1997 Toyota Camry complaints

HAVE PICTURES OF 1ST TIRE FAILURE- 2ND TIRE IS STARTING TO SEPARATE INTERNALLY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: E2J957AT36 TIRESIZE: 195/70R14)

TRANSMISSION MAKES A NOISE WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE OR PLACED IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE DIES LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE.

EXPERIENCING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, SOUNDS LIKE STRUTS, OR SUSPENSION IS GOING OUT, ROUGH SOUND. NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS, HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL? HAVE NOT TAKEN IN FOR SVC YET. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *JB

TOYOTA HAS A LIFETIME GUARANTEE REGARDING MUFFLERS, EXHAUST PIPES, SHOCK ABSORBERS, STRUTS, AND STRUT CARTRIDGES, IT STATES THAT TOYOTA WILL REPLACE PARTS AND DO LABOR FOR FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD STRUTS REPLACED AND WAS NOT REIMBURSED. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A RUBBING SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL, NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK

FRONT REAR STRUTS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP NOT GOING TO REPLACE AT THEIR OWN COST.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING. NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NEEDED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK

NOISE IN FRONT END GOING OVER BUMPS, TOPS OF STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED DEFECTIVE. *AK

THE BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEALING, I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL....THE CAR KEEPS DYING WHEN I AM COMING TO SLOW DOWN TO TAKE RIGHT HAND TURN. HAS BEEN DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I DRIVE THROUGH TWO ROTARYS, IT HAS STAULED AROUND THEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED. *AK

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A SMELL OF SULFUR THAT COMES INTO THE CAR WHENEVER I ACCLERATE OR OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS PASSED INSPECTION CHECKS. ON THE ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC I CHANGED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND WAS EVEN TOLD TO CHANGE TO HIGH TEST GASOLINE WHICH HELPED SLIGHTLY BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER(LEE TOYOTA)WHO TOLD ME THAT NOTH8ING IS WRON WITH THE CONVERTER. MY PRIVATE MECHANIC INSISTS THAT THE CONVERTER IS THE CAUSE OF THE SMELL, BUT BECAUSE IT PASSES THE EMISSIONS TEST IT IS NOT CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE. A NEW CONVERTER WILL COST ABOUT $1200, BUT A DEFECTIVE ONE IS WARRANTED UP TO 80000 MILES

EXPERIENCED BUMP AND NOISE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. DEALER ADVISED I NEEDED TO REPALCE THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, COST $700.00! CAR ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND WAS TOLD NO. DEALER DID ADVISE THAT THEY HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED CAMRY'S IN THE PAST AND HAD NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT LEAST PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I CHECKED OUT YOUR WEBSITE AND NOTICED THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE AND ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE. I DID SEND A SEPARATE E-MAIL TO YOU BEFORE I CAME ACROSS THIS FORM. *AK

THIS IS SECOND FAILURE AFTER 9,000 MILES ON REPLACEMENT,IT HAPPENED AT START UP IN GARAGE, GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, INDICATING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, FORTUNATELY, IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE DRIVEN, IT WOULD OBSCURED VISION OF DRIVER,THUS CAUSING ACCIDENT, TOYOTA NOTIFIED, COULD CARE LESS!*AK

A GROANING OR CURNCHING NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMP OR DIPS ON THE ROAD. *AK

BRACKET MOUNTS FOR STRUTS ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE BROKE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE SECOND AC COMPRESSOR FAILED AFTER 9,000 MILES, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME,TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER COSTS, WANTS 1400.00 TO REPLACE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT STRUT ROD KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART ON BACK ORDER FOR TWO TO THREE MONTHS. ASKING NHTSA HELP ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

MOISTURE BUILD UP AND FROZE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE. THIS CAUSED INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V156000. *AK *SLC

NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, AT ANY SPEED. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES HAD FAILED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM. OUR MECHANIC ORDERED PARTS, 2-3 WEEK NATIONWIDE BACKORDER. WE TRIED ALL OF THE TOYOTA DEALERS IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. (THE ONLY PLACE TO OBTAIN THESE PARTS.) 55,000 MILES IS MUCH TO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONENT TO FAIL AND THE BACKORDER WOULD INDICATE THAT A PROBLEM IS SURFACING THAT TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT. *AK

BRAKES MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FIRST TIME UNDER A MANUFACTURER REPLACEMENT BULLETIN. THE 2ND TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED WAS IN 6/99 (BRYAN EASLER TOYOTA...EXCELLENT SERVICE). THIRD TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED -- 9/2000 AT 55,000 MILES (TOYOTA OF CONCORD). GRINDING NOISE HAS STARTED AGAIN -- 4 MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT WITH ONLY 8,000 MILES ON THEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR 3.5 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES SO MANY TIMES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. A FRIEND, ALSO WITH A '97 CAMRY, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IF IT WERE A COSMETIC PROBLEM, IT WOULD BE NO BIG DEAL. BUT THESE ARE BRAKES -- A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR. ANY HELP TO GET THIS RESOLVED WILL BE APPRECIATED.*AK

CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS CAME TO STOP SIGN, STOPPED THEN PRESASED ON GAS, ENGINE REVVED, BUT ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, THEN POWER KICKED IN AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. TEN MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED THE CAR, AND HAD A HARD TIME PULLING IT INTO THE GARAGE, IT DID THE SAME THING IN ALL GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE. THE NEXT MORING IT DID THE SAME THING, AFTER MOVING IT WAS FINE UNTIL STOPPED. THE ENGINE SOUNDED FINE AND YOU WOULD HEAR IT REVING THEN POWER KICKS IN. BY THAT AFTERNOON THE CAR WAS FINE AND AFTER TWO DAYS AT THE DEALER THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING. I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE OR I TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BROKE WHICH CAUSED SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. AK *SLC

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND ALSO REPORTED THAT CAR MAKES "CREAKING NOISES" WHENEVER GOING OVER BUMPS, INTERSECTIONS, DRIVEWAYS, ETC. WAS INFORMED VERBALLY BY SERVICE ATTENDANT THAT THE "STRUT TOP MOUNTS" ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $500.00 THIS OCCURRED ONLY ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.

AT 40 MPH, FRONTAL CRASH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 3 FEET. *AK

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RATTLES AS IF THE STRUTS ARE LOOSE. DEALER STATES UPPER STRUT BUSHINGS ARE NOW WORN OUT, BUT NOT A HAZARD. PEOPLE RIDING IN MY CAR STATE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF, WHEN THE CAR RUNS OVER BUMPS. THIS NOISE STARTED DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE ONLY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE RIGHT STRUT WAS FINE. TODAY, THEY STILL SAY THE STRUTS ARE STILL FINE, BUT NOW BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS SOUND LOOSE. *AK

INADEQUTE STRAIN RELIEF ON CABLE LEADING FROM CHASSIS TO TRUNK LID ALLOWED/CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON WIRES LEADING TO MULTIPLE INSULATION FAILURES. FURTHERMORE, SOME STRANDS OF AT LEAST ONE WIRE BROKE, PROTRUDED, AND POSSIBLY SHORTED TO ANOTHER WIRE CAUSING THE FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT TO BLOW. THIS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS TO BE OFF, A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT /DUSK/DAWN DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM REPORTING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING CC'D ON ANY CORRESPONDENCE AT [email protected]

PLASTIC LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE & COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR THROUGH DOOR. *AK

SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKES, THE BRAKE SHOES BREAK AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 10 TO 15 THOUSAND MILES. *SLC

HAD TO REPLACE 3 MOTORS IN DRIVER'S POWER ADJUSTING SEAT. PIN KEPT FALLING OUT. DEALER REPAIRED FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY, COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, SEAT HAS BEEN LOOSE. DEALER SAID NEW SEAT TRACK NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AT $1600. ADD VIN AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I HAD THEM REPLACED. LESS THAN SIX MOTHS LATER THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. ONE OF MY ELECTRIC LOCKS NO LONGER WORKS. THE DOOR DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER FIXED IT, AND THEN THE LOCK ASSEMBLY WENT BAD A MONTH LATER. MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS, IT S NOT THE BULB. THE SHIFTER LIGHT WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WENT OUT. MY ALARM SYSTEM WILL NOT BEEP TO CONFIRM ITS OPERATING. I WAS CHARGED TO HAVE IT RESET AND IT WENT BAD LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER. NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.

CONFLICT ON OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION VS DEALER RECOMMEDATIONS REGARDING TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. *CJ

GAS PEDAL STICKS AND MUCH PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO GET DEPRESS IT, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER DECELERATING FROM STOPS AND AFTER COASTING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*ET

WHEN TURNING ON HEATING SYSTEM THERE IS A BAD SMELL COMING THR0UGH THE VENT SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN FIVE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES SCRAPED REAR WHEEL WELLS AND UNDERCARRIAGE SCRAPED PAVEMENT. *SLC

MAIN STEERING COLUMN LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND ALL DASHLIGHTS TO GO OFF.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, IMPACT SPEED 40-45 MPH. BOTH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS COLLAPSED IN THE RECLINING POSITION, VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END, UPPER STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED TWICE, STABILIZER AND BUSHINGS REPLACED, AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT, DUE TO FRONT END PROBLEMS THE TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY ORDERED A LEFT-SIDE BACK SEAT BELT RATHER THAN THE CENTER BELT. THEY RE-ORDERED AND TOLD ME THE BELT SHOULD BE IN TODAY (9/13/00). I CALLED TODAY AND AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WILL NOT BE HERE UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. I ASKED IF IT WAS COMING FROM JAPAN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT PROBABLY WAS. THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFEFY ISSUE AS I HAVE THREE CHILDREN - AGES 4, 9 & 10. ALL ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE FRONT SEAT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT.*AK

I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUDDERED AND I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY, RELEASED THE HOOD AND STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR THRU THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS ON FIRE SO I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED SHUT THE HOOD AND CALLED FOR HELP. FORTUNATELY A MOTORCYCLE COP FROM THE SAN DIEGO POLICE WAS AT THE SCENE JUST MOMENTS AFTER IT HAPPENED. HE RADIOED FOR A FIRE TRUCK WHICH ARRIVED ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER AS THIS HAPPENED DURING THE RUSH HOUR (5:45 PM). THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES BY THEN. AAA HAS NOT DETERMINED YET IF THE CAR WILL BE TOTALLED BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT WILL BASED ON THE EXTENT OF THE VISIBLE DAMAGE. I HAD THIS CAR SERVICED BY KEARNY MESA TOYOTA ABOUT TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM SWITCH VALVE.

NO SUMMARY

NO SUMMARY

MY 1997 CAMRY IS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS THE DEALER INFORMERD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEED A NEW SHORT BLOCK AND OVERHAUL, AND COST AND LABOR WILL BE $5952.56 PLUS TAX , AND THAT THE WORK WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRENTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE RECIEPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGES AND IN WHICH PAID THE COST OF $2011.52 JUST FOR THEM TO TEAR APART THE ENGINE AND FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE HAD ENGINGEERS FROM TOYOTA COME OUT TAKE PICTURES OF THE ENGINE AND TAKE A OIL SAMPLE AND AT THAT TIME THEY MADE THE DECISION THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THE CAR UNDER THE 60,000 MILE WARRENTY. THE EXPLANATION TO ME WAS THE PISTON RINGS WAS BURNT AND THE CYCLINDER WAS DEAPLY SCARED AND THERE WAS METAL FRAGMENT IN THEOIL PAN AND OIL PUMP AND THAT IT ALL NEEDED REPLACING. I DISAGREED WITH THEM WHEN THEY STATED TO ME THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF BAD OIL IN THE ENGINE ALSO I DID GIVE THEM THE LAST OIL CHANGE RECIEPT I DID WHICH WAS ONLY THE MONTH BEFORE AND ALSO TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR USELY SET IN STOREAGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM THE ONLY DRIVER TO THE VEHICLE AND I WAS DEPLOYED AT SEA EVERY THREE MONTHS. ALSO ON THE $2011.52 PAYMENT THEY QUOTED ME A COST OF 2506.00 PLUS TAX , ALSO THE REASON I'M WRITING THIS IS BECAUSE A FRIEND GAVE ME A COPY OF THE OCTOBER 1999 CONSUMER REPORTS AD ON HIDDEN WARRANTIES AND THAT DID SOUNDED LIKE ONE OF THOSE CASES.

WHEN STARTING CAR WITH KEY IGNITION, CAR IS LOCK WILL NOT TURN IF YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT OR RIGHT HARD.

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, IT FELT LIKE ENOUGH PRESSURE WAS NOT BEING APPLIED. BRAKES WOULD GRAB AND RELEASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE ORIGINAL REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE 3/4" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH 7/8". *YH

MOTOR REQUIRES REBUILDING DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED IN EXCESS OF WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS, BUT FACTORY WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. *ET

PHONE AFTER 7/26 IS 847-836-1632. TOYOTA NOR DEALER WILL TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AS THEIR 36 MONTH WARANTY EXPIRED. SINCE I HAVE NOT HAD MY MINOR SERVICE DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY THAT I SHOW NO LOYALTY AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE NO LOYALTY TO ME. I ASKED HOW MANY ABS SENSORS HAVE FAILED AND THEY GIVE ME NO REPLY. VERY STRONGLY THEY HAVE WRITTEN THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS 36 MONTHS AND THAT IS IT -- PERIOD! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK

I AM UNABLE TO GET A TETHER ANCHORAGE INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE, AND WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN GO ABOUT GETTING ONE AND HAVING IT INSTALLED. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THEY CANNOT SELL ME THE PART OR HAVE IT INSTALLED, BECAUSE THE "BOLT" IS NOT APPROVED BY THE US GOVERNMENT. HELP PLEASE!*AK