NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
40 reportsClear category filter78,238 miles · Jul 21, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10129522
101,000 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THEN TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10107189
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower TrainInjury
WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO …
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WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMERS RADIO WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS. VEHICLE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER SIDE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE DOES NOT WORK. THE RUBBER ON THE MOTOR MOUNT DOES NOT LAST AND BREAKS. THE VEHICLE JERKS REPEATEDLY. *TC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CURRENTLY HAS A PERMANENT BACK PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE NOT WORKING. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10092351
166,064 miles · Oct 1, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrash
MY AUTOMOBILE SUSTAINED A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH BUT THE SAFETY AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE OR INFLATE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10093413
10,000 miles · Sep 15, 2004
Electrical System
TRUNK HINGES ARE CUTTING INTO THE WIRE HARNNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS. FUSES FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER INFOMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091047
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOMING NOISE. THEN, SAW FIRE THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TORE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10071553
46,000 miles · Apr 19, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. NO FIRE WAS REPORTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10067354
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055338
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE TRIED TO START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10020464
79,500 miles · Mar 31, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
POOR DESIGN AND BUILD - 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER). I OWN A 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY LE. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, ITS STARTER WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. THIS MORNING, THE DEALER FOUND THAT ITS ENGINE VALVE SEALS WORN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED (OVER $1000 REPAIR). I CHECKED T…
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POOR DESIGN AND BUILD - 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER). I OWN A 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY LE. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, ITS STARTER WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. THIS MORNING, THE DEALER FOUND THAT ITS ENGINE VALVE SEALS WORN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED (OVER $1000 REPAIR). I CHECKED THE INTERNET CAR FORUMS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1997 MODEL YEAR 4-CYLINDER TOYOTA CAMRY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND BUILD PROBLEM. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S POOR DESIGN AND BUILD. ALL 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY TOYOTA. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10013730
Official recalls
3Nov 1, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
Nov 20, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A POSSIBLE JAMMING OF THE LOCK PIN OF THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER SUCH A CONDITION, SHOULD A DRIVER FAIL TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO "PARK" POSITION AND ALSO FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID.
Sep 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
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
3PE02079 · Engine Compartment Fire
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI'S DATA ANALYSIS FOUND THE FIRES RATES TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOW AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG SIX MODEL YEARS AND SIX DIFFERENT ENGINE CONFIGURATIONS.ODI EXAMINED A VARIETY OF ROOT CAUSES, THOSE BEING DETONATION (RESULTING IN OIL PAN PUNCTURE FROM CONNECTING ROD), STARTER FIRES, VARIOUS FUEL RELATED FIRES, LEAKING OIL FILTERS, WIRING ISSUES, IMPROPER REPAIRS AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKS.NONE OF THE ISSUES EXAMINED HAD REPORTS THAT INDICATED A TREND WHEN NORMALIZED FOR POPULATON AND EXPOSURE.SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR FULL DETAILS.
DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
PE97034 · Ignition Interlock Failure
Opened Jul 16, 1997 · Closed Nov 28, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
No summary supplied.
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