Toyota Camry Complaints (1997)

555 consumer complaints on file.

#10231669June 20, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
ON 3/21/07, I PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES FROM MERCHANTS TIRE IN WILLIAMSBURG VA WHICH INCLUDED NEW VALVE STEMS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I DROVE AWAY FROM THE SERVICE FACILITY, MY RF TIRE WAS FLAT. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION BY THE SERVICE WRITER AT MERCHANTS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A LEAK HAD DEVELOPED FROM A CUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALVE STEM. IT WAS THE SERVICE WRITERS THEORY THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS NOT REPLACED DURING THE TIRE SERVICE. THE VALVE STEM WAS REPLACED AND NO PROBLEMS OCCURRED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ON 3/11/08, I COMPLAINED TO THE SAME FACILITY ABOUT ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH A CUT VALVE STEM BUT NO LEAKAGE OCCURRED. PROMPT REPLACEMENT WAS EFFECTED ON REQUEST AND AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220497March 9, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROUTE 93 SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS BEHIND A SEDAN. THERE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NOT GOOD; IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY. THERE WAS A TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE SEDAN AND IT HAD JUST PASSED ITS EXIT. THE TRUCK THEN WENT IN REVERSE TO GO BACK TO THE EXIT. THE SEDAN WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. BY THE TIME I HAD REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STOP. I SLID ON THE WET ROAD STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE SEDAN. I WOULD ASSUME THAT BECAUSE I CRASHED INTO A CAR GOING OVER 40 MPH, STRAIGHT ON, THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY BUT THEY DID NOT. SINCE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MY NECK WAS THROWN FORWARD AND ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE DISCOMFORT. EVERYONE WHO SAW MY CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT WERE AMAZED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219913March 3, 2008
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215767January 23, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILED TO STOP ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE ROAD WAS ICY BUT THE VEHICLE'S ABS WAS NOT WORKING AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AT ALL. I STEERING THE VEHICLE TO THE DITCH. I WAS LUCKY OF NOT HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND I WAS SAFE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CAMRY'S BRAKING, IT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203594September 20, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
REFERENCE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 06T016000. COOPER TIRE RECALL# 147 A STARFIRE FLITELINE IV TIRE CAN APART ON MY CAR DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I TOOK TIRE AND CAR TO A COOPER TIRE STORE (CORNER TIRE STORE PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA) AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL (COOPER RECALL# 147). I FEEL THAT THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER STARFIRE FLITELINE IV TIRES. THIS TIRE IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, IF IT HAD COME APART AT HIGH SPEED, NO ONE WOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS TIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203419September 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AUGUST OF 2002. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. ON THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CURRENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING DRIVEN. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR BECAUSE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE CRACKED AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199811August 16, 2007
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT ROLL BACK AFTER PULLED OUT. NOW THEY ARE STAYING ON THE SEATS. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTS SLOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199652August 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS OR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN CALIFORNIA, SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, FLAMES WERE SEEN, BY THE TIME HE REACHED THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. BY THE TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, MINUTES, THE DASH WAS ENGULFED. IT TOOK 15 MINUTES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICES PER MANUFACTURERS REQUIREMENTS, PLUS A SAFETY AND ENGINE EXAMINATION APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AGO. NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM OF ANY KIND WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10193118June 13, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES
WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 APPROACHING BALTIMORE, MD I BEGAN TO FEEL A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD KNOCKING LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. I THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWOUT. I STEERED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST LOCATION ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CONTINENTAL - SPORTIVE METRIC 195/ TUBULES RADIAL TIRE. THIS TIRE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF AND BENT THE EXTERIOR CAR PANEL RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BIDDER AND TO THE LEFT AND BELOW THE HOOD WHICH COVERS THE WHEEL WELL AND RIPPED UP MY WIRING HARNESS. A COURTESY VEHICLE STOPPED TO ASSIST ME AND CALLED IT IN TO AAA WHO SENT TOW TRUCK TO BRING ME TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I STILL HAVE NOT THE DAMAGE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR MAN WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THAT POWERED THE ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC AND REPLACED THE FUSES THAT BLEW. HOWEVER THE CAR WILL NEED SOME BODY/ELECTRICAL WORK TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TIRE. I KEPT THE TIRE AND THE PIECES IN THE TRUNK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190284May 9, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. SEAT BELT WAS EXTENDED TO USE, BUT ONCE EXTENDED AND SECURED WILL NOT RETRACT TO PROPER TENSION. HAS NOW HAPPENED A THIRD TIME TO SEPARATE BELTS. TWICE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, ONCE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IN THE FRONT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187720April 12, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING DOWN BELTWAY HEARD A POP AND THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED FIRE DEPT GOT THERE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE CAR. DRIVER GOT OUT SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179238January 20, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL BE UNLOCKED ITSELF WHEN THERE IS A SMALL EXPTERN FORCE ACT TO DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE DASH BOARD ALSO INDICATE THE DOOR IS UNLOCK AND THE DOME LIGHT IS ONL. FURTHER MORE, IT HAPPENDS SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHCIH IS NOT COMPLANATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178069January 8, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC ,WHERE HE DETERMINED THAT THE 90 DEGREE FUEL LINE CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK OVER THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL LINE REPLACED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM AND CHARGED THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK THE FULE PUMP WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167495September 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I-87. FIRE BEGAN SOMEWHERE UNDER THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED WHILE MOVING TO HIGHWAY SHOULDER. PASSENGERS WERE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163498July 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME, HEARD CLANGING NOISE AND CAR LOST POWER - CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALER. UPON EXAMINATION THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND: "#3 PISTON ROD BROKEN COMING THROUGH BLOCK" - THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. THE DEALER REPLACED SHORT BLOCK, OIL PUMP, BALANCED SHAFT & REPLACED NECESSARY FLUIDS. TOYOTA REPLACED THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, I INCURRED $1,560 IN LABOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152645March 14, 2006
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF "PLAY" AND "BODY ROLL" WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS/STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THAT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES. THE DEPTH WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED IS MUCH DEEPER AND REQUIRES A GREATER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. FINALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE POOR VISIBILITY BOTH IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED AND IN THEIR LOW MOUNTING OR ANGLE WHICH THEY SIT AT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. BEST REGARDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141810November 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:RACK AND PINION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
CAR : 97 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4 CYLINDER THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS 1) BLUE SMOKE AT COLD-STARTING (MILEAGE: 87 MILES -AUG. 2001) ENGINE GAVE OFF BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN COLD-STARTING IN THE MORNING. AFTER REPLACING VALVE STEM SEALS (PAID AROUND $1000 TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPAIR), THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 2) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKING (MILEAGE: 87KMILES -AUG. 2001) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKED AND A MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. 3) EGR VSV FAILURE (MILEAGE: 100 KMILES -OCT. 2004) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD II SCANNER SAYS "INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW." A MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VSV AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 4) FRONT STRUT MOUNTS FAILURE ((MILEAGE: 87 KMILES -AUG. 2001) BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS MADE NOISE. AFTER A TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED IT, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137676September 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED IT. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 2005. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS THE PISTON ROD THAT CAME LOOSE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THEY WERE NOT HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGE. *AK 11/02/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131891August 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID
I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 194,000 MILES. LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PULLED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE STARTER CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE CAR. I TRIED TO STALL IT OUT BY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, BUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO TRY TO START. I THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I THEN RAN INTO THE OFFICE TO GET A TOOL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED THE STARTER QUIT, BUT BY THEN THE SOLENOID WAS SO OVERHEATED IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURN. LUCKILY WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND. THE DEALER HAS ONLY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. I THOUGHT VEHICLES HAD A FAIL SAFE MEASURE THAT WOULD TERMINATE THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129522July 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY CHEK ENIGNE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS HEADED OUT FOR A 250 MILE TRIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THEIS LIST OF PROBLEMS. TIMING BELT REPLACMENT,WATER PUMP, RESEAL OIL PAN, REPLACE ENGINE PIPE, TRANSMISSION GASKET AND FILTER REPLACEMENT OXYGEN SENSOR, A/F SENSOR, EFI SERVICE, CAM SEAL, CRANK SEAL, OIL PUMP SEAL . BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. I WENT ON LINE AND REALIZED THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE. CALLED TOYAOTA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT EVALUATED FOR OIL SLUDGE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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