1997 Toyota Camry complaints

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, DID NOT HAVE SOLUTION FOR OCCURRING PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKES FAILED WHILE PARKING. VEHICLE JUMPED FOWARD AND CONSUMER HIT A METER. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 97V156000 FOR BRAKE VACUUM HOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ON 4/16/01 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM ON 4/19/01 AND REPLACED AIR FUEL RATIO (AFR) SENSOR. ON 6/26/02 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM ON 6/29/02 AND AGAIN REPLACED AFR SENSOR. IT COST OVER $700.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ARE THERE PROBLEMS WITH AFR SENSORS? --- ABOUT MAY, 1999, THE VEHICLE STARTED PRODUCING VISIBLE EXHAUST SMOKE AT START UP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TODAY. THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN STARTING A COLD ENGINE (WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS NOT RUN FOR FEW HOURS). VEHICLE RECENTLY PASSED A SMOG CHECK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. ARE THERE KNOW PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PRODUCING EXHAUST SMOKE WHEN STARTING A COLD ENGINE? IS THE EXHAUST SMOKE RELATED TO AFR SENSOR FAILURE?*AK

CONSUMER STATES FRONT END RATTLES AROUND THE TIRE AREAS ON BUMPY ROAD, DEALER REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS. *YD

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 60 MPH, ENGINECHECK LIGHT CAME ON. OWNER EVENTUALLY PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT ENGINE HAD SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ALMOST ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES FORWARD AS IF IT IS NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT HAD BEEN LOCKED INTO POSITION. AFTER AN OCCURENCE, I HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF THE SEAT WAS LOCKED BY SCOOTING FORWARD MANUALLY (WITHOUT USE OF THE LEVER). IT DOES NOT SLIDE AFTER DOING THIS, GIVING ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS LOCKED. THE SEATBACK OF THIS SAME SEAT DOES NOT STAY LOCKED WELL EITHER. SOMETIMES, JUST GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND LEANING ON THE SEAT, CAUSES IT (SEATBACK) TO SLIP OUT OF POSITION (BACKWARDS).*AK

CONSUMER STATES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE A LOT OF SMOKE COME OUT FROM THE EXHAUST.*JB

FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHT/ REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAS BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING VEHICLE PARTS TO NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY MAKING NOISE FROM ALL FOUR INDIVIDUAL SUSPENSION AND NEED HELP. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. BRAKES HAVE FAILED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ORIGINALLY REPORTED 2 WEEKS AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE. SINCE THEN HAVE RETURNED 5 TIMES FOR BRAKE FAILURE STILL NO SOLUTION LIVES HAVE BEEN IN JEAPARDY FEEL UNSAFE IN VEHICLE. DEALER RELUCTANTLY COMPLIES WITH ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BRAKES ARE UNDER WARRANTY PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. *AK

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT A NORMAL SPEED, WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISES. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST SAFE PLACE TO STOP, AT WHICH THE ENGINE CEASED FUNCTIONING. I'M TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR A COST OF $4500. I PRESENTLY OWE $12,000 ON THIS CAR. THIS IS DUE TO THE SO-CALLED "OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM" AND I DEMAND IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION IN THIS MATTER. EVIDENTLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION: FEATURES/2001OVERVIEW/TOYOTA/CAMRY.TMPL. *AK

BRAKES ARE INADEQUATE AND UNSAFE. IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEED THE DISCS WARP SO THE BRAKES PULSATE AND LOSE STOPPING ABILITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN MOUNTAIN DRIVING OR WHEN BRAKES ARE NEEDED FOR A QUICK STROP ON HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.*AK

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. DRIVERS SEATBELT WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND IS NOW A PROBLEM AGAIN. ESTIMATED COSTS IS $108 FOR NEW RETRACTOR AND $80 LABOR. *AK

ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE THAT IS COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *AK

IN1997 TOYOTA CAMRY FRONT AND BACK SUSPENSION MAKING NOISE IN COLD WEATHER MAY BE DEFECTIVE STRUTS OR SPRING NEED HELP.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. HEARD STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. ROD HAD BLOWN, AND BLOCK WAS CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, AND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE SERVICE INDICATION LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED AIR INTAKE SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ALREADY, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED.*AK

BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WITHIN THE LATCH ASSM OF BOTH REAR DOORS THE OCCUPANT IS UNABLE TO BE OPEN EITHER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR*AK.

TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES TO HAVE ISSUED ONLY A "SERVICE BULLETIN" TO ITS DEALERS ON THIS ISSUE. IT DOES ACKNOWLEDGE A HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF FAILED STRUTS AND MOUNTS ON 1997, 1998 AND1999 CAMRYS.*AK

DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES HIGH NUMBER OF STRUT AND MOUNT FAILURES ON 1997, 1998 AND 1999 CAMRYS. PROBABLY DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA AND WE OWNERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE COST. SEVERAL SERVICE WRITERS AT A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HAVE TOLD ME THAT MANY OF THESE STRUT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED. I'VE DRIVEN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS, 3, OVER 900,000 AND HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE STRUT ASSEMBLIES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AS IF THIS ASSEMBLY BREAKS, WHILE DRIVING, YOU MAY HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS AT TIMES OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE COMBINATION SWITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *YH

ENGINE CONSTANTLY SURGED. SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD GO OUT ANYTIME.*AK

THE FRONT UPPER STRUT HOUSINGS ON 1997 - 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY'S ARE DEFECTIVE. WHEN GOING OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY SHAKES AND RATTLES TERRIBLY. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUT UPPER ASSEMBLY AND WILL ONLY REPAIR IF THE VEHICLE IS ON THE 3/36 WARRANTY. IN MOST CASES, AS IN MINE, THE RATTLE AND SEVERE VIBRATION DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OFF WARRANTY. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH AUTOFAIR TOYOTA IN MANCHESTER, NH AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER STRUT ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED IT COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED ON WARRANTY. IT WAS FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT STRAND OR DISABLE THE CAR. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AT GRAPPONE TOYOTA IN CONCORD, NH AND THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECTIVE STRUT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE ALSO KNOWN MANY CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND EITHER HAD THE WORK DONE ON WARRANTY, OR PAID THE 450.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT THIS MATTER TO TOYOTA USA HEADQUARTERS, ONLY TO HAVE THEM SAY THAT THE REPAIR WOULD ONLY BE DONE IF IT WAS BROUGHT BACK ON WARRANTY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS STRUT DEFECT IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SERIOUS CRASH WITH RESULTING FATALITIES. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT IMPACT SAFETY, I BEG TO DIFFER, AS THE NOISE AND RATTLE FROM THE FRONT END IS CLEARLY INDICATIVE OF A COMPROMISED FRONT END. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT WILL

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT STRUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY FLUID LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT THERE COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, SHORTLY AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *SLC

FRONT END RATTLE-MOST SEVERE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND WHEN DRIVING CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF DAY. NOISE ABATES SOME WHAT AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROX. 15 MINUTES. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER . DEALER SAID UPPER FRONT STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. BOUGHT CAR USED AND NOTICED PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. CAR HAD 58000 MILES AT THAT TIME. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND DOES NOT WANT TO RECALL. I HAVE OWNED CAMRY'S IN THE PAST. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. EVEN ON HIGH MILEAGE CARS INADDITION THE CAR SETS TO LOW TO GROUND AND MTHE FRONT END SCRAPS WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAYS OR OTHER STEEP INCLINES. I HAVE OWNED CARS AND BEEN DRIVING FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CAR OR TRUCK OF THIS NATURE.*AK

UPON CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO NEUTRAL, PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, AND FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SQUEAKING OR GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 10 HOURS, CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS TO CONSUMER'S HAND AND ARM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE AIRBAG UNDER WARRANTY, SAYING CONSUMER CAUSED IT. *AK *JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG HIT BOTTOM CORNER OF DOOR, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY HALF WAY BETWEEN ANKLE AND KNEE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RIGHT FRONT STRUT BUSHING NEEDS REPLACED. DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT.*AK

THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE LEVER BEING IN PARK BUT NEUTRAL, THE DRIVER DID NOT REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT A PARKED TRUCK DAMAGING THE BACK OF THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE TRUCK. NLM

DEALER SAYS CAR NOT SERVICED PROPERLY....I HAVE CHANGED OIL AS REQUIRED AND CONTACTED PREVIOUS OWNER WHO SAYS THAT HE HAS DONE THE SAME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 25-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DRIVER'S OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED - PLASTIC HANDLE BROKE - DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. *AK

FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOICE. DEALER REPLACED A 2-PAGE LIST OF PARTS AT 22K MILES. THE NOISE IS BACK AT 44K MILES. ANY ADVISE?*AK

BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPAIRED FRONT BRAKES. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER STATES 2 FRONT STRUTS NEED REPLACED, ALSO AXLE BOOTS LEAKED AND DEALER REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THEN WOULD DIE, DEALER REPLACED THE ISC VALVE. WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

ENGINE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000-4000 MILES. I PREVIOUSLY HAD HONDA ACCORD WITH 186000 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WITH THIS ENGINE!*AK

AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BOUNCES SIDEWAYS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE STEERING CORRECTIONS CONSTANTLY IN ORDER TO AVIOD ACCIDENTS. WHILE DRIVING IN WYOMING AT 72 MPH , THE REAR WHEELS HIT A CRACK IN THE PAVEMANT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE SIDEWAYS AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SINCE VISITED THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE SHOCK MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND LOOSE. I REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND MOUNTS/SUPPORTS AT A COST OF OVER $1000 AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AT SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH AND CONSIDERING SELLING IT AND BUYING A SAFER VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES A CROSSING OF TWO WIRES IN THE TRUNK AREA CAUSED ENGINE MODULE AND INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH TO SHORT OUT. *SLC

AS CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. DEALER FOUND SHIFTER CABLE HAD STRETCHED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT MOUNT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY FOWLER TOYOTA TO BE BROKEN. IT ONLY HAS 31,000/WARRANTY IS 36,000/3 YEARS. FOWLER TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH A CAR WITH THAT MANY MILES. I CONTACTED THE DISTRICT MANAGER TO ASK THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HE REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THE 36 MONTHS. HE SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY FACTOR.*AK

WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE IT HESITATES AND THEN BACKS SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON TEXAS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MILAGE INTERVALS. ON ONE OF THE INVOICES I HAVE IT SHOWS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLUSHED WHEN I TOOK IT THE 60,000 SERVICE MAINTAINENCE. I HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL MAJOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE VISITS AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY CAR STILL EXIST. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP ,ON BEHALF OF THEIR NEGLIANCE , INSPITE OF ALL MY SERVICE VISITS, MY TRANSMISSION HAS WORSENED. PLEASE HELP! INVESTIGATE AND ARBITRATION. IF YOU NEED FURTHER DETAILS, YOU MAY CONTACT ME ANYTIME HOME OR WORK.*AK

THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION AND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE, THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR WAS FOR 60000 MILES, THE DEALER REFUSED TO ABIDE BY THE WARRANTY STATING THAT THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLUDGE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLES SLANTED ENGINE COULD POSSIBLE IMPEDE THE FLOW OF OIL AS IT RETURNES TO THE OIL CHAMBER THUS RESULTING IN SLUDGE. NLM

EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT DETERMINED THAT AN O-RING WAS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE, WHICH WAS BURNING UP ON ENGINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK