25 complaints reported

1997 Toyota Camry Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
25
Crashes
0
Fires
11
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2014 Fire

MY CAR MADE A WINING NOISE AND THEN A LOUD POP. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF RT 40 AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THERE WAS SEVERE SMOKE. I DID ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW HALF WAY AND THEN SHUT CAR OFF TRIED THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND IT DID NOT WORK. I THEN CRAWLED OUT THE WINDOW AND RAN THE CAR IGNITED AND CONTINUOUSLY BURNED UP?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2014
Jul 2014

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACED, LEAVING ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. MANAGED TO GET A FRIEND TO GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR ME BUT NOW I CANNOT GET IT INSTALLED. THE KEY HAS TO BE IN THE ACC POSITION FOR IT TO GO IN BUT THE TAB THAT IT SLIDES INTO DOESN'T LINE UP. I HAVE BEEN A FAITHFUL TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 3 DECADES BUT THIS IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2014
Dec 2007 Fire

DRIVING DOWN BELTWAY HEARD A POP AND THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE. 911 WAS CALLED FIRE DEPT GOT THERE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE CAR. DRIVER GOT OUT SAFELY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2007
Nov 2005 Fire

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THEN TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2004
Aug 2005 Fire

I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 194,000 MILES. LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PULLED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE STARTER CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE CAR. I TRIED TO STALL IT OUT BY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, BUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO TRY TO START. I THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I THEN RAN INTO THE OFFICE TO GET A TOOL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED THE STARTER QUIT, BUT BY THEN THE SOLENOID WAS SO OVERHEATED IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURN. LUCKILY WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND. THE DEALER HAS ONLY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. I THOUGHT VEHICLES HAD A FAIL SAFE MEASURE THAT WOULD TERMINATE THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2005
Sep 2004

TRUNK HINGES ARE CUTTING INTO THE WIRE HARNNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS. FUSES FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER INFOMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2004
Apr 2004 Fire

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOMING NOISE. THEN, SAW FIRE THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TORE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Apr 2004

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. NO FIRE WAS REPORTED.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2004
Jan 2004 Fire

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2004
May 2003 Fire

WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE TRIED TO START UP ON ITS OWN AND THEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2003
Sep 2002 Fire

WHILE TRAVELING, EXITING TOLL, OCCUPANTS HEARD A POP AND THEN STEERING STARTED JIGGLING. BEFORE ACTUALLY PULLING OVER TO INSPECT VEHICLE, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH BY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR CAUSE OF FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
May 2002

FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHT/ REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAS BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING VEHICLE PARTS TO NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2002
Dec 2001 Fire

CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY FLUID LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT THERE COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, SHORTLY AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2001
Dec 2001 Fire

THIS IS SECOND FAILURE AFTER 9,000 MILES ON REPLACEMENT,IT HAPPENED AT START UP IN GARAGE, GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, INDICATING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, FORTUNATELY, IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE DRIVEN, IT WOULD OBSCURED VISION OF DRIVER,THUS CAUSING ACCIDENT, TOYOTA NOTIFIED, COULD CARE LESS!*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2001
Jun 2001

CONSUMER STATES A CROSSING OF TWO WIRES IN THE TRUNK AREA CAUSED ENGINE MODULE AND INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH TO SHORT OUT. *SLC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Feb 2001

INADEQUTE STRAIN RELIEF ON CABLE LEADING FROM CHASSIS TO TRUNK LID ALLOWED/CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON WIRES LEADING TO MULTIPLE INSULATION FAILURES. FURTHERMORE, SOME STRANDS OF AT LEAST ONE WIRE BROKE, PROTRUDED, AND POSSIBLY SHORTED TO ANOTHER WIRE CAUSING THE FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT TO BLOW. THIS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS TO BE OFF, A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT /DUSK/DAWN DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM REPORTING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING CC'D ON ANY CORRESPONDENCE AT [email protected]

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2001
Jan 2001

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2001
Aug 1999 Fire

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH A POPPING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD BEFORE THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 1999
Aug 1999

IGNITION SWITCH/LOCK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Aug 1999

IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM--SOLENOID. RECALL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 1998
Mar 1999

SPARK PLUG LOOSE, REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 1999
Jan 1999

ENGINE COMPUTER SENSOR FAILED. YH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Jan 1999

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY OCCURS, FORCE KEY TO TURN ON ENGINE. *YC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Jan 1998

RECALL WORK WAS TO BE COMPLETED ON THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID, HOWEVER VEHICLE ROLLED INTO DITCH DUE TO INCOMPLETED SERVICE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 1998
Jul 1997

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE CAN TAKE THE IGNITION KEY OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL ON. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 1997

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Toyota Camry has 25 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.