IllustrationWHEN I TOOK MY CAMRY IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY ENGINE \\DESLUDGED.\\ I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND WOULD PREVENT MORE COSTLY REPAIRS IN THE FUTURE.
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 reportsA BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ROD TO THE CYLINDER BROKE, CAUSING THE ROD TO BREAK LOOSE AND MOVE AROUND INSIDE THE ENGINE.
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD TICKING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS LOOSE AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIMING BELT COVER. *AK
CRUNCHING /RATTLE FROM FRONT STRUTS WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN ROAD. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND I WAS ADVISED AT TIME OF THE INSTALLATION THAT THE NEW STRUTS WOULD NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND NO RESOLUTION EXITS. *AK
THE CONSUMER CAN START THE IGNITION WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED IN ANY POSITION.*AK
2 YEARS AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT BELT FAIL. THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED ALLOWING THE SEAT BELT TO COME OUT AND THEN WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PAST SUMMER I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM (IT ALSO FAILED) AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE / MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO VARIOUS TAIL LIGHTS / TURN SIGNALS / BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. NOW IT SEEMS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNING DIMLY. NEW BULBS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ENGINEERING ISSUE OVERALL WITH RESPECT TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS YEAR / MODEL OF CAR. *LA
I BOUGHT A 97 TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON 10-17-01, WITH 36,847 EXISTING MILES. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER 02/07/03:92588 MLS. FOR ENGINE KNOCK NOISE AND SMOKING ON COLD STARTS,ALSO TO CHECK TRANSMISSION VIBRATION/CHATTER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANS, REPLACED LEAKING GASKETS AND REPLACED W…
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I BOUGHT A 97 TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED CAR WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON 10-17-01, WITH 36,847 EXISTING MILES. I TOOK THIS CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER 02/07/03:92588 MLS. FOR ENGINE KNOCK NOISE AND SMOKING ON COLD STARTS,ALSO TO CHECK TRANSMISSION VIBRATION/CHATTER. THEY REPLACED THE TRANS, REPLACED LEAKING GASKETS AND REPLACED WORN VALVE GUIDE SEALS. AT THIS SAME TIME THEY WERE ASKED TO CHECK FOR ANYTHING RELATED TO THE LETTER TOYOTA SENT ME IN REGARD TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL GELLING OR SLUDGE... ON 05/16/03 WITH 98910 MILES I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WITH ENGINE STILL KNOCKING ON COLD STARTS. THEY FOUND THE OIL PUMP SHAFT BINDING , CRANKSHAFT, ROD AND MAIN BEARINGS DAMAGED. WHEN I WAS INFORMED OF THEIR INTENT TO REPLACE THESE PARTS I QUESTIONED THE POSSIBLE REPAIR OF RINGS AND OTHER UPPER ENGINE COMPONENTS, KNOWING THAT METAL PARTICLES COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT AND DAMAGE THESE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT NO SUCH WORK WAS INTENDED OR NEEDED. THEY DID PROCEED WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT, ROD BEARINGS AND MAIN BEARINGS... ON 11/03/03 WITH APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK OUT WHIRRING TYPE NOISE FROM ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT FLICKER AT IDLE WITH ENGINE WARMED. THEY FOUND BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO CAMSHAFT AND CAM BEARING WEAR... I FIRST SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA REPAIR DEALER, THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. I NEXT WAS REFUSED ANY HELP BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CORP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPT IN CALF (REF # 200311140813). PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN,I BOUGHT THIS CAR KNOWING IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY RELIABLE BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES EACH WAY GETTING TO AND FROM WORK. *LA
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE'S CAMBER TO SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT REPLACING MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MANUFACTURE AN ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENT TO ADJUST CAMBER. *AK THE ONLY WAY TO ALIGN THE CAR IS EITHER TO BUY COSTLY NEW SUSPENSION PARTS FROM TOYOTA OR RESORT TO AN AFTERMA…
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IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE'S CAMBER TO SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT REPLACING MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MANUFACTURE AN ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENT TO ADJUST CAMBER. *AK THE ONLY WAY TO ALIGN THE CAR IS EITHER TO BUY COSTLY NEW SUSPENSION PARTS FROM TOYOTA OR RESORT TO AN AFTERMARKET CAM BOLT. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WHEN A SOLID LIQUID STARTED SPILLING OUT OF THE VENTS. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE A/C REFRIGERATOR.*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.