2001 Toyota Camry Engine Problems

VEHICLE 'RACES' OUT OF CONTROL WHILE STATIONARY AND IN GEAR, BOTH IN GARAGE AND OUTSIDE OF GARAGE PREPARING TO ENTER. SOLUTION: STEP ON BRAKE ON HARD AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT COLLISION AND TURN OFF IGNITION. ENGINE NO LONGER 'RACES' WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON AGAIN. 3 OCCURRENCES IN PAST 12 MONTHS. NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION. SPOUSE WAS PRESENT ON ONE OCCASION.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL SLUDGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AS SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR , 2001. NO ONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHY THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALL THIS TIME UNTIL I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THIS CAR NOW NEEDS HEAD GASKETS. IT SEEMS TO BE A TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500.

WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY CE IN 2000 AND WERE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED TO US ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO. ON JAN 22, WE WERE DRIVING ON I 15 FREEWAY SOUTH FROM LA BACK TO LAS VEGAS. ABOUT AFTER 30 MINUTES ON THE ROAD I HEARD SOMETHING SOUNDING LIKE A CRACK UNDER THE VEHICLE (LAST ONLY ABOUT ONE SECOND). I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE MIGHT HIT A ROCK UNDERNEATH AND SLOWED DOWN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. THEN IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASH LIGHT AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE. I COULD SEE THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT BADLY. AFTER LOTS OF HASSLES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP IN ONTARIO. THE NEXT DAY MORNING THEIR SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK SINCE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. TO THE BEST OF HIS JUDGMENT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED FROM INSIDE. HE SAID SOMETHING FROM INSIDE OF ENGINE COULD FALL DOWN AND KNOCKED THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE LEAKING. SOON AFTER THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT THEY TALKED TO THE CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP AND CONCLUDED THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE INSURANCE POLICY. LAST MONTH I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN AN AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. FROM PICTURES ATTACHED ONE CAN SEE A BIG HOLE KNOCKED OUT ON ENGINE(SEE ATTACHED PICTURE). IT IS A REAL SURPRISE TO ME SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS RUN ONLY 79,500 MILES AND WE GAVE IT MAINTENANCE ON REGULAR BASES AS REQUIRED. BY THIS LETTER WE REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT ENGINE DEFECT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND AN EXPLANATION FROM TOYOTA COMPANY. AT THE SAME TIME WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR COMPENSATIONS FOR THE LOSS CAUSED BY THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATION OF TOYOTA MOTO SALES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,500 . UPDATED 03/16/12*LJ UPDATED 06/04/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA V6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED POLLUTION AND AN ENGINE FIRE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $8,000. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 10/12/11

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN WITH WATER STANDING ON ROAD, A/C FAILS. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE SO FAR. DEALER INDICATED THAT SUCH FAILURE WAS NORMAL WHEN WATER GETS ON BELT AND BELT SLIPS. NO REPAIR MADE. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE MANY TIMES BEFORE. FAILURE RESULTS IN RAPID AND UNEXPECTED CONDENSATION ON WINDSHIELD AND OTHER WINDOWS WITH LOSS OF VISIBILITY DURING HEAVY RAIN), CAUSING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY STARTED DEVELOPING A PROBLEM MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WHERE IT WOULD START RUNNING ROUGH AND THEN STALL--OR SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. IF THE CAR STALLS OR COMES CLOSE TO STALLING THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. RECENTLY THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED THE RUNNING ROUGH/STALLING PROBLEM. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN ROUGH OR STALL IF IT HAS GONE ABOVE 4000 RPMS ,AND WE CAN MODERATE THE INSTANCES OF A PROBLEM BY AVOIDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MY FEAR IS THAT THE CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 ON I 75 S FROM ROYAL OAK TO DETROIT, MI AROUND 2:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 6TH 2009 ,WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 70 MILES/HR AND TRIED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO WARDS THE SHOULDER AND POWER STEERING FAILED AND I SAW ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING, THEN TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES FAILED. I QUICKLY USED HAND BRAKE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOCKED. I QUICKLY PULLED BOTH THE KNOBS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME FIRE ENGINE CAME TO THE SCENE, THE CAR WAS ON HUGE FIRE. MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUES IN THE PAST. I DID CHANGE TIMING BELT AS PER THE COMPANY GUIDELINES AND AT AUTHORIZED DEALER/SERVICE CENTER. I CHANGED THE TIRES 2 MONTHS AGO AND OIL CHANGE 1 AND HALF MONTH AGO. NEITHER COPS NOR ME COULD COME TO A CONCLUSION ON WHAT WENT WRONG. I AM LETTING YOU KNOW AS IT MAY HELP TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF CARS IF YOU INVESTIGATE MY CAR. I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. MY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED OPERATING AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ENGINE ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY CAR REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $ 3,000.00. *TR

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH OIL TURNING INTO GEL. THE ENGINE QUIT OPERATING COMPLETELY. *TR

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN OUR SON WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR WAS UPSIDE DOWN TRAPPING OUR SON IN THE CAR UPSIDE DOWN. HE HAD TO BREAK THE SIDE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS COMPLETELY TOTAL DAMAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COMPENSATED FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR. HE WAS SAVED MIRACULOUSLY WITH MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. POLICEMAN GAVE HIM TICKET AFTER HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS NIGHT AND COLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 3 MPH IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND IT RECURRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 119,000.

OIL SLUDGE AND GELLING PROBLEM ON ALL TOYOTA ENGINES IN CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA FROM 1998 TO 2002. I HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE CAR GIVES OUT SMOKE, FAILS INSPECTION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND LEADS TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND REPORTS WERE FILED. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN UPDATED 01/02/09. *JB

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON MY HOME DRIVE WAY, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD,THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER 911 CALL, THE FIRE FIGHTERS CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ALL OF THE PARTS UNDER THE HOOD WERE ALL MELTED, ESPECIALLY ENGINE SIDE WERE BURNT OUT SIGNIFICANTLY. THE FRONT WINDOW PANEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS WHICH CAME ON, NO STRANGE SMELLS, NOTHING. *TR