general problems of the 1997 Toyota Camry

In January my starter caught on fire while driving down the road, and again in April causing me to lose days of work. Caused positive cable to battery to melt.

Steering wheel and handle bar are loose. The electrical system including the ignition are not working properly. The service brakes and the hydraulic parts seems to wobble while driving . The exterior lighting headlights are so dimmed it is hard to see while driving at night. The vehicle is parked in front of my house.

Engine is beginning to use engine oil between changes.

1997 Toyota Camry traveling at or about 30 mph struck a standing/stopped vehicle from the rear. Standing vehicle struck rear end of car in front. 1997 Toyota driver sustained multiple, bodily injuries. Facial injuries include lip/mouth contusion, eye socket bruises from striking steering wheel. Steering wheel air bag did not open. Other bodily injuries includes large interior right knee hematoma, broken left foot requiring immediate installation of metal plate & screws & multiple bruises to both legs. Driver is ww2 vet & is scheduled for 3 weeks rehab in care facility. Car is currently a local salvage yard awaiting disposition within 2 days. Police report 902361501 on file at avon indiana police department & indicates driver air bag did not open.

Accelerator pedal sometimes sticks at a stop when pushed to start moving forward. I have noticed this for the past few years.

Connecting rod failure. While I was checking my battery, the engine exploded, blowing a 4" hole on the engine body and spreading pieces of the connecting rod around the yard. No prior signs had indicated anything was wrong with the engine. Engine was running fine up to the last second before the explosion.

Engine froze while on NJ turnpike. Oil coagulated into gook/mudr.

1997 Toyota Camry caught on fire while driving on I-87. Fire began somewhere under the front hood of the vehicle. Brakes failed while moving to highway shoulder. Passengers were immediately evacuated and the fire department was called to put out the fire. The car was completely destroyed by the fire.

At 72,000 miles engine blew. Perfectly maintained car with records to back it up. Needed new engine. At 39,000 miles valve seals had to be replaced. At 67,700 miles valve seals had to be replaced again. I believe this engine was defective since the time it left the factory. No response from manufacturer.

While driving at 60 mph consumer smelled gas in the vehicle. After parking the vehicle consumer was informed that the engine compartment was on fire. The fire totally destroyed the vehicle.

Loud knocking heard from front right of vehicle. Toyota service department determined cause to be a bad cv joint. Additionally, during a routine engine oil change, I discovered an unusually large amount of beading sludge that had to be removed by hand to drail and fill the oil. I have read reports of the Toyota engines producing sludge and I would like to know how I go about getting this fixed on their recall if one occurs.

Engine seizure due to oil sludge.

A bolt that holds the rod to the cylinder broke, causing the rod to break loose and move around inside the engine.

While accelerating there was a loud bang and smoke came from the engine compartment. Upon inspection the driver noticed there was a hole in the engine. The dealer indicated that the engine blew due to lack of oil.

I was involved in a 5 car pile up on interstate 94, hit vehicle in front of me going at 45-50 mph, and airbag did not deploy. According to Toyota, this is acceptable due to the particular type of frontal accident I had. If hitting a car at 45-50 mph dead on is not a good enough reason for the airbag deploying then what is? due to the airbag not deploying, I suffered a severe brain contusion with bleeding in the brain and loss time off of work. Earlier engine problem: oil sludge in engine, once repairs were done 6 months later engine mounts had to be replace front motor mount and dog bone, injectors and gaskets, why?, this was all replaced on the first engineering defect Toyota created and why should I pay a portion of their oil sludge engineering defects.

My engine seized and needs complete replacement due to this oil sludge problem. As a result of the gelled oil, one of the pistons broke off creating a hole in the engine and the motor mount became displaced from the engine, causing the engine block to crack while I was driving the car. I bought the car used from greer Toyota in millbrook, NY in August of 2001 and was told that one of their mechanics would complete a thorough inspection before the car was turned over to me. I have since had the oil changed every 3,000 miles by a trusted mechanic. During that time, I had to replace the oxygen sensor at my own cost, but did not have any other problems until this month. Now in addition to the engine, it appears that my struts are failing as well. I am in the process of submitting a claim for the engine.

Toyota has completely denied my engine blew up due to engine sludge and in fact are holding my car hostage. They told me it was going to cost me 2200. 00 for them to tear it down so Toyota could determine that it was engine sludge, then they denied it was and said that my cam shaft broke. A cam shaft should not have broke in a 5 year old car, especialy one that had been maintained and I had the oil changed 1 week prior at Toyota. I then got a call saying my car was ready and it was 7800. 00, that they had replaced the cam shaft. I was furious and told them I never gave my authorization to replace a cam shaft for 7800. 00. When I went to pick it up they wouldn't release it because they couldn't find the paperwork. . (suddenly) and I kept getting the run around. . Now they say the cam shaft was never replaced. . ( I think they removed it). . Needless to say my car has been parked at Toyota since last November or when I filed this report. I am furious that they won't fix it. . And they refuse to give me the persons name at Toyota corp. Who turned down my request to have it fixed under the sludge problem. .

1997 Camry xle. . Oil gel problem. Toyota blamed problem on us/lack of oil change receipts. In 1999. Cert. Used car. Needed new engine after one year. Problem undetected again. In Feb 2002 car blew engine after being checked @Toyota. Got letter in July 2002 stating their was a gelling problem. I sent information they needed. Never a response from Toyota. I sent all info again certified mail. No response.

When I took my Camry in for a routine oil change, I was told that I needed to have my engine \\desludged. \\ I was told that this was highly recommended and would prevent more costly repairs in the future.