1997 Toyota Camry Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 96about this part
- Share
- 17%of 555 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 86,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 96 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1997 Toyota Camry, 17% of the 555 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 10 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Connecting rod failure. While I was checking my battery, the engine exploded, blowing a 4 hole on the engine body and spreading pieces of the connecting rod around the yard. No prior signs had indicated anything was wrong with the engine. Engine was running fine up to the last second before the explosion.”
NHTSA complaint #10438196, filed 2011-12, 159,108 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10071232, filed 2004-01, 93,000 miles“I received a letter last year from Toyota explaining a gelling problem and to watch out for blue smoke coming from the tail pipe when starting the car. I went into sears for an oil change and they indicated that it looked like moisture was getting in the oil and it looked sludgy. I took the car to the Toyota dealership for them to check out this gelling. The letter indicated that Toyota would pay for the part/installation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070219, filed 2004-01, 81,061 miles“I was involved in a 5 car pile up on interstate 94, hit vehicle in front of me going at 45-50 MPH, and airbag did not deploy. According to Toyota, this is acceptable due to the particular type of frontal accident I had. If hitting a car at 45-50 MPH dead on is not a good enough reason for the airbag deploying then what is? Due to the airbag not deploying, I suffered a severe brain contusion with bleeding in the brain and loss time off of work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070036, filed 2004-01, 84,000 miles“My chek enigne light came on when I was headed out for a 250 mile trip. I took it to the dealer and got theis list of problems. Timing belt replacment,water pump, reseal oil pan, replace engine pipe, transmission gasket and filter replacement oxygen sensor, a/f sensor, efi service, cam seal, crank seal, oil pump seal . Blue smoke coming from exhaust. I went on line and realized that I had oil sludge. Called toyaota, they told me to get it evaluated for oil sludge”
NHTSA complaint #10129522, filed 2005-07, 78,238 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10061567Apr 23, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10015549Mar 10, 20051997 camry repair manual correction. Diagnostics - engine (5s-fe) 00400-rm503-u1. *tt 00400-rm654-u1. 1999 camry.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 | 1% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 5 | 1% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 9 | 2% |
| 2010 | 15 | 2% |
| 2009 | 46 | 4% |
| 2008 | 12 | 1% |
| 2007 | 152 | 5% |
| 2006 | 9 | 3% |
| 2005 | 35 | 5% |
| 2004 | 30 | 5% |
| 2003 | 112 | 14% |
| 2002 | 107 | 11% |
| 2001 | 47 | 17% |
| 2000 | 54 | 12% |
| 1999 | 110 | 22% |
| 1998 | 92 | 15% |
| 1997 | 96 | 17% |
| 1996 | 76 | 18% |
| 1995 | 34 | 11% |
| 1994 | 41 | 14% |
| 1993 | 40 | 15% |
| 1992 | 32 | 6% |
| 1991 | 10 | 7% |
| 1990 | 14 | 10% |
| 1989 | 7 | 6% |
| 1988 | 9 | 14% |
| 1987 | 6 | 10% |
| 1986 | 4 | 13% |
| 1985 | 2 | 15% |
| 1984 | 1 | 13% |
Other parts of the 1997 Toyota Camry
108 complaintsSuspension
70 complaintsAir bags
55 complaintsElectrical system
40 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsSeats
30 complaintsSteering
30 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsSeat belts
26 complaintsBody and structure
25 complaintsExterior lighting
22 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Toyota Camry
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology