they of course replied:

Dear Mr. A: Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We are sorry to learn that your 2014.5 Camry fails to meet all of your driving expectations. We make every effort to manufacture a quality product by researching, testing, and constantly monitoring performance. Consumer opinion and perception also play an active role in our ongoing efforts to lead the automobile industry in quality, innovation, styling, and reliability. We appreciate your feedback. It is through communications such as yours that we become aware of the reactions and expectations of our customers and consumers and are able to review and improve our products. Your email regarding the trunk security of Camry has been documented at our National Headquarters, where it is available for our product planning department's review. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Thomas Morita Toyota Customer Experience

Which of course prompted this response from me:

Mr. Morita, Thanks you for the prompt response to my concern. You did not advise me as to what procedures I should take to assure that items in the trunk of my 2014.5 Camry can be secure while in that easy access trunk. I am about to depart on a 7 day driving vacation, as is our annual custom, staying over night at least one night 3 or 4 times in hotels with valet service. As you know the valet key denies valet access to the glove box but allows the valet to access the trunk with the trunk release lever because the trunk can no longer be secured with a key lock. We are bringing a number of items, gifts for friends along the way which are to large to bring into the room for our 8-12 hour over night stays at each full service hotels I am very concerned that this will cause me and my wife a great deal of consternation about the security of the valuables in the trunk. We will of course alert the parking garage and hotel mangers of our concerns about our valuables that any one with the valet key will have access to and perhaps that will suffice. We are both in or 70's and can not be lugging these items to a room every night. I is to late to make other arrangement. I am glad that my email was directed to National Headquarters,as noted above, however, I think you do not understand the grave nature of my concerns for valuables and the probable increase in my insurance premiums should the untoward happen, a valet theft of valuables left in a trunk that can not be secured. And of course the possible $260 driver side power window replacement cost, should a parking lot or street miscreant realize he need only use the nearst brick to smash the glass, reach in and trip the unlock able trunk release lever and see what prizes await him/her. I would like Toyota Corporation to do the right thing and have my local dealer Price LeBlanc Toyota, Baton Rouge, LA make an appointment for me to bring the car in for the installation of some sort of add on locking mechanism. The dealer suggested I try a similar size car from another dealer with locking trunk but that was not acceptable. I understand from the Toyota dealer that the Avalon is the only midsize passenger model to have a key secured locking trunk. I do not expect a quick response as I know you will have to consult with your Camry design engineers to have them recommend a way to secure my trunk and its valuables. We have been loyal Toyota customers for over 40 years and have chosen to drive them because of their better than average safety record and reliability. We will be home from our hopefully safe and secure trip on 16 May. We will look forward to your reply then. 


A little background on why over 2 million owners of Toyota Camrys model year 2013-2014.5  discovered they do not have trunks that lock. Quite simply Toyota would rather save a few bucks and leave its consumers at risk for theft every time they park their car. Whether it is by the valet or simply in the street with a door you forgot to lock.

Prior to the 2013-2014.5 Camry all Camry trunks could be key locked to secure important valuables while on vaction or shopping. Now the trunks on these model Camry can no longer be locked to keep valets with the key or miscreants who simply break the driver glass to gain access to the always unlocked trunk latch. The valet key only secures the glove box. It does not prevent the valet from activating the trunk release by the driver seat and gaining access to valuables in the trunk.  
I purchased this car in early April 2014. The dealer P LeB could offer neither an explanation nor a fix for this serious design flaw. In fact the manager claimed he never heard this complaint before but did direct me to contact Toyota Customer Care. I of course complained to Toyota Customer Care: 1 800 331-4331 PRESS 2

I traded my 2004 Camry for a new one. The OLD Camry had a very secure locking trunk preventing the valet with only a valet key or others who might break the window to get to the trunk latch. Since there is NO WAY to lock the trunk on my 1 week old 2014.5 Camry what do you recommend to keep my valuables safe when giving the valet key to the valet who can reach the trunk release? Not use the trunk for valuables, remove EVERYTHING on trips over night? What about the smash and grab thieves who will soon know that EVERY 2013 and 2014 Camry has easy access to the trunk by simply smashing the driver window to gain access to the trunk release and thus the hidden goodies in the now easy access trunk. I'm sure the elimination of the secure trunk locking mechanism saved you $10 in production cost savings and the assurance you that I will never buy another toyota product after 25 years of multiple toyota purchases. Should I inform my insurance company to increase my premium to cover items left in this easily accessible trunk as well as the window should it be a thief and not the valet? or should Toyota take some responsibility for this serious design flaw?

Break Glass Here for easy Access to Trunk Latch.

Toyota Trunk Security

 or

why there isn't any on the new 2014.5 **camry le and beyond?

    

Ms Tina Iguchi, You will be pleased to know that our trip went without one incident of theft from our trunk as we visited around. I would like to advise you that on one occasion a kerchief fell from my hand between the driver seat and the door. When I reached down to pick it up it caught on the trunk release mechanism and the trunk popped open. Fortunately we were traveling about 25 miles per hour, around town the most fuel efficient range in the 2014.5 , so the items in the trunk, a dozen large balloons and foam party animals for a child's party did not fly out of the trunk obstructing the view of cars following us. I can not imagine what could have occurred had we been on the highway on our trip going 65 miles per hour. As you can see the "inconvenience" of a trunk that does not key lock is a potential serious safety hazard. With over 1 million 2013-2014.5 Camry's on the nations nations highways.(your sales figures} with this safety hazard I think Toyota Corporation should at least advise the owners of these vehicles of this potential hazard to them and vehicles following them, until a fix is available. I would also ask that Toyota design staff look at developing a "kit or device" or "alternative method" to immobilize the trunk release lever. The Honda Civic and Honda Accord utilize a key lock on the trunk release. The Honda valet key will not open that system and the trunk can not be accidentally opened when locked while driving. Due to a lack of a meaningful response from Toyota that this matter has been taken seriously and that a resolution is being seriously considered ,I have notified the Louisiana Attorney General Office of Consumer Protection and the National Highway Traffic Administration of this serious flaw in the trunk design which can result in a serious road hazard to individuals following over a million 2012-2014.5 Camry's at highway speeds. A

And finally being really concerned about this Consumer Care and Safety issue I received this final response to this issue from Toyota Corporation of America.

Dear Mr. V; Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We are again sorry to hear of your concerns with the trunk release of your Camry, and apologize this component of the vehicle did not meet your expectations. We respect your opinions on the matter and have documented your additional comments at our National Headquarters, where they remain available for review from the appropriate departments. It is through feedback such as yours we are able to monitor and improve upon the quality of our products and services. We have documented your comments at our National Headquarters. Robert Browning Toyota Customer Experience

Being Consumer driven Toyota sent this 3rd response to my concerns:

Dear Mr. A : Thank you for your continued contact with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We apologize that you feel we have not adequately addressed your inquiry. As you are aware, the remote keyless entry system placed in your 2014.5 Camry is operated by smart keys that are not used in the ignition. Because of this, a separate manual valet key that can be inserted in the ignition while not providing access to the trunk is not a viable option for your vehicle. We understand that you are unsettled by this information as you are planning to transport gifts and other items in your trunk while traveling. However, this is the design of your vehicle and cannot be changed. With this in mind, we recommend using caution when storing items in your trunk. To be sure, it is inconvenient to remove everything of value from your trunk when using valet parking services. However, we would recommend doing so, despite the hassle involved. We are sorry; Toyota has not announced any changes to the keyless entry design that would prevent access to the trunk while providing the convenience of keyless operation of your vehicle. We are, however, aware of your interest in such an option. We can't guarantee that a design change would be made, but your honest feedback may help us to evaluate different alternatives. We have updated our files to include your latest correspondence and our response. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, Tina Iguchi Toyota Customer Experience

I of course let them know that my trip was theft free BUT the unlockable trunk presented a more serious issue then the theft of my valuables which I no longer keep in the trunk on trips. 

Copyright  - All rights reserved.

Sort of like they didn't get any of my previous emails, or is it just me? Anyway all of us Camry Owners can rest assured that my/our concerns will be forwarded to "National Headquarters" once again.

If you like me, are one of the 2 million + Camry owners who would like to secure your valuable in your trunk you have come to the right place. Contact me here for more information on how to pick your style of Trunk Securtiy System for your car and area of residence.     


Trunk Security Systems for Cars with trunks that dont lock**