Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 30 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 30, in the owner's own words
The steering wheel is set off center to the right of the driver. Yes it is available upon request. Causes extreme back pains. Has not been inspected by police or insurance reps. Has not been inspected yet. No warning lights or messages in car dash for this. Since I had the car noticed this.
KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START CAR. STEERING WHEEL LOCK GOES IN AND OUT. EVENTUALLY (5-20 MINUTES) DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS (DON'T KNOW WHAT) AND CAR WILL START. WHEN IT HAPPENED ONCE, I FIGURED IT WAS AN ANOMALY. BUT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED FIVE TIMES AND I AM NOW IN CONSTANT WORRY ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. UPDATED 9/21/15 *LN ...UPDATED 10/01/15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED USING A DIFFERENT IGNITION KEY SEEMED TO HAVE ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/13/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I HAD NOT USED MY VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS AND WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT EARLY IN THE MORNING, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND WAS NOT SPINNING BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE STIFFNESS WAS LESS PRONOUNCED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A BIT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON AN OFF RAMP OF INTERSTATE I 94 AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR SPUN TO THE LEFT HIT THE BARRIER CONTINUED SPINNING AND HIT THE BARRIER ON THE RIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST. THERE HAD BEEN RAIN. THE ROAD WAS NOT SLICK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 1997. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH IN WET AND ICY CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY CAME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTO HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE ROAD AND BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK. SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSELY BACK ONTO THE COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V307000, STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE BY TIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING MY 97 CAMRY I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENTIRE STEER WHEEL SPINNED AROUND LIKE A SPINNING TOP. I HAD NO CONTROL THE CAR RAN UP ON THE CURVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID QUALIFY UNDER THIS RECALL BUT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THEY HAD TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL. I EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL. I THEN CALLED THE CORP OFFICE FOR TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY HAVE NO INFO ON THE DEALERSHIP MAKING ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHY THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFERING INFORMATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT TOYOTA CLEARLY HAS A RECALL MY VEHICLE FITS THE CRITERIA IT A 1997 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE, BUT WAS UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF "PLAY" AND "BODY ROLL" WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS/STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THAT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES. THE DEPTH WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED IS MUCH DEEPER AND REQUIRES A GREATER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. FINALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE POOR VISIBILITY BOTH IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED AND IN THEIR LOW MOUNTING OR ANGLE WHICH THEY SIT AT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. BEST REGARDS. *JB
CAR : 97 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4 CYLINDER THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS 1) BLUE SMOKE AT COLD-STARTING (MILEAGE: 87 MILES -AUG. 2001) ENGINE GAVE OFF BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN COLD-STARTING IN THE MORNING. AFTER REPLACING VALVE STEM SEALS (PAID AROUND $1000 TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPAIR), THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 2) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKING (MILEAGE: 87KMILES -AUG. 2001) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKED AND A MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. 3) EGR VSV FAILURE (MILEAGE: 100 KMILES -OCT. 2004) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD II SCANNER SAYS "INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW." A MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VSV AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 4) FRONT STRUT MOUNTS FAILURE ((MILEAGE: 87 KMILES -AUG. 2001) BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS MADE NOISE. AFTER A TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED IT, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. *JB
MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS AT CURRENT SPEED.ONE OF THE BOSE SPEAKERS THAT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS BUSTED.*AK
MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM.*AK
1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LS POPPING NOISE IN STEERING. *NM
THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A STEERING RECALL ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN : 99V307000 DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT. *TC *JB
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN IT RAINED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE DEALERSHIP SOUTH BAY TOYOTA; GARDENA CA; 310-323-7800 IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL 99 V 307 000. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL AND IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. TS
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED. *TT
RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING. NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NEEDED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK
WHEN FIVE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES SCRAPED REAR WHEEL WELLS AND UNDERCARRIAGE SCRAPED PAVEMENT. *SLC
WHEN STARTING CAR WITH KEY IGNITION, CAR IS LOCK WILL NOT TURN IF YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT OR RIGHT HARD.
VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH CHAIN LINK FENCE, POSSIBLE FAILURE OF RECALL (99V-307) OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN #. *MJS
CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL 99V232000/STEERING WHEEL. MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL AFFECTED ONLY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERED IN JAPAN. ALSO, WHEN HANDLING STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER COULD FEEL PERSISTENT VIBRATION. *AK
RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING STEERING COLUMN VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH (99V-307). *MJS
STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS. 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
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