1997 Toyota Camry complaints

VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH CHAIN LINK FENCE, POSSIBLE FAILURE OF RECALL (99V-307) OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN #. *MJS

CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL 99V232000/STEERING WHEEL. MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL AFFECTED ONLY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERED IN JAPAN. ALSO, WHEN HANDLING STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER COULD FEEL PERSISTENT VIBRATION. *AK

THIS VEHICLE NEVER HAD REPAIRS OTHER THAN A SHOCK REPLACEMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NORMAL MAINTENENCE. THE VEHICLE LEFT HOME IN THE MORNING AND WITH IN 4 MILES SMKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE GUAGES SHOWED NORMAL RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. IT THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND ACTUALLY MELTED THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. TOYOTA WILL NOT RELEASE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SEAT GAVE AWAY. IT RECLINED STRAIGHT BACK IN A RESTING POSTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN OF NO HELP. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REGULAR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, SUCH AS 60,000 MILES SERVICE CHECK UP IN APR19 99. IN AUGUST, 19 99 FLUID WAS DIRTY. CONSUMER FELT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED IN APR 1999. ON 01-APR-2000, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WOULD PAY HALF OF THE $4000. *AK THE TRANSMISSION REMAINING SLUGGISH AND WITHOUT REVERSE ACTION. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IS ASKING THE DEALER TO PAY ALL THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

BRAKES, DRUMS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ADJUSTED OR REPAIED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH GRINDING, WARPING, SQUEALING AND BRAKE LOSS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP SAFELY AT TIMES. NLM

DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. NLM

VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CNOTACTED. AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *MJS

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING STEERING COLUMN VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH (99V-307). *MJS

THIS IS MAINLY AN INQUIRY REGARDING A FAILURE IN A SEATBELT THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AS IT IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM, WE ASSUMED IT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER. THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE RARELY USED. THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY AN SUV LAST YEAR BUT IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS IT WAS USED A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. *AK

97 CAMRY 4 CYLLINDER PURCHASED USED (34533 MI) SEPT, 99. WITHIN A WEEK NOTICED: FRONT GRILL BROKEN; GRINDING, SCRAPING NOISE IN FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM; DISTINCT "CHUNK" NOISE PRIMARILY IN RT FR WHEEL WELL AREA FROM MACPHERSON STRUT (LFT NOISY ALSO); CA

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES, AND FELT THE ABS KICKING. BUT, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

COMPANY AGREES THAT HEADLINER IS LOOSE WILL NOT REPAIR OR GIVE ESTIMATE BECASE NOT COVERED BY CURRENT TSB AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. TSB IS OUT CURRENTLY FOR SOME CAMRY'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER STATES THIS IS A SERVICE ADJUSTMENT AND NOT A DEFECT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND CAUSES A LOSS IN VALUE. *AK

THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT IS WIDESPREAD. RESULTS IN NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL WHEN HITTING A BUMP.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED REPEATEDLY AND BROKE AT THE LAST INSTANCE. YH

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE RATTLES AS IF THE STRUTS ARE LOOSE. THIS CAUSES A LOUD BANGING NOISE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE STRUTS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES LOCK UP, WILL NOT RELEASE EVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS,CAUSING MASS VIBRATION OR UNABLE TO STOP PROPERLY. HAVE REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS, PROFESSIONALLY 3 TIMES. WORKED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AND SITUATION STARTED AGAIN. 1ST INDICATION WAS BLAKES WERE ROCK HARD WHEN COMPRESSED. AS SPEED INCREASED, VIBRATION INCREASED. MECHANIC ADVISED ALSO BOLT CAME LOOSE FRM DRIVETRAIN, CAUSING BOUCEY EFFECT PRIOR TO BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK

BRAKES WILL LOCK UP,WILL NOT RELEASE EVEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, CAUSING MASS VIBRATION ON CAR. UNABLE TO STOP PROPERLY. HAVE REPLACED BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM PROFESSIONALLY 3 TIMES, WORKS FOR APPROX 1 MONTH THEN SYSTEM FAILS AGAIN. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. *AK

WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. SLAMMED ON BRAKES. HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE BACKWARDS. *AK

WITH MORE THEN TWO PASSENGERS BOTTOM OF AUTO SCRAPES THE SURFACE OF ROAD. *AK

ENGINES STALLS APPROX. 15 MIN. AFTER WARMED UP UPON ACCELERATION AND WILL DOES NOT RESTART FOR AT LEAST 1 MIN.*ET

WHEN GETTING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE & CLOSING THE DOOR, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD BE MAKING A CLICKING SOUNDS AS IF LOCKING. THE DOORS ARE NOT LOCKED. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED. THE SOLENOID WOULD MAKE THAT CLICKING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED NOR WAS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

FRONT STRUTS WERE A KNOWN DEFECT, DEALER TOLD ME, THEY BANG LOUDLY AND MAY FAIL I FEAR. DEALER SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME THE STRUTS WERE KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT KNOW THIS. NOW THEY ARE REALLY BAD, TO

AS MY CAR CRESTED A SMALL HILL ON 7-15-99, THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 4000 RPM AND THERE WAS NO POWER. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE WHICH THEN WORKED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT TWO BLOCKS LATER. I TOOK THE CAR TO WILKINS TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPLACED A SPEED SENSOR. THE CAR SEEMED OK BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED A FEW DAYS LATER. I RETURNED TO WILKINS TOYOTA 7-21. THEY REPLACED ANOTHER SPEED SENSOR, SAYING TOYOTA HAD A DEFECTIVE LOT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON BUT LATER WENT BACK OFF. WILKINS SAID THE FAULT CODE WOULD BE STORED ANYWAY AND BRING IT BACK. I DID. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FAULT CODE AND DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING. AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THE INTERNET BUT NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. THE CAR WAS THEN OK FOR A WHILE (I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS) UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON 10-27. I TOOK THE CAR TO WILKINS TOYOTA. THEY REPLACED YET ANOTHER SPEED SENSOR WHICH FAILED TONIGHT AFTER ONLY 15 MILES. THIS IS DANGEROUS. TWO OF THE FAILURES WERE ON THE FREEWAY, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND HAD TO USE 2ND GEAR AT IGH RPMS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD EXIT. THIS IS FOUR BAD SENSORS IN 3 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2500 MILES. I BELIEVE SOMETHING IN THE CAR IS CAUSING THE FAILURES BECAUSE TOYOTA COULDN'T HAVE SO MANY BAD ONES OR NO ONE'S CAR WOULD RUN

THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. SOMETIMES GRINDS AND VIBRATE. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DONE WORK TO THEM ONCE. THEY TELL ME EVERY IS TO CODE. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER22, 1999 THEY FAILED ON ME. DEALER SAYS BECAUSE THE CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE.

WHEELS LOCKED UP ON TWO OCCASIONS; ONE ON A STOP, AND THE OTHER ON A WET PAVEMENT. ALSO NOTICED GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT WHEELS. VEHICLE HESITATEING WHILE STOPPING. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

DRIVERS OUTSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE, RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER POWER SEAT MOVES FRONT/BACK WHEN ACCELERATING/BRAKING. VERY ANNOYING AND CHEAP FEELING. COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT INJURY.

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

MODEL XLS, POWER SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS MOVING WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING , JUST ENOUGH TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE . DLR CLAIMS NO REPAIR. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ONLY MECHANICALSEATS. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESTITATE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. WOULD GO SHORT DISTANCES AND MAKE CLANKING/SCRAPING NOISES. PULLED INTO GAS STATION & WAS INFORMED TO TOW VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. THOUGHT IT WAS DIFFERENTIAL. THERE WAS A LOT METAL INSIDE TRANSMISSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE STOPS AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. ACTS AS THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF GAS. CONSEQUENTLY I HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP AND SOMETIMES ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS.

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. NLM

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

DURING FRONT END COLLISION WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES (FRONT), NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS.

NOTHING

KEY INTERLOCK AND SOLENOID SAFETY.

BRAKES PULSE WHEN PRESSING PEDAL. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS.

IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM--SOLENOID. RECALL.

IGNITION SWITCH/LOCK.

THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOW JUST DIED. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST BY A BODY SHOP. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES THE LUGS: NUTS BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

DURING COLLISION AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING THE DRIVER AND HIS WIFE TO SUSTAIN SOME INJURIES. *YC