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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

272 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2006
Structure

FIRST TOYOTA IS CLAIMING THAT THEY WONT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUST THROUGH SINCE FIRST THEY SAID WE WASHED THE CAR THE WRONG WAY WHEN IN FACT WE HAVE LIFE TIME FREE CAR WASH IN THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEN THE DEBRIS INSIDE THE INNER DOOR LOCKS AND UNDER THE HOOD NEXT TO THE ENGINE IT SELF WONT BE COVERED SINCE…

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FIRST TOYOTA IS CLAIMING THAT THEY WONT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUST THROUGH SINCE FIRST THEY SAID WE WASHED THE CAR THE WRONG WAY WHEN IN FACT WE HAVE LIFE TIME FREE CAR WASH IN THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. THEN THE DEBRIS INSIDE THE INNER DOOR LOCKS AND UNDER THE HOOD NEXT TO THE ENGINE IT SELF WONT BE COVERED SINCE IT IS ABNORMAL DRIVING. WELL IF YOU DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS OF IL AND THIS IS ABNORMAL THEN BY ALL MEANS GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT RIGHT???? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174992

95,000 miles · Oct 23, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN AUGUST, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED OUR 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE MADE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS MISSING ON ONE CYLINDER. WE WATCHED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. WE WERE STILL UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WE TRUST. HE DISCOVERED THE MIDDLE VALVES WERE STUCK OR STICKING IN THE VALVE SLEEVE, CAUSING T…

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IN AUGUST, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED OUR 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE MADE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS MISSING ON ONE CYLINDER. WE WATCHED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. WE WERE STILL UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WE TRUST. HE DISCOVERED THE MIDDLE VALVES WERE STUCK OR STICKING IN THE VALVE SLEEVE, CAUSING THE "MIS-FIRING" SOUND WE HEARD. FURTHER, WE WERE TOLD THE REMEDY WAS TO HAVE THE HEAD MACHINED, REPLACE THE DAMAGED SLEEVES AND THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN ASKING ANOTHER MECHANIC ABOUT THE ISSUE, WE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON FLAW IN THE 4 CYLINDER CAMRY ENGINE. IN FACT, OUR MECHANIC HAD 3 SEPARATE CARS OF THE SAME AGE IN FOR THE SAME EXACT REPAIR IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE DECEPTIVE, ESPECIALLY AS YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET TO DISCOVER THERE ARE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WHO FOUND THIS FLAW LONG AFTER THEIR WARRANTY EXPIRED. WE BUY VEHICLES WITH THE INTENT TO KEEP THEM; WE FOCUS ON WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE QUALITY MANUFACTURERS WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT. THIS LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH AND CARE FOR THE CUSTOMER IS A BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE TRUST PLACED IN THEIR HANDS. TECHNICALLY, WE ARE ONLY OUT VERY MINOR FEES AND THE TIME IT TOOK TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER. THIS WAS NOT A CONSUMER PRODUCT, WHERE THE RESULT IS ANNOYANCE AND FRUSTRATION, BUT IT WAS A MODE OF TRANSPORT, CARRYING OUR LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. HOW CAN A COMPANY CARELESSLY DISREGARD THE IMPACT OF ITS' PRODUCTS CONSTRUCTION WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE EVERYTIME IT IS USED? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT DROPS IN PRODUCT QUALITY. AS THEY FOCUS ON THE BOTTOM LINE, LITTLE CONCERN IS SHOWN TO THE CONSUMER WHO RISKS A LOT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171646

58,000 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury

PETITION I AND MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WERE ON HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE BURST AND CAUGHT ON FIRE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 EXL. WE HAD DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WITH TOYOTA AND ALL CHANGES OF THE OIL REQUIREMENTS ON TIME. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONLY 4 WEEKS PRIOR THE ACCIDENT. WE WENT THROUGH TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE AL…

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PETITION I AND MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WERE ON HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE BURST AND CAUGHT ON FIRE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 EXL. WE HAD DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WITH TOYOTA AND ALL CHANGES OF THE OIL REQUIREMENTS ON TIME. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONLY 4 WEEKS PRIOR THE ACCIDENT. WE WENT THROUGH TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE ALSO LOST 27,000 INVESTMENTS IN THE CAR. TOYOTA'S ENGINES HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY DECLINE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN LOSE A LOVED ONE. I PETITION THE AGENCY FOR A RECALL, BECAUSE OF SERIOUSNESS OF FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10168966

15,100 miles · Aug 24, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 9/11/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WERE, AT HIS REQUEST, THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED PERMANENTL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 9/11/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WERE, AT HIS REQUEST, THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED PERMANENTLY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10166466

56,000 miles · Aug 14, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON REPEATEDLY WITH CODE P0446 EVEN AFTER GETTING IT REPAIRED TWICE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165478

58,000 miles · Jul 21, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. ENGINE OIL LEAKING. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTILL I WENT TO 65K SERVICE BY DEALER. THE LEAKING OIL MALFUNCTION POWER STEERING

NHTSA ODI #10163038

65,000 miles · Jun 27, 2006
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM, MY SON WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN OUR 2001 4 CYLINDER CAMRY. HE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARD AT VERY HIGH SPEED, COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 65 FEET ACROSS OUR NARROW SIDE STREET, WHERE THE CAR SIDE-SWIPED A CEMENT WORKER'S TRUCK AND SUBSTANTIALLY …

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AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM, MY SON WAS BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY IN OUR 2001 4 CYLINDER CAMRY. HE PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SHOT BACKWARD AT VERY HIGH SPEED, COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 65 FEET ACROSS OUR NARROW SIDE STREET, WHERE THE CAR SIDE-SWIPED A CEMENT WORKER'S TRUCK AND SUBSTANTIALLY SLOWED DOWN FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND DUE TO THE CONTACT. MY SON WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR UP WITH HIS FOOT WHILE THE CAR WAS SIDE-SWIPED, THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR HAD JAMMED, WHEN THE CAR BROKE AWAY FROM THE SIDE-SWIPE AND AGAIN SHOT OUT AT UNCONTROLLABLE SPEED. THE CAR HAD BEEN STEERED SLIGHTLY TO THE DRIVER'S LEFT, SO THE CAR PROCEEDED IN A SEMI-CIRCLE ANOTHER 75 FEET, BACK ACROSS THE CURB OVER OUR LAWN THROUGH AND OVER APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT HIGH LANDSCAPING STONE AND CAME TO A REST INCHES FROM OUR HOUSE, ONLY AFTER MY SON PULLED UP THE PARKING BRAKE AND SOMEHOW THREW THE CAR INTO PARK I'VE GONE THROUGH TOYOTA REGIONAL IN AURORA, IL - THEY SENT THEIR ENGINEER WHO PERFORMED A NON-ROAD TEST ON THE CAR AT THE BODY SHOP, FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEREAFTER, ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS DID SOME WEB SEARCH AND DISCOVERED THE CONCEPT OF "SUDDEN ACCELERATION", THE RECALL ON THE 2001 6 CYLINDER TOYOTAS AND THE NFTSA INQUIRIES ON THE 2002-04 MODELS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN HAVE THEIR ENGINEER MEET ME TO DO A ROAD TEST AFTER THE BODY WORK IS FIXED. I AM SHOCKED AND STUNNED AT TOYOTA'S LACK OF CONCERN ON SUCH AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE MORE, BUT HAVE EDITED THIS TO COMPLY WITH THE 2000 CHARACTER REQUIREMENT. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160863

58,000 miles · Jun 23, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BAKER AUTO SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THE VSV NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO KING TOYOTA IN DEERFIELD BEACH, FL AND PAID AN $80.88 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED VS…

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WHEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BAKER AUTO SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THE VSV NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO KING TOYOTA IN DEERFIELD BEACH, FL AND PAID AN $80.88 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED VSV AND A CHARCOAL CANISTER. I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THESE PARTS AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $628. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS NOT TO REPLACE THESE PARTS BECAUSE IF I AM REAR-ENDED THE GAS TANK WILL EXPLODE, SIMILAR TO THE RECALL FOR THE FORD PINTO. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY HAVE THESE PARTS NOT BEEN RECALLED? PLEASE ADVISE ME ON ANY MENDING ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM AND ANY RECOURSE I MIGHT HAVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160569

89,000 miles · Jun 6, 2006
SeatsCrashInjury

RECENTLY WE WERE HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK WHILE STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE STOPPED DUE TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT AHEAD. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE AT THE TILT POINT AND COLLAPSED BACKWARD ONTO THE REAR SEAT, NARROWLY MISSING OUR 31 MONTH OLD CHILD AND HIS CAR SEAT. THE DRIVER SEAT DID MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CAR SEAT, BU…

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RECENTLY WE WERE HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK WHILE STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE. WE WERE STOPPED DUE TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT AHEAD. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE AT THE TILT POINT AND COLLAPSED BACKWARD ONTO THE REAR SEAT, NARROWLY MISSING OUR 31 MONTH OLD CHILD AND HIS CAR SEAT. THE DRIVER SEAT DID MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CAR SEAT, BUT WAS DEFLECTED DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE CAR SEAT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO COLLAPSE. WHY DID OUR SEATS FAIL? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159104

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2006
Suspension

HAVE HAD A WHEEL VIBRATION SINCE NEW CAR PURCHASE IN 2001 WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO BALANCE AND ALIGN TIRES ALSO PURCHASED NEW TIRES IN 2003 WITH NO REMEDY OF VIBRATION. IF THIS IS THE TYPE OF TOYOTA QUALITY WE CAN EXPECT THEN I AM GOING TO BUY AMERICAN FROM NOW ON. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154793

Official recalls

2

01V072000 · 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

1

PE02079 · 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.

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