FaultScore

1997 Toyota Camry headlight problems

24 of the 685 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Camry are about the lighting — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,000 miles.

A

24

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Headlights 7 29.2%
Turn Signal 4 16.7%
Exterior Lighting 2 8.3%
Interior Lighting 2 8.3%
High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch 2 8.3%
Switch 1 4.2%
Switch 1 4.2%
Tail Lights 1 4.2%
Brake Lights 1 4.2%
Flasher Unit 1 4.2%

Lights across every Toyota Camry year

1993 11 6.2%
1994 11 6.2%
1995 15 8.5%
1996 22 12.4%
1997 24 13.6%
1998 18 10.2%
1999 18 10.2%
2007 26 14.7%
2009 20 11.3%
2010 12 6.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 1,223 miles Virginia Beach, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #11340044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles NEW City, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AUGUST OF 2002. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. ON THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CURRENTLY REMAINS ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING DRIVEN. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR BECAUSE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE CRACKED AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE MACHINED. THE TAILLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 10/10/07.

NHTSA complaint #10203419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,177 miles Nesconset, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF "PLAY" AND "BODY ROLL" WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS/STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THAT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES. THE DEPTH WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED IS MUCH DEEPER AND REQUIRES A GREATER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. FINALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE POOR VISIBILITY BOTH IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED AND IN THEIR LOW MOUNTING OR ANGLE WHICH THEY SIT AT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. BEST REGARDS.

NHTSA complaint #10152645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Fort Wayne, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE / MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO VARIOUS TAIL LIGHTS / TURN SIGNALS / BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. NOW IT SEEMS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE BURNING DIMLY. NEW BULBS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ENGINEERING ISSUE OVERALL WITH RESPECT TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS YEAR / MODEL OF CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10049307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,041 miles Fremont, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10001779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, IN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TAIL LIGHT FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS SPLIT IN THE WIRE HARNESS DUE TO THE TRUNK BEING CLOSED ONTO IT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE WAS PULLED OVER DUE TO NOT HAVING TAIL LIGHTS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8016970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bingham Farms, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS AT TIMES OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE COMBINATION SWITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8002695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Land O'lakes, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

MAIN STEERING COLUMN LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND ALL DASHLIGHTS TO GO OFF.

NHTSA complaint #732816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Land O'lakes, FL

INTERIOR LIGHTING

MAIN STEERING COLUMN LIGHT SWITCH FAILS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND ALL DASHLIGHTS TO GO OFF.

NHTSA complaint #732816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ossining, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #716837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Juan Capistrano, CA

INTERIOR LIGHTING

LIGHT ON PANEL STAYED ON. YH

NHTSA complaint #607313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Studio CIT, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT

EMERGENCY LIGHT KEPT COMMING ON. YH

NHTSA complaint #606139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cypress, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cypress, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

LEFT TURN SIGNAL IN NOT WORKING PROPERLY. YH

NHTSA complaint #607599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #607099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

TURN SIGNAL BULB FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Charles, LA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THERE IS A BLIND SPOT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING POOR VISIBLITY WHEN DRIVING, CAN'T SEE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, NOT ABLE TO CORRECT IT.

NHTSA complaint #820099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Castel, WY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. MFR. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS GOING TO SEND AN ENGINEER OUT, BUT HE NEVER SHOWED UP. *AK.

NHTSA complaint #832215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evans City, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT DESIGN DOES NOT LIGHT EFFICIENTLY RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #541982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Franci, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT ARE AIMED TOO LOW AND ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #539846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Liberty, UT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

VERY POOR HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #521976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Independen, KS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH.

NHTSA complaint #532593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEAD LAMP SAFETY CAP COVER DESIGN DECREASES VISIBILITY SEVERELY.

NHTSA complaint #528569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watertown, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. WINDSHIELD SPARKLES, CAUSING IT TO BLIND THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #820213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Toyota Camry problems

← Full 1997 Toyota Camry report