"How reliable is the 1997 Toyota Camry?"

"Based on 685 NHTSA complaints, the 1997 Toyota Camry has a median complaint mileage of 84226 miles. The most common issue is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip."

"What are common problems with the 1997 Toyota Camry?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Toyota Camry is Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip, accounting for a significant portion of the 685 total complaints filed."

1997 Toyota Camry: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 685 complaints

685

Total Complaints

84,226mi

Median Mileage

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

57,500 25th Percentile

84,226 Median Mileage

123,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Frontal

Gasoline

Engine

Suspension

Engine And Engine Cooling

Vehicle Speed Control

Front

Foundation Components

Air Bags

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE SPEED AND WITH STRONG FORCE PULLS ITSELF TO THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK"

"OWNER STATES THAT WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE USED, THEY BECOME TOO TIGHT ON EITHER SIDE. *AK"

"THE CENTURY INFANT SEAT DOES NOT FIT IN THE CENTER OF REAR SEAT."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Frontal 34 complaints

Median: 147,500 mi

Engine 27 complaints

25th: 70,000 mi Median: 87,000 mi 75th: 110,000 mi

Suspension 27 complaints

Median: 88,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 193 NY: 57 TX: 39 VA: 36 FL: 35 NJ: 25 IN: 22 IL: 20 MA: 19 MD: 17

Who Files Complaints?

46.6%

Original Owners

53.4%

Second+ Owners

Toyota Camry — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	160	150,500	Latch	5
1991	186	114,056	Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.	11
1992	646	122,000	Hinge And Attachments	38
1993	334	133,017	Frontal	58
1994	364	107,077	Frontal	78
1995	373	124,000	Frontal	59
1996	567	87,000	Vehicle Speed Control	69
1998	751	89,500	Vehicle Speed Control	87
1999	660	81,500	Frontal	133
2000	577	69,000	Vehicle Speed Control	152
2001	356	73,500	Vehicle Speed Control	87
2002	1183	50,000	Vehicle Speed Control	324
2003	945	47,000	Vehicle Speed Control	299
2004	797	47,280	Vehicle Speed Control	263
2005	901	44,000	Vehicle Speed Control	292
2006	392	47,385	Vehicle Speed Control	137
2007	3666	63,000	Vehicle Speed Control	386
2008	1134	59,000	Visibility	121
2009	1609	50,500	Engine	204
2010	762	29,000	Vehicle Speed Control	137
2011	777	46,000	Unknown Or Other	154
2012	806	36,500	Power Train	127
2013	375	23,700	Power Train	64
2014	632	36,000	Power Train	93
2015	358	40,000	Steering	47
2016	242	24,500	Unknown Or Other	61
2017	203	31,608	Unknown Or Other	40
2018	1039	15,000	Power Train	80
2019	521	9,617	Power Train	37
2020	362	7,750	Electrical System	20
2021	184	20,500	Air Bags	31
2022	73	25,000	Air Bags	18
2023	76	19,000	Unknown Or Other	15
2024	62	5,555	Body	7
2025	157	6,550	Unknown Or Other	19

Active Recalls (4)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Headlights

Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Campaign 99V307000 | 01/11/1999

THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

Ignition

Campaign 97V213000 | 20/11/1997

UNDER SUCH A CONDITION, SHOULD A DRIVER FAIL TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO "PARK" POSITION AND ALSO FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID.

Power Assist

Campaign 97V156000 | 17/09/1997

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.

Extend Your Brake Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation

Compare Toyota Camry

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28