1997 Toyota Camry complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, WHICH CAUSED A CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED BY THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT FEELS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STICKING AND THAT CAUSE THE CRASH. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE VIN 3 WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 1997. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH IN WET AND ICY CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY CAME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTO HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE ROAD AND BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK. SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSELY BACK ONTO THE COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V307000, STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE BY TIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 97 CAMRY I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENTIRE STEER WHEEL SPINNED AROUND LIKE A SPINNING TOP. I HAD NO CONTROL THE CAR RAN UP ON THE CURVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID QUALIFY UNDER THIS RECALL BUT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THEY HAD TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL. I EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL. I THEN CALLED THE CORP OFFICE FOR TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY HAVE NO INFO ON THE DEALERSHIP MAKING ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHY THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFERING INFORMATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT TOYOTA CLEARLY HAS A RECALL MY VEHICLE FITS THE CRITERIA IT A 1997 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

WAS PARKING THE CAR, WHEN IT SURGED WITH UNEXPECTED BURST OF ACCELERATION. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, NOT ACCELERATOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK; SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVE-WAY. ON THE THIRD INCIDENT SHE SWIPED A FENCE. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED $1,600.00 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,125. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB

ON SEPT. 15, 2009 I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A LARGE TRUCK WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FELL DOWN AND I WAS THROWN BACKWARDS TO THE BACK SEAT ABOUT 3 OR 4 INCHES . THE BACK OF THE SEAT LAID FLAT DOWN IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CE HAS HAD, SINCE IT'S VERY FIRST YEAR, AN OCCASIONAL BUT PERSISTENT AND RECURRING ISSUE WHERE THE DRIVER'S SEAT WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT AND RELATCH WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF THE SEAT HAS NOT RECENTLY BEEN REPOSITIONED MANUALLY. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS RELATCHING ON ONE SIDE. THE RESULT IS A SUDDEN REPOSITIONING OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF UP TO A FEW INCHES, AND RUNS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF LOSS-OF-CONTROL IF IT WERE TO OCCUR AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME. NO POST-MARKET MODIFICATIONS TO MY DRIVER'S SEAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND THIS IS ALL IN REFERENCE TO ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS EQUIPMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 1996 (1997 MODEL YEAR). I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN RETITLED. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY TOYOTA, BUT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR SAFETY REVIEW. I WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS SITE, AND THUS THE DELAYED REPORT. *TR

HI , I HAVE A 1997 CAMRY THAT'S GOT ROUGHLY 150,000 MILES ON IT.. RECENTLY MY ENGINE BLEW UP/FROZE ...AND IS A TOTAL LOSS-WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO JIFFY LUBE FOR 3-4 YEARS FAITHFULLY EVERY 3,000.00 MILES. ACTUALLY PAYING THEM FOR THEIR "SPECIAL" HIGH-MILEAGE OIL EVERY TIME. IN LATE OCTOBER I TOOK MY CAMRY TO A INDEPENDENT DEALER THAT DID A $ 800.00 TUNE-UP , REPLACED MY PCV VALVE, AND DID A OIL CHANGE.-I ALSO PAID THIS DEALER TO DO A SPECIAL "COMPREHENSIVE-DIAGNOSTIC" TEST TO FIND ANY THING ELSE THEY COULD FIND WRONG WITH MY CAR-SUPPOSEDLY A STEM TO STERN INSPECTION OF MY CAR. 3,000 MILES LATER, JAN 6TH 2009, I GOT MY REGULAR SCHEDULED JIFFY LUBE OIL CHANGE AND ACTUALLY ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR ANY OIL LEAKS..AS I WAS ADDING 1-2 EXTRA QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THEY TOLD ME "NO LEAKS".. AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. 250 MILES AND 21 DAYS LATER MY CAR DIED ON JAN 27TH, .STRANDING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. JIFFY LUBE SENT OUT "INVESTIGATORS"- ...WHO LOOKED AT MY ENGINE, AND SAID "SLUDGE BUILD-UP" WAS SO MASSIVE THAT THE PRESSURE BLEW OUT THE PCV VALVE, CAUSING A SUDDEN MASSIVE LOSS OF OIL..AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE..AS THEY SAID IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I CHANGED MY OIL RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 3,000 MILES WITH "JIFFY LUBE'S OIL" NO LESS...AND JUST HAD A STEM TO STERN TUNE-UP AND A NEW PCV VALVE PUT IN.. HELP!!!!...I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE...TOYOTA DEFECT? TUNE-UP SHOP OR BAD JIFFY LUBE OIL? PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. *TR

CONNECTING ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE, BUT WAS UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

ON 3/21/07, I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM MERCHANTS TIRE IN WILLIAMSBURG VA WHICH INCLUDED NEW VALVE STEMS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I DROVE AWAY FROM THE SERVICE FACILITY, MY RF TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION BY THE SERVICE WRITER AT MERCHANTS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LEAK HAD DEVELOPED FROM A CUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALVE STEM. IT WAS THE SERVICE WRITERS THEORY THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS NOT REPLACED DURING THE TIRE SERVICE. THE VALVE STEM WAS REPLACED AND NO PROBLEMS OCCURRED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ON 3/11/08, I COMPLAINED TO THE SAME FACILITY ABOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH A CUT VALVE STEM BUT NO LEAKAGE OCCURRED. PROMPT REPLACEMENT WAS EFFECTED ON REQUEST AND AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROUTE 93 SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS BEHIND A SEDAN. THERE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NOT GOOD; IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY. THERE WAS A TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE SEDAN AND IT HAD JUST PASSED ITS EXIT. THE TRUCK THEN WENT IN REVERSE TO GO BACK TO THE EXIT. THE SEDAN WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. BY THE TIME I HAD REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STOP. I SLID ON THE WET ROAD STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE SEDAN. I WOULD ASSUME THAT BECAUSE I CRASHED INTO A CAR GOING OVER 40 MPH, STRAIGHT ON, THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY BUT THEY DID NOT. SINCE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MY NECK WAS THROWN FORWARD AND ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE DISCOMFORT. EVERYONE WHO SAW MY CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT WERE AMAZED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

FAILED TO STOP ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE ROAD WAS ICY BUT THE VEHICLE'S ABS WAS NOT WORKING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AT ALL. I STEERING THE VEHICLE TO THE DITCH. I WAS LUCKY OF NOT HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND I WAS SAFE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CAMRY'S BRAKING, IT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT! *TR

REFERENCE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 06T016000. COOPER TIRE RECALL# 147 A STARFIRE FLITELINE IV TIRE CAN APART ON MY CAR DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I TOOK TIRE AND CAR TO A COOPER TIRE STORE (CORNER TIRE STORE PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA) AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL (COOPER RECALL# 147). I FEEL THAT THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER STARFIRE FLITELINE IV TIRES. THIS TIRE IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, IF IT HAD COME APART AT HIGH SPEED, NO ONE WOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS TIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AUGUST OF 2002. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. ON THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CURRENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING DRIVEN. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR BECAUSE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE CRACKED AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/10/07. *JB

THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT ROLL BACK AFTER PULLED OUT. NOW THEY ARE STAYING ON THE SEATS. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTS SLOW. *JB

WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA, SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, FLAMES WERE SEEN, BY THE TIME HE REACHED THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. BY THE TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, MINUTES, THE DASH WAS ENGULFED. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICES PER MANUFACTURERS REQUIREMENTS, PLUS A SAFETY AND ENGINE EXAMINATION APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AGO. NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM OF ANY KIND WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 APPROACHING BALTIMORE, MD I BEGAN TO FEEL A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD KNOCKING LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWOUT. I STEERED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST LOCATION ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CONTINENTAL - SPORTIVE METRIC 195/ TUBULES RADIAL TIRE. THIS TIRE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF AND BENT THE EXTERIOR CAR PANEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BIDDER AND TO THE LEFT AND BELOW THE HOOD WHICH COVERS THE WHEEL WELL AND RIPPED UP MY WIRING HARNESS. A COURTESY VEHICLE STOPPED TO ASSIST ME AND CALLED IT IN TO AAA WHO SENT TOW TRUCK TO BRING ME TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I STILL HAVE NOT THE DAMAGE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR MAN WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THAT POWERED THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC AND REPLACED THE FUSES THAT BLEW. HOWEVER THE CAR WILL NEED SOME BODY/ELECTRICAL WORK TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRE AND THE PIECES IN THE TRUNK.*AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. SEAT BELT WAS EXTENDED TO USE, BUT ONCE EXTENDED AND SECURED WILL NOT RETRACT TO PROPER TENSION. HAS NOW HAPPENED A THIRD TIME TO SEPARATE BELTS. TWICE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, ONCE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IN THE FRONT.*AK

DRIVING DOWN BELTWAY HEARD A POP AND THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED FIRE DEPT GOT THERE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE CAR. DRIVER GOT OUT SAFELY. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL BE UNLOCKED ITSELF WHEN THERE IS A SMALL EXPTERN FORCE ACT TO DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE DASH BOARD ALSO INDICATE THE DOOR IS UNLOCK AND THE DOME LIGHT IS ONL. FURTHER MORE, IT HAPPENDS SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHCIH IS NOT COMPLANATE.

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC ,WHERE HE DETERMINED THAT THE 90 DEGREE FUEL LINE CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK OVER THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL LINE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM AND CHARGED THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK THE FULE PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/07. *JB

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I-87. FIRE BEGAN SOMEWHERE UNDER THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED WHILE MOVING TO HIGHWAY SHOULDER. PASSENGERS WERE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME, HEARD CLANGING NOISE AND CAR LOST POWER - CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. UPON EXAMINATION THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND: "#3 PISTON ROD BROKEN COMING THROUGH BLOCK" - THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. THE DEALER REPLACED SHORT BLOCK, OIL PUMP, BALANCED SHAFT & REPLACED NECESSARY FLUIDS. TOYOTA REPLACED THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, I INCURRED $1,560 IN LABOR. *JB

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF "PLAY" AND "BODY ROLL" WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS/STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THAT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES. THE DEPTH WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED IS MUCH DEEPER AND REQUIRES A GREATER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. FINALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE POOR VISIBILITY BOTH IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED AND IN THEIR LOW MOUNTING OR ANGLE WHICH THEY SIT AT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. BEST REGARDS. *JB

CAR : 97 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4 CYLINDER THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS 1) BLUE SMOKE AT COLD-STARTING (MILEAGE: 87 MILES -AUG. 2001) ENGINE GAVE OFF BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN COLD-STARTING IN THE MORNING. AFTER REPLACING VALVE STEM SEALS (PAID AROUND $1000 TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPAIR), THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 2) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKING (MILEAGE: 87KMILES -AUG. 2001) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKED AND A MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. 3) EGR VSV FAILURE (MILEAGE: 100 KMILES -OCT. 2004) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD II SCANNER SAYS "INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW." A MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VSV AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 4) FRONT STRUT MOUNTS FAILURE ((MILEAGE: 87 KMILES -AUG. 2001) BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS MADE NOISE. AFTER A TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED IT, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED IT. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 2005. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS THE PISTON ROD THAT CAME LOOSE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THEY WERE NOT HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. *AK 11/02/05. *JB

I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 194,000 MILES. LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PULLED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE STARTER CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE CAR. I TRIED TO STALL IT OUT BY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, BUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO TRY TO START. I THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I THEN RAN INTO THE OFFICE TO GET A TOOL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED THE STARTER QUIT, BUT BY THEN THE SOLENOID WAS SO OVERHEATED IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURN. LUCKILY WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND. THE DEALER HAS ONLY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. I THOUGHT VEHICLES HAD A FAIL SAFE MEASURE THAT WOULD TERMINATE THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. *NM

MY CHEK ENIGNE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS HEADED OUT FOR A 250 MILE TRIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THEIS LIST OF PROBLEMS. TIMING BELT REPLACMENT,WATER PUMP, RESEAL OIL PAN, REPLACE ENGINE PIPE, TRANSMISSION GASKET AND FILTER REPLACEMENT OXYGEN SENSOR, A/F SENSOR, EFI SERVICE, CAM SEAL, CRANK SEAL, OIL PUMP SEAL . BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. I WENT ON LINE AND REALIZED THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE. CALLED TOYAOTA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT EVALUATED FOR OIL SLUDGE

IN JULY, 2003 (PLEASE REFER TO ODI ID NUMBER: 10030262) OUR 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CE (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) BEGAN LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE. IT WAS DETERMINED INTERNAL PRESSURE HAD CAUSED THE TANK TO BULGE OUT AND RIP AT THE SEAMS. AFTER TWO SOLDERING ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO PATCH THE TANK, THE ENTIRE TANK WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. A PRESSURE TEST WAS CONDUCTED BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. THE SAME BULGE FROM INSIDE OUT WAS FOUND AS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SEEN WITH THE OLD AND SINCE REPLACED TANK. THE TANK WAS REMOVED & SENT OUT FOR WELDING, RETURNED AND TESTS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE CHARCOAL FILTER & VACUUM SWITCH. BOTH TESTED FINE. THE VACUUM SWITCH WAS REPLACED AS THE COST OF REPLACING THE CHARCOAL FILTER WAS TOO EXPENSIVE AND SINCE IT DIDN'T SHOW FAILURE, IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE NECESSARY. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED PERIODIC TESTS IN CASE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. ALSO, THE HEAT DISTRIBUTOR (I BELIEVE THAT'S THE NAME FOR THE METAL BETWEEN THE EXHAUST PIPE & THE GAS TANK TO KEEP THE TANK FROM OVERHEATING & EXPLODING) WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN "WRINKLED" BUT FROM THE PRESSURE OF THE IN-OUT EXPANSION OF THE TANK, NOT FROM AN OUT-IN PUSH THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED FROM DRIVING OVER SOMETHING. *AK LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE GAS LEAK RETURNED. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND WE WERE REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER. THE CSM COORDINATED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THE CAR PUT UP ON THE RACK AND LOOKED

THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THE 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT LAST FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS, AND LESS. *AK

OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE, OWNER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

UNIROYAL TIRES 19570R14 WEAR ON BELT AND TREAD AFTER HAVING TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND ONLY DRIVING ON THE OF A DISATANCE OF 36,000 MILES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL LEAKAGES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED, AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS AT CURRENT SPEED.ONE OF THE BOSE SPEAKERS THAT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS BUSTED.*AK

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM.*AK

THE FRONT SEATS IN MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE COLLAPSE, ON TAKEOFFS OR LEANING BACK ON THEM WITH NOT MUCH PRESSURE OR FALL BACKWARDS WITHOUT NOTICE.

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LS POPPING NOISE IN STEERING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THEN TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMERS RADIO WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS. VEHICLE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER SIDE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE DOES NOT WORK. THE RUBBER ON THE MOTOR MOUNT DOES NOT LAST AND BREAKS. THE VEHICLE JERKS REPEATEDLY. *TC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CURRENTLY HAS A PERMANENT BACK PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE NOT WORKING. *SC

THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A STEERING RECALL ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN : 99V307000 DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT. *TC *JB

AT 72,000 MILES ENGINE BLEW. PERFECTLY MAINTAINED CAR WITH RECORDS TO BACK IT UP. NEEDED NEW ENGINE. AT 39,000 MILES VALVE SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 67,700 MILES VALVE SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE THE TIME IT LEFT THE FACTORY. NO RESPONSE FROM MANUFACTURER.*AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT FAILS TO RETRACT AS IT SHOULD...I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE 8 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE DATABASE. I ALSO HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH THEIR CAMRYS.*AK

WITHIN 1 MONTH, BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE.*AK

THE VEHICLE MAD A LOUD EXPLOSIVE NOISE WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY FOLLOWED BY A BANG. THE ROD HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. INCIDENT DATE 01/28/2005. *SC

THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPLANT THAT WAS SENT TO TOYOTA MOTOR CO. IT IS NOT MY WISH TO HAVE TO WRITE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. HOWEVER I MUST, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO PASS. MY FAMILY HAS SUPPORTED TOYOTA, AND OFCOURSE ALL OWN TOYOTA DUE TO THE BEAUTIFUL WORK AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF TOYOTA. HOWEVER MY TOYOTA CAMRY HAS MADE ME TO DOUBT THE STRONG FEELING I ONCE HAD FOR MY CAR. I TURNED MY CAR OVER TO TOYOTA OF LOUISVILLE FOR SERVICE AND THE REPAIR OF OIL SLEDGING. I ASSUME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. HOWEVER AT THE TIME I WITNESSED NO SYMPTOMS. I SIMPLY DID NOT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. SO I HAD IT SERVICED TO AVOID ANY PROBLEM. LATER AFTER HAVING MY TIMING BELT REPLACED I STARTED TO WITNESS A SLUGGISH ACCELERATION, AND WORSENING GAS MILEAGE, THE PROBLEM WORSENED. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. AND THE OIL LIGHT ALSO. HOWEVER IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE THREW A ROD ON THE INTERSTATE ON THE WAY HOME FROM COLLEGE FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY CAR RESTORED TO THE STATE IT WAS IN BEFORE THE SPECIAL SERVICING. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOUR COMPANY; I PLAN ON PURCHASING FROM TOYOTA IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER THIS MATTER HAS PLACED ME IN SALTY WATERS, AND AS U CAN IMAGINE THAT IS NOT A VERY PLEASANT TASTE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM YOUR OFFICE REGARDING THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SINCERELY A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER JOHN R. CUMMINGS JR.*AK

ENGINE SLUDGE AND PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE WHEN CAR IS STARTED. *AK

A ONGING PROBLEM RELATING TO THE CRUNCHING/CHUNKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA(FRONT). NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE TOYOTA OFFICIALS HAS NOT EVEN MERITED A MINOR CONCERN. ESTIMATIONS TO FIX THE STRUT ASSEMBLY VARIES FROM $500-$700 DOLLARS. SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE, SOMEBODY WOULD GET THE MESSAGE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. IF THEY CARED.*AK

FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *NM