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U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Toyota CAMRY: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

320 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

87,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 131 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 320 complaints (7.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4815.0%
Steering behavior319.7%
Transmission and shifting154.7%
Electrical and battery issues113.4%
Engine operation72.2%
Fuel system concerns51.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling
25
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
25
Suspension
21
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
20
Vehicle Speed Control
18
Steering
12
Suspension:Front
12
Air Bags:Frontal
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling25
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine25
Suspension21
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline20
Vehicle Speed Control18
Steering12
Suspension:Front12
Air Bags:Frontal11

Engine And Engine Cooling: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 25; Suspension: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Steering: 12; Suspension:Front: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
27
75,000 to 99,999
29
100,000 to 149,999
31
150,000 and above
22
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00010
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99927
75,000 to 99,99929
100,000 to 149,99931
150,000 and above22

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 22

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 189 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
42
2001
52
2002
49
2003
42
2004
44
2005
15
2006
3
2007
9
2008
5
2009
6
2010
18
2011
5
2012
3
2013
5
2014
8
2015
4
2016
2
2017
1
2018
2
2019
2
2020
1
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200042
200152
200249
200342
200444
200515
20063
20079
20085
20096
201018
20115
20123
20135
20148
20154
20162
20171
20182
20192
20201
20231
20241

2000: 42; 2001: 52; 2002: 49; 2003: 42; 2004: 44; 2005: 15; 2006: 3; 2007: 9; 2008: 5; 2009: 6; 2010: 18; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10000646 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)

JUST STARTED RAINING I WAS CUT OFF AND BRAKED. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED AND I HIT THE MIDDLE MERIDIAN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001563 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)

THE VEHICLES' FRONT BRAKE ROTOR CONTINUOUSLY WHOP, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TURNED THE ROTOR 6 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001563 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001779 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 75,041 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001779 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001781 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S FRONT RIGHT STRUT HAS BEEN DESTROYED. WHEN VEHICLE DRIVES OVER BUMPS IT MAKES LOUD NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001781 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003033 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BEATS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003033 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003036 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)

FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AT STRUT MOUNTS MAKE A NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT 20 TO 30 MPH.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003036 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003450 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)

FIRESTONE FR 690 TIRE SEPARATION AND BLOWOUT-TIRE DEFECTIVE. ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT P18570R14 87S M+S

Owner-reported narrative. 52,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003450 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003860 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

NAR 1/15/2003. 40% OF THE VEHICLES PAINT WAS PEELING OFF OF THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003860 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

97V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist

Reported: 1997-09-17 (September 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
97V213000 · Electrical System:Ignition

Reported: 1997-11-20 (November 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Reported: 1999-11-01 (November 1, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

NHTSA campaign record ↗