Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Toyota Camry. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗TOYOTA/STEERING WHEEL
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
- Consequence
- THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
TOYOTA/KEY INTERLOCK
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A POSSIBLE JAMMING OF THE LOCK PIN OF THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION.
- Consequence
- UNDER SUCH A CONDITION, SHOULD A DRIVER FAIL TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO "PARK" POSITION AND ALSO FAIL TO ACTIVATE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY DOWN A SLOPE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID.
TOYOTA/BRAKE VACUUM HOSE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
- Consequence
- THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (555)
555 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 555 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 108 | 19.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 96 | 17.3% |
| Suspension | 70 | 12.6% |
| Air bags | 55 | 9.9% |
| Electrical system | 40 | 7.2% |
| Power train | 35 | 6.3% |
| Seats | 30 | 5.4% |
| Steering | 30 | 5.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 30 | 5.4% |
| Seat belts | 26 | 4.7% |
How 1997 compares with other Camry years
Best and worst Camry years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 260 | 0 |
| 1994 | 287 | 1 |
| 1995 | 303 | 1 |
| 1996 | 417 | 2 |
| 1997 | 555 | 3 |
| 1998 | 600 | 2 |
| 1999 | 501 | 1 |
| 2000 | 454 | 2 |
| 2001 | 272 | 2 |
| 2002 | 953 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 Camry for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Toyota Camry FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Toyota Camry have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 99V307000 (steering), 97V213000 (electrical), 97V156000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Toyota Camry problems?
Owners filed 555 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (108), Engine and engine cooling (96), Suspension (70) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 Toyota Camry get?
EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 20 city, 28 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1997 Camry compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Toyota Camry model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (260) and the 2002 the most (953). The 1997 drew 555. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.