2001 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Camry most often describe unintended acceleration or surging, frequently while parking, braking, or at low speed, sometimes ending in a collision. Engine-related complaints are also common, including stalling, oil leaks, and engine warning lights, while headlight haze, brake vibration, and front-end vibration round out the reports.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration or unintended surging

   • 50 complaints (18%)
   • median 69,377 mi at 8.4 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2024

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own, often while pulling into a parking space, backing out, or applying the brake at low speed. Several report the vehicle surging over curbs or into other vehicles and poles, and some say pressing the brake did not stop it. Complaints mention the dealer disconnecting the cruise control module in one case and being unable to reproduce the problem in others. Reported across a wide mileage range, from single-digit miles to about 126,500, often during low-speed parking or braking maneuvers.

   Recall 01V0120001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the cruise control actuator and accelerator cable were inspected under the speed control recall, and test the car at very low speeds in a parking lot during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At approximately 2:30 pm, my son was backing out of our driveway in our 2001 4 cylinder Camry. He placed the car in reverse and the car shot backward at very high speed, completely out of control. The car traveled about 65 feet across our narrow side street, where the car side-swiped a cement worker's truck and substantially slowed down for about 1 second due to the contact. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10160863, filed 2006-06, 65,000 miles

   “I have 2001 Toyota Camry 4 cyl le model. Many times when I begin my trip from my home my car accelerates even I have my foot off the gas pedal. It only happens within first few miles and then the problem goes away. I have a stop sign close to my home and before nearing the stop sign I lift my foot from gas pedal and car will accelerate and then I have to step on my brakes to stop it by the stop sign. It is very tricky in winter when there is ice on road. Since I am aware of this issue I do not step on gas at all till I hit the first stop sign. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10308035, filed 2010-02, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, rough running and engine warning light

   • 54 complaints (20%)
   • median 66,066 mi at 5.9 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $628 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2024

   Owners report the engine hesitating, sputtering, revving unevenly, or cutting out at both low and highway speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on. Several describe repeated dealer or independent mechanic visits where the cause could not be found or repairs such as an EGR valve replacement did not resolve it. A few mention the engine losing power suddenly and needing a tow. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 110,000 miles, at a mix of low speeds and highway driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check whether the check engine light is on or was recently cleared, ask for diagnostic records, and have a mechanic scan for stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I used the date of 2/23/2013 because that is when the problem became full blown but about 2 months before that date the car began surge when I put the car in gear after being parked and while at a stop sign. It sounded then and still sounds like a fly wheel or something under the hood is running at a very high rate of speed. If I had not had my foot on the brake it felt as though I would have gone forward into the car ahead of me. Finally on 2/23/2013 the car started surging and then hesitating non-stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10566420, filed 2014-02, 78,500 miles

   “The car suddenly broke down on a major interstate out of washington, dc, on my way home from work. Without warning (e.g., no warning lights or previous problems), it started to jerk sporadically and hesitated when I depressed the gas pedal. As I approached my exit to I-495 north, the car got worse it started to make a clicking-and-clacking noise and seemed that it would die at anytime. I took the first exit off of I-495 (210: indian head highway, south) because I knew that there was a shell gas station with a garage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10041083, filed 2003-10, 66,066 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil leaks, low oil and engine damage

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2014

   Owners describe oil leaking from the engine, in some cases noticed only at a routine service, and one reports the engine needing head gaskets. Others say the oil level dropped without the oil light coming on and the engine then needed replacement. Complaints describe the dealer or manufacturer declining assistance, citing warranty coverage or lack of recalls. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 120,000 miles, in some cases after years of the engine light being on.

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for leaks or fresh oil residue under the engine, and ask whether oil changes were done on schedule.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My engine light has been on since I've had this car , 2001. No one could ever tell me why the light has been on all this time until I took it in for an oil change and was told that they couldn't do it because I had a severe oil leak. This car now needs head gaskets. It seems to be a Toyota problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10566907, filed 2014-03, 185 miles

   “Petition I and my 5 year old son were on highway, when the engine burst and caught on fire of my Toyota Camry 2001 exl. We had done all the maintenance with Toyota and all changes of the oil requirements on time. The last oil change was only 4 weeks prior the accident. We went through terrifying and very dangerous experience also lost 27,000 investments in the car. Toyota's engines have the sludge problems, but they decline any responsibilities. People should know about such dangerous problem before they can lose a loved one. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10168966, filed 2006-09, 58,000 miles

Buying note. A 2001 Camry can be a practical used car, but check for stored engine codes, oil leaks, and a clean cruise control and accelerator cable inspection, and drive it at both parking-lot and highway speeds before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.