2001 Toyota Camry LE from North America - Comments

We purchased a brand new Toyota Camry 2001 last week (May 2nd). The car has a defect on the steering (steering is loose or pulls to one side) that the dealer service center has been unable to fix after the third attempt. Car is still at the service center, each time they try to get the car back to us while they know the problem persists. A technician at the center mentioned a factory defect.

We are very concerned by the safety of the vehicle. We paid $20,000 for it and would rather get our money back.

Liked the comfort, space and ergonomics, though the interior is rather dull.

Liked the spacious trunk and easy access to the back seats. The main reason we bought a Toyota Camry was for the reputation for reliability. Unfortunately, Toyota dealers use this reputation to avoid any kind of liability with problems related to a defect that would justify the return or replacement of the vehicle.

It seems typical that Japanese cars built in America are below standard and to top it of the dealers are not competent. We've had many Toyotas in our family for years. If there is one with a problem it is rectified fast and with no problems after.

They are from Japanese and English factories.

I bought my 3rd Camry 2001 on June 23rd. I have had nothing but trouble. I am on my 3rd set of tires and my car still vibrates and pulls to the left.

My car cuts off on the first start of each day, it sputters 3 or 4 times, the smell of gas very noticeable and the engine light comes on.

I have had my car in the shop 4 times for both of these problems. It is very difficult to take care of this problem. I did not have one complaint with my other 2 Camry's. I am a little disheartened at this point. I called the Toyota company and logged a complaint today. My dealer is very nice, they just cannot fix the problem.

Thanks, Jackie.

If I was both of you, I would be taking the matter further & consulting the equivalent of the Office Of Fair Trading in your country.

With Toyota Camrys here in Australia, we have a new vehicle warranty which is 3 years or 100000 kilometres (62100miles), whichever comes first.

If you have exhausted all the options within the Toyota framework, I would definitely say that you would have a case of warranty fraud, especially considering that you both have had your vehicles for only a short period of time & distance.

For your own sakes, & for the sake of other buyers, please follow this up. It will highlight the importance of vehicle warranty divisions in standing behind the products they sell, rather than stonewall & denying liability for their own mistakes.

If this is your third time trying to correct this problem

relating to safety. It should be covered under the lemon law. You should be able to get a refund.

I own a 2001 Camry that I purchased used at 28,500 miles. The car has been very reliable for me; always starts, no problems of any sort. Just standard maintenance.

However, at about 50,000 miles my Camry developed steering problems that sound similar to other posts here. The steering is very vague at all speeds and does not completely return to center as it once did. In short, the steering is very sloppy. The wheel also vibrates at freeway speeds.

I've had the car to two dealers and neither can fix the problem.

The car has been in no accidents, has been driven on smooth city streets and incidentally, was assembled in Japan, not the United States.

The situation is infuriating.

Thanks for the comment about your Camry being built in Japan. I've wondered if there is a difference in quality vs made in USA. BTW, if the VIN starts with the letter "J" it was made in Japan.

I had the same problem with my 2001 Camry (the steering) it was very rough as if I was driving on a dirt road or something, I took the car to about 10 different dealers and none could find out the problem (i also wasted about $800 just for labor) so I went to my mechanic to check it out, he said it was the alignments on the wheels/tires, once he fixed it, it ran like new so I'm just saying you guys should get the alignment checked up.