2001 Toyota Camry

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 330 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 330

Of the 2001 reports, 88 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 71 people were injured and 6 people died.

Primary concernVehicle speed control55 reports · 17% of complaints
Owner complaints330Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Vehicle speed control55
  2. Air bags52
  3. Engine and engine cooling51
  4. Service brakes31
  5. Tires26
  6. Suspension25
  7. Hydraulic21
  8. Electrical system20

Recalls and investigations

  1. Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009

    DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

    Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

    CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

    Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Structure, frame and membersMar 5, 2001

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

    THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY FOLLOWING LONG-TERM USAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FRONT SUB FRAME, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 9, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 01V072000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Vehicle speed controlJan 16, 2001

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND V6 ENGINES, AND BUILT AT ONE OF TWO LINES AT THE KENTUCKY PLANT. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HOUSING COULD BE DEFORMED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR-TO-THROTTLE BODY CONNECTION. THE ACCELERATOR INNER-CABLE COULD WEAR AWAY AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.

    THIS COULD ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE OR REMAIN IN ITS MOST RECENT POSITION REGARDLESS OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

    Campaign 01V012000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: air bags

52 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Nov 8, 2006

    ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTED MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK AND HAD NEVER BEEN MOVED. WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT I SUSTAINED A FRACTURED LEFT ULNA, NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN (CERVICAL SPRAIN) AND ISSUES WITH HEARING IN MY LEFT EAR. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE!*JB

  2. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Mar 3, 2006, crash

    I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY LE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR APPROX 11 MONTHS. IN AUGUST MY SON WHILE LEAVING THE BEACH CLAIMED THE ABS BREAKS LOCKED UP CAUSING HIM TO SLIDE INTO A POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. NEITHER AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED BUT THERE WAS OVER 6000 DAMAGE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A LOW IMPACT HIT ... THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND BREAKS CHECKED AND SAID TO BE WORKING. NOW JUST 7 MONTHS FROM THAT ACCIDENT I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM AND DESPITE MY BEST DRIVING I TOO EXPERIENCED THE ABS BREAKS ACTUALLY LOCKING ... ON A HILL IN THE SNOW CAUSING MY CAR TO FISH TAIL AND ALL THE WHILE GAINING SPEED LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN MY PASSENGER WATCH THE SPEEDOMETER GO FROM 15... TO 30... TO 35 WHICH IS WHEN HE CLOSED HIS EYES AS I MADE ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO STEER THE CAR STRAIGHT WE WENT OFF THE ROAD WIPING OUT 2 OR 3 SMALL TREES, A METAL POLE LUCKILY THERE WAS A RATHER LARGE ROCK UNDER THE SNOW THAT GOT STUCK UNDER THE TAIL END OF THE CAR LEAVING THE CAR "NOSE" END INTO THE GROUND. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ONCE AGAIN. THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT WAS COMPLETELY TORN OUT, THE TIRES CAME PARTIALLY OFF THE RIM AND THE FRAME IS NOW TWISTED THE IMPACT WAS DEFIANTLY OVER 30 MPH WITH NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE ANTI- LOCK BAKES ... LOCKED AND HAD THEY NOT I WOULD NOT HAVE FISHTAILED ... THIS IS THE SECOND ACCIDENT MY CAR HAS HAD DUE TO THE BREAK SYSTEM. THIS ONE TOTALED MY CAR. WHICH I OWE 11,000 ON ... *JB

  3. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Aug 30, 2005, crash

    2001 TOYOTA CAMRY WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NM

  4. Air bags, Mar 15, 2005

    THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT AN AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH BE INSTALLED IN HER 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY. *NM *JB

  5. Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 24, 2004, crash

    CAR ACCIDENT. BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE - $12000 IN FRONT END DAMAGE - NOT AIRBAG OR SEATBELT WORKED. WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVERAL INJURIES. CAR WAS FIXED, BUT AIRBAG NOT REPLACED. *AK

  6. Air bags, Aug 16, 2004, crash

    WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH, THE CONSUMER STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AND ANOTHER MOTORIST VEHICLE T-BONED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE FRAME HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SC *JB

  7. Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jul 6, 2004, crash

    WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INTO A BRICK WALL. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *LA THE DRIVER IS STILL UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE. *NM

  8. Air bags, Jun 9, 2004, crash

    SUDDEN ACCELERATION LEADING TO CRASH IN WALL...WITH INJURY TO DRIVER. *AK

  9. Air bags, Apr 30, 2004, crash

    WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DIDN'T APPEAR PRIOR TO THE CRASH; DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *LA

  10. Air bags, Apr 2, 2004, crash

    I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT THE BACK OF A VAN STOPPED TO TURN ON A ROADWAY (LEGALLY) AND I FAILED TO SEE IT UNTIL I WAS RIGHT UPON IT. I HIT THE BACK OF THIS VAN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. ALTHOUGH THE VAN WAS HARDLY DAMAGED, MY WHOLE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED, INCLUDING PARTS OF MY RADIATOR, FANS AND BUMPER, LIGHTS, AND GRILL. HOWEVER, MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PLACE THAT FIXED MY CAR, CERTIFIED COLLISION CENTER ASSOCIATED WITHOUT THE DURANT TOYOTA HOUSE HERE IN WEATHERFROD, TEXAS SAID THAT ONLY ONE OF MY SENSORS WAS DAMAGED DURING THE IMPACT. NOW I WANT TO KNOW IS MY AIRBAG GOING TO DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING OR WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE AND WHY DIDN'T IT DEPLOY DURING THIS IMPACT? I SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES FROM THIS IMPACT. I AM HAVING PHYSICAL THERAPY TO HELP MY THORACIC MUSCLE. I ALSO HIT MY KNEES ON THE DASHBOARD DURING THE IMPACT. I ALSO HAD A LARGE BRUISE AND A SMALL CUT ON MY LEFT SIDE OF MY THROAT FROM WHERE THE SEAT BELT CAUGHT ME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IT DID NOT GO OFF. A 40 MILE PER HOUR IMPACT HIT SQUARELY BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE SET OFF MY AIRBAGS, AT LEAST I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE AIRBAG THAT IS PRESENTLY INSTALLED IN MY CAR AND I FEEL THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THESE BACK AND NECK INJURIES IF IT HAD GONE OFF AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I WANT MY CURRENT AIRBAG COMPLETELY REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE SENSORS, BY TOYOTA.*JB

  11. Air bags, Jan 13, 2004

    QUESTIONS CONCERNING AIR BAGS. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTING IN THUMB INJURIES. *SC *JB

  12. Air bags, Oct 10, 2003, crash

    CONSUMER HAD A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

  13. Air bags, Seat belts, Sep 15, 2003, crash

    WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAD REPORTED THE SEATBELT PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALER PREVIOUSLY. PASSENGER SEATBELT WAS REPLACED, BUT DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THE DRIVER SEATBELT WAS FINE. TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE AIRBAG AFTER ACCIDENT.

  14. Air bags, Jul 27, 2003

    CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS ON HOW TO HOLD STEERING WHEEL SO THAT THUMBS ARE NOT INJURED DURING DEPLOYMENT. *MR *SCC

  15. Air bags, Jun 23, 2003, crash

    ON JUNE 21, 2003 @ APPROX. 1730 HRS A 1993 FORD MUSTANG TURNED INTO THE PATH OF MY WIFE'S 2001 CAMRY. THE CAMRY WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 45 MPH AND LEFT APPROX 51 FEET OF SKID MARKS PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT CAP OF THE CAMRY WAS DAMAGED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *NLM

  16. Air bags, Nov 20, 2002

    CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. TS

  17. Air bags, Oct 24, 2002, crash

    WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP, AFTER CUTTING IN FRONT OF HIM. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND REARENDED THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

  18. Air bags, Jul 16, 2002, crash

    VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

  19. Air bags, Mar 4, 2002, crash

    CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

  20. Air bags, Mar 1, 2002, crash

    WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT SAME SPEED HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

  21. Air bags, Feb 28, 2002, crash

    IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THIS VEHICLE REAR-ENDED AN EXPLORER AT ABOUT 30 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAMRY HAS EXTENSIVE FRONT-END DAMAGE WITH ALL FRONT-END SYSTEMS PUSHED BACK INTO ENGINE AND WHEELS. POLICE AT SCENE WONDERED WHY THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND TOWING AND FIRE (MEDICAL) PERSONNEL USED EXTREME CAUTION UNTIL SURE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS IN FACT DISARMED BY REMOVAL OF BATTERY. *AK

  22. Air bags, Jan 11, 2002, crash

    THE POWDERED CHEMICAL ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE AIRBAGS CAUSED SKIN BURNS WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY SEVERE WITH RESPECT TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, WHO BURNED, BLISTERED, AND HAS HAD RESIDUAL RASH AND MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST AREA, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THESE TYPES OF AIRBAG INJURIES ARE MORE TYPICAL OF THE FIRST-GENERATION AIRBAGS, BUT VERY ATYPICAL OF AIRBAGS THAT WOULD BE INSTALLED IN A 2001 MODEL VEHICLE.*AK

  23. Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 8, 2002, crash

    ON JANUARY 4, 2002, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY. A CAR IN FRONT OF ME (DODGE STRATUS) WAS STOPPED WAITING TO TURN LEFT. I WAS BEHIND THE CAR IN A STOPPED POSITION. ANOTHER CAR (1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE) TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH HIT ME FROM BEHIND FORCING MY CAR INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME RECEIVED DAMAGE TO TRUNK AND BUMPER WITH ENOUGH FORCE/DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE TRUNK TO NOT SHUT WITHOUT REPAIR. MY QUESTION, CONCERN IS THIS: MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER) AND ACCORDING TO MY OWNER'S MANUAL THEY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS FORCED INTO APPROXIMATELY A 45 DEGREE RECLINING POSITION DURING THE IMPACT AND IS CURRENTLY LOCKED INTO THAT POSITION. MY CAR HAD A POWER DRIVER'S SEAT AND SHOULD NOT HAVE COLLAPSED. I AM NOT SURE AT WHAT POINT THE SEAT COLLAPSED BUT THE IMPACT MUST HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO THROW ME FORWARD AND THEN BACK HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SEAT TO FAIL. AS A RESULT I HAVE SUFFERED SOME BACK AND NECK INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE SEATS WERE DESIGNED TO DO THIS BUT I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL, ON THEIR SITE OR ON THE WWW TO THIS EFFECT. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH THAT A BIG MAC IN MY RIGHT HAND WAS THROWN AGAINST THE ODOMETER, DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AND INTO THE BACK SEAT ON THE WINDOWS. A 32 OUNCE COKE WAS SPLATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CAR INTO THE DASH ELECTRONICS (CD PLAYER, TAPE DECK, ETC.) AND A CLOSED ARM REST. THE IMPACT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE FACT THAT THE SEAT BACK DID NOT PROVIDE BACK SUPPORT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. AT A MINIMUM, IF THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO GO BACK LIKE THEY DID IN THIS SITUATION, THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE AWARE.*AK

  24. Air bags, Dec 5, 2001, crash

    VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, REAR-ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND DEPLOY. UPON EXAMINATION OF DAMAGE FRONT BUMPER ASSEMBLY, AND AIR BAG SENSORS WERE DEMOLISHED. NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

  25. Air bags, Oct 15, 2001, crash

    HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER SIDE. FRONT AND REAR DOORS SEVERELY DAMAGED. DRIVER SIDE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK