1997 TOYOTA CAMRY Complaints

WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE TRIED TO START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM

DURING COLD WEATHER THE PISTON THAT RELEASES THE GAS HATCH DOOR FROZE TO THE HOUSING. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE GAS DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE PISTON BROKE IN HALF. SINCE THE PISTON WAS FROZEN IN PLACE, THE GAS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OWNERS MANUAL DID NOT REFERENCE HOW TO DEFEAT THE MECHANISM AND DRIVER COULD NOT FILL WITH GAS. *NLM

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. *JB MADE ATTEMPT TO CONTACT CONSUMER 10/16/07, NO ANSWER *LJ RETURN USPS, MADE 2ND ATTEMPT 07/16/07 FAILED. *BF

STRONG ODOR IN CAR. CAUSES HEADACHES. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO FIX PROBLEM AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. *NLM

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PH *JB

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RUBBER CORRODED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS TYPE OF DETERIORATION DOES NOT NORMALLY OCCUR. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING. THE BRAKE PADS WERE CHANGED AT 5000 MILES YET THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED AT 37,000 MILES. *NLM

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT RATTLE PRESENT FOR TWO YEARS. ON 03/30/03 DURING A DRIVE AT 56 MILES/HR SPEED, STRUT RATTLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GREW WORSE SUDDENLY AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE LEFT STRUT CENTER BOLT CAME OFF COMPLETELY AND ITS THREADS WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED. STRUT CAME OFF THE MOUNT SLEEVE. AFTER A NEW STRUT IS PUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE DAMAGED STRUT IS CHECKED AND ITS TOP THREADS (WHERE THE CENTER NUT GETS FASTENED) WERE PARTIALLY STIPPED.

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