in April?...yes, as a matter of fact, I think it did break the track record.

Whilst on the topic of extreme speeds I beleive you may have omitted the Radical SR8 which pipped your time by 1/2 a minute in 2005. This means you will need to improve a further 7% not taking into account the record is 3 years old. Check out http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2990770163894389660 for proof. And for note the Ford GT in the same year clocked 7:42 sec, yes a Ford, where is Toyota?

:o

Other street cars which Toyota or Lexus will never aspire to are Mercedes McLaren, Ferrari FXX and Porsche GT. How is Toyota going in the F1 series? Lets have a look http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/teams/ woops 4th....hang on lets combine the Williams-Toyota Team to their score....woops again still 4th. Dont know what sport gives out medals for fourth???? Let me think Gold....Silver....Bronze....Lead woo hoo! :P

PS. Everyone needs a farmer. Looked in your fridge lately? Now you are losing credibility, and overlooking the important things...just like Toyota. Great minds think alike, perhaps you should ask them for a job.

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

Perhaps they should return to their roots and go back to knitting. If they started in 1938 the US must have had a big influence, perhaps even two.

"Toyota Racing Development, TRD, All we left out was U"

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

On that Bridgestone topic...I'm still firmly convinced it had nothing to do with Bridgestone. Did anyone other than me happen to notice that it only happened to Fords? Hmmm....

I have had several perfectly good sets of Bridgestone high performance tires on many of my cars, and I have yet to have any issues at all. And at the same time Ford was installing Bridgestone/Firestones and having problems, Toyota was installing the same Bridgestone/Firestone tires on the Toyota Tacomas and having absolutely no issues. Hmmm...

Oh of course the largest car company in the world was only playing games with the largest tyre manufacturer. Perhaps Ford are more concerned about the lives of people driving their cars, as opposed to just the dollar. Shows that to be number one you need to act number one. Toyota produce crap! The only reason Toyota have eeven done anything to my car is because my boss buys a lot of their cars, again monetary driven. Hows your mortgage? Need to rob your next door neighbor to pay the bills, or is that unethical? :!: BTW who started Toyota? Was is little miss Ota, I know who started Ford.. I think his name was Henry.

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

I had a loaner 07 camry no nav LE and the interior/radio lights were pretty bright. but I kinda liked it? liked it a lot actually. lol Guess thats the generation Y inside of me talking :) I"m sure your camry must have a dimmer switch every toyota car I have ever been in has had one.

Just like a Y not able to judge what is safe or not. Probably too young to even know anyone who has died in a motor vehicle accident caused by the fault of the manufacturer. http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200...1184094437.html Probably too young to even remember the Bridgestone recall in 2000.... http://usgovinfo.about.com/blfirestone.htm (But daddy the tyres look cool man!) I suppose your inner "would sue them $%^&^s" but this could be hard if your injured or worse! BTW no there is no dimmer, except for the one preceding. PS. Accidents only happen in the movies. I can speak Y too.

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

Thank you for your post. I haven't heard any complaints in the US about the Camry radio lights being too bright. I believe our dimmer switches dim all interior lights including radio lights in all Toyota, Lexus, & Scion models...I know it does on my GS.

Any Camry owners have input on this?

Hi Leigh,

Thank you for your comment.

Unfortunately our model does not have a dimmer switch. Toyota already know it is a fault, but as the fault is continuous the legal responsibility of whether to drive the vehicle or not rests with the driver.

....at this stage

[Did you just see a real bright light?]

I am writing to you following repeated contact with Toyota Australia in relation to a recent purchase of a 2008 Toyota Camry Altise.

In May of this year we purchased a brand new vehicle from a dealership in Brisbane. Upon delivery inspection I made comment to the dealer that the radio appeared bright. The dealer informed me he knew there was a dimming switch, but was advised that the dealer was not aware of the location of the dimmer and that I could visit a service centre.

That evening I visited the service centre closest to my residence that could not assist with either locating the dimmer switch or in reducing the level of illumination within the cabin.

Contact was made with Toyota Head Office in Melbourne where it was explained that the fault of the highly illuminated was addressed with an upgrade of the radio. I passed on my details to management who informed me he would contact my local service centre for another inspection as it was unaware if my vehicle was fitted with the bright dash display or the second version which had been modified and emitted a lower luminescence.

Two weeks passed and I had not received any contact from either Toyota in Melbourne or their dealership in Queensland.

I contacted them to ask what was happening with my vehicle and they advised they had no record of my complaint.

Following a country trip to in heavy rain last week I went straight to the dealership as the combined effect of the rain, and low light levels the hazardous nature of the illumination made it very difficult to see. When oncoming vehicles approached the visibility of the road reduced completely.

I clearly indicated my concerns on the phone to their Service manager. Upon arriving at Toyota I explained my concerns again and requested that urgent follow up occur as I regularly travel in the country and the light was contributing risk to my safety. I was told that someone would contact me the next day (Friday) but up until lunch time Monday I had not received any further contact from Toyota.

I then contacted Head Office in Melbourne again to follow up as I felt this may be help expedite my concern and hopefully change to a radio which would not pose such a risk.

I spoke with a customer call centre who informed me the matter was being handled by one of their specific managers. It was not until I followed up the next day with the customer service person that they again prompted the manager to return my call.

When the manager contacted me he advised that my radio had been identified as one which has received the upgrade, and that Toyota was not prepared to do anything further.

I then contacted the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government where I spoke with to person responsibility for physical injury evaluation who explained that there is no Australian Design Regulations pertaining to the maximum level of light a car can have within as long as you can read the speedometer. In addition due to the fault be a continuous problem it has been highlighted that should a driving error occur I would be at fault as I have already identified a problem, which is continuous with the vehicle, and the responsibility of whether the conditions are suitable based on the fault rests with me. I have been informed that should the situation develop whilst driving, I should pull over and contact a tow truck to cart the vehicle, but this would be at the owner’s expense. The person confirmed he also shared the same concerns as I did, and that at least four other people had come forward to make similar complaints that have been advised a similar stance by Toyota.

I have owned in excess of seven motor vehicles ranging from Nissan’s, Volvo’s Mercedes, Ford’s in the 19 years I have been driving and have never encountered anything like the problem present with this radio or any other device that emits light continuously whilst driving the vehicle.

I have had recommendations by Toyota to remove the radio and place it on the floor, as well as affixing “Velcro” to the dashboard and draping a cloth over radio. Both suggestions would place the passenger at risk of being injured by the loose radio on the floor, or create problems with the air-conditioning as this would also need to be covered based on its location with respect to he radio.

I have advised Toyota that I would be prepared to have a cheaper radio fitted with the same functions as the current radio but this has been refused.

I would like for the public to become aware of the dangers associated with the new Toyota Camry and Toyota Aurion, and understand these vehicles are also being exported to other countries other than Australia.

The actions of Toyota impact on not only the people who may be injured as a result of poor vision caused by the illuminated radio, but also on the quality and reputation of Australia’s automotive industry, which has received countless support from our government.

I would ask that Toyota show the same level of commitment we have shown them and voluntarily recall all models to replace the radio to remove to inherent risk of a the bright interior.

I would also like to call on Standards Australia to develop limits to the maximum allowable level of lumens (or light intensity) cars’ interior displays so this problem is addressed for all future models sold or produced in Australia.

I understand Fujitsu to be the manufacturer of the radio, and I have not contacted or received not received any direct comment from them.