Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT LONGER MOVE BACK OR FORWARD IN THE SEAT TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE SEAT TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT INVOLUNTARILY SLIDES BACK WITH MINIMAL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TYPE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
ON SEPT. 15, 2009 I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY A LARGE TRUCK WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FELL DOWN AND I WAS THROWN BACKWARDS TO THE BACK SEAT ABOUT 3 OR 4 INCHES . THE BACK OF THE SEAT LAID FLAT DOWN IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CE HAS HAD, SINCE IT'S VERY FIRST YEAR, AN OCCASIONAL BUT PERSISTENT AND RECURRING ISSUE WHERE THE DRIVER'S SEAT WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT AND RELATCH WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS OCCURS EVEN IF THE SEAT HAS NOT RECENTLY BEEN REPOSITIONED MANUALLY. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS RELATCHING ON ONE SIDE. THE RESULT IS A SUDDEN REPOSITIONING OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF UP TO A FEW INCHES, AND RUNS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD OF LOSS-OF-CONTROL IF IT WERE TO OCCUR AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME. NO POST-MARKET MODIFICATIONS TO MY DRIVER'S SEAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND THIS IS ALL IN REFERENCE TO ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS EQUIPMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER 1996 (1997 MODEL YEAR). I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN RETITLED. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY TOYOTA, BUT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR SAFETY REVIEW. I WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS SITE, AND THUS THE DELAYED REPORT. *TR
THE FRONT SEATS IN MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE COLLAPSE, ON TAKEOFFS OR LEANING BACK ON THEM WITH NOT MUCH PRESSURE OR FALL BACKWARDS WITHOUT NOTICE.
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. NO FIRE WAS REPORTED.*AK
REAR DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE- STICKY LATCH. (I DO NOT HAVE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ). *NLM
IN 2001, WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR FROM OUTSIDE WITH THE DOOR UNLOCKED THE FLAT PART OF THE HANDLE THAT IS FLUSH WITH THE OUTER BODY OF THE DOOR BROKE OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE HANDLE FIXED INTO THE DOOR LEAVING A SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HANDLE AREA THAT MUST BE PRIED UP TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE SAME WEEK, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DID THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT "THESE PLASTICS JUST DON'T HOLD UP WELL IN THIS SUN." I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST $150 TO REPAIR THEM [AS OF JANUARY 2003 IT WOULD NOW COST $200 TO REPAIR THEM] AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. I AND MY WIFE HAVE BOTH BEEN CUT SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS STILL "THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 36 MONTHS."
CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX 25-30 MPH AND IN TURN COLLIDED W/A VEHICLE IN FRONT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS BUCKLED AND COLLAPSED BACKWARD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERE WHIPLASH INJURIES AS A RESULT. MR
UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ALMOST ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES FORWARD AS IF IT IS NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT HAD BEEN LOCKED INTO POSITION. AFTER AN OCCURENCE, I HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF THE SEAT WAS LOCKED BY SCOOTING FORWARD MANUALLY (WITHOUT USE OF THE LEVER). IT DOES NOT SLIDE AFTER DOING THIS, GIVING ME THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS LOCKED. THE SEATBACK OF THIS SAME SEAT DOES NOT STAY LOCKED WELL EITHER. SOMETIMES, JUST GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND LEANING ON THE SEAT, CAUSES IT (SEATBACK) TO SLIP OUT OF POSITION (BACKWARDS).*AK
BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WITHIN THE LATCH ASSM OF BOTH REAR DOORS THE OCCUPANT IS UNABLE TO BE OPEN EITHER DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE DOORS CAN ONLY BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR*AK.
DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BROKE WHICH CAUSED SEAT TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. AK *SLC
HAD TO REPLACE 3 MOTORS IN DRIVER'S POWER ADJUSTING SEAT. PIN KEPT FALLING OUT. DEALER REPAIRED FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY, COULD NOT BE REPAIRED, SEAT HAS BEEN LOOSE. DEALER SAID NEW SEAT TRACK NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED AT $1600. ADD VIN AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN FIVE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES SCRAPED REAR WHEEL WELLS AND UNDERCARRIAGE SCRAPED PAVEMENT. *SLC
MAIN STEERING COLUMN LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND ALL DASHLIGHTS TO GO OFF.*AK
VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, IMPACT SPEED 40-45 MPH. BOTH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS COLLAPSED IN THE RECLINING POSITION, VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
WHILE DRIVING SEAT GAVE AWAY. IT RECLINED STRAIGHT BACK IN A RESTING POSTION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN OF NO HELP. *AK
DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. NLM
WHEN GETTING IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE & CLOSING THE DOOR, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD BE MAKING A CLICKING SOUNDS AS IF LOCKING. THE DOORS ARE NOT LOCKED. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED. THE SOLENOID WOULD MAKE THAT CLICKING NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED NOR WAS PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
DRIVER POWER SEAT MOVES FRONT/BACK WHEN ACCELERATING/BRAKING. VERY ANNOYING AND CHEAP FEELING. COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT INJURY.
MODEL XLS, POWER SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS MOVING WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING , JUST ENOUGH TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE . DLR CLAIMS NO REPAIR. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ONLY MECHANICALSEATS. *AK
DRIVER'S POWER SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH, AND MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN STOPPING AND GOING. *AK
HINGE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR.
UNABLE TO OPEN REAR DOOR BECAUSE THE LINKAGE FAILED. YH
LIGHT ON PANEL STAYED ON. YH
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .