1999 Toyota Camry Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES ENGULFED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE WAITING FOR HIS WIFE, WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, WITH THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE A/C ON HIGH, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED ABRUPTLY AND WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS, THERE WAS A LOUD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND LOOKED UNDER IT. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED OIL ON THE PAVEMENT. THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD THROUGH THE PAN. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. *JB
HEADED SOUTH ON INTERSTATE WHEN BURST INTO FLAME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL SUDDENLY AS WELL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN SO THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK WHICH RESULTED TO THE VEHICLE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE EOR SENSOR, EOR SOLENOID AND EOR MODULE WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. UPDATED 4/4/11 *CN THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE THROTTLE. UPDATED 06/03/11
WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY ONTO THE ON RAMP TO THE VETERANS EXPRESSWAY, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANG AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE.THE ENGINE STOPPED! I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 1999,AND IT ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS IN SUPER CONDITION, EXCEPT NOW IT HAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!! A CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PISTON ROD CAP BOLT HAD BROKEN AND THE ROD BLEW A HOLE IN THE ENGINE. THE TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA NATIONAL SAID THAT I MUST PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE!!I FEEL THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT OR THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 44,000 MILES.I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS DONE. THIS IS CERTAINLY A DANGEROUS DEFECT, BECAUSE IF YOUR CAR SEIZES UP AND STOPS IN TRAFFIC, YOU DO NOT STAND A CHANCE. I'VE READ WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA RECALLED THIS? IT IS CERTAINLY JUST AS DANGEROUS AS THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY DID RECALL CARS FOR. *TR
MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY STARTED BLOWING BLUE SMOKE OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THIS WAS AFTER REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT 3,000 MILES. FINALLY, WHILE ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND AFTER OIL WAS CHANGED, MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC LOOK AT THE ENGINE, WHO STATE THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN PAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED 200 MILES TO MY HOUSE WHERE MY MECHANIC ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR OVER A YEAR TO FIND A COST EFFECTIVE ENGINE WHEN AT LAST I FOUND A WEB SITE THAT EXPLAINS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WITH SLUDGE OIL PROBLEMS CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL? I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA IS NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET SOME HELP FOR THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER AGAINST THE AUTO GIANTS WHO KNOW GOOD AND WELL THEY HAD A VERY SILENT CLASS ACTION NOTIFICATION WHICH DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSUMERS. THAT ACTION MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS AND STOCKHOLDERS BUT ISN'T THE NHTSA SUPPOSED TO LOOK OUT FOR THE CONSUMER. *TR
AT ABOUT 3 PM I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON THE ON RAMP OF ROUTE 15 NORTH AT MIRA MESA. SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. I MOVED TO THE RIGHT WHERE THERE WAS ROOM. AND DESPITE PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. I MOVED TO THE GUARD RAIL HOPING TO SLOW THE CAR, WHICH IL DID, BUT THE CAR BOUNCED OFF THE RAIL AND SIDE SWIPED A WHITE LEXUS. THEN THE CAR CAME TO A STOP. A WORKMAN SAW THE ACCIDENT AND CONFIRMED THE PATTERN OF WHAT OCCURRED. HE CHECKED WITH ME AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR AND WE BOTH SAID THERE WAS NO INJURY. HE REFUSED TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF. BOTH CARS WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THAT THE FLOOR MATS WERE IN THE PROPER PLACE AND NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR. I FEEL THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE OPERATING SYSTEM OF THE CAR TO CAUSE THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR
I BOUGHT MY CAMRY BRAND NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED. HOWEVER, OVER THE YEARS I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER REPLACED AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND VALVES REPLACED TWICE. ON OCT. 4TH WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WITH NO FOREWARNING, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FOLLOWED BY A PLUME OF WHITE/BLUE SMOKE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER IN TIME TO AVOID AND ACCIDENT. THE RESULTING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. NOW I'M DISCOVERING THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY KIND OF ENGINE AND IT WAS QUIETLY SETTLED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE THE 2000 YEAR ENGINES. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE 1999'S AND HAS BEEN TOTALLY IGNORED. THIS IS AWFUL! *TR
1999 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH ENGINE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND OIL AND GASOLINE ODOR WAS PRESENT. CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND ENGINE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *KB
WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE WAS DEAD SO MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE HAS HOLE DUE TO MAJOR ENGINE MECHANICAL FAILURE. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE SAME MODEL YEAR 2000 TOYOTA AND THEY WERE RECALLED. *TR
RE: TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINE FAILURE ON 12/21/07 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE DECEMBER 31, 2007 DEAR SIR, ON DECEMBER 21, 2007 AT 11:30AM PT, MY WIFE KIM LY NGUYEN DROVE OUR 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON THE 405 SOUTH FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS ABOUT TO PASS THE BRISTOL ST. EXIT IN COSTA MESA, MY WIFE SUDDENLY HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISY SOUND AND DETECTED THE STRONG SCENT OF OIL AND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY, MY WIFE MANEUVERED OUR CAR TO THE RIGHT-HAND SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. ONCE MY WIFE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT RE-START. OUR CAR WAS TOWED BY 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE TO ACCU AUTO SERVICE (23253 MADERO #A-104, MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691) FOR REPAIR. SINCE WE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OUR CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY DAY, IT WAS CRUCIAL THAT WE RECEIVED IMMEDIATE SERVICE ON OUR CAR. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC EXAM, ACCU AUTO SERVICE DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND TOTAL FAILURE (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURES) AND WAS COMPLETELY REPLACED AND SERVICED. SINCE WE BOUGHT OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE ON 4/10/99, IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THROUGH THE ?GOLD SEAL MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN SERVICES CONTRACT LIMITED, AND WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP US WITH A REIMBURSEMENT OF OUR REPAIR COSTS. DUE TO THE DEPENDENCY ON OUR CAR FOR SURVIVAL, WE HAD TO AUTHORIZE AN IMMEDIATE REPAIR. THROUGH THE LIFE OF OUR TOYOTA CAMRY LE, WE HAVE MAINTAINED A GOOD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND UPKEEP, WHICH CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH LEW WEBB'S IRVINE TOYOTA, INC. (30 AUTO CENTER DR., IRVINE, CA 92618) AT 949-768-0688 OR ACCU AUTO SERVICES AT 949-859-9637. WE HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION AND ARE ABLE TO HONOR OUR WARRANTY BY GRANTING US A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE CAR ENGINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND TIME. SINCERELY, LIEM NGO & KIM LY NGUYEN *TR
MY CAMRY SHOWED THE EXACT 3 SIGNS OF OIL GEL LIST IN SETTLED CLASS ACTION SUIT: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BLUE SMOKE, & ENGINE LIGHT ON. SETTLED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SAYS TOYOTA SHOULD FIX/PAY. TOYOTA INC. DENIED CLAIM. CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT CLEARLY INCLUDES MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4CYL. TOYOTA SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE $3000 OF REPAIRS NEEDED ON MY CAMRY AND SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS THEY WERE DIRECTED TO BY A COURT OF LAW. I'M JUST GLAD I NOTICED THE 3 SIGNS OF OIL GET & BROUGHT IT TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY. IN MINNESOTA LAST WEEK, ONE CAMRY-OWNING FAMILY WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE: DURING RUSH-HOUR ON ONE OF MINNESOTA'S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS, A TOYOTA CAMRY CAME TO A FULL STOP AND WAS REAR-ENDED BY A SEMI. AS A RESULT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED WHEN THE FAMILY'S CAMRY WAS REAR-ENDED, A 4 YEAR OLD GIRL DIED. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAMRY WAS ONE OF THE CAMRYS COVERED IN THE OIL GEL LAWSUIT. I DO KNOW THAT IF IT'S ONE OF THE TOYOTA CAMRYS THAT HAS ENGINE DAMAGE THAT, IF UNDETECTED BY OWNER, WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THESE CAMRYS DO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON FREEWAYS. *TR
PROBLEM WITH 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY: IN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD, THE ENGINE LITERALLY BLEW A HOLE. THE RPM WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 4,000. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NO VEHICLE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON MY SIDE QUICKLY SLOWED DOWN TO LET ME COME BACK TO MY SIDE OF THE ROAD. OTHERWISE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ONE HALF HOUR LATER, THE POLICE ARRIVED TO FIND THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB
I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY. I CHANGED MY OIL CONSISTENTLY BEFORE EVERY 2500 MILES OR 3 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE OIL IN MY ENGINE STILL "SLUGGED" OR "GELLED". I VISITED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON AMONGST TOYOTA CAMRY'S AND THAT THEY COULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE DAMAGE FOR ME UNLESS I PROVIDED RECEIPTS AS PROOF THAT I CHANGED MY OIL EVERY 2500 MILES OR 3 MONTHS SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. I HAD NOT BEEN KEEPING MY RECEIPTS AS MY FIANCE WOULD OFTEN CHANGE MY OIL FOR US. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAD TO SPEND OVER $2,000 REPLACING MY ENGINE ONLY TO LATER FIND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH MORE COMMON AND SEVERE THAN I HAD BEEN TOLD AND THAT TOYOTA DOES IN FACT RECOGNIZE THE DEFECT AND OFFERS TO FIX IT COMPLIMENTARY. I LEARNED THIS WHILE I WAS OUT CAR SHOPPING (AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP) SINCE I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE ON THE ROAD IN MY UNSUITABLE TOYOTA CAMRY. MY OLD ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT THE NEW ONE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINES TO GEL UP HAS NOW BEEN REMOVED FROM REPLACEMENT ENGINES. THERE IS NOW A NOTICEABLE BANGING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH THE WAY I WAS TREATED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A KNOWN HISTORY OF DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND THE CAR MANUFACTURERS REFUSES TO FIX IT FOR ME. WHAT TYPE OF SCAM IS THIS? *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED BUT WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND FATIGUE, AS WELL AS, MUSCLE ACHES AND LOSS OF COORDINATION BELIEVED TO BE FROM FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
I HAD MY CAR SERVICED BEFORE LEAVING FOR OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING FROM MY HOME THE WATER PUMP WENT AND BLEW THE ENGINE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN AND RENT A CAR FOR OUR TRIP. IN 2004, WE ALSO FAILED THE EMISSION TEST TWICE. *NM
1999 TOYOTA CAMRY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED, AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR REPLACED, FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED BUT NONE OF THOSE REPAIRS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TS THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT SINCE THE CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVEN MUCH THAT CARBON MAY HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP IN THE VALVE AREA. THE DEALER CLEANED THE VALVE AREA AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND FUEL INJECTION BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *NM ***NO ANS REQUIRED***
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THREW A ROD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2005. THERE WAS A REPORT TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT THEY THOUGHT CAUSED IT, ONLY THAT IT WAS NOT DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *NM
GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TOO FREQUENTLY ON A TOYOTA CAMRY 1999 MODEL. HAD TO REPLACE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS
EMISSIONS COMPONENTS FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED TWO OXYGEN SENSORS AND NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE EVAP CANISTER (CHARCOAL). ALL BREAKDOWNS HAVE OCCURED BEFORE 65,000 MILES
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A TUNE UP AND AFTER THE TUNE UP THE DEALER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE. *AK THERE WAS KNOCKING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN. THE ORIGINAL MOTOR ROD HAD COME APART. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MISUSE. THE OIL WAS OKAY AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF WHY THE ROD HAD COME APART. *SC *JB
ON MARCH 21,2005 I GAVE MY TYOTA CAMRY CE 1999 WITH 103,000 MILES ON IT FOR TUNE UP TO DOOR'S AUTO SPEED SHOP. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER THE TUNEUP WAS COMLETED THE MECHANICS TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE. DURING THE DRIVE BELOW 40 MILES PER HOUR THE ENGINE BLEW UP. MR. KEITH DOOR, THE OWNER AND MANAGER OF THE SHOP, CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA OF SLIDELL AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE ENGINE BLEW UP BECAUSE OF THE ACCUMULATION OF THE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THEY AGREED TO CHANGE THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. LATER, HOWEVER, THEY DEMANDED $4,000 FOR THE NEW ENGINE CLAIMING THAT THE CAUSE OF THE BLOWUP WAS NOT THE SLUDGE.THEY COULD NOT TELL, HOWEVER,WHY THE ENGINE BLEW UP.
AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE THUMPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THEAT ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE. CONTACT TO BE MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
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Quick Summary
The 1999 Toyota Camry has 104 Engine complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.