Seat Belts. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

134 reports

68,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003

Latches/locks/linkages

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#92V135000 (LATCHES AND LOCKS). DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. * TS THE DRIVER DOOR'S ELECTRIC LOCK OPENED FROM THE LOCK POSITION. RECALLL# 92V135000 *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10001624

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2003

Exterior Lighting

THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED A YELLOW BOX IN THE TRUNK TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018297

97,000 miles · Apr 30, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017851

186,253 miles · Mar 4, 2003

Seat Belts

I HAVE 1990 TOYOTA CAMRY AND DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, GOT STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. 8NLM

NHTSA ODI #10008362

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002

Structure

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE DEALER HAVE REPAIR THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR THEY ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ODI #8021579

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2002

Exterior Lighting

WHILE CONSUMER WALKED AROUND THE CAR NOTICED THAT TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013825

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2002

Unknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUEOUSLY COME ON. CONSUMER HAS HAD IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007131

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2001

Structure

CHECKED ON RECALL. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1990 TOYOTAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT AM TOLD THIS VEHICLE NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH THE RECALL NUMBERS. HOW CAN SAME MADE YEAR BE RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THIS VEHICLE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #752282

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2001

Latches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

DOOR LOCK MECHANISM STUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOOR USING HANDLE FROM INSIDE WHILE LOCK BUTTON WAS DOWN. AFTER STICKING, LOCK BUTTON COULD NOT BE MOVED MANUALLY, WITH THE POWER LOCK SWITCH, OR WITH THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE. DRIVER WAS LOCKED IN. CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE STICKING LINKAGE THAT OVERPOWERED THE RETURN SPRING. LUBRICATION SOLVED THE PROBLEM (FOR THE TIME BEING), BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER THE DOOR WAS DISMANTLED. POOR DESIGN LEAVES A SMALL SPRING TO OVERCOME ANY LINKAGE FRICTION CAUSED BY WEAR, DIRT BUILDUP, CORROSION, LACK OF LUBRICATION, ETC. AFTER PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED, STICKING SITUATION COULD BE CREATED ON DEMAND BY SIMPLY PULLING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WHEN THE LOCK KNOB WAS DOWN. STICKING LINKAGE WAS VERY CONSISTANT. IN MY OPINION, THIS REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR THE DRIVER TO TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT FIRST UNLOCKING IT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND BEING LOCKED IN THE CAR WITH NO RECOURSE. THIS PROBLEM IS WORSENED BY THE FACT THAT THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED INDEPENDENTLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCKING MECHANISM LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER IT OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. BOTH LINKAGES STUCK IN THE SAME SPOT AND BOTH WERE REPEATABLE. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE'S A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT REVEALS ITSELF AS THE MECHANISM AGES AND WEARS, AND IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING LOSS OF POWER WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT EXIT THROUGH THE POWER WINDOWS.

NHTSA ODI #750155

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2001

Parking BrakeSeat Belts

MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. EMERGENCY RELEASE LEVER LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND MAKES AN INTERMITTANT LOW VOLUME BUZZING SOUND. SEATBELT LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON, WHETHER LAP BELT IS LATCHED OR UNLATCHED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748524

Official recalls

16V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler

Jun 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.

92V135000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Sep 22, 1992

THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

Remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA97008 · Leaking Fuel Tank

Opened Apr 23, 1997 · Closed Apr 22, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK

PE97003 · Leaking Fuel Tank

Opened Jan 21, 1997 · Closed Apr 23, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.