Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Toyota Camry problems
Owners filed 330 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Camry with NHTSA between Nov 2000 and Jul 2025. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (55).
Complaints
330
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
88
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
71
People reported injured
Deaths
6
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control55
- Air bags52
- Engine and engine cooling52
- Tires27
- Suspension25
- Service brakes, hydraulic21
- Electrical system20
- Power train16
- Engine15
- Steering15
- Structure15
- Seat belts15
- Seats15
- Fuel system, gasoline10
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
35
28
43
40
17
17
8
11
17
41
10
11
4
12
10
3
4
5
4
3
0
0
1
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 41 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Vehicle speed control
55 reports32 crashes1 related recall
“I do not feel engine braking effect when I apply brake instead I have to press brake hard to hold until engine idles. It is a serious issue in older cars. My car has 153000 miles.”
Air bags
52 reports40 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND HEAD THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
52 reports2 crashes7 fires
“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”
Tires
27 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY EQUIPPED WITH PRIMEWELL PS830 TIRES, SIZE: 205/65/15 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT PILLAR AND WAS THROWN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A SECOND CEMENT PILLAR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Suspension
25 reports1 crash
“TWO DAYS BACK WHEN I WAS TRYING TO TAKE MY CAR OUT I HEARD SOME DIFFERENT SOUND.. THEN I STOPPED CAR AND OBSERVED THAT IT IS FLAT TIRE.. I TOOK THE TIRE OUT AND OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE GOT CUT BECAUSE THE SHOCK COIL SPRING GOT BROKEN INTO TWO AND THE SHARP EDGE OF THE SPRING IS CUTTING THE TIRE.. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY .. A DAY BEFORE THAT I VISITED SANT CRUZ WITH FAMILY ( WIFE AND TWO KIDS ).. IF IT WAS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HELPLESS SITUATION.. I REPLACED ALL THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS ON NEXT DAY BY TOWING THE VEHICLE. TIRE HAS MORE THAN THREE CUTS.. I AM NOT SURE FROM HOW LONG THE SHARP EDGE SPRING WAS TOUCHING THE TIRE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
21 reports6 crashes1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,557.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.