IllustrationBRAKES KEEPS GRINDING AS IF IT WAS METAL TO METAL , CAUSING FRONT END TO VIBRATE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
1997 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 131 of 555 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
79 crash reports27 fire reports50 injury reports
What owners actually said
555 reportsMOTORIZED 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 HAZARDO…
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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 A…
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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 …
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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
Official recalls
399V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Nov 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.
97V213000 · Electrical System:ignition
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.
97V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
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.