Three problems related to rear seat belt have been reported for the 1997 Toyota Camry. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The rear seat belts do not roll back after pulled out. Now they are staying on the seats. Driver's seat belt retracts slow.
2 years ago I had the drivers side rear seat belt fail. The locking mechanism failed allowing the seat belt to come out and then would not retract. It had to be replaced. This past summer I had the passenger side rear seat belt develop the same problem (it also failed) and needed replacement.
I took the car to the dealer. They ordered a left-side back seat belt rather than the center belt. They re-ordered and told me the belt should be in today (9/13/00). I called today and am now told that it will not be here until at least next Thursday or Friday. I asked if it was coming from japan and was told that it probably was. This is a very big safefy issue as I have three children - ages 4, 9 & 10. All are too small for the front seat. I am not sure what to do next.