FaultScore

1997 Toyota Camry airbag problems

55 of the 685 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Camry are about the airbag system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,000 miles.

F

55

Complaints

44

Crashes

0

Fires

30

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 34 61.8%
AIR Bags 18 32.7%
Sensor/Control Module 3 5.5%

Airbags across every Toyota Camry year

1992 34 2.0%
1993 46 2.7%
1994 53 3.2%
1995 48 2.9%
1996 48 2.9%
1997 55 3.3%
1998 53 3.2%
1999 76 4.5%
2000 61 3.6%
2001 39 2.3%
2002 91 5.4%
2003 74 4.4%
2004 79 4.7%
2005 69 4.1%
2006 62 3.7%
2007 138 8.2%
2008 47 2.8%
2009 67 4.0%
2010 54 3.2%
2011 72 4.3%
2012 75 4.5%
2013 37 2.2%
2014 43 2.6%
2015 20 1.2%
2016 32 1.9%
2017 24 1.4%
2018 22 1.3%
2019 25 1.5%
2020 49 2.9%
2021 78 4.6%
2022 11 0.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles West Islip, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END DRIVER SIDE COLLISION. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN BOTH A SIDE IMPACT AND FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (ACCIDENT NUMBER 2822). THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN JAW AND NERVE DAMAGE THAT REQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 23 SURGERIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10871080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Foster City, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL 1997 CAMRY HAD A MALFUNCTION IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OFF, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATED AND EJECTED OCCUPANT OUT OF VEHICLE. ARE 1997 TOYOTA AIR BAGS GOING TO BE RECALLED?

NHTSA complaint #10824375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Indianapolis, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10670012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 255,000 miles Aurora, CO Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,000.

NHTSA complaint #10621817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,500 miles Abington, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON ROUTE 93 SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS BEHIND A SEDAN. THERE DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE NOT GOOD; IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY. THERE WAS A TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE SEDAN AND IT HAD JUST PASSED ITS EXIT. THE TRUCK THEN WENT IN REVERSE TO GO BACK TO THE EXIT. THE SEDAN WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. BY THE TIME I HAD REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STOP. I SLID ON THE WET ROAD STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE SEDAN. I WOULD ASSUME THAT BECAUSE I CRASHED INTO A CAR GOING OVER 40 MPH, STRAIGHT ON, THAT MY AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY BUT THEY DID NOT. SINCE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MY NECK WAS THROWN FORWARD AND ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT BREAK IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE DISCOMFORT. EVERYONE WHO SAW MY CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT WERE AMAZED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10220497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Skokie, IL 1 injured

AIR BAGS

OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE, OWNER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10113078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sherwood, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON COLLISION. DRIVER WAS INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #10095555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 166,064 miles Antelope, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY AUTOMOBILE SUSTAINED A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH BUT THE SAFETY AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE OR INFLATE.

NHTSA complaint #10093413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Lindnehurst, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10070036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Richmond, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PH

NHTSA complaint #10018135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Richmond, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint #10018136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Palm Beach, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG MODULE BLEW THE FUSE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10012187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Sarasota, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG COMPUTER SENSOR BAD AND SHUTS DOWN CAR WHILE ENGINE ON IN PARK. CAR DID NOT RESTART. SENSOR BLEW ENTIRE FUSE BOX FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10008454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX 25-30MPH AND IN TURN COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lebonen, TN Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, DID NOT HAVE SOLUTION FOR OCCURRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8013354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Gabriel, LA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #8010784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring Valley, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 10 HOURS, CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BURNS TO CONSUMER'S HAND AND ARM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE AIRBAG UNDER WARRANTY, SAYING CONSUMER CAUSED IT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #898951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Neptune, NJ Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 25-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #894690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vicksburg, MS

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT).

NHTSA complaint #560880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Park Ridge, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AT 40 MPH, FRONTAL CRASH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 3 FEET.

NHTSA complaint #877212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weatherford, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, IMPACT SPEED 40-45 MPH. BOTH, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS COLLAPSED IN THE RECLINING POSITION, VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #871251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamaica, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONT END COLLISION WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES (FRONT), NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS.

NHTSA complaint #548449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pomona, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA complaint #606522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lincoln, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #857219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #848494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cypress, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING COLLISION AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING THE DRIVER AND HIS WIFE TO SUSTAIN SOME INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #847048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Downey, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

ENGINE DIED, DIAGNOSED THAT A POWER SHORT ON AIR BAG ASSEMBLY FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meridian, MS Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CAR WRECK.AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. CONSUMER OBTAINED POLICE REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #842515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victorville, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ABOUT 53 MPH, AND COULDN'T CONTROL VEHICLE. DROVE OFF THE ROAD, AND CRASHED. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #841211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma City, OK Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT THE VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. ALSO THE REAR SHOULDERBELT DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND THE OCCUPANT SUSTAIN INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

NHTSA complaint #840715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Toyota Camry problems

← Full 1997 Toyota Camry report