1997 Toyota Camry Complaint Log

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION CAUSED INJURY TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM--SOLENOID. RECALL.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40 TO 45 MPH WHEN THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. DEALER HAD SAID: THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED MORE THE ONE TIME, BUT MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS MAKE VIBRATION NOISE. YH

CONSUMER WAS REARENDED BY A VEHICLE GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ,DRIVER SEATBACK TRACK BROKE, CAUSING HER TO MOVE FORWARD, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. *AK

FUEL DOOR FAILED. *YC

WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A MOVING 1996 OR 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY THE DRIVER TURNED TO ME AND ASKED HOW I LIKED HIS MOM'S NEW CAR. I SAID I LIKED IT. AT THAT MOMENT THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING EASTWARD ON RT. 105 IN HOPE, MAINE. THINKING MY FRIEND (THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE) WAS IN CONTROL I FAILED TO PULL THE E-BRAKE SITUATED TO MY LEFT. THE DRIVER THEN LOOKED AT ME IN FEAR AS THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. DRIVER THEN JAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND EXITED THE PAVED ROAD TRAVELING EXTREMELY FAST (ABOUT 150 MPH'S). IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SLAMMING HEAD-ON INTO THE TREES LINING ME RT. 105 THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED INTO THE AIR FLIPPING END OVER END 2 FULL ROTATIONS BEFORE HALTING ON IT'S BASE . DRIVER'S MOM'S 1996, OR 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED DURING THIS ACCIDENT. POLICE AND RESCUE EVENTUALLY ARRIVED AND REMOVED US FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER A PASSERBY PHONED FOR HELP. *TR

WHEN TURNING ON HEATING SYSTEM THERE IS A BAD SMELL COMING THR0UGH THE VENT SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION LEFT IN DRIVE, ENGINE TURNED OFF AND KEYS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED , CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN OFFICE PARKING LOT, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-213). *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AS A RESULT OF CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL STREET, CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAS SLIPPED INTO GEAR SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. *AK *SLC

TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, RECALL NOTICE SENT AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK LOCKING MECHANISM DISENGAGED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, ALLOWING DRIVER'S SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD/BACKWARD. DRIVER MADE SUDDEN STOP, SEAT SLID FORWARD, LAP BELT SQUEEZED DRIVER'S BELLY, RUPTURIED AMNIOTIC SACK. DEALER HAS NO PART TO CORRECT PROBLEM. REPORTED BY LAWYER. *AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTED IN A COLLISION.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH.

WHILE DRIIVNG 30-35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN INTERSECTIONAL CRASH WITH FRONT END DAMAGES TOTALLING $5,000 DOLLARS, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. 524328 DUPLICATE OF 817009, POSTED ON 03-NOV-98.*AK CONSUMER STATED HE WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH.*JB

CONSUMER WAS INVOLED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS AIRBORNE, AND ALSO HITTING A TREE IN WHICH THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BE SEVERELY INJURED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS UNCONTOLLABLE PRIOR TO VEHICLE HITTING A 6FT FENCE. *NLM

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURIES.

DURING FRONT END COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER.

WHEN CONSUMER COMES TO A STOP BRAKES GRIND. MECHANIC HAS TOLD HER AFTER 4 TIMES, IN FOR REPAIR, THAT IS NORMAL. CONSUMER STATES METAL TO METAL GRINDING IS NOT NORMAL. *AK

RADIO KNOB BROKEN. (MS)

FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION MAKES ROUGH NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES AT SPEEDS 20-30 MPH.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ANYTIME VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WOULD GO FOWARD AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND CONDITION STILL UNRESOLVED. *AK

TIRE BLEW OUT (BRIGGSTONE P205-65-R15). MJS

INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE AFTER KEY IS INSERTED. DILEMMA: OWNER ROCKED STEERING TO RELEASE MECHANISM. *AK

WHILE STOPPED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER AUTO LOST CONTROL AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RECEIVE A BROKEN STERNUM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH, WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, STEERED TO THE RIGHT, ENDED UP HITTING A CALL BOX HEAD-ON. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELT WAS WORN AT TIME OF ACCIDENT, BUT RECEIVED WHIPLASH. TOYOTA INVESTIGATOR CLAIMS WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY BECAUSE IT WAS HIT IN AN ANGULAR POSTION. CLAIMS ADJUSTOR/BODY SHOP TECHNICIANS AND 3 DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AGREED AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.THIS DEFECT CAUSED BODILY HARM. *AK *NLM

OWNER PARKED VEHICLE ON SMALL INCLINE, SHIFTED TO PARK, REMOVED KEY, EXISTED VEHICLE, HEARD NOISE, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, HIT GARAGE DOOR, EMERGENCY BRAKES NOT APPLIED, GEAR LEVEL SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. *AK AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS FOUND ON NEUTRAL POSITON. THE ROLL BACK HAD OCCURED TWICE BEFORE. *YH

SOLENOID SHIFT INTERLOCK CONNECTOR FAILED, ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO FAILURE.

DRIVER SEAT IS NOT STABLE, IT MOVE BACK AND FORTH.

DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THE SEAT TRACK AND FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, YET THE MOVEMENT REMAINS.

FRONT END MAKES A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE UPON APPLYING BRAKES AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS. *AK

QUITE NOISY, MAKING RUMBLING NOISES AND GRABBING, WHEN BRAKED WITH ANY SORT OF FORCE, DUE TO POOR MATERIAL IN BOTH FT DISC BRAKE PADS WHICH HAD BEEN FLAKING THE BRAKES REQUIRED THAT THE FT PADS BE REPLACED, IN ADDITION, FT ROTORS REPLACED SINCE THE LOOSE MATERIAL HAD APPARENTLY BEEN CUTTING INTO THE SURFACE OF THE ROTORS.

WHILE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING A COLLISION. WHILE CAR STOPPED, THE FRONT WHEELS WERE STILL IN DRIVE. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK WHILE COMING TO A STOP ACCELERATED, CAUSING A COLLISON WHILE VEHICLE WAS BY IMPACT AND DRIVER OUT OF VEHICLE.*JB

SUMMARY 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, NORTH 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. SAFETY RISK THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. YES, THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN CA, BUT THIS ISSUE PREVENTS TRAVELING TO COLD STATES IN THE WINTER UNTIL IT IS FIXED. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER V03 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 97V156 RECALL STATUS: RECALL INCOMPLETE

BRAKE PADS MAKING GRINDING NOISE.

WHEN SITTING IN THE VEHICLE THE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE. WHENEVER STOPPING AND PROCEEDING FORWARD THE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. HAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES, AND THEY SAID THERE SUPPOSE TO BE MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE ROAD ABOUT 40-45 MPH WITH ABOUT 4 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE COMSUMER WHEN HE SAW THE VEHICLES STOP, AND COMSUMER TRIED TO STOP BY STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, BUT COULD NOT STOP IT ON TIME AND SMASHED FRONT OF VEHICLE OR REARENDED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE SHOP SAID IT WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK

VEHICLE SITS TO LOW TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT ON SPEED BUMPS WITH 4 ADULTS RIDING.

EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 1997 THE FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE MADE A GROANING SOUND AND SLIPPED DURING HARD BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR IN AT 20,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON THESE VEHICLES AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I JUST CHECKED WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE A BRAKE JOB (AT 34,500 MILES) AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD WITH THESE VEHICLES. APPARENTLY THE METALLIC DISC BRAKE PADS JUST DO THIS. TOYOTA IS OFFERING FREE REPAIRS (FOR EXAMPLE SEE WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.SYMESPASADENA.COM/SYMES1.HTM) FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT ONLY BY REPLACING THE METALLIC BRAKE PADS WITH ONES THAT ARE SO SOFT THAT THE BRAKES ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 8,000 MILES. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM, THIS IS THE MOST WIDELY SOLD CAR IN THE COUNTRY. THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES DO NOT JUST MAKE A NOISE, THEY SLIP AND FAIL TO GRAB WHEN HARD-BRAKING THE VEHICLE. *AK

PLASTIC PART FELL FROM BEHIND THE DASH BOARD AND LODGED BEHIND THE ARM OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING BRAKE LOSS/ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN EVEN WHEN LOCKED. DELAERS HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD APPEAR TO BE A DESIGN FAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *YH

THE NEW SEAT BELTS THAT IF PULLED OUT THEY LOCK UP. DRIVER'S SON GOT TANGLED UP AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT. THE MORE ONE MOVES THE TIGHTER IT GETS. *AK

THE GLASS THAT COVERS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES IS VERY CLOUDY WHICH CAUSES THE DRIVER TO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME IN SEEING THE GAUGES WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S ADJUSTABLE SEAT IS LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IN ADDITION, FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL SIDEWAYS UNDER RAINY/SNOWY CONDITIONS. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT HAS ALOT OF PLAY. WHEN BRAKING IT FEELS LIKE THE DRIVER IS GOING OUT OF THE WINDOW. *AK

BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. THE PADS WERE REPLACED ONCE AND CLEANED A SECOND TIME AND ARE CURRENTLY MAKING MORE NOISE.

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, AND THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTATED THE ROTORS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK