NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Toyota Camry. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BRAKES MAKE A LOUD GINDING, RUMBLING NOISE FOR EVEN MODERATE BRAKING. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKE EFFICIENCY WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
HEADLIGHT ARE AIMED TOO LOW AND ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED.
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
BRAKE PADS WEAR PREMATURELY. THIS IS A COMMOM PROBLEM FOR 1996-1998 MODEL CAMRYS.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, MOSTLY IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS, VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO STOP. ALSO BRAKES MAKE GROWLING NOISES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE HAS VISUAL PROBLEMS; HEADREST , BLOCKS VIEW WHEN LOOKING OUT OF REAR WINDOW. PROBLEM IS WITH ALL 4 HEADRESTS. HEADREST ARE TOO WIDE AND HIGH. POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. DEALERS ARE AWARE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DEATAILS. *AK
HEADLIGHT DESIGN DOES NOT LIGHT EFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE CAR FRONT SUSPENSION IS VERY LOW. THE FRONT (UNDER) OF THE CAR SCRAPES THE CEMENT WHEN BACKING FROM A DRIVEWAY OR WHEN DRIVING OVER SOME DIPS IN THE STREETS. MY NEIGHBOR HAS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
THERE IS A NOTICEABLE RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FLOOR OF MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE DURING ACCELERATION, BUT CAN BE DETECTED WHILE TRAVELING AT CONSTANT SPEED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT IN NATURE.
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YH
SEAT BELT BUTTON FAILED. NLM
ENGINE COMPUTER SENSOR FAILED. YH
CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED. YH
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EXPERIENCING ODOR. *YC
LIGHT ON PANEL STAYED ON. YH
BRAKES MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. YH
STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS. YH
BRAKES FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE. YH
UNABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR BECAUSE THE LINKAGE FAILED. YH
BRAKES MAKE NOISE. YH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCIG TIRE FAILURE ( MICHLEN P195-70 ). *YC
SUSPENSSION DESIGN PROBLEM,CAR BOTTOMS OUT ON ALL DIPS AND DRIVE WAY. YH
STEREO EXPERIENCING FAILURE. *YC
LEFT TURN SIGNAL IN NOT WORKING PROPERLY. YH
FUEL SENDER FAILED. YH
DOOR PANELS INSIDE UPHOLSTRY FAILED. YH
ANTILOCK BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN USED. NLM
BRAKES MAKING A LOUND GRINDING NOISE. NLM
POWER SEAT ADJUSTER DOES NOT WORK. *YC
BRAKES FAILED. *YC
SEAT BELTS FAILED. NLM
TIRES REPLACED AT 22000 MILES - (DUNLOP STD. EQUIPMENT 170R14). *YC
OIL PAN FAILED. MJS
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY OCCURS, FORCE KEY TO TURN ON ENGINE. *YC
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS RESULTING IN BURNS ON HAND AND BRUISING.
SAFETY HAZARD QUESTION: DUE TO CAR AERODYNAMICS, DOORS, ESPECAILLY FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER DOORS CURVE INWARD TO A SHARP POINT AT TOP EDGE. POSES HAZARD TO PASSENGERS SHUTTING THE DOORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF SHORTER STATURE BECAUSE IT IS AT FACE/HEAD LEVEL. HAVE HAD PASSENGERS CLOSING DOOR CATCH THAT POINT-EDGE, ONE REQUIRED SEVERAL STITCHES TO TEMPLE AFTER "CATCHING THE EDGE." HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS KIND? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. MARY TAYLOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED, CAUSE IS ALSO UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE IN FRONT END SUSPENSION ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES, CASUING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH BUT USUALLY IN WARM WEATHER.THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE.THERE IS NO FIX. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE EXTENDABLE FOOT USED TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE CENTURY SMART FIT PLUS INFANT SEAT HAS BROKEN DURING NORMAL USE/INSTALLATION. THE PLASTIC GUIDES ALONG WHICH THE FOOT MOVES UP AND DOWN HAVE BEEN BENT TOWARD THE REAR OF THE INFANT SEAT BASE, ALLOWING THE FOOT TO COLLAPSE AND LETTING THE SEAT-BASE COMBO SETTLE TO AN IMPROPER ANGLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE ACT OF TIGHTENING THE SEAT BELTS ACROSS THE BASE EXERTED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BEND THE GUIDES. THE PRDUCT WAS A CENTURY SMART FIT PLUS, SER. #4529, MANUFACTURED 4-21-98. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY, AND IS REPORTED HERE BY, OFFICER MARK BERGIN, ALEXANDRIA VA POLICE DEPARTMENT CHILD SEAT SAFETY CORDINATOR, 703-838-4763
BATTERY CORRODES, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT
BRAKES KEEPS GRINDING AS IF IT WAS METAL TO METAL , CAUSING FRONT END TO VIBRATE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
AFTER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES THE LUGS: NUTS BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH/LOCK.
BRAKES PULSE WHEN PRESSING PEDAL. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS.
KEY INTERLOCK AND SOLENOID SAFETY.
NOTHING
DURING FRONT END COLLISION WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES (FRONT), NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS.