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2001 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

146 reports with mileage · 126 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

70 crash reports11 fire reports40 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

47 reports
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58,000 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

PETITION I AND MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WERE ON HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE BURST AND CAUGHT ON FIRE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 EXL. WE HAD DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WITH TOYOTA AND ALL CHANGES OF THE OIL REQUIREMENTS ON TIME. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONLY 4 WEEKS PRIOR THE ACCIDENT. WE WENT THROUGH TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE AL…

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PETITION I AND MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WERE ON HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE BURST AND CAUGHT ON FIRE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 EXL. WE HAD DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WITH TOYOTA AND ALL CHANGES OF THE OIL REQUIREMENTS ON TIME. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONLY 4 WEEKS PRIOR THE ACCIDENT. WE WENT THROUGH TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE ALSO LOST 27,000 INVESTMENTS IN THE CAR. TOYOTA'S ENGINES HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY DECLINE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN LOSE A LOVED ONE. I PETITION THE AGENCY FOR A RECALL, BECAUSE OF SERIOUSNESS OF FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168966

56,000 miles · Aug 14, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON REPEATEDLY WITH CODE P0446 EVEN AFTER GETTING IT REPAIRED TWICE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165478

58,000 miles · Jul 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. ENGINE OIL LEAKING. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTILL I WENT TO 65K SERVICE BY DEALER. THE LEAKING OIL MALFUNCTION POWER STEERING

NHTSA ODI #10163038

83,000 miles · Mar 13, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I HEARD A NOISE WITH A LOUD BANG ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE MOTOR STOPPED. I HAD TO GET OUT BECAUSE SMOKE CAME FROM ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH FEAR THAT A FIRE WOULD START I GRABBED MY GIRLS AND GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT THERE HE OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY …

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WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I HEARD A NOISE WITH A LOUD BANG ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE MOTOR STOPPED. I HAD TO GET OUT BECAUSE SMOKE CAME FROM ALL OVER THE FRONT OF THE CAR WITH FEAR THAT A FIRE WOULD START I GRABBED MY GIRLS AND GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT THERE HE OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY MOTOR THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE MOTOR TO BE FIXED I NEED TO HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGES WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152637

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

BACK IN SEPT 2004 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS REPLACED WITH GENUINE TOYOTA PARTS. THEN THE LIGHT RETURNED ON 10/04/04, 11/23/04 AND 4/7/05 DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE CANISTER WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10116628

96,000 miles · Dec 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103840

62,560 miles · Nov 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

FAULTY CHARCOAL CANISTER

NHTSA ODI #10098596

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THEN, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MACHINE SHOWED THAT EMISSION CHARCOAL CANISTER, AND VACUUM SWITCH VALVE WERE NOT WORKING AND…

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WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC PLACED THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THEN, MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE MACHINE SHOWED THAT EMISSION CHARCOAL CANISTER, AND VACUUM SWITCH VALVE WERE NOT WORKING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083228

66,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR (A 2001, 4-CYLINDER, TOYOTA CAMRY LE; VIN #: [XXX]) HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 26 DAYS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THAT DEALERSHIP WHEN IT SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR STARTED TO JERK SPORADICALLY AND HESITATE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR GOT WORSE IT STARTED TO …

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MY CAR (A 2001, 4-CYLINDER, TOYOTA CAMRY LE; VIN #: [XXX]) HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR 26 DAYS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THAT DEALERSHIP WHEN IT SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR STARTED TO JERK SPORADICALLY AND HESITATE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR GOT WORSE IT STARTED TO MAKE A CLICKING-AND-CLACKING NOISE AND SEEMED THAT IT WOULD DIE AT ANYTIME. AS I APPROACHED THE SERVICE STATION, I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE. I ASKED THE MECHANICS AT THE STATION TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR, ONE OF THE MECHANICS ASKED HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS CAR?? WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A 2001, HE SAID THAT HE?D NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IN A 2-YEAR OLD CAR. HE RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE A REPAIR THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TWO LETTERS AND SEVERAL CALLS LATER AND MY CAR STILL SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM PERCY CHAN OF TOYOTA'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER (310-468-2846) ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. [XXX]. [XXX] CALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY (APPROX 66,060 MILES). HE THEN SAID THAT HE'D GOTTEN AN EMAIL FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS FOR $500 (THIS IS DOWN FROM $5,500; THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. I RECEIVED A SECOND CALL FROM [XXX]. [XXX] ON OCTOBER 20, 2003. HE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE'D REVIEWED THE LETTER AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEALERSHIP WOULD LET MY CAR SIT ON THE LOT TAKING UP SPACE. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN MONEY FROM TOYOTA TO MAKE REPAIRS UNDER THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM. I RECEIVED A THIRD CALL FROM [XXX]. [XXX] ON OCTOBER 21, 2003. HE CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THE [XXX]. BOOTS WAS NO LONGER THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE NEW MANAGER WAS [XXX]. HE SAID THAT [XXX] CHECKED WITH THE MECHANIC AND SAID THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY VALVOLINE WHO HAD DONE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

NHTSA ODI #10071110

326 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CAR MAKES LOUND RATTLING NOSEY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. THE ALSO TAKE A WHILE BEFORE PUTTING OFF . CAR DEALER WON'T FIX OR LOOK AT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10069167

Official recalls

2

01V072000 · Structure:frame And Members

Mar 5, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

01V012000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jan 16, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE OR REMAIN IN ITS MOST RECENT POSITION REGARDLESS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

1

PE02079 · 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.

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