IllustrationAfter an alignment my steering wheel is not straight. If held straight, the car goes off the road to the right. Took it back, now it goes off to the left. Sitting still the steering wheel will turn 360 degrees around and hangs in spots when turning it back.
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.
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
250–25K
2825–50K
2250–75K
2975–100K
27100–150K
15150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
11 reportsTHE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, I STEERED IT TO THE ROADSIDE TO CALL FOR A TOW. SPEAKING WITH INSURANCE TOW SERVICE THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. AS I SUPPLIED INFORMATION THE SMOKE VOLUME INCREASED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. SMOKE VOLUME CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED, I STEERED IT TO THE ROADSIDE TO CALL FOR A TOW. SPEAKING WITH INSURANCE TOW SERVICE THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. AS I SUPPLIED INFORMATION THE SMOKE VOLUME INCREASED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. SMOKE VOLUME CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND A CRACKLING/BURNING SOUND STARTED. I TOLD THE AGENT I HAVE TO GO AND CALLED 911. I SUPPLIED DETAILS OF THE AREA WHERE THE INCREASING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM, THE CAR LOCATION AND MY STATUS. IN THE CAR I PULLED THE HOOD LEVER, WENT OUTSIDE AND STOPPED SHORT OF OPENING THE HOOD. REALIZING I HAD NO MEANS TO PUT OUT THE INCREASING FIRE I HAD TO WATCH MY CAR BURN UNTIL FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. I WALK A DISTANCE AWAY AND WAITED, WHILE THE WHOLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WENT UP IN SMOKE....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF UPDATED 11/06/2017*CN
MY CAR HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TEST. MY MECHANIC HAS DONE EVERYTHING UNDER CODE P0401-EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW AND HAS SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IN SPEAKING WITH OTHERS AND READING MANY ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WE WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. DRIV…
Read full complaint
MY CAR HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PASS THE EMISSIONS TEST. MY MECHANIC HAS DONE EVERYTHING UNDER CODE P0401-EGR INSUFFICIENT FLOW AND HAS SPOKEN WITH TOYOTA BUT NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IN SPEAKING WITH OTHERS AND READING MANY ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WE WONDER WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. DRIVING ILLEGALLY IS TERRIBLE, BUT SOME OF US WHO ARE POOR, ARE FORCED TO DO SO. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING TO HELP US TOYOTA OWNERS.
I WAS HIT BY A SPEEDING DRIVER IN CROSS TRAFFIC. (A LOT OF PEOPLE A RUNNING THROUGH RED LIGHTS!) THE FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL AREA WAS BADLY DAMAGED, RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS TORN OFF AND HOOD WAS BUCKLED. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT STOP ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MY HEAD TO HIT THE WINDSHIE…
Read full complaint
I WAS HIT BY A SPEEDING DRIVER IN CROSS TRAFFIC. (A LOT OF PEOPLE A RUNNING THROUGH RED LIGHTS!) THE FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL AREA WAS BADLY DAMAGED, RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS TORN OFF AND HOOD WAS BUCKLED. MY SEAT BELT DID NOT STOP ME FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MY HEAD TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BREAKING THE GLASS. I RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR MY HEAD INJURY. TWO SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT FAILED. MY CAR HAS BEEN "TOTALED" BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JS
MY 2001 CAMRY V 6 STARTED BUCKING AND SPEEDING AND SLOWING. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SPEED SENSOR FAILURE (OP CODE 500). *TR
I WAS TRAVELING IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 ON I 75 S FROM ROYAL OAK TO DETROIT, MI AROUND 2:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 6TH 2009 ,WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 70 MILES/HR AND TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO WARDS THE SHOULDER AND POWER STEERING FAILE…
Read full complaint
I WAS TRAVELING IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 ON I 75 S FROM ROYAL OAK TO DETROIT, MI AROUND 2:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 6TH 2009 ,WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 70 MILES/HR AND TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO WARDS THE SHOULDER AND POWER STEERING FAILED AND I SAW ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING, THEN TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES FAILED. I QUICKLY USED HAND BRAKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOCKED. I QUICKLY PULLED BOTH THE KNOBS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME FIRE ENGINE CAME TO THE SCENE, THE CAR WAS ON HUGE FIRE. MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUES IN THE PAST. I DID CHANGE TIMING BELT AS PER THE COMPANY GUIDELINES AND AT AUTHORIZED DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. I CHANGED THE TIRES 2 MONTHS AGO AND OIL CHANGE 1 AND HALF MONTH AGO. NEITHER COPS NOR ME COULD COME TO A CONCLUSION ON WHAT WENT WRONG. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW AS IT MAY HELP TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF CARS IF YOU INVESTIGATE MY CAR. I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE. *TR
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY CAR SURGED FOWARD. I HAD WRECKED INTO A CAR BECAUSE MY CAR, A 2001 CAMRY SURGES FOWARD AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED A VENT PIPE HAD FALLEN ACROSS THE BRAKE AND AT THE SAME TIME WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. *JB
VEHICLE SLUGGISH STARTING . FEELS LIKE STARTING ON 3 CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF 4. DEALER DOES NOT EVEN OFFER SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AS IN ODI ID#890522. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL .. HASN'T STARTED BACKFIRING ..YET.. BASICALLY THE SAME COMPLAINT AS THE AFOREMENTIONED FILE. TAKES TWO OR THREE TRIE TO START ..WEATHER NORMAL. *…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE SLUGGISH STARTING . FEELS LIKE STARTING ON 3 CYLINDERS INSTEAD OF 4. DEALER DOES NOT EVEN OFFER SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AS IN ODI ID#890522. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL .. HASN'T STARTED BACKFIRING ..YET.. BASICALLY THE SAME COMPLAINT AS THE AFOREMENTIONED FILE. TAKES TWO OR THREE TRIE TO START ..WEATHER NORMAL. *AK
DRIVER'S DOOR OF NEW CAR NEEDS MUCH MORE FORCE TO CLOSE THAN OTHER DOORS, ON ONE OCCASION THE DOOR OPENED WHILE VEHCILE WAS IN MOTION AND THE DOOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, THE CONSUMER BELIVES THE DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.*YH
Official recalls
201V072000 · 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
1PE02079 · 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.