Toyota Camry Complaints (1997)

555 consumer complaints on file.

#741141February 19, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#741164February 19, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740763February 12, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740773February 12, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
A GROANING OR CURNCHING NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMP OR DIPS ON THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#880231February 9, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#880074February 8, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740125January 30, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879098January 26, 2001
SUSPENSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878915January 24, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878791January 23, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739437January 16, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739232January 11, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#739052January 9, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877651January 8, 2001
SEATS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738730January 3, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738622January 2, 2001
SUSPENSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738652January 2, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877212January 2, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AT 40 MPH, FRONTAL CRASH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 3 FEET. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738311December 27, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PLASTIC LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE & COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR THROUGH DOOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#875560November 28, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota Camry