1997 Toyota Camry suspension problems

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUTS WERE LEAKING OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 12/30/13

NHTSA complaint #10553896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

MY REAR SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED AND BROKE INTO TWO PIECES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CLOSE TO THE MOUNTING BOLTS.

NHTSA complaint #10505870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

CAR : 97 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4 CYLINDER THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS 1) BLUE SMOKE AT COLD-STARTING (MILEAGE: 87 MILES -AUG. 2001) ENGINE GAVE OFF BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN COLD-STARTING IN THE MORNING. AFTER REPLACING VALVE STEM SEALS (PAID AROUND $1000 TO A TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE REPAIR), THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 2) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKING (MILEAGE: 87KMILES -AUG. 2001) POWER STEERING RACK & PINION LEAKED AND A MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. 3) EGR VSV FAILURE (MILEAGE: 100 KMILES -OCT. 2004) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD II SCANNER SAYS "INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW." A MECHANIC REPLACED EGR VSV AND THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. 4) FRONT STRUT MOUNTS FAILURE ((MILEAGE: 87 KMILES -AUG. 2001) BOTH FRONT STRUT MOUNTS MADE NOISE. AFTER A TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED IT, THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10141810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

A ONGING PROBLEM RELATING TO THE CRUNCHING/CHUNKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION AREA(FRONT). NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE TOYOTA OFFICIALS HAS NOT EVEN MERITED A MINOR CONCERN. ESTIMATIONS TO FIX THE STRUT ASSEMBLY VARIES FROM $500-$700 DOLLARS. SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE, SOMEBODY WOULD GET THE MESSAGE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. IF THEY CARED.

NHTSA complaint #10096468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ALSO, HAD PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10072233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10069737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

CRUNCHING /RATTLE FROM FRONT STRUTS WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPS OR DIPS IN ROAD. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED AND I WAS ADVISED AT TIME OF THE INSTALLATION THAT THE NEW STRUTS WOULD NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND NO RESOLUTION EXITS.

NHTSA complaint #10052491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES TERRIBLY. STRUTS WERE REPLACED, DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF A DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10045333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALIGN VEHICLE'S CAMBER TO SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT REPLACING MAJOR SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT MANUFACTURE AN ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENT TO ADJUST CAMBER. *AK THE ONLY WAY TO ALIGN THE CAR IS EITHER TO BUY COSTLY NEW SUSPENSION PARTS FROM TOYOTA OR RESORT TO AN AFTERMARKET CAM BOLT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10037847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RUBBER CORRODED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS TYPE OF DETERIORATION DOES NOT NORMALLY OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #10017042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT RATTLE PRESENT FOR TWO YEARS. ON 03/30/03 DURING A DRIVE AT 56 MILES/HR SPEED, STRUT RATTLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE GREW WORSE SUDDENLY AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, THE LEFT STRUT CENTER BOLT CAME OFF COMPLETELY AND ITS THREADS WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED. STRUT CAME OFF THE MOUNT SLEEVE. AFTER A NEW STRUT IS PUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE DAMAGED STRUT IS CHECKED AND ITS TOP THREADS (WHERE THE CENTER NUT GETS FASTENED) WERE PARTIALLY STIPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10013937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM, WHICH WERE REPLACED AND A ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10009677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DEALER STATED THE TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM, WHICH WERE THEN REPLACED AND A ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10009678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AT STRUT MOUNTS MAKE A NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT 20 TO 30 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10003036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S FRONT RIGHT STRUT HAS BEEN DESTROYED. WHEN VEHICLE DRIVES OVER BUMPS IT MAKES LOUD NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

FRONT AND REAR STRUTS FAILED, DEALER KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE. CAR IS UNSTABLE ON ANY UNEVEN ROAD OVER 25 MPH, ALL BUT BOTTOMS OUT, STEERING CORRECTION IS NEEDED ON THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS ABOVE 25MPH.

NHTSA complaint #764671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

CONSUMER STATES FRONT END RATTLES AROUND THE TIRE AREAS ON BUMPY ROAD, DEALER REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS.

NHTSA complaint #565410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

MY 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY MAKING NOISE FROM ALL FOUR INDIVIDUAL SUSPENSION AND NEED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #761673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

IN1997 TOYOTA CAMRY FRONT AND BACK SUSPENSION MAKING NOISE IN COLD WEATHER MAY BE DEFECTIVE STRUTS OR SPRING NEED HELP.

NHTSA complaint #758586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES TO HAVE ISSUED ONLY A "SERVICE BULLETIN" TO ITS DEALERS ON THIS ISSUE. IT DOES ACKNOWLEDGE A HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF FAILED STRUTS AND MOUNTS ON 1997, 1998 AND1999 CAMRYS.

NHTSA complaint #757881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES HIGH NUMBER OF STRUT AND MOUNT FAILURES ON 1997, 1998 AND 1999 CAMRYS. PROBABLY DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #757882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THESE PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA AND WE OWNERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE COST. SEVERAL SERVICE WRITERS AT A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HAVE TOLD ME THAT MANY OF THESE STRUT ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED. I'VE DRIVEN OTHER TOYOTA MODELS, 3, OVER 900,000 AND HAVE NEVER REPLACED THE STRUT ASSEMBLIES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AS IF THIS ASSEMBLY BREAKS, WHILE DRIVING, YOU MAY HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #757822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE FRONT UPPER STRUT HOUSINGS ON 1997 - 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY'S ARE DEFECTIVE. WHEN GOING OVER ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD THE ENTIRE FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY SHAKES AND RATTLES TERRIBLY. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT STRUT UPPER ASSEMBLY AND WILL ONLY REPAIR IF THE VEHICLE IS ON THE 3/36 WARRANTY. IN MOST CASES, AS IN MINE, THE RATTLE AND SEVERE VIBRATION DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OFF WARRANTY. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH AUTOFAIR TOYOTA IN MANCHESTER, NH AND THEY STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE UPPER STRUT ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED IT COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED ON WARRANTY. IT WAS FURTHER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT STRAND OR DISABLE THE CAR. I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AT GRAPPONE TOYOTA IN CONCORD, NH AND THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DEFECTIVE STRUT ASSEMBLY. I HAVE ALSO KNOWN MANY CAMRY OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND EITHER HAD THE WORK DONE ON WARRANTY, OR PAID THE 450.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT THIS MATTER TO TOYOTA USA HEADQUARTERS, ONLY TO HAVE THEM SAY THAT THE REPAIR WOULD ONLY BE DONE IF IT WAS BROUGHT BACK ON WARRANTY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS STRUT DEFECT IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SERIOUS CRASH WITH RESULTING FATALITIES. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA INSISTS THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT IMPACT SAFETY, I BEG TO DIFFER, AS THE NOISE AND RATTLE FROM THE FRONT END IS CLEARLY INDICATIVE OF A COMPROMISED FRONT END. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT WILL ULTIMATELY BE A CONTRIBUTORY ELEMENT IN A CRASH. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ORGANIZATION INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION IS TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STRUT ASSEMBLY'S ON THE IMPACTED TOYOTA CAMRY'S.

NHTSA complaint #756171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

FRONT END RATTLE-MOST SEVERE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND WHEN DRIVING CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF DAY. NOISE ABATES SOME WHAT AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROX. 15 MINUTES. TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER . DEALER SAID UPPER FRONT STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. BOUGHT CAR USED AND NOTICED PROBLEM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. CAR HAD 58000 MILES AT THAT TIME. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. SEEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND DOES NOT WANT TO RECALL. I HAVE OWNED CAMRY'S IN THE PAST. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. EVEN ON HIGH MILEAGE CARS INADDITION THE CAR SETS TO LOW TO GROUND AND MTHE FRONT END SCRAPS WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAYS OR OTHER STEEP INCLINES. I HAVE OWNED CARS AND BEEN DRIVING FOR THE PAST 45 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CAR OR TRUCK OF THIS NATURE.

NHTSA complaint #755641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT STRUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8000862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

SQUEAKING OR GROANING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS.

NHTSA complaint #754932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

RIGHT FRONT STRUT BUSHING NEEDS REPLACED. DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT BUT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT.

NHTSA complaint #753167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING TO THE FLOOR, DEALER REPAIRED FRONT BRAKES. CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER STATES 2 FRONT STRUTS NEED REPLACED, ALSO AXLE BOOTS LEAKED AND DEALER REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THEN WOULD DIE, DEALER REPLACED THE ISC VALVE. WATER PUMP LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #562023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

TOYOTA HAS A LIFETIME GUARANTEE REGARDING MUFFLERS, EXHAUST PIPES, SHOCK ABSORBERS, STRUTS, AND STRUT CARTRIDGES, IT STATES THAT TOYOTA WILL REPLACE PARTS AND DO LABOR FOR FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAD STRUTS REPLACED AND WAS NOT REIMBURSED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #560908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.