2001 Toyota Camry Engine

VEHICLE 'RACES' OUT OF CONTROL WHILE STATIONARY AND IN GEAR, BOTH IN GARAGE AND OUTSIDE OF GARAGE PREPARING TO ENTER. SOLUTION: STEP ON BRAKE ON HARD AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT COLLISION AND TURN OFF IGNITION. ENGINE NO LONGER 'RACES' WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON AGAIN. 3 OCCURRENCES IN PAST 12 MONTHS. NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION. SPOUSE WAS PRESENT ON ONE OCCASION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL SLUDGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500.

MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR , 2001. NO ONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHY THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALL THIS TIME UNTIL I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THIS CAR NOW NEEDS HEAD GASKETS. IT SEEMS TO BE A TOYOTA PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AS SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,500 . UPDATED 03/16/12*LJ UPDATED 06/04/12

WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY CE IN 2000 AND WERE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED TO US ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO. ON JAN 22, WE WERE DRIVING ON I 15 FREEWAY SOUTH FROM LA BACK TO LAS VEGAS. ABOUT AFTER 30 MINUTES ON THE ROAD I HEARD SOMETHING SOUNDING LIKE A CRACK UNDER THE VEHICLE (LAST ONLY ABOUT ONE SECOND). I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE MIGHT HIT A ROCK UNDERNEATH AND SLOWED DOWN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. THEN IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASH LIGHT AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE. I COULD SEE THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT BADLY. AFTER LOTS OF HASSLES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP IN ONTARIO. THE NEXT DAY MORNING THEIR SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK SINCE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. TO THE BEST OF HIS JUDGMENT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED FROM INSIDE. HE SAID SOMETHING FROM INSIDE OF ENGINE COULD FALL DOWN AND KNOCKED THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE LEAKING. SOON AFTER THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT THEY TALKED TO THE CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP AND CONCLUDED THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE INSURANCE POLICY. LAST MONTH I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN AN AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. FROM PICTURES ATTACHED ONE CAN SEE A BIG HOLE KNOCKED OUT ON ENGINE(SEE ATTACHED PICTURE). IT IS A REAL SURPRISE TO ME SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS RUN ONLY 79,500 MILES AND WE GAVE IT MAINTENANCE ON REGULAR BASES AS REQUIRED. BY THIS LETTER WE REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT ENGINE DEFECT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND AN EXPLANATION FROM TOYOTA COMPANY. AT THE SAME TIME WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR COMPENSATIONS FOR THE LOSS CAUSED BY THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATION OF TOYOTA MOTO SALES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA V6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED POLLUTION AND AN ENGINE FIRE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $8,000. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 10/12/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 3 MPH IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND IT RECURRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 119,000.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN WITH WATER STANDING ON ROAD, A/C FAILS. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE SO FAR. DEALER INDICATED THAT SUCH FAILURE WAS NORMAL WHEN WATER GETS ON BELT AND BELT SLIPS. NO REPAIR MADE. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE MANY TIMES BEFORE. FAILURE RESULTS IN RAPID AND UNEXPECTED CONDENSATION ON WINDSHIELD AND OTHER WINDOWS WITH LOSS OF VISIBILITY DURING HEAVY RAIN), CAUSING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO ALERT HER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL; THE ENGINE NOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WENT OUT OF CONTROL WHEN OUR SON WAS DRIVING ON A RAMP AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE CAR WAS UPSIDE DOWN TRAPPING OUR SON IN THE CAR UPSIDE DOWN. HE HAD TO BREAK THE SIDE WINDOW TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. IT IS COMPLETELY TOTAL DAMAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY COMPENSATED FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR. HE WAS SAVED MIRACULOUSLY WITH MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. POLICEMAN GAVE HIM TICKET AFTER HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS NIGHT AND COLD. *TR

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS TOWED ON 3/27/06 AS A RESULT OF OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE. ALL DATA WAS SENT TO TOYOTA WHO SENT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR WHO DENIED CLAIM.. I WOULD LIKE TO RESUBMIT THE CLAIM AND DOCUMENTS TO YOUR OFFICE FOR A REEVALUATION. *TR

OIL SLUDGE AND GELLING PROBLEM ON ALL TOYOTA ENGINES IN CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA FROM 1998 TO 2002. I HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE CAR GIVES OUT SMOKE, FAILS INSPECTION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND LEADS TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

MY 2001 CAMRY 4 CYLINDER STARTED HAVING WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE AFTER AROUND 100,000 MILES. IT HAPPENS EVERY MORNING WHEN I START THE ENGINE. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID TOYOTAS HAVE THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE OF SEATING PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $2000.00 TO FIX. *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN GOODLATTE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE PROBLEMS SHE EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE AFTER THE USE OF GASOLINE CONTAINING ETHANOL. *NJ THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 AND 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. ONE OF THE VEHICLES NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE OTHER NEEDED A NEW OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE USE OF GASOLINE CONTAINING ETHANOL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATE AGENCY THAT INSPECTED GASOLINE STATIONS INFORMED HER THAT MECHANICS HAD TOLD HIM THAT EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ETHANOL COULD CAUSED THE OXYGEN SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HER VEHICLES CONTAINED BAD GAS. *JB UPDATED 05/25/10.*JB

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH OIL TURNING INTO GEL. THE ENGINE QUIT OPERATING COMPLETELY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. MY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED OPERATING AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ENGINE ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY CAR REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $ 3,000.00. *TR

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON MY HOME DRIVE WAY, SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD,THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER 911 CALL, THE FIRE FIGHTERS CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ALL OF THE PARTS UNDER THE HOOD WERE ALL MELTED, ESPECIALLY ENGINE SIDE WERE BURNT OUT SIGNIFICANTLY. THE FRONT WINDOW PANEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS WHICH CAME ON, NO STRANGE SMELLS, NOTHING. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE IN 2002. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY STARTED TO EXPERIENCE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. *AK

IN AUGUST, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED OUR 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE MADE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS MISSING ON ONE CYLINDER. WE WATCHED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. WE WERE STILL UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WE TRUST. HE DISCOVERED THE MIDDLE VALVES WERE STUCK OR STICKING IN THE VALVE SLEEVE, CAUSING THE "MIS-FIRING" SOUND WE HEARD. FURTHER, WE WERE TOLD THE REMEDY WAS TO HAVE THE HEAD MACHINED, REPLACE THE DAMAGED SLEEVES AND THIS WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN ASKING ANOTHER MECHANIC ABOUT THE ISSUE, WE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON FLAW IN THE 4 CYLINDER CAMRY ENGINE. IN FACT, OUR MECHANIC HAD 3 SEPARATE CARS OF THE SAME AGE IN FOR THE SAME EXACT REPAIR IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE DECEPTIVE, ESPECIALLY AS YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET TO DISCOVER THERE ARE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WHO FOUND THIS FLAW LONG AFTER THEIR WARRANTY EXPIRED. WE BUY VEHICLES WITH THE INTENT TO KEEP THEM; WE FOCUS ON WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE QUALITY MANUFACTURERS WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT. THIS LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH AND CARE FOR THE CUSTOMER IS A BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE TRUST PLACED IN THEIR HANDS. TECHNICALLY, WE ARE ONLY OUT VERY MINOR FEES AND THE TIME IT TOOK TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER. THIS WAS NOT A CONSUMER PRODUCT, WHERE THE RESULT IS ANNOYANCE AND FRUSTRATION, BUT IT WAS A MODE OF TRANSPORT, CARRYING OUR LIVES ON A DAILY BASIS. HOW CAN A COMPANY CARELESSLY DISREGARD THE IMPACT OF ITS' PRODUCTS CONSTRUCTION WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE EVERYTIME IT IS USED? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT DROPS IN PRODUCT QUALITY. AS THEY FOCUS ON THE BOTTOM LINE, LITTLE CONCERN IS SHOWN TO THE CONSUMER WHO RISKS A LOT. *NM

PETITION I AND MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WERE ON HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ENGINE BURST AND CAUGHT ON FIRE OF MY TOYOTA CAMRY 2001 EXL. WE HAD DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE WITH TOYOTA AND ALL CHANGES OF THE OIL REQUIREMENTS ON TIME. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONLY 4 WEEKS PRIOR THE ACCIDENT. WE WENT THROUGH TERRIFYING AND VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE ALSO LOST 27,000 INVESTMENTS IN THE CAR. TOYOTA'S ENGINES HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY DECLINE ANY RESPONSIBILITIES. PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS PROBLEM BEFORE THEY CAN LOSE A LOVED ONE. I PETITION THE AGENCY FOR A RECALL, BECAUSE OF SERIOUSNESS OF FAILURE. *NM

THE VACUUM CANISTER WAS INSTALLED IN THIS AUTO AT AN ANGLE AND HAS FAILED NYS INSPECTION THE LAST THREE TIMES. THESE TYPE OF VACUUM PROBLEM HAS COST THE CONSUMERS MILLIONS IN ADDITIONAL INSPECTION COST. *NM