IllustrationFRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOICE. DEALER REPLACED A 2-PAGE LIST OF PARTS AT 22K MILES. THE NOISE IS BACK AT 44K MILES. ANY ADVISE?*AK
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 reportsBRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPAIRED FRONT BRAKES. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER STATES 2 FRONT STRUTS NEED REPLACED, ALSO AXLE BOOTS LEAKED AND DEALER REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THEN WOULD DIE, DEALER REPLACED THE ISC VALVE. WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED.…
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BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPAIRED FRONT BRAKES. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER STATES 2 FRONT STRUTS NEED REPLACED, ALSO AXLE BOOTS LEAKED AND DEALER REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THEN WOULD DIE, DEALER REPLACED THE ISC VALVE. WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC
ENGINE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000-4000 MILES. I PREVIOUSLY HAD HONDA ACCORD WITH 186000 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WITH THIS ENGINE!*AK
AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BOUNCES SIDEWAYS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE STEERING CORRECTIONS CONSTANTLY IN ORDER TO AVIOD ACCIDENTS. WHILE DRIVING IN WYOMING AT 72 MPH , THE REAR WHEELS HIT A CRACK IN THE PAVEMANT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE SIDEWAYS AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. I HA…
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AT SPEEDS OF 25 MPH OR MORE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BOUNCES SIDEWAYS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE STEERING CORRECTIONS CONSTANTLY IN ORDER TO AVIOD ACCIDENTS. WHILE DRIVING IN WYOMING AT 72 MPH , THE REAR WHEELS HIT A CRACK IN THE PAVEMANT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE SIDEWAYS AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND OFF THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SINCE VISITED THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE SHOCK MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND LOOSE. I REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND MOUNTS/SUPPORTS AT A COST OF OVER $1000 AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AT SPEEDS OVER 35 MPH AND CONSIDERING SELLING IT AND BUYING A SAFER VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER STATES A CROSSING OF TWO WIRES IN THE TRUNK AREA CAUSED ENGINE MODULE AND INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH TO SHORT OUT. *SLC
AS CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. DEALER FOUND SHIFTER CABLE HAD STRETCHED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC
THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT MOUNT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY FOWLER TOYOTA TO BE BROKEN. IT ONLY HAS 31,000/WARRANTY IS 36,000/3 YEARS. FOWLER TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH A CAR WITH THAT MANY MILES. I CONTACTED THE DISTRICT MANAGER TO ASK THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HE REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS PAST TH…
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THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT MOUNT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY FOWLER TOYOTA TO BE BROKEN. IT ONLY HAS 31,000/WARRANTY IS 36,000/3 YEARS. FOWLER TOYOTA SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH A CAR WITH THAT MANY MILES. I CONTACTED THE DISTRICT MANAGER TO ASK THAT TOYOTA WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HE REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THE 36 MONTHS. HE SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY FACTOR.*AK
WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE IT HESITATES AND THEN BACKS SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON TEXAS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MILAGE INTERVALS. ON ONE OF THE INVOICES I HAVE IT SHOWS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLUSHED WHEN I TOOK IT THE 60,000 SERVICE MAINTAINENCE. …
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WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE IT HESITATES AND THEN BACKS SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON TEXAS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MILAGE INTERVALS. ON ONE OF THE INVOICES I HAVE IT SHOWS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLUSHED WHEN I TOOK IT THE 60,000 SERVICE MAINTAINENCE. I HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL MAJOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE VISITS AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY CAR STILL EXIST. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP ,ON BEHALF OF THEIR NEGLIANCE , INSPITE OF ALL MY SERVICE VISITS, MY TRANSMISSION HAS WORSENED. PLEASE HELP! INVESTIGATE AND ARBITRATION. IF YOU NEED FURTHER DETAILS, YOU MAY CONTACT ME ANYTIME HOME OR WORK.*AK
THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION AND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE, THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR WAS FOR 60000 MILES, THE DEALER REFUSED TO ABIDE BY THE WARRANTY STATING THAT THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLUDGE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLES SLANTED ENGINE COULD POSS…
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THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE FAILURE RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION AND A HOLE IN THE ENGINE, THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR WAS FOR 60000 MILES, THE DEALER REFUSED TO ABIDE BY THE WARRANTY STATING THAT THE OIL WAS NOT CHANGED PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLUDGE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLES SLANTED ENGINE COULD POSSIBLE IMPEDE THE FLOW OF OIL AS IT RETURNES TO THE OIL CHAMBER THUS RESULTING IN SLUDGE. NLM
EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE WAS COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT DETERMINED THAT AN O-RING WAS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE, WHICH WAS BURNING UP ON ENGINE/EXHAUST SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *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.