IllustrationTHE SEAT BELTS DON'T BUCKLE IN THE LATCH. ALL FIVE BUCKLE NOT WORKING.
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
Seat Belts complaints
7 reportsI JUST STARTED THE ENGINE AND READY TO GO HOME WHEN I TRIED MY SEAT BELT, IT WILL NOT LATCH. AFTER SO MANY TRIES IT FINALLY WORK AFTER HAVING TO DEPRESS THE RED BUTTON PART OF THE SEAT BELT LATCH ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY 10/31/2014. *TR
THE LATCH ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY LE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. YOU MUST HOLD DEPRESSED THE CENTER BUTTON OF THE BUCKLE AS YOU INSERT THE LATCH FOR IT TO OPERATE. I HAVE JUST GOTTEN THIS CAR AND DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE. *TR
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT WORKING. BELT CAN NOT GO INTO THE BUCKLE UNLESS YOU HOLD DOWN THE RED BUTTON RELEASE BUCKLE THEN INSERT THE BELT WITH FORCE. IT DOES RELEASE THE BELT. *LN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE FRONT, DRIVERS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE FRONT, DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IN WHICH IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER ADVISED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVES FROM TOYOTA WHO INFORMED HER, THAT TOYOTA WOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG. UPDATED EVOQ 12/0/10
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT 25 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE CONTACT ENDURED CHEST AND HEAD IMPACT TO THE STEERING WHEEL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T SECURE THE DRIVER DURING THE COLLISION, AND THE CONTA…
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AT 25 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE CONTACT ENDURED CHEST AND HEAD IMPACT TO THE STEERING WHEEL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T SECURE THE DRIVER DURING THE COLLISION, AND THE CONTACTWAS PREGNANT. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *AK
ON JANUARY 4, 2002, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY. A CAR IN FRONT OF ME (DODGE STRATUS) WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN LEFT. I WAS BEHIND THE CAR IN A STOPPED POSITION. ANOTHER CAR (1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE) TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH HIT ME FROM BEHIND FORCING MY CAR INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN F…
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ON JANUARY 4, 2002, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY. A CAR IN FRONT OF ME (DODGE STRATUS) WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN LEFT. I WAS BEHIND THE CAR IN A STOPPED POSITION. ANOTHER CAR (1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE) TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH HIT ME FROM BEHIND FORCING MY CAR INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME RECEIVED DAMAGE TO TRUNK AND BUMPER WITH ENOUGH FORCE/DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE TRUNK TO NOT SHUT WITHOUT REPAIR. MY QUESTION, CONCERN IS THIS: MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER) AND ACCORDING TO MY OWNER'S MANUAL THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS FORCED INTO APPROXIMATELY A 45 DEGREE RECLINING POSITION DURING THE IMPACT AND IS CURRENTLY LOCKED INTO THAT POSITION. MY CAR HAD A POWER DRIVER'S SEAT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE COLLAPSED. I AM NOT SURE AT WHAT POINT THE SEAT COLLAPSED BUT THE IMPACT MUST HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO THROW ME FORWARD AND THEN BACK HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SEAT TO FAIL. AS A RESULT I HAVE SUFFERED SOME BACK AND NECK INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO DO THIS BUT I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL, ON THEIR SITE OR ON THE WWW TO THIS EFFECT. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH THAT A BIG MAC IN MY RIGHT HAND WAS THROWN AGAINST THE ODOMETER, DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AND INTO THE BACK SEAT ON THE WINDOWS. A 32 OUNCE COKE WAS SPLATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CAR INTO THE DASH ELECTRONICS (CD PLAYER, TAPE DECK, ETC.) AND A CLOSED ARM REST. THE IMPACT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE FACT THAT THE SEAT BACK DID NOT PROVIDE BACK SUPPORT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. AT A MINIMUM, IF THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO GO BACK LIKE THEY DID IN THIS SITUATION, THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE AWARE.*AK
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.