RecallMyCar

1997 Toyota Camry Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1997 Toyota Camry, and owners have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
555
owner complaints to NHTSA
79 / 27
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–23
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1997 Toyota Camry

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 99V307000 Reported 540,037 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.

  2. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 97V213000 Reported 289,326 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to a possible jamming of the lock pin of the key interlock solenoid, it is possible to remove the ignition key even when the shift lever of the automatic transmission is not in the "park" position.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the key interlock solenoid.

  3. Power assist (service brakes)

    NHTSA 97V156000 Reported 18,746 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan,minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, noth dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. A condition can occur where accumulated moisture can…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new design brake vacuum hose.

555 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Toyota Camry have filed 555 complaints with NHTSA; 79 describe a crash and 27 describe a fire. Reports cite 59 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 95,446 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 110 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“In January my starter caught on fire while driving down the road, and again in April causing me to lose days of work. Caused positive cable to battery to melt.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 13, 2024 · Electrical system

“The steering wheel is set off center to the right of the driver. Yes it is available upon request. Causes extreme back pains. Has not been inspected by police or insurance reps. Has not been inspected”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 31, 2023 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Toyota Camry. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–23 mpg
City / Highway17–20 / 24–29
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.2/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Toyota Camry model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Camry model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1983 Toyota Camry26
1984 Toyota Camry28
1985 Toyota Camry013
1986 Toyota Camry032
1987 Toyota Camry358
1988 Toyota Camry464
1989 Toyota Camry3113
1990 Toyota Camry2134
1991 Toyota Camry1149
1992 Toyota Camry0565
1993 Toyota Camry0260
1994 Toyota Camry1287
1995 Toyota Camry1303
1996 Toyota Camry2417
1997 Toyota Camry3555
1998 Toyota Camry2600
1999 Toyota Camry1501
2000 Toyota Camry2454
2001 Toyota Camry2272
2002 Toyota Camry4953
2003 Toyota Camry1781
2004 Toyota Camry3638
2005 Toyota Camry5721
2006 Toyota Camry5317
2007 Toyota Camry92,887
2008 Toyota Camry7933
2009 Toyota Camry101,293
2010 Toyota Camry9603
2011 Toyota Camry5600
2012 Toyota Camry2589
2013 Toyota Camry2274
2014 Toyota Camry3455
2015 Toyota Camry1271
2016 Toyota Camry2184
2017 Toyota Camry3148
2018 Toyota Camry8746
2019 Toyota Camry6397
2020 Toyota Camry3274
2021 Toyota Camry1157
2022 Toyota Camry162
2023 Toyota Camry264
2024 Toyota Camry151

Checking a specific 1997 Toyota Camry

How do I know if my 1997 Toyota Camry has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1997 Toyota Camry; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V156000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.