1997 Toyota Camry suspension problems

“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*CN”

“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. *JB”

“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.*AK”

“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.”

“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. *AK”

“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”