1997 Toyota Camry Steering Problems

Your car's ignition key won't turn to start the engine, and the steering wheel lock keeps engaging and disengaging. You have to wait 5-20 minutes and try various things before the car finally starts, though you're not sure what actually works. This has happened five times now, causing you concern about it happening again. Using a different ignition key appears to have resolved the issue.

Your steering wheel is off-center to the right, which is causing you extreme back pain. The misalignment hasn't been inspected yet. This issue started when you got the car and may require wheel alignment and a steering system inspection to correct.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I HAD NOT USED MY VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS AND WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT EARLY IN THE MORNING, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STIFF AND WAS NOT SPINNING BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE STIFFNESS WAS LESS PRONOUNCED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A BIT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON AN OFF RAMP OF INTERSTATE I 94 AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR SPUN TO THE LEFT HIT THE BARRIER CONTINUED SPINNING AND HIT THE BARRIER ON THE RIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST. THERE HAD BEEN RAIN. THE ROAD WAS NOT SLICK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 1997. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH IN WET AND ICY CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY CAME OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTO HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE ROAD AND BARELY MISSED CRASHING INTO A RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK. SHE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT AND REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL LOOSELY BACK ONTO THE COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V307000, STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRIOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE BY TIGHTENING THE STEERING WHEEL BOLTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 97 CAMRY I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENTIRE STEER WHEEL SPINNED AROUND LIKE A SPINNING TOP. I HAD NO CONTROL THE CAR RAN UP ON THE CURVE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID QUALIFY UNDER THIS RECALL BUT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THEY HAD TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL. I EXPLAIN THAT I HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL. I THEN CALLED THE CORP OFFICE FOR TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE DID VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY HAVE NO INFO ON THE DEALERSHIP MAKING ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHY THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFERING INFORMATION. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT TOYOTA CLEARLY HAS A RECALL MY VEHICLE FITS THE CRITERIA IT A 1997 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WOULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE, BUT WAS UNHARMED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF "PLAY" AND "BODY ROLL" WITH RESPECT TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS/STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS THAT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES. THE DEPTH WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED IS MUCH DEEPER AND REQUIRES A GREATER AMOUNT OF PRESSURE, THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN. FINALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE POOR VISIBILITY BOTH IN THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED AND IN THEIR LOW MOUNTING OR ANGLE WHICH THEY SIT AT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF. BEST REGARDS. *JB

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

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS AT CURRENT SPEED.ONE OF THE BOSE SPEAKERS THAT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY THAT WAS INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER IS BUSTED.*AK

MY 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WHEN THE STEERING IS TURNED SHARPLY THERE IS A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME.THIS MANUFACTURED PRODUCT HAS A PROBLEM.*AK

1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LS POPPING NOISE IN STEERING. *NM

THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A STEERING RECALL ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN : 99V307000 DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT. *TC *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN IT RAINED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DEALERSHIP SOUTH BAY TOYOTA; GARDENA CA; 310-323-7800 IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL 99 V 307 000. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT STATED IN THE RECALL AND IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. TS

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE DIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT A ROD HAD BLOWN A HOLE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. SCC DEALER RECOMMENDED ENGINE BLOCK BE REPLACED. TIMING AND DRIVE BELTS REPLACED. *TT

RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS LEAKING. NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NEEDED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK

A GRRR SOUND IS HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *SLC

WHEN STARTING CAR WITH KEY IGNITION, CAR IS LOCK WILL NOT TURN IF YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT OR RIGHT HARD.

VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH CHAIN LINK FENCE, POSSIBLE FAILURE OF RECALL (99V-307) OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN #. *MJS

CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL 99V232000/STEERING WHEEL. MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL AFFECTED ONLY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERED IN JAPAN. ALSO, WHEN HANDLING STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER COULD FEEL PERSISTENT VIBRATION. *AK

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING STEERING COLUMN VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH (99V-307). *MJS

STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS. YH

DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE DRIVER KNEE TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTER LEVER MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL GO UP AND DOWN.

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE AFTER KEY IS INSERTED. DILEMMA: OWNER ROCKED STEERING TO RELEASE MECHANISM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN EVEN WHEN LOCKED. DELAERS HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD APPEAR TO BE A DESIGN FAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *YH

CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE ON NOV-08-96, ON NOV-15-96 WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH THE STEERING TILTED ALL THE WAY UP. ALSO, HAPPENED A SECOND TIME 0N 22-NOV-96. TOOK VEHICLE TO DON MCGILL TOYOTA FOR REPAIRS BOTH TIMES. HAPPENED TWICE AGAIN IN DEC.-96 REPAIRED AT SAME DEALERSHIP AND THE STEERING IS STILL TILTING UNEXPECTANTLY, CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE STEERING TILTED AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 1997, CALLED DEALERSHIP TO PICK VEHICLE UP BECAUSE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE AND THEY REFUSED TO PICK IT UP. *AK