2001 Toyota Camry engine problems

ENGINE

VEHICLE 'RACES' OUT OF CONTROL WHILE STATIONARY AND IN GEAR, BOTH IN GARAGE AND OUTSIDE OF GARAGE PREPARING TO ENTER. SOLUTION: STEP ON BRAKE ON HARD AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT COLLISION AND TURN OFF IGNITION. ENGINE NO LONGER 'RACES' WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON AGAIN. 3 OCCURRENCES IN PAST 12 MONTHS. NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION. SPOUSE WAS PRESENT ON ONE OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #11121275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, AN ABNORMAL REVVING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED BY TURNING INTO A PARKING GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #10907963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10781005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500.

NHTSA complaint #10651645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10638768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR , 2001. NO ONE COULD EVER TELL ME WHY THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON ALL THIS TIME UNTIL I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THIS CAR NOW NEEDS HEAD GASKETS. IT SEEMS TO BE A TOYOTA PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10566907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I USED THE DATE OF 2/23/2013 BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BECAME FULL BLOWN BUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THAT DATE THE CAR BEGAN SURGE WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AFTER BEING PARKED AND WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. IT SOUNDED THEN AND STILL SOUNDS LIKE A FLY WHEEL OR SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD IS RUNNING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT FELT AS THOUGH I WOULD HAVE GONE FORWARD INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. FINALLY ON 2/23/2013 THE CAR STARTED SURGING AND THEN HESITATING NON-STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN TO BLINK SO I CREPT BACK HOME WITH FEAR. WHEN THE CAR HESITATES IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT LOSES POWER AND THERE'S A BACKFIRING SOUND IN THE REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO AAA, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE COMPUTER AND I HAD THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUGS CHANGED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE SURGING AND HESITATION HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR (BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE) BUT NOT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND IT IS CONSTANT. I HAVE A FEAR THAT EITHER THE CAR WILL SURGE AHEAD WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND I WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR BE KILLED BECAUSE THE CAR MAY JUST COMPLETELY STOP. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE ON 2/28/2014 TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND TO ASK IF THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID NO TO BOTH QUESTIONS, BUT I SEE THAT'S NO TRUE.

NHTSA complaint #10566420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG SOCKET FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10491729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE HAD FALLEN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,500 . UPDATED 03/16/12*LJ UPDATED 06/04/12

NHTSA complaint #10443688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY CE IN 2000 AND WERE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED TO US ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO. ON JAN 22, WE WERE DRIVING ON I 15 FREEWAY SOUTH FROM LA BACK TO LAS VEGAS. ABOUT AFTER 30 MINUTES ON THE ROAD I HEARD SOMETHING SOUNDING LIKE A CRACK UNDER THE VEHICLE (LAST ONLY ABOUT ONE SECOND). I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE MIGHT HIT A ROCK UNDERNEATH AND SLOWED DOWN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED. THEN IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASH LIGHT AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE ROADSIDE. I COULD SEE THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT BADLY. AFTER LOTS OF HASSLES THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP IN ONTARIO. THE NEXT DAY MORNING THEIR SERVICE MANAGER CALLED TO TELL ME THAT NOTHING INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK SINCE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. TO THE BEST OF HIS JUDGMENT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED FROM INSIDE. HE SAID SOMETHING FROM INSIDE OF ENGINE COULD FALL DOWN AND KNOCKED THE ENGINE THAT CAUSED THE LEAKING. SOON AFTER THAT MY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED MY CLAIM STATING THAT THEY TALKED TO THE CROWN TOYOTA DEALER SHOP AND CONCLUDED THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE INSURANCE POLICY. LAST MONTH I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED IN AN AUTO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. FROM PICTURES ATTACHED ONE CAN SEE A BIG HOLE KNOCKED OUT ON ENGINE(SEE ATTACHED PICTURE). IT IS A REAL SURPRISE TO ME SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS RUN ONLY 79,500 MILES AND WE GAVE IT MAINTENANCE ON REGULAR BASES AS REQUIRED. BY THIS LETTER WE REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT ENGINE DEFECT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND AN EXPLANATION FROM TOYOTA COMPANY. AT THE SAME TIME WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR COMPENSATIONS FOR THE LOSS CAUSED BY THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATION OF TOYOTA MOTO SALES.

NHTSA complaint #10390445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM 3 MPH IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED OFF THE ROADWAY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND IT RECURRED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #10345269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN WITH WATER STANDING ON ROAD, A/C FAILS. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE SO FAR. DEALER INDICATED THAT SUCH FAILURE WAS NORMAL WHEN WATER GETS ON BELT AND BELT SLIPS. NO REPAIR MADE. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE MANY TIMES BEFORE. FAILURE RESULTS IN RAPID AND UNEXPECTED CONDENSATION ON WINDSHIELD AND OTHER WINDOWS WITH LOSS OF VISIBILITY DURING HEAVY RAIN), CAUSING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10344814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY STARTED DEVELOPING A PROBLEM MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WHERE IT WOULD START RUNNING ROUGH AND THEN STALL--OR SOMETIMES STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. IF THE CAR STALLS OR COMES CLOSE TO STALLING THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. RECENTLY THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED THE RUNNING ROUGH/STALLING PROBLEM. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN ROUGH OR STALL IF IT HAS GONE ABOVE 4000 RPMS ,AND WE CAN MODERATE THE INSTANCES OF A PROBLEM BY AVOIDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. MY FEAR IS THAT THE CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10331048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO ALERT HER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL; THE ENGINE NOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

NHTSA complaint #10329245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH AND THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED . THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES.IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL# 10V017000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 101,000. UPDATED 05/06/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 3 YEARS, DESPITE REPLACING THE GAS CAP.

NHTSA complaint #10318361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS TOWED ON 3/27/06 AS A RESULT OF OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE. ALL DATA WAS SENT TO TOYOTA WHO SENT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR WHO DENIED CLAIM.. I WOULD LIKE TO RESUBMIT THE CLAIM AND DOCUMENTS TO YOUR OFFICE FOR A REEVALUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10312920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS TOWED ON 3/27/06 AS A RESULT OF OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE. ALL DATA WAS SENT TO TOYOTA WHO SENT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR WHO DENIED CLAIM.. I WOULD LIKE TO RESUBMIT THE CLAIM AND DOCUMENTS TO YOUR OFFICE FOR A REEVALUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10312920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MY 2001 CAMRY 4 CYLINDER STARTED HAVING WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE AFTER AROUND 100,000 MILES. IT HAPPENS EVERY MORNING WHEN I START THE ENGINE. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID TOYOTAS HAVE THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE OF SEATING PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $2000.00 TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10277269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN GOODLATTE ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, RE PROBLEMS SHE EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE AFTER THE USE OF GASOLINE CONTAINING ETHANOL. *NJ THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 AND 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY. ONE OF THE VEHICLES NEEDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE OTHER NEEDED A NEW OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE USE OF GASOLINE CONTAINING ETHANOL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATE AGENCY THAT INSPECTED GASOLINE STATIONS INFORMED HER THAT MECHANICS HAD TOLD HIM THAT EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ETHANOL COULD CAUSED THE OXYGEN SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HER VEHICLES CONTAINED BAD GAS. *JB UPDATED 05/25/10.

NHTSA complaint #10277848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN WITHOUT WARNING, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. MY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED OPERATING AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AN ENGINE ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY CAR REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $ 3,000.00.

NHTSA complaint #10275644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

2001-TOYOTA CAMRY: THERE IS A BURNING ODOR WHEN CAR IS OPERATING. THE IGNITION DOES NOT ALWAYS START THE CAR UPON INSERTING AND TURNING THE KEY. MANY TIMES WHEN TURNING THE KEY, THERE IS A HIGH SCREECHING LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR REMAINS NON-OPERATIONAL FOR A FEW MINUTES WHICH OCCURS EVERYDAY. AFTER THE CAR IS RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, THERE IS A BURNING SMELL SIMILAR TO BURNING RUBBER. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR NEAR THE FLOOR ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL BECOME WARM. IT APPEARS HEAT IS GENERATED FROM THE ENGINE INTO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR THUS RESULTING IN BURNING ODOR. UPON ACCELERATION, THE CAR HAS A JERKY, PROPELLING MOTION FORWARD. STEERING COLUMN HAS SOME STIFFNESS AND AT OTHER TIMES IT HAS LOT OF PLAY WITH TURNS. THE POWER/ELECTRIC WINDOWS, CLOCK, AND CD/RADIO PLAYER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THESE DEFECTS/FAULTS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AFTER USED VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. AS VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS IS, I DID NOT RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DAILY IGNITION/START PROBLEM, OTHER PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE, HAPPEN APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES A MONTH. REGULAR SCHEDULED SERVICE MAINTENANCE ARE PERFORMED HOWEVER ALL ABOVE PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO CONCERN ME.

NHTSA complaint #10275335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.