Problems · by component

1997 Toyota Camry power train problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Camry cite power train, 6% of all 558 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
34
6% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE CAR RAN WELL BUT NOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT WOULD SLIP FROM TIME TO TIME BUT NOW IS OUT COMPLETELY. WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY MYSTERIOUS. I WAS SEARCJING TO SEE HOW COMMO. THE PROBLEM IS OR HAS BEEN. I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT. HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2019Power trainODI 11286748
“I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR A CONDITION THAT ALLOWS THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL EVENTS WHEN I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, REMOVED THE KEY AND IT STARTED TO ROLL AWAY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN DRIVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2018Power trainODI 11139471
“WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMERS RADIO WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS. VEHICLE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER SIDE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE DOES NOT WORK. THE RUBBER ON THE MOTOR MOUNT DOES NOT LAST AND BREAKS. THE VEHICLE JERKS REPEATEDLY. *TC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CURRENTLY HAS A PERMANENT BACK PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE NOT WORKING. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2005Power train, Electrical system, Seat belts, EquipmentODI 10092351
“LOUD KNOCKING HEARD FROM FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE TO BE A BAD CV JOINT. ADDITIONALLY, DURING A ROUTINE ENGINE OIL CHANGE, I DISCOVERED AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF BEADING SLUDGE THAT HAD TO BE REMOVED BY HAND TO DRAIL AND FILL THE OIL. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF THE TOYOTA ENGINES PRODUCING SLUDGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED ON THEIR RECALL IF ONE OCCURS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10071232
“THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE LEVER BEING IN PARK BUT NEUTRAL, THE DRIVER DID NOT REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT A PARKED TRUCK DAMAGING THE BACK OF THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE TRUCK. NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2001Power trainODI 785506
“WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE IT HESITATES AND THEN BACKS SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON TEXAS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MILAGE INTERVALS. ON ONE OF THE INVOICES I HAVE IT SHOWS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLUSHED WHEN I TOOK IT THE 60,000 SERVICE MAINTAINENCE. I HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL MAJOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE VISITS AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY CAR STILL EXIST. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP ,ON BEHALF OF THEIR NEGLIANCE , INSPITE OF ALL MY SERVICE VISITS, MY TRANSMISSION HAS WORSENED. PLEASE HELP! INVESTIGATE AND ARBITRATION. IF YOU NEED FURTHER DETAILS, YOU MAY CONTACT ME ANYTIME HOME OR WORK.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 30, 2001Power trainODI 746158

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.