1997 Toyota Camry complaints

BRAKES KEEPS GRINDING AS IF IT WAS METAL TO METAL , CAUSING FRONT END TO VIBRATE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

MOTORIZED REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH A POPPING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD BEFORE THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BATTERY CORRODES, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT

AFTER A HEADGASKET REPAIR @ GRESHAM TOYOTA WHEN THE VEHICLE AC IS TURNED ON ENGINE SPEED INCREASES 500 RPMS EACH TIME THE AC PUMP CYCLES ON , MOSTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, INTERMITENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT A STOP THE VEHICLE CAN LURCH FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING POSING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANTLY FLUCTUATING ENGINE SPEED (EVERY 30 SECONDS AT STOP & EVERY 10 SECONDS WHILE IN MOTION ) IT IS CAUSING UN-NECESSARY WEAR & TEAR ON OTHER VEHICEL COMPONANTS IE. BRAKES,TRANSMISION AC COMPRESSOR COOLING FANS (RADIATOR) ETC.

THE EXTENDABLE FOOT USED TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE CENTURY SMART FIT PLUS INFANT SEAT HAS BROKEN DURING NORMAL USE/INSTALLATION. THE PLASTIC GUIDES ALONG WHICH THE FOOT MOVES UP AND DOWN HAVE BEEN BENT TOWARD THE REAR OF THE INFANT SEAT BASE, ALLOWING THE FOOT TO COLLAPSE AND LETTING THE SEAT-BASE COMBO SETTLE TO AN IMPROPER ANGLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE ACT OF TIGHTENING THE SEAT BELTS ACROSS THE BASE EXERTED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BEND THE GUIDES. THE PRDUCT WAS A CENTURY SMART FIT PLUS, SER. #4529, MANUFACTURED 4-21-98. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY, AND IS REPORTED HERE BY, OFFICER MARK BERGIN, ALEXANDRIA VA POLICE DEPARTMENT CHILD SEAT SAFETY CORDINATOR, 703-838-4763

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 1997 THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE MADE A GROANING SOUND AND SLIPPED DURING HARD BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR IN AT 20,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I JUST CHECKED WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE A BRAKE JOB (AT 34,500 MILES) AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD WITH THESE VEHICLES. APPARENTLY THE METALLIC DISC BRAKE PADS JUST DO THIS. TOYOTA IS OFFERING FREE REPAIRS (FOR EXAMPLE SEE WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.SYMESPASADENA.COM/SYMES1.HTM) FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY BY REPLACING THE METALLIC BRAKE PADS WITH ONES THAT ARE SO SOFT THAT THE BRAKES ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 8,000 MILES. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM, THIS IS THE MOST WIDELY SOLD CAR IN THE COUNTRY. THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES DO NOT JUST MAKE A NOISE, THEY SLIP AND FAIL TO GRAB WHEN HARD-BRAKING THE VEHICLE. *AK

CAR WRECK.AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. CONSUMER OBTAINED POLICE REPORT. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

SUN ROOF EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 53 MPH, AND COULDN'T CONTROL VEHICLE. DROVE OFF THE ROAD, AND CRASHED. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH BUT USUALLY IN WARM WEATHER.THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE.THERE IS NO FIX. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. ALSO THE REAR SHOULDERBELT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND THE OCCUPANT SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM, CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES SET 4 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SPARK PLUG LOOSE, REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC

WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN FRONT END SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES, CASUING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, ALSO FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER WERE INSTALLEDMEXHAUST FRONT PIPE WAS INSTALLED.*ADJ *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HUB CAPS ON THE ALUMINUM WHEELS WOULD BREAK WHEN TRYING TO PULL THEM OFF. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

VEHICLE EXPRIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM SQUEAKING WHILE STOPPING OR MAKING A TURN. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR REPAIR AND PARTS REPLACEMENT. BUT SQUEAKING STILL OCCURS. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, CAUSE IS ALSO UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

LIGHTER FLEW OUT OF LIGHTER HOLDER CAUSING A FIRE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTATED THE ROTORS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

SAFETY HAZARD QUESTION: DUE TO CAR AERODYNAMICS, DOORS, ESPECAILLY FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS CURVE INWARD TO A SHARP POINT AT TOP EDGE. POSES HAZARD TO PASSENGERS SHUTTING THE DOORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SHORTER STATURE BECAUSE IT IS AT FACE/HEAD LEVEL. HAVE HAD PASSENGERS CLOSING DOOR CATCH THAT POINT-EDGE, ONE REQUIRED SEVERAL STITCHES TO TEMPLE AFTER "CATCHING THE EDGE." HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MARY TAYLOR

DRIVER'S POWER SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH, AND MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN STOPPING AND GOING. *AK

PROBLEM STARTED 12/17/97 WITH 4581 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM BEING A NOISE UNDERNEATHJ THE CAR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITHE THE LAST BEING 2/2/99 TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM SOLVED. THEY HAVE TRIED ON EACH TIME WORKING WITH THE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY AND THE STRUTS. THEY HAD TOYOTA REP IN ON THIS LAST TIME AND HE SAID THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM MORE NOTICEABLE IN COLD TEMPERATURE AND THAT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO COME UP WITH A FIX. PROBLEM IS MAINLY A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. ALSO HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF POOR VISABILITY PATTERN THEY PROJECT AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS MATTER HAS ALSO HAD SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT CORRECTING WITH THE LAST BEING 2/2/99

THE CAR MAKES A GROANING NOISE OVER ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. THE CONDITION IS RAPIDLY GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA DEALER INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND ATTEMPTS TO DEVISE A REMEDY, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME, VIA THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP, THAT "IT IS SUSPENSION NOISE, WHICH IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR". TOYOTA REGIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AND TOYOTA EMPLOYED TECHNICAN HAVE BOTH BEEN IN THE CAR. TOYOTA FIXED THE LOOSE ROOF, HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFER OF A SOLUTION ON THE DETERIORATING CONDITION OF THE SUSPENSION. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT OFFER A SOLUITON. *AK

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS RESULTING IN BURNS ON HAND AND BRUISING.

HINGE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY OCCURS, FORCE KEY TO TURN ON ENGINE. *YC

BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED.

KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID FAILED. *YC

FUEL DOOR FAILED. *YC

ENGINE MAKING KNOCKING NOISE. NM

OIL PAN FAILED. MJS

TIRES REPLACED AT 22000 MILES - (DUNLOP STD. EQUIPMENT 170R14). *YC

INSIDE DOOR RELEASE FAILED. *YC

SEAT BELTS FAILED. NLM

BRAKES FAILED. *YC

POWER SEAT ADJUSTER DOES NOT WORK. *YC

BRAKES MAKING A LOUND GRINDING NOISE. NLM

ANTILOCK BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN USED. NLM

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. *YC

ISC VALVE FAILED. MJS

TURN SIGNAL BULB FAILED. *YC

DOOR PANELS INSIDE UPHOLSTRY FAILED. YH

FUEL SENDER FAILED. YH

LEFT TURN SIGNAL IN NOT WORKING PROPERLY. YH